À la Carte: Recommended Reading, January

Writing on diet culture, a convoy, a con artist and more.

It’s February! One month down.

A personal note: My first show as a photographer, “A Light That Is Always Changing,” will open at Cork’d Wine Bar + Lounge next week. For more information follow along on Instagram. -JRS

Articles

Joy Henderson, While Canada cracks down on Indigenous and Black protesters, white supremacists get a free pass in Canada. Just look at the convoy

On the ongoing story in the capital of this 154-year-old colonial project we call Canada.

Kate Manne, Diet Culture Is Unhealthy. It’s Also Immoral

I’m currently writing about keto, which I’d prefer not to. Here’s philosopher Kate Manne on diet culture generally.

Jay Rayner, My Berlin Meeting with an Ex-nazi

A fascinating story of personal evolution – maybe?

Chaunie Brusie, If Food Is Love, My Kids Must Hate Me

A piece by a parent whose children do not share her passion for food. “But as it turns out, sometimes, food is just food.”

Chris Pomorski, The Charismatic Developer and the Ponzi Scheme That Suckered San Diego

In my early 30s I was the victim of a charismatic, sociopathic con artist; the experience marks a before-and-after partition in my life. One result: I’m endlessly fascinated by stories like this one.

Books

Shannon Webb-Cambell, I Am a Body of Land

The poetry is great, but the introduction by Lee Miracle alone is worth the price of admission, a brief treatise on craft and creative process.

Lisa Moore & Stephen Crocker, Muskrat Falls; How a Mega Dam Became a Predatory Formation

Newfound and Labrador, a.k.a. the neoliberal experiment.

Kiese Laymon, Heavy

A raw and revealing memoir, incredibly written.

Joep Hijwegen, Controlled Coincidence

Hijwegen, a Dutch street photographer, carries on the tradition of early colourists like Saul Leiter, William Eggleston and Fred Herzog. Beautiful stuff.

Films

Some recommendations.

Drive My Car (INCREDIBLE!), Victoria, A Cop Movie, In the Name of the Father