Nonfiction Nagging: Lena Dunham is a Piece of Work

Lena Dunham is not someone I'd like to be friends with, have as a daughter, have as a sister, or know as an acquaintance. And maybe this is because I have no patience and am not an empathetic person. Or maybe it's because I don't like drama, narcissism, or people who act like they are bigger feminists than they are. 

I do have to admit to loving Girls, and I will continue to love it. I did not realize it was quite as autobiographical as it is, but I can accept that and continue to watch it. 

I've been interested in Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl ever since I heard of the $3.5 million dollar advance it received. That's a solid chunk of change. Plus, as I aforementioned, I love her show Girls, and I consider myself a feminist, although not the stereotypical type that doesn't shave her legs, hates men, and constantly bitches and moans about the salary gap. So obviously it was pretty inevitable that I'd read her collection of essays. 

Some (mean-ish) things I thought while reading:

- Is she for real? Is she a real person? Please tell me she is embellishing her ridiculousness.

- Why are people putting condoms in house-trees? Is this a thing I'm just not cool enough to know about? Is this something that only artistic Oberlin people do?

- Oh. This is what people keep talking about when they say things like "white privilege." I get it now.

- You are not a feminist if you are that hung up on men and their validation of you. Just because you are too lazy to stay on a diet, shave, and develop a fashion sense doesn't mean you can wave around the feminist card. Or maybe this is just a new brand of feminism, for the millenials, or whatever it's called.

- Entitlement x 5325347584994

- There are some gross things that you should just keep to yourself. Fine, tell your friends if that's what you guys talk about, but do you really need to share private, weird, things about, say, YOUR VAGINA, with the whole damn world?

- I hope she doesn't reproduce. She struggles to care about anyone but herself.

- Ummm, where is Jessa? Marnia? Shoshanna? 

- *Pause* let's define rape, shall we?

- Your dad seems cool, but your mom seems sort of... difficult

- You are a slut, Lena Dunham

- Now I feel like less of a feminist for calling someone a slut, since everyone should get to explore their sexuality as they see fit, as long as everyone is safe and consenting. But still, she had sex with a lot of people that she didn't really know. 

- People who write memoirs before they're at least middle-aged have some serious narcissism problems going on. 

- There are some sections in the end that aren't as infuriating as the beginning, like on work, therapy, etc... But still. 

This book was really irritating, but it was also really fun to hate read. I think this would be an excellent book club selection, actually, since I'd anticipate some really strong feelings. She's not a bad writer, in fact I'd actually say that's she has a decent voice and style. She's just a serious pain in the ass. 

 

Reading Rainbow Revisited

Today, I was inspired. No, it wasn't the students, it wasn't the sense of accomplishment that comes with grading 100+ assignments, or the improvement in the stock market. It was my Reading Rainbow shirt and the very emphatic conversation I had touting the show's merits to a semi-jaded individual who has never seen it, nor seemed very impressed by my description. What? Now in awe of the Rainbow and LeVar? Unacceptable! Hence, inspiration to do some Rainbow/LeVar research.

Confession: When I picture LeVar he's always wearing his Star Trek visor, which I guess let him see because he was blind? Or... I don't even know. All I remember is once he took the visor off on Star Trek and it creeped me out.



Anyway, what is our dear LeVar up to these days?

First of all, he's gotten pretty old, in fact even older than my mom, who's no spring chicken. LeVar is a whopping fifty-four years old, complete with grey hair- a far cry from his youthful exterior back in the day. Not that looks matter. Since the show ended in 2006 it appears like he's been up to a whole lot of nothing important. Guest appearances here, a few attempts at directing, blablabla- what could even remotely measure up the The Rainbow?


But, it gets better. Sort of.

He's relaunching Reading Rainbow through his company called RRKidz (LeVar, seriously, if you're teaching kids literacy you should spelling "kids" correctly). Much like the show, it will include voice overs for stories, but also LeVar on different locations and... games. That's the one caveat- it's an iPad ap. First of all, I don't have an iPad, and if I did I wouldn't let my future child touch it (that or anything else remotely of value- and do not give me any of that "it will be different once you have kids" crap). Second of all, it's a subscription based service, which is a far cry from PBS. But, at least the show has been semi-resurrected.

People like to remake the opening song:

There is nothing better than a crowd of drunk people singing the theme song to Reading Rainbow...

Morsels of Awesomeness

Lots of little appetizers on today's menu- ideas that don't necessarily constitute their own posts. Here goes it:

Gilmore and Lost
There aren't many shows that I can say I've watched in their entirety, but two that I have actually have corresponding book lists. The first is Rory's on the Gilmore Girls (confession- I'd really like to be Lorelai/Lauren Graham when I grow up). There are several versions floating around, but most are pretty similar. Since the show has been over for several years there really isn't a definite list, but it's still fun to see the ones people have created. The selection is pretty heavy with classics, but there's some more contemporary works on it as well, including works by Jeffrey Eugenides and Nick Hornby.


The second list is from Lost, which I will always have a love/hate relationship (I love Sawyer's abs and I hate how it never gave you any damn answers). This list is quite exhaustive, including the book, author, Wikipedia links, where the book appears in the show, and links to pages involving connected characters. I wonder how many crunches he did a day...



The Writer's Junction
I stumbled across this Santa Monica location in the LA Times and desperately wish I lived closer to it, and that I had the time and money to make such a commitment to becoming a member. The Writer's Junction is basically a quiet, professional, yet cozy, place that you can go write. It allows writers to escape from the distractions of home, while still giving the option of a collaborative environment.


Jewelry
I love this necklace by Peg and Awl, available at Anthropologie. I do not love that it costs $248. Oh well, some girls dream of huge diamonds in their ears, I'd like to wear books on my neck.


The Library Foundation of Los Angeles' Library Store
I'm a huge, huge fan of the Library Foundation and have attended several of their events. Their online store is full of really fun, creative gifts for readers, writers, library lovers, and kids. Products include posters, bags, notebooks, games, and of course librarian action figures.


Book-opoly
The name says it all. Four railroads? I think not; four genres!


Dork Wear
I love a good shirt that notifies the whole world I'm a nerd. My advise to my students before the CAHSEE was, "If you can't spell beautiful, write pretty."


I also like this shirt. It has nothing to do with anything whatsoever.