Subscriber Writing Roundup
Edition XI
Happy July, bookworms!
It’s the first Monday of the month which means it’s time for our monthly Subscriber Writing Roundup!
But, before we get stuck into links, last week we featured two great pieces here on BTMU:
Maddie Burton’s heartbreaking essay on the book that helped her through the final few months of her Mum’s life.
Mazin Saleem’s brilliant look at the book that made him — 1982, Janine.
We’re also recommending three excellent substacks this week:
Vanya Bagaev’s Nova Nevédoma — Complementary materials to existence. Literature, art(s), new frontiers, obscure mindscapes.
Liz Gwedhan’s Feasts and Festivals — Read, cook, eat, repeat.
Adam Nathan’s 100 Stories — Feel something.
Now onto the subscriber writing. What follows are 18 links to great pieces of writing from BTMU subscribers. We travel all over the world in this edition, from first impressions of Marrakesh, to hitchhiking though Mexico, to eating in Peru, there’s something for everyone.
Dive in!
In this mini essay, Terry Freedman — with his tongue firmly wedged in his cheek — explores the factors that make Sherlock Holmes stories so enjoyable.
In his post "In Search Of Moral Justification For My Wealth," david roberts explores whether trying to be a "good" wealthy person adds, insidiously, to the problem of economic inequality.
In a personal essay, Mikhail Skoptsov discusses how David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive,' his favorite movie of all time, was a formative text that changed his life and made him take film seriously as an art form:
Many have wondered why there are elephants in Africa and India but none in America; Hermann’s post covers that answer and more in his review of the book Wild New World.
Tom Fish describes his abrupt arrival into the heart of Marrakesh.
Sheila Dembowski of the Kindness Boomerang Newsletter explores how librarians have worked in the past and continue to this day, to provide a wide range of services, and perhaps most importantly, a vital, human connection...
Rolando Andrade demonstrates how notebooks are a historical record of the passage of time by taking a journey through one of his notebooks.
Konstantin Asimonov discusses the ethics of reading books written in the middle of war -- by the attacking side.
Zork (the) Hun finds it genuinely puzzling why this post got so much traction while the one related to it got none:
Could it be that people care a lot about immigration but little about radical solutions?
Could you help him with the answer?
Robin Reardon sees opposing afterlife philosophies between Judaism and Islam and asks, "Are you afraid to die?"
Julie Gabrielli tells the tale of Cleone, a homicidal water spirit with an authority problem, who defies orders not to meddle with Undine, a teenage girl hiking with her father, Hank.
Vanya Bagaev writes about the cost of passivity and justification of evil with examples from history, literature, and life.
Justin S. Bailey reflects on why travel and adventure are existential concerns.
Could Suzanne Taylor, who has a lot of chutzpa touting a Biden replacement no one has thought of she is sure would win in a landslide, be on to something?
Ever wondered what if Superman said, "Let the others help"? Zoe Carada prompts us to reflect on how we choose to take or dodge responsibility, and why we choose to blame others but put ourselves above guilt.
Matt MM finishes up his multi-part series on hitchhiking in Mexico with a post about visiting the Island of Dolls, Santa Muerte, and seeing the spandex gods wrestle each other on a Tuesday night:
Before it was Pride Month, Amelia Schmidt wrote about one of her favorite WWII novels of 2023 that included an LGBTQ romance:
Sutee Dee recounts his journey from eating a droopy plate of scrambled eggs at 6:30 am at a casino to believing that Peruvian food is the best cuisine on the planet.
That’s all folks!
I love that the Writing Roundup at the BTMU is becoming a monthly ritual for me. Thanks again for featuring my post! To another month of great reading and writing, cheers!
You're too kind sir! Please receive the most radiant beams of appreciation