BILL RYAN
@faceyouhate.bsky.social
Pinned
Everything Happens for a Reason Other Than Coincidences and Most Things
On "Ingram" by Louis C.K., with ancillary comments on Steven Wright's "Harold"
billryan64.substack.com
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
I'm very intrigued by Julia Roberts's new onscreen persona of "miserable middle-aged woman who's one bad hour away from actual misanthropy." Even though neither of the films she's made in this mode have been good, and one is complete trash, I approve of this turn in her life's journey.
November 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I'm very intrigued by Julia Roberts's new onscreen persona of "miserable middle-aged woman who's one bad hour away from actual misanthropy." Even though neither of the films she's made in this mode have been good, and one is complete trash, I approve of this turn in her life's journey.
I find many of Luca Guadagnino's choices as a director -- on the level of editing and choice of camera angle -- to be quietly perplexing.
Just started AFTER THE HUNT. What's with the Woody Allen credits?
November 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I find many of Luca Guadagnino's choices as a director -- on the level of editing and choice of camera angle -- to be quietly perplexing.
Just started AFTER THE HUNT. What's with the Woody Allen credits?
November 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Just started AFTER THE HUNT. What's with the Woody Allen credits?
Reposted by BILL RYAN
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
Everything Happens for a Reason Other Than Coincidences and Most Things
On "Ingram" by Louis C.K., with ancillary comments on Steven Wright's "Harold"
billryan64.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
Reposted by BILL RYAN
This is a great write-up about Louis C.K.'s novel that will do a good job of convincing you to buy Steven Wright's novel instead. It also largely parallels my own feelings about C.K. these days (although I would have also mentioned that he's a scumbag for participating in the Riyadh comedy festival)
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
Everything Happens for a Reason Other Than Coincidences and Most Things
On "Ingram" by Louis C.K., with ancillary comments on Steven Wright's "Harold"
billryan64.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM
This is a great write-up about Louis C.K.'s novel that will do a good job of convincing you to buy Steven Wright's novel instead. It also largely parallels my own feelings about C.K. these days (although I would have also mentioned that he's a scumbag for participating in the Riyadh comedy festival)
Reposted by BILL RYAN
‘she lived in a Victorian terrace in Camden Town, where visitors entering had to negotiate their way past the four-feet-wide horns of Eric the stuffed buffalo in the hall, & would later find a carnival of bric-a-brac cramming the house from wall to wall, including a number of life-sized mannequins’
And here's my own tribute to Beryl Bainbridge (and her 1973 novel The Dressmaker in particular).
She should have won the Booker "three or four times," said her friend Paul Bailey* after her death. "Hers were better than the junk that did win."
*they used to watch Corrie and compare notes by phone
She should have won the Booker "three or four times," said her friend Paul Bailey* after her death. "Hers were better than the junk that did win."
*they used to watch Corrie and compare notes by phone
The Dressmaker at 50: a novel that encapsulates Beryl Bainbridge’s idiosyncrasies | The Booker Prizes
An uncompromising and funny story of love and death, The Dressmaker was the first of five novels by Beryl Bainbridge to be shortlisted for the Booker.
thebookerprizes.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:10 PM
‘she lived in a Victorian terrace in Camden Town, where visitors entering had to negotiate their way past the four-feet-wide horns of Eric the stuffed buffalo in the hall, & would later find a carnival of bric-a-brac cramming the house from wall to wall, including a number of life-sized mannequins’
Reposted by BILL RYAN
This is a great read (and also Steven Wright’s Harold is on sale for $1.99 on kindle today, which worked out very well since I bought it immediately after reading Bill’s piece)
I'll be honest with you all: it would be great if you guys could share this. Every little bit, and so forth.
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
November 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
This is a great read (and also Steven Wright’s Harold is on sale for $1.99 on kindle today, which worked out very well since I bought it immediately after reading Bill’s piece)
I'll be honest with you all: it would be great if you guys could share this. Every little bit, and so forth.
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
Everything Happens for a Reason Other Than Coincidences and Most Things
On "Ingram" by Louis C.K., with ancillary comments on Steven Wright's "Harold"
billryan64.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'll be honest with you all: it would be great if you guys could share this. Every little bit, and so forth.
Reposted by BILL RYAN
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
Everything Happens for a Reason Other Than Coincidences and Most Things
On "Ingram" by Louis C.K., with ancillary comments on Steven Wright's "Harold"
billryan64.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
There has been a change of plans in my next (now current) free to all Reading Project post. My review of Louis CK's novel INGRAM is going up on its own (with added comments on HAROLD by Steven Wright). Please read!
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
billryan64.substack.com/p/everything...
I don't know what the percentages are about but
Peter Gabriel
Randy Newman
Steven Wright
Buddy Guy
John Prine
Peter Gabriel
Randy Newman
Steven Wright
Buddy Guy
John Prine
Introduce yourself with 5 acts you've seen:
1% of The Fall
20% of Orange Juice
25% of The Beatles
75% of The Smiths
100% of The Velvet Underground
1% of The Fall
20% of Orange Juice
25% of The Beatles
75% of The Smiths
100% of The Velvet Underground
Never saw George Melly play but I did see him walking down a train carriage once and that was a brilliant performance in itself
November 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I don't know what the percentages are about but
Peter Gabriel
Randy Newman
Steven Wright
Buddy Guy
John Prine
Peter Gabriel
Randy Newman
Steven Wright
Buddy Guy
John Prine
If ever you see, while shopping for cheese, an English cheddar flavored with balsamic and onion, shaped like a star and encased in red wax, buy it, I do so beg of you, for your own sake.
Our modest in size, but high in quality, cheeseboard has been broken out.
November 27, 2025 at 4:37 PM
If ever you see, while shopping for cheese, an English cheddar flavored with balsamic and onion, shaped like a star and encased in red wax, buy it, I do so beg of you, for your own sake.
Our modest in size, but high in quality, cheeseboard has been broken out.
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Our modest in size, but high in quality, cheeseboard has been broken out.
Watching EYES WIDE SHUT. Was disappointed in '99 have warmed to it a lot since then. The big Satanic Orgy bit is so magnificently eerie. Each shot looks like something you'd see as a collection of tests for a movie Kubrick died before he could make and how sad. But he made it!
November 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Watching EYES WIDE SHUT. Was disappointed in '99 have warmed to it a lot since then. The big Satanic Orgy bit is so magnificently eerie. Each shot looks like something you'd see as a collection of tests for a movie Kubrick died before he could make and how sad. But he made it!
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
BRAZIL
THE FLY
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
BRAZIL
THE FLY
Name your top 4 80s films.
November 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
BRAZIL
THE FLY
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
BRAZIL
THE FLY
I can easily imagine someone watching MEGADOC without having seen MEGALOPOLIS, walking away from it bewildered, then watching MEGALOPOLIS and saying "Oh yeah, that's definitely the movie I watched them making. I am no longer bewildered."
November 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I can easily imagine someone watching MEGADOC without having seen MEGALOPOLIS, walking away from it bewildered, then watching MEGALOPOLIS and saying "Oh yeah, that's definitely the movie I watched them making. I am no longer bewildered."
Yes, yes, he is, but also the BATTLE ROYALE guy didn't get there first either. The basics of it go at least as far back as Robert Sheckley's 1965 novel THE 10th VICTIM, and I'm sure if I thought about it hard enough I could remember something that predates that one, probably by many, many years.
November 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Yes, yes, he is, but also the BATTLE ROYALE guy didn't get there first either. The basics of it go at least as far back as Robert Sheckley's 1965 novel THE 10th VICTIM, and I'm sure if I thought about it hard enough I could remember something that predates that one, probably by many, many years.
We aren't traveling for Thanksgiving because we're not comfortable leaving our cats alone that long yet so it'll just be us. And our plans for Thanksgiving dinner are so untraditional I'm not even going to tell you what they are as I do not want to deal with all of your bullshit.
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
We aren't traveling for Thanksgiving because we're not comfortable leaving our cats alone that long yet so it'll just be us. And our plans for Thanksgiving dinner are so untraditional I'm not even going to tell you what they are as I do not want to deal with all of your bullshit.
Reposted by BILL RYAN
this girl means the world to me
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
Donate to Get Boudica treatment for her epilepsy, organized by Daniel Kelly
Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this — I'll keep this short.
Boudic… Daniel Kelly needs your support for Get Boudica treatment for her epilepsy
gofund.me
November 24, 2025 at 9:40 PM
this girl means the world to me
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
I read this a couple years ago. I won't soon forget that ending.
Happy Holidays! Every day until Christmas, I'll use this thread to rec a book to help you with your gift list. Let's start with THE TWENTY DAYS OF TURIN by Giorgio De Maria, translated by Ramon Glazov, and republished with a foreword by moi. Buy from your fav indie. (Alt text = more detail.) 1/?
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I read this a couple years ago. I won't soon forget that ending.