A Legend is Hatched! Bonus: Winter Recommendations 2022

Things made by other people who are not me! A list of books, movies, TV, and more to enhance the season. The 2022 edition.

Once again, I am taking my annual break from making things all about me, and making this about my thoughts on things—like books, movies, and television shows (yes, ones made by other people).

Last year, I focused on things to improve the winter (a season which I very much like), and if I do say so myself, it was a truly excellent list (you can read it here). This year is more of a typical year-end list, since I thought I’d surprise people by doing something normal.

Some of you might be wondering why I waited until after the gift-giving holidays to make this list. Well, because I already have all of these things. And, obviously, the best gift is still the gift of helping me get my television show or movie (or one woman cabaret show) made.

Now onto our featured program: Books, Movies, TV Shows, Art, Music, and Other Things that made my year-end list! 

Things to Read

My top picks out of the things I read this year.

The novels of Isabel Colegate—During the late summer and early fall I read a number of novels by the English writer Isobel Colegate (The Shooting Party, Statues in a Garden, The Orlando Trilogy, Deceits of Time).  Almost all deal with the British upper class and with one (or both) of the World Wars (Julian Fellows borrowed from her for Downton Abbey). Structurally she has more going on than first appears and they all make clever use of the history hanging over them.

Come Back in September by Darryl Pinckney—A memoir of time spent with Elizabeth Hardwick and others in the literary and art scene that will absolutely make you wish you were there. But also—through language and style—does a fantastic job of capturing what it’s like to be young and around “impressive” people.

Come to This Court and Cry by Linda Kinstler—It wouldn’t be me without at least one Holocaust book on here! This is about putting Nazis on trial and poses the question: what if the opposite of forgetting isn’t remembering, but justice? 

Do Everything in the Dark by Gary Indiana—The novel feels like it was set farther in the past than it actually is (it’s set in 2001), which I mean as a compliment. A New York City novel, for anyone in the mood for something set in a place and time you have a memory of, but didn’t quite experience.  

Either/Or by Elif Batuman—The sequel to The Idiot (also recommended). I think Elif Batuman is super smart. She is the master of writing about pre-iPhone email and the weird period of time when how people communicated was totally in flux.

Everybody Thought We Were Crazy by Mark Rozzo—For a few weeks in the spring, I was telling everyone I talked to about this book. It’s about Dennis Hopper, Brooke Hayward, and the 60s art scene in LA. Do I have a particular interest in either of them? No. But the lifestyle represented in this book, and how art was made (lots of socializing, lots of just doing stuff), was so different than it is now that I spent a lot of time thinking about it.

A Girl in Winter by Philip Larkin—This one is full of symbolism, but well deployed. A more meditative English Second World War novel.  And, yes, some of it does take place in the winter.

Light Years by James Salter—The plot is familiar here (a marriage) but the sentences are good. It’s languid and nostalgic. 

Shy by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green—Another one that makes you wish you’d been there, it’s both delightful (read the footnotes) and serious.  I found this much more reflective than most memoirs, but it also captures the musical comedy feeling that one (‘one’ meaning me) wants out of something set in the NYC theatre.

(Note: I think that I should be put in charge of a revival of Once Upon a Mattress. I also think that I should be the star.)

Also consider: Apparently I need to recommend People Love Dead Jews again; Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au is an evocative novella; and Julia Ioffe’s Russia columns are both insightful and sometimes a wild ride.

Things to Watch

Movies and TV of the past that are worth revisiting.

TV

The Mindy Project – Back when DVDs were still a thing, whenever someone was indisposed or convalescing, I would give out The Mindy Project with a card saying, “after all, Mindy Lahiri is a doctor.” The series has its ups and downs, but has a lot of charm and I appreciate that Mindy Kaling found a way to contemporize the screwball comedy heroine.

Will and Grace (the original series)—I started re-watching Will and Grace after seeing The Hours: the opera (if you grew up during a certain time period, this makes total sense). There’s a lot that still makes me laugh about this show and some that makes me very melancholy. But Jack and Karen are always inspirations (and aspirations!).  

That Girl—I can’t remember exactly what compelled me to rewatch this (it was on TVLand when I was growing up), but something about rewatching it on winter evenings, while eating soup or sardines or something else that comes from a can, just seems right. Also a very enjoyable color palette.

Middle of the night Friends—A few months ago when I was up in the middle of the night with a fever, I discovered that Nickelodeon airs Friends episodes all night long. New Therapist says when one is having a middle of the night panic attack, it’s best to just go for a distraction (or maybe she’s just given up all hope of me ever learning to meditate). I think one of the reasons why Friends works so well for this purpose is because it’s been ubiquitous for so long that there’s actually very little nostalgia attached to it. It just exists in its own universe that is eternal.

Romola Garai in Becoming Elizabeth—I am going to break my rule of not putting anything current on this list because of the amount of people I told my “Romola Garai’s thoughts on Tom Stoppard” story to before realizing that I was getting some of the details incorrect. I had mixed feelings about this show overall, but I thought her performance as Mary I was outstanding.

Movies

A Cate Blanchett movie that is not Tar—I saw Tar twice in theatres, but if you are looking for more Cate and less Lydia, might I recommend the Australian film Little Fish (2005). It’s the type of movie that, normally, I’d label as too serious. But I think it handles a tough subject well, is a little unusual, and Blanchett is brilliant as always.

Battle at Versailles (2016) — This is a documentary about a 1973 fashion show that was a competition between American and French designers. The Americans brought Liza Minnelli as their secret weapon. This sounds like something I would make up, but it is, in fact, real.

Roberta (1935)—A Fred and Ginger movie that gets less attention than some of their others, but is highly enjoyable. It has a ridiculous fashion-based plot and Ginger Rogers doing a ridiculous European accent.

The Owl and the Pussycat (1970)—In this film Barbra Streisand has a monologue about her love of television. Need I say more?

Pennies From Heaven (1981)—For a long time whenever I’d bring up this movie someone would inevitably say, “yeah, but have you seen The Singing Detective?” And, you know what, no, I still have not seen it, but I’m still okay saying that Pennies From Heaven is a great movie. Steve Martin! Bernadette Peters! (And, yes, there is part of me that finds their collaboration more interesting than Peters/Sondheim).   

Flirting with Disaster (1996)—When I was ten, I tried discussing this movie with a group of adults in the Galapagos. I thought I seemed sophisticated. They thought I seemed weird. I like this movie because it just keeps going and gradually grows in ridiculousness.

The Object of My Affection (1998)—I’ve mentioned this movie before in passing (or maybe multiple times in passing), but it really is one of my favorites. It stars Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, and Wendy Wasserstein wrote the screenplay. Did studio interference mess it up a little? Yes, but I still think it’s great and deserves a critical reexamining. There’s a version of this movie that would have gotten snubbed for an Oscar nomination.

The Producers (2005)—I think the movie version of the Stroman musical got treated a little unfairly, since it was released in the midst of the movie musical trend of cutting every fifteen seconds, whereas The Producers is filmed in a similar fashion to the old movie musicals.  Some things don’t work as well as the worked on stage, but if you miss this type of production, it’s worth watching. 

Liza with a Z (1972)/Liza in New Orleans (1979) / Liza in London (1986)—As anyone who has read my pilot knows, there’s a reason why the words “Liza Minnelli” appear on page one. What an incredible performer! People forget that there was no such thing as Liza Minnelli until there was Liza Minnelli. And she did a lot that was quite hard and required a lot of skill. It’s a really terrific to watch these three concert films together.

(Note: If anyone wants to talk more about my pilot, please let me know!)

Things to Listen To

Cher covering Bob Dylan—As anyone who was in my vicinity at the 2019 Clubbed Thumb benefit knows, I have very strong feelings about the orchestrations from Cher’s 1960s and 1970s albums (they were amazing). During this time, she did a very eclectic group of covers (including… “Old Man River”) and her Dylan cover of  “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” is really good.

Judee Sill—For some reason (okay, because of Spotify) it seems like there has been a bit of a Judee Still renascence in the last few years. Start with “Jesus was a Cross Maker” and “Enchanted Sky Machines.” Yes, both from the early ‘70s.

Vera Lynn—”The White Cliffs of Dover”! “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square”! “We’ll Meet Again”! Music to take you back to another time and want to go for cocktails at a classic hotel.

“Say Goodbye to Hollywood” covered by Ronnie Spector—It seemed like this song and  “Goodbye Stranger” and “If You Leave Me Now” were being played everywhere last winter. But I am going to highlight Ronnie Spector’s version of “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” because it actually sounds exactly like what the lyrics are saying.

Holst’s The Planets—After the Queen died, I listened to a lot of classical music by British composers. And in selecting one for this list, instead of Britten or Elgar, I decided on The Planets because it’s dramatic, but also a little wacky in a Nancy Mitford country house type way.

Also consider: The Tar soundtrack, obviously. And The Supremes.

Things to Look At

Without having to leave the house

New York 1962-1964—As exhibition catalogues go, this catalogue from The Jewish Museum is a fun one. In keeping with the spirit of the exhibition, the catalogue is designed to actually make you feel like it’s from the ‘60s. 

Jonas Mekas: The Camera Was Always Running— Another catalogue from The Jewish Museum. This was an exhibit I was not expecting to translate well into book form, but I was wrong. The book is mostly comprised of film stills, many of which look like they could be actual photographs and have a fun fly on the wall feel.

Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach and Dancing at the Louvre—Last spring, a friend and I went to see the Faith Ringgold exhibit at the New Museum and were both surprised at the breadth of her work. The story quilts are her most well known work (I think?) and endlessly charming, but seeing them in person really adds to appreciating how meticulously crafted and subversive they are.

An Attic Full of Trains: Alberto di Leonardo—This photo book from Mack Books is full of photos from an unknown Italian photographer (the photos were found by his granddaughter). It’s like looking at a mix of Italian cinema, William Eggleston, and vacation photos on kodachrome slide film.

The Unseen Saul Leiter—I am a big Saul Leiter fan because of how cinematic his images are and this is a new book of his work (although, some of them definitely have been seen). This pairs well with the New York nostalgia that seems to have permeated this list.

Face to Face: The Photographs of Camilla McGrath—Camille McGarth (married to Earl, who was among other things one of Joan Didion’s best friends—The White Album is dedicated to him) made a habit of photographing her life, which, lucky for her, was filled with lots of interesting people. Everyone (like, truly, everyone) shows up in these photos. If you want to see Fran Lebowitz with European royalty, this books is for you!

Here are some photos of my cat.

Other Things!

Midtown/5th Avenue—I don’t care what anyone says; midtown Manhattan is great. Is it too crowded? Yes. Too many tourists? Also yes. Is it an abomination that there’s an Abercrombie and Finch on 5th Avenue? Absolutely. But there is also nothing like it! The location of so many scenes from books and movies! The neighborhood that will always feel so very New York! Go have a cocktail in midtown!

Going to the Movies in the Morning—There was a brief period in my early twenties when I’d go to the movies in the morning with a few freinds, the 10am or 11am showing. Whether you go with friends or by yourself, morning movies feel indulgent. There can also be great people watching. And popcorn for breakfast!

Coupe Cocktail Glasses—Everything is better in this style of glass.

Film Photography—Over the summer I dragged my film camera everywhere and insisted on taking everyone’s photo. It can feel a little conspicuous to take out a film camera (odd when you think about how people have phones out all the time), but also a nice break from the consumptive nature of phones. It’s pleasant to look through prints of photos. And it can be nice to send people actual prints of actual photos.

Writing Letters While Traveling—I put stationary on my list last year in my continued effort to get people to write more letters/notes. Since I seem to have not found success in this area, I have decided to be more prescriptive about it. Because, okay, yes, unless you are at summer camp, it can feel awkward to write a letter. But you know when it doesn’t? On vacation.  There was nothing I loved more as a child (other then the pursuit of fame) then hanging out in hotel bars and catching up on my correspondence. So the next time you are traveling, write a letter.

Zitomer (969 Madison Avenue)—This Upper East Side pharmacy (briefly featured in Tar!) is fantastic. Great people watching! So many things to smell!

Tiny Doll House (314 East 78th)—One summer evening, I was walking with a friend on the Upper East Side, when we were stopped by the sight of dollhouses in a window of a store across the street. Some other people walking by also stopped to look at what were, yes, dollhouses and a whole store full of dollhouse furniture. I imagine this happens every evening. 

Brooches—Despite being known for my exceptional taste, I am usually reluctant to give carte blanche fashion advice, since style is personal and that’s what makes it style. But I feel strongly that there should be a resurgence of the brooch.

Tap-dancing—There should be more of it!

Social Mysteries—Do you know someone who might be embezzling?  Who has a fake accent? Who might secretly have a second career as a DJ?  These are the social mysteries of life that will greatly enhance all social gatherings. A friend and I have been trying to solve a DJ related mystery for years!

Things by Me!

Things I wrote this year that you can praise.

The One Where We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live—Joan Didion wasn’t available to write about Jennifer Aniston, so I did! For the LA Review of Books, I wrote about the mythology surrounding Aniston. Have I become friends with Jen since this was published? No. Have I been haunted by Joan’s ghost? Hopefully!

Stage Door—This is actually from 2021, but I didn’t know it was online until this year. It’s an essay I wrote about the 1937 film Stage Door to go with new work from Nina Mae Fowler, an artist who does a lot of work around old Hollywood in ways that are really interesting and evocative—and irreverent and fun (check out her work!). She is the mind and maker behind my Elizabeth Taylor napkins. 

And if anyone wants to read my pilot and then get me a deal with a network that will give me creative control, please let me know!

Happy New Year!

Victoria