I wish I had the time/energy to write regular book reviews or critical essays. For now, I'll keep doing it on the rare occasion when inspiration strikes and ambition outweighs laziness.
Quick summary:
If the neighborhood politics weren't clear before, they come into stark focus by the end of this episode. Over the course of two parties, the atmosphere becomes increasingly dire, especially for Lila. Initially, it seems like the rione's younger generation is willing to move
Quick summary:
During (Elena's dream of) Don Achille's funeral procession, the children of the neighborhood grow up: the young cast is replaced with an older one and many fantasies (e.g. Louisa May Alcott) give way to practical reality. With Elena (Margherita Mazzucco) in middle school
Quick summary:
"The Money" begins where "The Dolls" ends: with Elena and Lila outside Don Achille's (Antonio Pennarella) door, steeling themselves for a confrontation. Predictably, this middle-aged mobster is clueless about their dolls and sends them away with a wad of condolence cash, which
Elena Ferrante is one of my favorite writers and I was terrified when I heard that "My Brilliant Friend" (2011), the first novel in the series, was getting the small screen treatment. Although I've occasionally loved book adaptations, I typically find they pale in comparison to
When I started formally studying film in college, I hated the academic writing I was forced to produce. It felt devoid of personality and far removed from the deeply personal experience of watching movies. I didn't understand why, in order to be taken seriously, film critics had to
The first thing I do when I'm in a new city is check out the highest rated bookstores. While they vary widely in size and focus, they all share one common trait: disappointing film sections. One quick scan of the shelves immediately reveals that aside from a few
Isa Mazzei's new memoir, "Camgirl" (2019) is one that you won't quickly forget. I first became familiar with Mazzei after "Cam" (2018), her movie with Daniel Goldhaber, began streaming on Netflix. It's a psychological horror film about Alice (Madeline Brewer)
If you know me IRL, you're probably aware that I have pretty bad insomnia that I've only recently gotten under control (with the help of Purple Urkle and a relocation to the Midwest). When I can't sleep, I usually either a) try to work
