Sounds like Literature Live went the marketing way and prioritised influencers. Heard it from someone who’s often complaining so may not be true. But the crowds make it seem like it. Well, good on the books business if they can attract more readers.

Don’t know if this is true anywhere else but Hinge is India is open season for married men too lazy to get a divorce but feeling entitled to flirtation and even side-pieces because they’re so sad. Utter garbage this gender.

Just read the phrase ‘bitter divorcee energy’ and I immediately thought of all the men frothing at the mouth over WhatsApp groups. Funnily enough, the women divorcees look tired at worst and relieved at best. No time or reason for bitterness after escaping marriage.

Probably too much to expect non Dravidians to say Bengaluru right when they haven’t managed to say Chennai correctly for 20 years. Never mind Sambar that has two As pronounced the same way but they’ll randomly stretch out one in the manner of Americans mocking an Indian accent.

Why is no one talking about ‘Nobody Wants This’ on Netflix? It’s very Indian-relatable from the snooping aunties to the communal boundary violations to of course, religious discrimination as identity.

I love drawing buildings and interiors without people because they are studies in geometry and light. I enjoy this because drawing lets me break the rules of gravity and perspective and shade just because I like how pencil scratches look there. #Ideart

I’m not too worried about AI taking away my job right now because I have full faith in the lazy greed of capitalism that cuts costs with zero regard for crash-and-burn scenarios. I saw it happen with the dotcom boom/bust and the social media wave/mess.

Fat golden shallots make sambar just hit differently. Yum, what genius is Southern home cooking.

All book club discussions I’ve been to this year are decidedly not literary discussions. Instead they’re about people’s personal feelings. Group therapy meets toxic fandom. People are reading to become book influencers. Probably good for publishers now but I don’t see it lasting.

Anxiety in men is just a capitalist word to excuse entitlement, control games and socially condoned abuse. Nobody else gets to get away with these things, refuse to get help and anyway be excused as being mentally ill.

Let’s stop calling them angry men and call them what they are. Spiteful narcissists. Calling them angry men humanises monstrous actions while also silencing their victims. A human adult who spews poison does not deserve excuses made. Call them narcissists. Unless you’re one.

AI anecdote: In a culture obsessed with speed and summaries, Adler’s approach [four levels of reading] helps one stay grounded and always moving forward in one’s quest to cultivate the life of the mind… The Culturist open.substack.com/pub/culturist/…

Gen Z fashions are so sloppy that it really makes it easier to dress ‘my age’ a.k.a. millennial cuts that fit me instead of drowning me in fabric.

For the first time in months have not been responsible in schedule, work, diet, exercise, conversation or socialising and I feel calm. For the first time. This city is shit, human beings are garbage and I’m going to survive, that’s all.

Not being able to write isn’t always writers block. Right now it feels more like idea pregnancy and I’m not yet at term.

Desi men on dating apps be like I’m a great guy despite being separated+lying about it or divorced with hatred but I’m the best you’ll get because trust me, bro okay never mind you’re a drama queen you want honesty kaunsa mard aisa karta hain chal come for long drive.

I need to learn to be among people without engaging actively. At first I thought this just meant not talking but I realised most people don’t put as much thought and effort into talking as I do. And people are *very* uncomfortable around me when I don’t talk. Tips are welcome.

My second Japanese book this year after Asako Yuzuki’s Butter. And I’ve fallen headlong into how relatable it is. Maybe only a book will ever hear you. #Books