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Helen Kohl's avatar

Laurel's Ashkenazi Jewish mother here: With respect to Laurel's views on Barney's Version, here I am, the parent, providing "footnotes" to her text. Ironic.

It is true that thousands were spent on Laurel's education, but it was her parents who spent those thousands.

I endured the Barney's Version movie and disagree with Alanna. It wasn't mediocre, it was terrible; it was not boring, it was annoying. It portrayed the events of the novel but none of its spirit, characters, flavour, humour or point.

I agree that Paul Giametti was miscast, but not because of his non-Jewishness (there are non-Jews who can play Jews decently; Rachel Sennott in Shiva Baby comes to mind). The problem is he played him as a cute lovable shlemiel--someone who is always getting in trouble. Barney is a shlomazel, someone chronically unlucky (without mazel, ie luck).

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ryan's avatar

Noooooo Gideon the Ninth is so good. Whoever you're reccing it and not liking it is Wrong.

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

listen, i agree!!!!!

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kara's avatar

you've long been one of my Trusted Sources, and i've loved this stack as an even deeper burrowing into the mind i already love. mazel to a year!

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

petition for more internet detritus posts !!!

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Natalie McGlocklin's avatar

phenomenal, I've been convinced! Except I have a few questions.

On a scale from 1 to American Psycho, how bad is the body horror in Lakewood?

Second what is happening with Gideon, I've had that on my TBR for ages, is it just too polarizing??

Lastly, why are you so good at this (finding under the radar high quality books to recommend to me)?

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

does it answer your first question to say i’ve never read american psycho because i fear it’d be too icky??? have you read “our wives under the sea”? lakewood is a little closer to that.

okay gideon is probably one of my favourite books but i’ve had so many friends/family say “ummm what was that” after reading it that i’ve given up. it’s one of those books that’s either sooo up your alley that it’s just the street you live on OR just a confusing mess. it starts off lore dense (takes like 40 pages to understand what’s happening) but also the lore doesn’t matter, filtered through 2000s internet (fanfiction) writing style filtered through pure, distilled vibes. there’s been three books and each one is more chaotic and niche than the last.

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Natalie McGlocklin's avatar

Yes yes it does answer my question (and it is WAY too icky. Read it in my “bro” reading phase 🙄)

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Martha's avatar

Happy One Year baby!!!! Congrats on all you have written and read in the lifespan of Intellectual Rigor Mortis - we're all better for it. Will add The Body In Question to the tbr - I am intrigued. And in the mood for quick which I have a sense might linger for a while.

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

thank you for your ongoing support. truly means and has meant a lot to me. and hot weather is the season for quick but good books, i think!!! gotta keep my attention span on its toes while literally sweating.

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Regan's avatar

Loved this, Laurel!! Happy one-yr anniversary 🎉 I heard about Lakewood & Megan Giddings for the first time a few years ago—she’s a Minnesotan author (is lakewood set in MN?) and so feels special to me in the way I’m sure Richler does for you with Canada!! Somehow her work has slipped my mind recently and this is the perfect nudge for me to prioritize finding a copy —and I think she recently announced her next book? Also fascinated by the body in question! Added to the tbr. I’m not a big crime/thriller reader but have been so so into that kind of literary/adjacent novel which, like you say, takes place in these spaces but has other things to say too —thanks for this!

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

I know Lakewood is definitely set in the midwest (and that’s very relevant to the Vibe, from my understanding of american regionalism) but I don’t know if it’s Minnesota precisely! If you pick up either, I hope you enjoy!! & Thank you! ❤️

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Annabel Youens's avatar

As a good Canadian you've convinced me to finally read Barney's Version. 🇨🇦

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