A list of things for April 2024

April was quite a month. So much so that I completely forgot to send a newsletter at the end of it. My apologies for the delay, and for the fact that my list is going to be even more freeform than usual. I usually link to things I have made, but I didn't make a lot this past month. No website posts, and we took a break for the podcast. Instead, I did things like close on my first home purchase, complete a university class, begin a new evening class, wrangle taxes, manage new pet health issues, and get ready to move for the first time in five years. So, it was kind of a month. But it ended well.

For this edition, I offer not a list of stuff I made or did but things that captured my attention. Next month, I'll have more to share of my own.

1. Books! I read Under the Skin by Michel Faber, which was not what I expected, but I'm not sure if anyone could expect that. Lyrical and utterly unique. I also read Gus Moreno's This Thing Between Us, dark and doom-filled but also startingly original.

Under the Skin by Michel Faber

In this haunting, entrancing novel, Michel Faber introduces us to Isserley, a female driver who c…

The StoryGraphMichel Faber

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno

It was Vera’s idea to buy the Itza. The “world’s most advanced smart speaker!” didn’t interest Th…

The StoryGraphGus Moreno

2. Movies! I saw quite a few but highlights are Robert Altman's That Cold Day in the Park, another of his psychological horrors centered on unstable women (my favorite genre). I also was able to see a 3-D screening of Long Day's Journey into Night, which was wonderful and I wrote a bit more about it on Letterboxd.

That Cold Day in the Park (1969)

Frances Austen, a young, wealthy spinster, invites a mute teenager into her apartment after finding him freezing in the park next to where she lives. Despite her best efforts, their lack of communication only increases her sense of loneliness, as her possessiveness spirals into frightening new realm…

Letterboxd

A review of Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2018)

Until today, the only 3-D movie I had ever seen was Detective Pikachu, because I accidentally bought tickets to the 3-D version online instead of the 2-D when taking my kid to see it. I’ve never been particularly compelled by the idea of 3-D film. But when the Music Box holds a 3-D festival with a b…

Letterboxd

3. Music! I saw Yulianna Avdeeva play with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and she was just lovely.

4. In case you missed it, the Criterion Channel is now 24/7, which is rad.

5. If you've missed my little horror film podcast recently, never fear: we'll be back with new episodes for May.

6. So it's not entirely true that I made nothing over the past month. I'm going to slip in the first effort of my new experiment in making little films of empty spaces: horror vacui #1 (arcade)

7. "I hope you are taking care of yourself with the ability that you have. I hope you find some way to carve out time to make art, not for money, but for you. I hope we don’t run out of time before the people keeping this from us can be convinced otherwise." A.L. Goldfuss

I'm finding myself spending less and less time on social media these days, but I still drop in sometimes over at Bluesky. If you enjoy the newsletter, please feel free to spread the word wherever you hang out. As always, you can reach me by email, should you wish to do such a thing, at [email protected].

Thank you for reading! I'm grateful for you. 🖤