Alysia Abbott recalls being raised by her poet father—a single, openly gay man—in the San Francisco of the nineteen-seventies and eighties.
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Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
What It's Like to Watch a Version of Yourself on TV
At Matter, the real-life Larry Smith talks about the other true story behind Orange Is the New Black—the one about Piper’s husband. As the show began to come together, Jenji asked us a question: Could she call the main characters Piper and Larry? Tough choice. If the show works, it’s great to be “the real […]
Posted inReading List
Romance, Relationships and Religion: A Reading List
1. “Breaking Up is Hard to Do – Especially in the Orthodox World.” (Jewcy, Rachel Delia Benaim, July 2014) I recently finished reading Cut Me Loose, Leah Vincent’s memoir of her time in the ultra-Orthodox community, her subsequent shunning and eventual breakout. Benaim, the author of this piece comes from a Modern Orthodox background, but many of the […]
Posted inNonfiction, Reading List
Revisiting the Hobby Lobby Case in Two Stories
In light of today’s Supreme Court ruling on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, we’re revisiting two stories: 1. Spin, Measure, Cut: Hobby Lobby and the Tangled Skein of Reproductive Rights (Susan Schorn, The Hairpin) Susan Schorn writes about family history, crafts, and the power of choice: In America, my great-grandmother endured multiple pregnancies, many of which […]
Posted inNonfiction, Unapologetic Women
The Answer Is Never
Rewriting the false narrative of childlessness.
Posted inUncategorized
Marriage, Equality and Household Chores
Roxane Gay’s interview with her mother about equality in marriage in The Hairpin.
Posted inBooks, Nonfiction
The Art of Running from the Police
A young man concerned that the police will take him into custody comes to see danger and risk in the mundane doings of everyday life. To survive outside prison, he learns to hesitate when others walk casually forward, to see what others fail to notice, to fear what others trust or take for granted.
Posted inIllustrated Title, Story
After Water
The illustrated story of California, and what happens when the water runs out.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes
‘Cooking Was My Mother’s Principal Weapon’
From E.J. Levy’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”—an essay I consider one of my favorites.
Posted inUncategorized
The Real History of Love & Marriage
“Though the murky concept known as ‘love’ has been recorded for all of human history, it was almost never a justification for marriage. ‘Love was considered a reason not to get married,’ says Abbott. ‘It was seen as lust, as something that would dissipate. You could have love or lust for your mistress, if you’re […]
