The Kyle File - 01
Books, TV, food, fashion, and free speech, god damnit.
Well, I have fully gone all-in on Substack. I’m capital ‘O’ Obsessed. I launched my first erotic story last Saturday, with Part II dropping on October 4th, and now I’m delving into The Kyle File: a weekly dose of culture (both of the pop and original variety), what’s going on in my life, thoughts about the world, and more. So, let’s dive in, shall we?
What I’m Reading
The Virgin Suicides. How uplifting! We’ve all seen the movie with Kirsten Dunst, of course, but I found this book on a random trip to Palm Springs back in February. It was nestled in this tiny little antique shop, asking to be purchased. And guess what? It’s good. Like, really good. It’s lyrical and poetic and dark and acutely observed and filled with coming-of-age angst and black humor: so basically everything I like in a book. It might be one of my new favorites.
What I’m Wearing
Warning: this will be the most boring section of this dispatch. If there is one drawback to living in LA (if you could even consider it a drawback) is that when everyone else is throwing on sweaters and cool jackets in Autumn, the weather is still in the 80s well into October. So, summer isn’t over. Thus, my sartorial choices haven’t shifted much from July or August. I don’t love trends. I like to keep it casual, crisp, and timeless. But more on that in future entries.
What I’m Eating
I was just sent a steak by my friend Joe (right). And can you believe I don’t own a grill? Given the time I spend preparing food for myself and how much I love barbecues, it’s a shock, to say the least. I’ve been eating a lot of protein, nuts, cheese, and fruit, primarily (inspired by Christian Hogue). The steak is with chimichurri FYI, which is arguably the most delicious condiment. Is it a condiment?
What I’m Watching
I’ll never lie to you: I’m rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (to prep for the reboot), seasons 2-7 (because S1 can be skipped). It’s an all-time favorite, and is incredibly well-written. However, I’m also watching the following:
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox: I had never known the full story on Knox. And it is absolutely WILD. Wild, I tell you! She has since been absolved of her former charges, which is wonderful (and crazy when you think about the years she spent in prison). This show is a dramatized telling of THE REAL story.
What I’m Listening to
Music, of course, but I’m going with a podcast this week (which could arguably fall under the “watch” category) I think everyone should be listening to. Every episode is funny. Every. Single. One. I give you: Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
What I’m Thinking
I’m thinking about a lot, but given the recent Jimmy Kimmel suspension — and his reinstatement — I’ve been thinking, like many Americans, about my freedom of expression. From both sides of the aisle, as partisan as possibly, I’d like to point out. Ya know, practicing that quaint little emotion known as empathy.
My conclusion? If a government is policing and punishing the media about what’s reported — or even editorialized — we’re in deep, deep poop.
I won’t lie; I texted one of my closest friends, Ali, who lives in Madrid, and told her I might be in the market for an apartment in Malaga — just as a backup of where to flee if America gets considerably worse.
It was also curious timing for me, personally, as I finally pulled the trigger on launching a Substack (which I had been debating for a year), which clearly is a platform that celebrates free expression. And, I should mention, one that could be pivotal in building my business as a writer. Could this form of speech be taken away at some point — especially given the fact that I am publishing queer romance stories every Saturday? How protected will my rights as an American writer be in one year? Two years?
It’s all a little bleak. And while I hate to be a downer and do not encourage you to be either, it’s quite hard not to at least be curious about what’s in store for us. I would say I’m definitely an idealist, an optimist, and a person who doesn’t reactively judge a scenario that’s presented; rather I assess it, metabolize it, get really curious as to what the ramifications of it will be, and then, act accordingly. Or, at least, I try to.
Am I suggesting you do the same? Definitely not. Everyone should approach everything that’s thrown at them with exactly as much fervor as they see fit. I will say, though, that the aforementioned empathy I teased is a game changer when it comes to not only building your perspective, but also getting context as to why those different from you have their beliefs.
This happened recently in my family. I was flummoxed as to why a certain family member was such a zealot for a cause that was close to her. And when I asked questions and took the 20,000 foot view to get some context, it all made sense. I still don’t agree with her, but it informed how I may approach things moving forward; maybe bringing up a topic subtly, more sideways, instead of directly going in for the kill to make my point.
Use their context as a weapon to strengthen your perspective.
Once we have context, maybe we’ll be able to fight injustice and brutality — and simply manage the relationships to those with opposing viewpoints — in a more strategic, effective way, instead of widening the divide. Just maybe. But then again, I’m an idealist, remember?
Wanna read more? Read my BOOKS, BLOG, and TRAVEL GUIDES.