The story of your life in three book covers #bookcovermemoir pic.twitter.com/PkH24kbxDL
— Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) November 4, 2017
This morning, I bought three small paperback books: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Immoralist by Andre Gide, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. Together, the trio tell the story of my Book Cover Memoir. If you're on Twitter or Instagram, take a photo of your Book Cover Memoir and hashtag it #bookcovermemoir.
This afternoon, I visited the set of an adult movie. I'll have more on that in an upcoming report.
12 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "Morning tour, Van Nuys #vannuys"
I had the opportunity to tour a large warehouse today in the San Fernando Valley that was filled to its tall ceiling with synthetic penises, fabricated vaginas, and a box containing a love doll in the likeness of a little person porn star with whom I once costarred in a skit in which I was dressed as Dorothy, as in Oz. In any case, it was an interesting time. Keep an eye out for more on this story in an upcoming report.
It is cool to see your name on https://t.co/b6CdMSxl4Shttps://t.co/FXHrjOICwP
— Velv'Or (@Velv_Or) November 1, 2017
Thanks @fornicari & @susannahbreslin & @Forbes pic.twitter.com/EVIits5q2k
I've got some new content, as they like to call it in the business, up over at Forbes. A post on a Memphis strip club, a peek at some incredibly boring IKEA ads that are deeply fascinating, and a new site targeting those who are erotically curious and extremely wealthy. Have a look, won't you?
Next March, I'll be reading as part of the Roar Shack reading series in LA. I'll have more information about that event closer to the date. I'll be reading a short story -- fiction -- about a male porn star who has a problem with his performance tool.
16 Likes, 2 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "Billboard, Silverlake #silverlake"
I like these billboards. You see them around LA. They say GROSS. The brand is Gross, apparently.
0 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "#whatimreading 🎱"
17 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "#mannequin"
I started taking photos of mannequins on Hollywood Boulevard maybe 15 years ago. There are several shops that have a lot in the windows, including a certain wig and costume shop. I've photographed mannequins in various places; for some reason, I feel drawn to them. They're human but remote, moody but still, glamorous but fixed. This one was dressed for Halloween.
I went to Jim Ruland's Vermin on the Mount reading series this evening and ended up listening to Lol Tolhurst read about the early days of The Cure, so that was pretty cool. The reading took place at Book Show in Highland Park; it's a curious place, filled with sideshow art, amusing zines, and general curios. I particularly enjoyed hearing Ben Loory read "The Writer" from Tales of Falling and Flying. It's a really beautiful story. Buy a copy of the book. I did. You should, too. Sometime next year, I'll be reading in the series. I'll post the when and the where when I know. And Book Show is a really curious place. Check it out sometime.
James Parker has a hot and frothy take on "Michael Clayton" that positions it in the context of the Trump Age. In other words, all its dire predictions have come true. We are all Michael Clayton.
"We’re all implicated, all coated in psychic slime like Arthur Edens, and each one of us has world-reversing power. So when you feel Shiva’s heat, when the cleansing, incinerating moment comes, seize it. Give the trappings of your identity to the flames. Throw your wallet into the exploding car. Burn it up, and be renewed."
4 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "#pinkchair"
I don't know how baby pink came back, but here it is. It's the LEIFARNE. $60 at IKEA.
12 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "Hollywood"
I met Fernando on Hollywood Boulevard. He's from Puerto Rico. His dream is to be on "The Ellen Show." His sign advertises a "VAGINA MASSAGE FREE TRIAL." He holds the sign, and passersby -- tourists, mostly -- pay him to take their picture with him.
23 Likes, 1 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "💄 #burbank #sanfernandovalley #thevalley #pornvalley #x #xxx #red #xmarksthespot"
If you want to follow me in Los Angeles, you can head to my Instagram feed here.
4,889 Likes, 45 Comments - Viktor&Rolf (@viktor_and_rolf) on Instagram: "Wearable Art, Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2015 <3 VR #ViktorandRolfCouture 📸 by @teampeterstigter..."
Amazing wearable art by Viktor & Rolf, care of their Instagram feed.
I interviewed adult star and director jessica drake on my Forbes blog. In her most recent movie, which is what would be considered a mainstream adult movie, she starred in a scene with three trans women. This caused something of a controversy.
"There was some discussion about not including the trans scene on the DVD, maybe just offering it online. There was also talk about putting a disclaimer before the scene, but it was imperative to me that we did neither of those things. I didn't want to warn someone how they should feel before they watched it."
I can't recall if I already mentioned that I have a piece forthcoming in the newly launched LOST OBJECTS series. It's part of a bigger project called PROJECT:OBJECT. Twenty-five stories from some amazing contributors considering things they've lost.
"Perhaps when you die, suggests Nina Katchadourian in her LOST OBJECTS story, you’ll get to see all the lost objects of your life. The stories of these things having been finally resolved, she suggests, only then will you 'disappear into being a lost object yourself.' Lost objects weigh heavily upon us — this series explores the various mechanisms of that cathexis."
Keep an eye out here from my story about the time I lost a rubber vagina.
I've been reading BLDGBLOG for I don't know how long. Like Kottke, it's an original blog, steadfast despite the churn around it, and focused on something very specific, which, considering the diversity of the "content," could be categorized as that which delights. At least, that's my experience of it. In any case, Geoff Manaugh has a delightful post up today about a class he's teaching at my alma mater, UC Berkeley, and how California is science fiction incarnate.
"Robinson explained to Boom that, in the blink of an eye, California became a 'completely different landscape. At that same time I started reading science fiction (…) and it struck me that it was an accurate literature, that it was what my life felt like; so I thought science fiction was the literature of California. I still think California is a science fictional place. The desert has been terraformed. The whole water system is unnatural and artificial. This place shouldn’t look like it looks, so it all comes together for me. I’m a science fiction person, and I’m a Californian.'"
I first encountered this poem years ago, but thought of it when I saw a Twitter call for "your favorite poems written in the last ~50 years by anyone who isn't a white man."
The poem is called "What Do Women Want?" and it's by Kim Addonizio.
I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
You can read the rest here.
25 Likes, 6 Comments - Susannah Breslin (@susannahbreslin) on Instagram: "🌴FLORIDA🌴"
"American Made" isn't a bad movie, but it isn't a great movie either. It's solid. It's like some slices of ham, a large spoonful of mashed potatoes, and some green peas. It does the job, but, I mean, are you going to rave about it? Probably not. There's Tom Cruise. Shining, well-haired, strapping. In this role, he's a grinning, adventure-seeking, drug and guns running American cowboy who makes a shit ton of money by simultaneously hustling the American government and South American drug lords. There are some fun flying sequences, and a good time is had by all -- at least for a while. Eventually, things go south, and then things aren't so funny anymore. It's based on a true story, but if you compare the two, there's not much truth to this movie. And, as was the case with "Atomic Blonde," you get a lot of action, but you don't get a lot of insight. What makes this guy tick? What are we to make of a man who made his American dream by being a hustler? These questions remain unanswered. The standout performance of the movie is by Caleb Landry Jones, who plays the main character's dumb hick brother-in-law and shines as an entertaining idiot. Otherwise, I'd say it's a soft pass.
