Today is the last day of August.
For some this means one more blow out Summer party. If you’re one of these people, it's probably best to stop reading now.
For me, the end of August is a time to hide out, relax, and reflect. One of my biggest regrets every year is that I haven’t gotten through my reading list. To this end, I plop down on the sofa, safely ensconced in the AC, And turn some pages.
This is as much a necessity as a luxury. There are things I need to learn, stories I want to get lost in, and inspiration I require for future work. Check out some of my recommended reading below.
The Mastermind: drugs. empire. murder. betrayal
By Evan Ratliff
I found this author through his podcast Longform, which interviews journalists working on long format creative nonfiction. The book tells the story of the rise and fall of Paul Le Roux, the Zimbabwean Jeff Bezos of the online criminal underworld. This cyber super criminal sells drugs, builds armies, and unleashes mayhem from behind a keyboard while wearing cargo shorts. There’s a lot of content out there on Le Roux, but Ratliff’s work is probably the most authoritative.
Mile Marker Zero: The Moveable Feast of Key West
By William Mckeen
This book chronicles the artists, writers, and outlaws who have called Key West home. Last week I went down to the Keys for the first time since I was a kid and instantly got hooked. Right now I’m learning how a one night stopover turned into ten years on the Island for Ernest Hemingway. It’s a great book if you’re feeling tired of Zoom meetings and want to think about a different way of life.
May Cause Side Effects: A Memoir
By Brook Siem
Brook Siam’s memoir about a decade of taking antidepressants has not come out yet, so it’s a bit out of place on this list, but I am looking forward to it. She was medicated after experiencing low moods following a series of terrible life events in her late teens. Siem uses her story as a vehicle to talk about America’s problem with depression and antidepressants.
Recent studies have called into question the conventional wisdom that Depression is linked to Serotonin. At the same time, society is really starting to question if it’s worth putting young people on an escalating cocktail of psychiatric medication.
Personally I spent most of my 20s dealing with depression, so I’m always fascinated by stories of fellow travelers on this path. Reading quotes from Brook’s book has got me thinking, should I write more about my experiences with Depression? It’s something I’ve largely kept private but I feel it might be important to share as we collectively grapple with an ever growing mental health crisis in this country.
By Delicious Tacos
Another book on my pile to read, Savage Spear of the Unicorn is a collection of short stories designed to push boundaries and break taboos. To be honest I am taking this one on faith after reading Overdosing on the Literary Black Pill by Alex Perez in IM 1776 Magazine. He writes about how the woke movement has taken over the literary world. When Perez wants to talk about writers who are fighting back, he recommends the anonymous blogger Delicious Tacos and his transgressive fiction.
Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy
By Christo Grozev
While not a book, this great piece of long form investigative journalism is definitely worth your time. The title pretty much tells the story, how Naples based jewelry designer Maria Adela Kuhfeldt Rivera was secretly a Russian agent using the local party circuit to infiltrate NATO. Basically this is a real life John Le Carre novel. The author Christo Grozev writes for Bellingcat, An international Journalism collective dedicated to exposing secrets and telling important stories with high stakes.
Andrew!!!! What a fabulous list of books. I want to stop everything and start reading this very moment! However, we are still in the efforts of getting into our new home. Starting to wonder if it will ever happen. We have been plagued by sub-contractors who just can't seem to get to the house to finish the last 5%. It is maddening. At the same time, we have plenty of packing to do and some last minute decisions to make...and some friends visiting. So we are busy with all that. Bottom line is that once we are in the new house, I will try every one of these books. They all sound great. Hope you and Vera are doing great. We would love to see you!
Love, Sandy