Kiss, Marry or Kill: 24
The best book of 2023 (I'm calling it!); the influencer's dilemma; boundaries for breadcrumbs; more votes for nature; and is it *really* inflation, Coca-Cola?
This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.
Kiss (things I like right now)
The Future by Naomi Alderman
This book launched November 7th, but I’ve had it on pre-order (straight to my Kindle) for months. Alderman wrote The Power, which I reviewed (5-stars) in 2020. I loved The Power. I couldn’t put it down. The Future is BETTER. I went to bed last night at 8:30 just so I could finish it.
Alderman’s work is realistic dystopian with a big ol’ side of feminism, playing on current events and social sentiments in a way that is equal parts deeply satisfying and terribly disturbing, given how relatable these sci-fi scenarios are. The Future stars two queer badass survivalist; one deeply entrenched in the highest levels of Big Tech and the other a refugee-turned-internet celebrity famous in “prepper” communities. The scenario goes like this: The end of the world is coming. How are the richest, most well-connected people in the world going to see it coming first, and ensure they make it through?
Power, corruption, manipulation, greed, survival, betrayal, and of course, love… Alderman’s book has it all, unfolding at breakneck speed with wild creativity. (“Page-turner” doesn’t begin to cover it—the last book I read this fast was Carrie Soto is Back.) By the end, I was half in love with Martha myself, and just about ready to set my Apple/Google/Meta products on fire, move to a remote island, and learn how to build a raft. (Sadly, I’m still typing on my Mac while answering Instagram DMs with zero survival skills, but I don’t feel great about it.)
You will love The Future. You’ll hate it a little too—that’s the best part.
