things i think about while powerwashing 183

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I picked up a reading habit again, somehow. I've been an on-and-off again reader — mainly due to how I've been slogging my way through Dante's Divine Comedy. Work has been whupping my ass so hard that honestly all I have energy for after I log off is to be horizontal and read a good book.

So here is what I've been reading thus far! And a sentence about it.

• The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. A fun read during Purgatory, but a bit too preachy during Paradise.
• Strange Houses by Uketsu. A fun Japanese mystery novel that can get a little spooky — read this in one sitting all gas no breaks!
• Butter by Asako Yuzuki. While it is also a Japanese mystery/crime novel, unlike Strange Pictures it's a slow, methodical burning book that gently carries you through the feelings of the story.
• Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-Zi. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year (and not just because it's based in Taiwan) for its multilayered story that slowly peels away but somehow still keeps you guessing.

museum of the week

This week we are returning to the New York Public Library to take a look at some books, this time joined by esteemed subscriber Junghyun Choy!

It only recently dawned on me that the New York Public Library would primarily show books and written texts as exhibitions — what else would a library have? Everything from A.A. Milne's childhood stuffed animals to children's books it seems.

The one that caught my eye was M.B. Goffstein's unreleased children's book Artists’ Helpers Enjoy the Evening — the tale of five crayons and their sojourn to the states. It is extremely apparent this tale was written in the 80s given they applied for a green card and expected it to come in two weeks in the mail. But that was part of the joy of reading it. As we struggled to follow the words around the heavily-marked manuscript, I started to realize that this story was interesting for me. It didn't downplay its complexity for its audience but still had that child-like bliss and joy all those picture books we read as kids had.

There were also some really cool maps of the lower tip of Manhattan before it was filled out!

anonymous subscriber news

Why not Remy? It's been so long since Ratatouille, I'm sure he has grown into a ratfather himself. Maybe he was here for the world cup so he could see France LOSE!!!

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• anon sees their family: saw the chonkiest rat ever running along the sidewalk next to me, pretty sure it was Remy’s dad from ratatouille (guess he vacations during the summer too)
• anon suffers: i have so much back pain ALL THE TIME smh

animal of the week

No animal pics today :(. Here is Simba.

Send me your animal photos at ryan@torrtle.co OR at this form https://forms.gle/NT3nSkKVbpkjCr1u8!