Stories for Your Stocking: A Reading List of Holiday-Themed Delights

Think of this week’s reading list as a stocking filled with miscellaneous, holiday-themed delights.

Source: Longreads
Published: Dec 28, 2014

The Dark Side of the Moon

What life is like today for Buzz Aldrin, a war hero, MIT rocket scientist, and the second man to walk on the moon.

Source: GQ
Published: Dec 26, 2014
Length: 26 minutes (6,593 words)

Pam and Tommy

The untold story behind the world’s most famous sex tape.

Source: Rolling Stone
Published: Dec 22, 2014
Length: 29 minutes (7,387 words)

The Plath Resolution

Thoughts about Sylvia Plath while doing yoga.

Source: The Awl
Published: Dec 26, 2014
Length: 9 minutes (2,328 words)

Knives, a Death, a Famous Name

Former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez was once considered the most powerful lawmaker in California. This two-part series examines whether political influence trumped justice when Nuñez’s son Esteban was charged in the 2008 stabbing death of 22-year-old Luis Santos.

Published: Dec 22, 2014
Length: 23 minutes (5,900 words)

My Elf Self

Sedaris recalls his time working as a Macy’s elf during the holiday season:

“Today was the official opening day of SantaLand and I worked as a Magic Window Elf, a Santa Elf and an Usher Elf. The Magic Window is located in the adult ‘Quick Peep’ queue. My job was to say, ‘Step on the Magic Star and look through the window, and you can see Santa!’ I was at the Magic Window for 15 minutes before a man approached me and said, ‘You look so fucking stupid.’

“I have to admit that he had a point. But still, I wanted to say that at least I get paid to look stupid, that he gives it away for free. But I can’t say things like that because I’m supposed to be merry.

“So instead I said, ‘Thank you!'”

Source: The Independent
Published: Dec 9, 1995
Length: 11 minutes (2,921 words)

Autistic and Searching for a Home

Between jail and the hospital, Savannah Shannon’s life is in limbo. A new Longreads Exclusive from Genna Buck and Maisonneuve Magazine.

Author: Genna Buck
Source: Maisonneuve
Published: Dec 24, 2014
Length: 28 minutes (7,101 words)

The Secret Language of Tennis Champions

A look at how identical twins—and Olympic gold medalists—Mike and Bob Bryan communicate with each other, as well a larger discussion of “cryptophasia” or the shared language between twins.

Source: Nautilus
Published: Oct 17, 2013
Length: 9 minutes (2,250 words)

Among the Reindeer

A woman running a media consultancy in New York takes a DNA test and learns that she is descended from the Sami people, who herd reindeer in the Arctic Circle.

Published: Jan 1, 2015
Length: 14 minutes (3,560 words)

Martin Brest Directed Beverly Hills Cop and Midnight Run. Then He Vanished

A look back at the director’s greatest hits (Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, Scent of a Woman), his misfires (Gigli), and what caused him to disappear from Hollywood.

Source: Playboy
Published: Dec 23, 2014
Length: 19 minutes (4,812 words)