The Good Stuff

an embarrassment of riches

Happy Wednesday, Friend.

What’s making this dear life especially dear right now? Glad you asked.

My memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, is out in two weeks! The Cut featured an excerpt, if you want a sneak peek. If you haven’t preordered a copy yet, there’s still time, and I would really appreciate it. You might still be able to snag a signed, limited-edition print of my poem “Bride” with proof of preorder. Get yours here.

That line in my poem “Bride” about choosing perfume? That’s ripped straight from the life. These days I’m liking my sample of this new find from Boy Smells, but it won’t replace my all-time favorite, this one by REPLICA.

I’m losing my mind a little over the just-announced lineup for the Nelsonville Music Festival. Andy Shauf! Margo Price! Lucinda Williams! *swoons*

What I’m obsessively listening to: the latest records by Phoenix and boygenius. Both. So. Good.

Best read this month: Happily by Sabrina Orah Mark, which I preordered because her essays over at the Paris Review absolutely floored me without fail. I devoured the book on the plane to and from Philly, where I travelled to give a reading at Bryn Mawr, and wow—that book in the clouds was extra magical.

While at Bryn Mawr, Daniel Torday took a photo of me and Airea D. Matthews in the exact spot where H.D. and Marianne Moore met on the Bryn Mawr campus in 1911. The exploding head emoji was made for times like these.

Something I keep watching: Charlie Kaufman’s acceptance speech for the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement. Brilliant. Watch, then watch again.

Film recs: I recently saw Banshees of Inisherin, which I heartily recommend. And I know you’ve probably all seen Everything Everywhere All at Once already, but on the off chance that you haven’t, please remedy that. No spoilers, but the raccoon sent me over the edge. And Son Lux’s music is *chef’s kiss*

In the kitchen: I made this mac & cheese, and this, and also a crispy hoisin tofu I improvised. All hits, no skips. I was skeptical about the air fryer, but I love it. I also used it to make homemade sweet potato fries, served with a side of chipotle mayo, and my kids were not mad about that.

File this perfectly milky-sheer nail concealer under frivolous pleasures, because fuck it, we all need those, too. Life is absurd. More little pleasures, please. To that end: I also love these two products from Iris & Romeo that I’ve been using daily: Best Skin Days and Ceramide Multi-Balm.

I’m excited to hit the road soon for book tour, and I hope to see you if I’m coming to your neck of the woods. (If I’m not coming to your area, please join me and Elissa Altman for a virtual event on Wednesday 4/26, no matter where you are.) You can see details at a glance for the whole shebang below, and registration information is available at each bookstore’s website. Please support these terrific indie bookstores (and this poet) by coming to an event. We’ll have a good time.

What’s bring you joy right now?

Wishing you more of it—

Maggie