Emily "Babe" St. James
@emilystjams.bsky.social
Writer! TV: Yellowjackets. Novel: Woodworking (out now). Podcasts: Arden. Journalism: Vox, A.V. Club, NYT, etc. Like a large language model but for my formative trauma. Newsletter here: https://episodes.ghost.io/
Pinned
Today is Woodworking's PUB DAY. I'm so proud of this book, and I'm so glad to hear how many of you have bought and enjoyed it already!
You can buy it here if you're so inclined: bookshop.org/p/books/wood...
And now, the hardest sell I can think of, this book's biggest advocate has thoughts:
You can buy it here if you're so inclined: bookshop.org/p/books/wood...
And now, the hardest sell I can think of, this book's biggest advocate has thoughts:
Reminder that this movie rocks and could be your new Christmas classic!
I saw Christmas Eve in Miller's Point tonight as a dare to myself (because the trailer for it is SO odd), and I quite liked it. It's got a "What if late-70s Robert Altman made a Christmas movie?" vibe, and it nails the melancholic warmth of a family gathering. One cut took my breath away!! (Literal)
December 6, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reminder that this movie rocks and could be your new Christmas classic!
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
They are running the government according to the logic of right-wing grievance media. I cannot emphasize that enough. The point is to create content, and they don't see an actual difference between dunking on Sabrina Carpenter, passing legislation, and bombing other countries.
I don't really know what the administration hopes to gain by picking fights with the most well-liked pop artists in the United States. You're just generating backlash for no discernible reason outside of owning the libs.
Sabrina Carpenter ratioed the White House after it used her song in an ICE video.
The WH deleted the post…but now it’s back with a new ICE video, this time using an altered clip from Carpenter’s SNL monologue.
The WH deleted the post…but now it’s back with a new ICE video, this time using an altered clip from Carpenter’s SNL monologue.
December 6, 2025 at 4:11 AM
They are running the government according to the logic of right-wing grievance media. I cannot emphasize that enough. The point is to create content, and they don't see an actual difference between dunking on Sabrina Carpenter, passing legislation, and bombing other countries.
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
they hate music, they hate art, they hate artists, they hate pop, they hate the video games they play, they hate the movies they watch, like, they're just all the worst fucking people you've ever met, none of them believe in anything
December 6, 2025 at 3:43 AM
they hate music, they hate art, they hate artists, they hate pop, they hate the video games they play, they hate the movies they watch, like, they're just all the worst fucking people you've ever met, none of them believe in anything
I reviewed this for The A.V. Club when it came out on DVD, and I'm excited for further extensions of this beloved IP!!
www.avclub.com/casablanca-t...
www.avclub.com/casablanca-t...
December 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I reviewed this for The A.V. Club when it came out on DVD, and I'm excited for further extensions of this beloved IP!!
www.avclub.com/casablanca-t...
www.avclub.com/casablanca-t...
FWIW, all holiday parties are eligible here, not just winter holidays. Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Guy Fawkes Day, go for it.
But BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS ARE INELIGIBLE!!!
But BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS ARE INELIGIBLE!!!
What's a fictional holiday party you would love to attend?
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
December 6, 2025 at 1:53 AM
FWIW, all holiday parties are eligible here, not just winter holidays. Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Guy Fawkes Day, go for it.
But BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS ARE INELIGIBLE!!!
But BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS ARE INELIGIBLE!!!
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
"Demeaning" trans people is exactly right. Their goal--and what they're most able to easily achieve--is our humiliation. The imposition of indignities. They also hope that, as humiliations often do, it exposes us to ridicule. Perhaps even violence. (e.g. forcibly outing people on their IDs).
It's really frustrating that a lot of the media just sort of frames the Trump admin as "wading into a hot debate over trans issues that have roiled american politics" when it's like, clear that they are motivated by a desire to demean trans people
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered. n.pr/48HypvT
December 6, 2025 at 12:14 AM
"Demeaning" trans people is exactly right. Their goal--and what they're most able to easily achieve--is our humiliation. The imposition of indignities. They also hope that, as humiliations often do, it exposes us to ridicule. Perhaps even violence. (e.g. forcibly outing people on their IDs).
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
I’m at the Mad Men office christmas party asking Stan and Peggy if they wanna get out of here and go to a second location (the Eyes Wide Shut orgy)
What's a fictional holiday party you would love to attend?
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
December 6, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I’m at the Mad Men office christmas party asking Stan and Peggy if they wanna get out of here and go to a second location (the Eyes Wide Shut orgy)
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
#DecemberTransReadathon
Today was "Woodworking" by @emilystjams.bsky.social. It made me emotionally devastated and also hopeful
Today was "Woodworking" by @emilystjams.bsky.social. It made me emotionally devastated and also hopeful
December 5, 2025 at 8:02 PM
#DecemberTransReadathon
Today was "Woodworking" by @emilystjams.bsky.social. It made me emotionally devastated and also hopeful
Today was "Woodworking" by @emilystjams.bsky.social. It made me emotionally devastated and also hopeful
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
Joint Statement of the Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix.
December 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Joint Statement of the Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix.
Lily somehow made me realize that Eleven can be read as a trans femme allegory in this show, and I cannot believe that I, Emily St. James, queen of the "but what if it were gender??" reading, didn't get there.
In this week's premium subscriber newsletter, @lilywrites.bsky.social on the new season of Stranger Things!
Will Byers, queer power fantasies, and me
If it really wants to pull off its latest twist, Stranger Things needs to remember what keeps its characters grounded, writes Lily Osler.
episodes.ghost.io
December 5, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Lily somehow made me realize that Eleven can be read as a trans femme allegory in this show, and I cannot believe that I, Emily St. James, queen of the "but what if it were gender??" reading, didn't get there.
The 👏 boys 👏 are 👏 sad 👏 and 👏 it’s 👏 Christmas!
Thank 👏 you 👏 for 👏 supporting 👏 this 👏 post 👏 from 👏 2015!
Thank 👏 you 👏 for 👏 supporting 👏 this 👏 post 👏 from 👏 2015!
This week on @podcastlikeits The 2000s @emilystjams.bsky.social and I start a brand holiday miniseries called “The Boys Are Sad and It’s Christmas” by talking Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Alonso Duralde! We talk RDJ, Val Kilmer and Shane Black’s love of all things Christmas! 🎄
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The 👏 boys 👏 are 👏 sad 👏 and 👏 it’s 👏 Christmas!
Thank 👏 you 👏 for 👏 supporting 👏 this 👏 post 👏 from 👏 2015!
Thank 👏 you 👏 for 👏 supporting 👏 this 👏 post 👏 from 👏 2015!
What's a fictional holiday party you would love to attend?
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
December 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
What's a fictional holiday party you would love to attend?
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
My answers:
--the Christmas party from Fanny and Alexander
--the Yule feast in Nicola Griffith's Hild
--the Baileys' "welcome home" party for Harry in It's a Wonderful Life
--the office party in Die Hard; I'm sure nothing will go wrong
I was a "good, not great" person on The Holdovers a couple years ago, but I rewatched it on a whim yesterday and liked it much more. It might be a movie that improves with multiple watches. I still wish it didn't spell EVERYTHING out in dialogue, but at Christmas, we pull the subtext into the text!
December 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I was a "good, not great" person on The Holdovers a couple years ago, but I rewatched it on a whim yesterday and liked it much more. It might be a movie that improves with multiple watches. I still wish it didn't spell EVERYTHING out in dialogue, but at Christmas, we pull the subtext into the text!
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
They’re killing people as a twitter joke. It’s depraved. Can’t let yourself lose the capacity to be appalled and disgusted and outraged by this.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces another boat strike in response to a request/wish from Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet.
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
They’re killing people as a twitter joke. It’s depraved. Can’t let yourself lose the capacity to be appalled and disgusted and outraged by this.
One thing about posting a take like this on social media is that the majority of the replies will inevitably be not just, "I agree with you!" but also some version of, "I didn't realize anybody thought otherwise!" despite all the evidence to the contrary.
One of my hotter takes is preferring the 1994 Little Women to the 2019 Little Women, a thing that honestly might just be one of the few cases where nostalgia is tripping me up (though I also just am not on Greta Gerwig's wavelength in quite the right way, I've found). (I LIKE HER A LOT.)
December 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
One thing about posting a take like this on social media is that the majority of the replies will inevitably be not just, "I agree with you!" but also some version of, "I didn't realize anybody thought otherwise!" despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Happy "replies/quotes that are just 'Avatar??' on awards-related content" season to all who celebrate.
I was on AFI's movie jury this year, and here's what we came up with. I love or like, uh, most of them!
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
And a special award to It Was Just an Accident.
>>
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
And a special award to It Was Just an Accident.
>>
December 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Happy "replies/quotes that are just 'Avatar??' on awards-related content" season to all who celebrate.
One of my hotter takes is preferring the 1994 Little Women to the 2019 Little Women, a thing that honestly might just be one of the few cases where nostalgia is tripping me up (though I also just am not on Greta Gerwig's wavelength in quite the right way, I've found). (I LIKE HER A LOT.)
December 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
One of my hotter takes is preferring the 1994 Little Women to the 2019 Little Women, a thing that honestly might just be one of the few cases where nostalgia is tripping me up (though I also just am not on Greta Gerwig's wavelength in quite the right way, I've found). (I LIKE HER A LOT.)
A+ on this particular assignment
December 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A+ on this particular assignment
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
“I AM NOT FEELING A FEELING!!!” our child screeches into the unyielding maw.
December 3, 2025 at 5:44 PM
“I AM NOT FEELING A FEELING!!!” our child screeches into the unyielding maw.
I have always known I am popular with The Youths, but Spotify's year-end wrap-up only CONFIRMS it.
Thank you, Youths!
Thank you, Youths!
December 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I have always known I am popular with The Youths, but Spotify's year-end wrap-up only CONFIRMS it.
Thank you, Youths!
Thank you, Youths!
On the one hand, Spotify Wrapped has Woodworking in its top debut novels of the year, which is so wonderful. On the other hand, they are LYING and saying I listened to Taylor Swift the most of any artist when this is CLEARLY NOT TRUE?? She only has two songs in my top 100! Make it make sense!
December 3, 2025 at 11:24 PM
On the one hand, Spotify Wrapped has Woodworking in its top debut novels of the year, which is so wonderful. On the other hand, they are LYING and saying I listened to Taylor Swift the most of any artist when this is CLEARLY NOT TRUE?? She only has two songs in my top 100! Make it make sense!
Reposted by Emily "Babe" St. James
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
I haven't felt particularly Christmas-y the last few years, but this year, my kid is 3, and we are DOING CHRISTMAS THE MOST, except now I have to make things magical, like a fucking sucker.
Because you're an adult you fucking muppet. You gotta pay the magic forward.
December 3, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I haven't felt particularly Christmas-y the last few years, but this year, my kid is 3, and we are DOING CHRISTMAS THE MOST, except now I have to make things magical, like a fucking sucker.
Sesame Street: Letter S Song (Letter of the Day Song)
YouTube video by Sesame Street
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM