Stories

How Domestic Novels Became So Epic

“What can a novel about contemporary domestic life possibly add to our knowledge? If familiarity breeds contempt, what could be more familiar than the home, with its sisyphean routines and demands?” Just ask Ducks, Newburyport. - The Guardian (UK)

Jerry Moriarty, Painter Of Comics, Has Died At 88

“‘It’s as if Edward Hopper had taken up songwriting,’ the comic artist Chris Ware wrote in The Believer magazine in 2009. ‘For lack of a better word, it’s poetry.’” - The New York Times

Turning Hugh Jackman Into Grizzled Old Robin Hood Required A Coat That Weighed 200 Pounds

"Because the cape and costumes were so rough, and the weather, the hair would start to get tangled a lot. … I was in every single take behind Hugh, brushing out, re-braiding to hold it in place to keep some of the texture - Variety

Trading Manhattan Art Meet-Ups For A Farm, And A Huge Studio As Well

Uman: “I love working on the floor. I start with a mood, a color, and I determine the size of the canvas or linen. … I always wanted the color to go straight onto the canvas, and that will probably be a problem for restorers in the future.” - The New York Times

Ad-Free Streaming Has Become A Luxury Good

Remember the halcyon days of watching shows without ads? How great that streaming moment was? Well … it’s over. Mostly over. Apple is one holdout … for now. - The Verge

One Hundred Reasons To Love Mel Brooks On His 100th Birthday

"At 9 he saw his first Broadway show, Anything Goes, with the Broadway belter Ethel Merman, which explains everything.” - The New York Times

Despite Challenges And Bans, It’s A Golden Age For Queer Literature

A bookstore owner writes, "Queer literature has become one of the growth engines of the publishing industry. L.G.B.T.Q. fiction has never been more visible, more varied or better promoted.” Happy Pride! - The New York Times

The Artists Who Painted Early Hollywood Into Existence

“‘In general, at the studios, they systematized the production design, so that it was fast,’ Kanjo said, describing the rigid process as militaristic. ‘Five artists at a time work day after day to get these things done.’” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)

Dave Eggers Says If We Use AI The Wrong Way Humanity Is Cooked

“You’re one of one. … You’re unprecedented in the entire line of human history. Only you have your brain. Only you can think of what you can think of. Only you can tell a story in a particular way. Why would you cede that to a machine?” - The Guardian (UK)

The Collapse Of The Limited Series

“Why do these shows feel so minor this year? Are we in a limited-series slump, or are viewers looking for a different storytelling vehicle in 2026?” - Vulture

Universal Decides Skip The Influencers And Take The Odyssey Directly To Remaining Professional Movie Critics

“While it should be noted that any number of TikTok and YouTube content creators will still get to see the film ahead of its release along with the press, the decision to not directly court their buzz has proved widely popular—not least with the film critics themselves.” - Wired

If You’re A George Washington Reenactor, This Is A Very Busy Year

One man "retired a year ago from his ‘regular job’ at an alternative energy company and is reenacting full time these days, while the heightened interest lasts. He and his horse recently set a personal best with three separate events in one weekend.” - NPR

Ann Blyth, Oscar-Nominated For Her Role In Mildred Pierce, Has Died At 98

“Blyth was just 17 when she made Mildred Pierce, based on James M. Cain’s hard-boiled 1941 novel. She had begun her movie career in innocent-teen roles, and played sharply against type as the coddled, conceited Veda Pierce.” - The New York Times

After Five Seasons, ‘The Bear’ Faces Closing Time

"So much of our show is shot so quickly, but then we really get to slow down with these choreographed pieces of kitchen ballet, and that’s also when we feel really strong as a group of performers, where we’re incredibly reliant on one another.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)

Some Libraries Are Lending Power Tools, Musical Instruments, And Even Prom Dresses Alongside Books

After all, “Library of Things” doesn’t mean only tech things. - The New York Times

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