How to get a signed Cultish for the holidays
Also, the first critics' review for my new book is in!
Writing Prompt:
Here we are in winter, a time of hibernation and coziness throughout the animal kingdom. Write a short piece (journal entry, poem, etc.) about your current relationship to rest.
The Age of Magical Overthinking received a Kirkus starred review.
“A leading social commentator puts the weird trends of our time under the microscope. Montell, author of Cultish and Wordslut, examines a profound, timely question: How do we get out of the constant cycle of confusion, obsession, second-guessing, and information overload? … Montell’s take on how irrationality went mainstream is informed by erudite wit and an eye for telling images.” — Kirkus starred review
Omg I was so not ready for critics’ reviews of The Age of Magical Overthinking to start rolling in, so thank goddess this first one came out of nowhere. Kirkus is a niche literary trade publication, not a magazine that anyone really *reads*, but it’s known to be prestigious, and the book industry allegedly pays attention to it. Kirkus reviewers are anonymous and sometimes pretty harsh, but if you manage to impress them, then you might receive a coveted Kirkus “star”—a sort of literati stamp of approval awarded to about 1 in every 10 books. You can only imagine the way my heart stopped when my publisher emailed me the other week to let me know not only that my first trade review had come in, but that it was from Kirkus, and they’d given me a star. A first for me! My inner over-achieving child was quite pleased lol.
Giving away signed Cultish book plates for the holidays!
I wanted to thank you all so much for your readership this year, especially your continued support of Cultish. I can’t believe how long a life this book has had! For just y’all newsletter subscribers, if you buy a copy of Cultish for the holidays, upload your proof of purchase to this link, and I’ll send a signed & personalized book plate to the first 10 people who do so!
A weekly roundup of books, podcasts, TV shows, tchotchkes, and anything else I’m currently “cult following.” This week, a hodgepodge of goodies I’ve been loving the past couple months.
BOOK: Death Valley by Melissa Broder
Melissa Broder is an auto-buy author for me. I’m in awe of the grotesque, absurd, poignant lens through which she views the world. This book is about grief and despair and a freak cactus and I deeply enjoyed it. Anyone else read this yet?
WORK BAG: EcoSusi Cambridge Backpack
I bought a leather briefcase-backpack similar to this one at a vintage shop in Bologna earlier this year, and I fail to remember life before it. Such a chic, romantic, literary little vessel for your laptop and whatever else!
TOP: Sugar Thrillz Forgotten Garden Embroidered Top
Someone recently told me that my personal style is “Ms. Honey meets Ms. Trunchbull” (from Matilda), and I was shook by the accuracy. With tops specifically, I always gravitate towards prints and silhouettes that very much suggest Snow White/Little House on the Prairie, but that are also cropped and completely see-through and styled with Doc Martens lol. I have so many shirts like this. Doll’s Kill is a great place to find them for a decent price!
YOUTUBE: Katina Eats Kilos
Okay this is weird and please don’t judge me, but my boyfriend Casey and I have become obsessed with this little 30-something-year-old lady named Katina who has built a massive YouTube following for her eating challenge videos. Basically, this petite blonde CrossFit girly travels all around the world finding food challenges (for example, a 10-patty-high cheeseburger, plus an Everest of fries and a chocolate shake, to be eaten in under 45 minutes), and she crushes it nearly every time. Her videos are the latest thing I can’t look away from, and weirdly, I get so transfixed watching her eat that it helps me forget my problems lol.
As I lay me down to sleep
All the worries start to creep
“Had I said or done things right?”
Will keep me up throughout the night
Flick the light and grab my pen
Journal till I find some zen
Once I get my thoughts all down
They no longer loom in my crown
There it is, that welcomed guest
It’s time to reunite with rest
Rest (lol?)
After a days worth of work &
Parenting,
& Socializing,
Don’t forget the surface level conversation!
Work overtime ~at home~ to make ends meet; Christmas is in 2 weeks, don’t forget.
Working overtime? Be sure to use corporate lingo in every email, always add an exclamation, god forbid you sound demanding, watch your tone (or else)…..
Is it time for rest, now? Heh.
Of course not.
Laundry, dishes, oh and remember that piece of art waiting for your attention/completion—waiting weeks I might add— don’t work on it, don’t make a mess, forget about that, no time for your passion!… Also, when’s the last time your legs were shaved?? Your relationship is falling apart. Have you even eaten dinner yet? Forget it, unimportant. It’s almost 3 am, hurry take a shower now and you can still get 2, MAYBE, 3 hours of sleep before it’s time to wake up!
Hurry, get some rest…fuck , I mean get some SLEEP.. Do not rest. Wake up without feeling rested.
Wake up! Rush, do not rest! First grade is important, mom! Don’t be late!
Awesome, your obsessive thought for the day— a thought so graciously planted in your brain by the 6 year old who means absolutely no harm— excuse me, no distractions! Time to go!
“Are we late today? First grade is important, mom!” Says the voice who knows not a life without rest.
She deserves to rest, first grade is important, and oh- so challenging!
The single mom? Does she deserve to rest, the single mother fueled by the fear of failure and haunted by the thought, “I’ll rest tomorrow after I finish today”,
Remember that today is never finished and tomorrow arrives earlier than expected.
“I can rest tomorrow”…. Shit, it’s already 3am.
Rest, one day I will rest.
♡