Book Review: Curtis Sittenfeld delivers tender, thought-provoking stories in 'Show Don't Tell'
With a wink to every writing teacher's favorite adage, Curtis Sittenfeld's 'Show Don't Tell' delivers a dozen short stories that will make you think, smile, and often nod your head in agreement. Featuring mostly middle-aged characters from the middle of the country, it's an assortment of stories focused on people either looking back and reconsidering formative moments in their lives, or in situations that force them to challenge their long-held beliefs.
My favorite of the bunch was 'Creative Differences,' an 18-page gem about a photographer in Wichita, Kansas, who got Internet famous for a couple photo series she did and is now being interviewed by a freelance production crew on behalf of a conglomerate that sells a 72-year-old toothpaste. When she refuses to be filmed actually brushing her teeth, the story sets up a standoff between the corporate sponsor that flew a dozen people from the coasts to Wichita and our hero, Melissa, who tells them: 'All you care about is getting me to do whatever you've already decided I should do on camera.'
'Creative Differences,' and the other 11 stories in the collection, are heavy on inner monologues. Sittenfeld has a knack for getting inside her characters' heads and really articulating what makes them tick. Here's the narrator of 'Lost But Not Forgotten' thinking back on her failed marriage at her prep school's 30th anniversary: 'In a way, to describe that marriage is like describing having gone to boarding school. Is there an infinite amount to share, or does a sentence or two suffice? I guess it depends who you're telling the story to.' Sittenfeld fans will recognize the narrator as Lee Fiora, star of her 2005 novel 'Prep.'
There are many other stories in the collection about friends connecting after a long time apart, with characters questioning their behavior from years ago or pondering what constitutes 'an enviable life.' It's thought-provoking stuff, delivered in short stories that are perfect for readers of a certain age, just before they turn off their bedside table lamp.
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The Verge
28-05-2025
- The Verge
Keita Takahashi returns with the whimsically weird To a T
From the worm-like character stretching to the length of the planetary system in Noby Noby Boy, to the tiny Prince hoarding a spherical mass of objects and even buildings in Katamari Damacy, the heroes of Keita Takahashi's games reflect the creator's whimsical vision. To a T is yet another Takahashi title that fits that playful tradition, well, to a tee. The protagonist is a young teen, aptly named Teen, whose body is permanently stuck in a T-pose. But while they may be able to wiggle their fingers a little or move their wrists to reach out for an item, their elbows are woefully nonexistent. That's okay, though! Like most of Takahashi's games, To a T is also a heartwarming tale about self-acceptance. Prep, an indie pop band from England, even composed an infectious, chirpy theme song for the game about already being the perfect shape, no matter what you look like. In a world where elbows are very much an accessory to daily life, Teen has to go through some pretty unconventional routines due to their irreversibly stiff arms. For one thing, Teen can't put on clothes, use the toilet, or even dry their face on their own. Even walking down the street can be a little cumbersome, since their outstretched arms mean they may inadvertently slap their hands into another passerby. Fortunately for Teen, they have a trusty sidekick — a dog named Dog — who's more than eager to help them navigate these tasks. Take washing your face, which can initially be an unfamiliar affair. As Teen, you'll need to twist your upper body, reaching your hand toward the tap — one that's uniquely designed for Teen's predicament — and lower your head, so the stream of water spurts upward to your face. Then, you'll hold your position until your face is clean and free of persistent eye boogers. Brushing your teeth is another fiddly routine. This is done by reaching for a toothbrush with a particularly long handle, getting Dog's help in squirting a bit of toothpaste on it, and then scrubbing your teeth until they're squeaky clean. But these activities aren't designed to be tedious; you aren't carefully calibrating every small movement like you would in physics games like Bennett Foddy's QWOP and Getting Over It. Instead, these are simply different sorts of routines you'll need to get used to. When your arms are resolutely perpendicular to your body, these activities are just all in a day's work. They're also genuinely joyful, even if the movements can appear superfluous. Rinsing your mouth is a matter of wriggling the analog stick or direction keys and then pressing another button to spit the water out into the sink. But you can also shake your head while doing that, so that your spit will trickle out like a meandering, miniature waterfall. Using the toilet allows you to mash several buttons, just so you can listen to Teen huffing and grunting as they go about their business behind closed doors. There's really no point to doing so other than giggling at these sights and sounds, but it's such a delightful way of prodding at the game's inherent silliness. That's the beauty behind To a T — it has zero pretensions about the kind of game it's trying to be. In fact, To a T later informs you that you can skip any of these routines if you like. Want to eat breakfast without brushing your teeth right after? If you can tolerate seeing green gunk stuck on your teeth for the rest of the day, go right ahead. The game isn't going to penalize you for skipping teeth brushing for a day — or two. To a T is chockful of such diminutive joys. Breakfast consists of cereal and flavored milk every day, such as chocolate, matcha, and mango, and there's a small thrill in discovering what these mixtures would taste like to Teen. In one meal, Teen commented that the cereal tasted like rubbery tires, and in another it was an explosion of strange, candy flavors. Regardless of the taste, they welcomed every mouthful of these sugary treats with gusto. Exploring the neighborhood, particularly on weekends, feels especially liberating, as your day is seemingly filled with endless possibilities for fun. Eateries offer minigames in the form of speed-eating contests, as you devour a giant corn on the cob and even hailstorms of ice cream. There are coins to collect and discover among the shrubberies and rooftops, new shops to look at, and fascinating locales — from a lighthouse to a magical mushroom forest — to get lost in. Even attending school was an adventure, even though Teen was largely reluctant to head to class in his first few days due to relentless bullying, a problem that does get resolved. Eventually, Teen discovers an innate talent for flying. By spinning on their toes like a ballerina, they gain the ability to traverse higher grounds. This skill does have a bit of a learning curve, however. As it turns out, flying isn't particularly intuitive, and it took me several tries to get my feet off the ground. But as with most gimmicks in To a T, failing isn't really that big of a deal-breaker. You're free to wander around town however you prefer, be it flying, running, or riding a unicycle. As you delve deeper into the game, To a T spins an increasingly ludicrous-yet-charming tale, one that Takahashi himself has referred to as being rather 'stupid' in an interview. Having finished the game, I can attest that one of its final moments is, indeed, almost irredeemably nonsensical. Yet it also made me crack a really wide smile, something I haven't done while playing games in a while. Playing and making games amid a politically fraught climate may seem frivolous, and this is an issue that Takahashi mentioned he was struggling with when he was working on his previous game, Wattam. But To a T 's central message of acceptance, and of finding joy in life's smallest moments, feels like a salve for these trying times. At the very least, its positivity gave me the impetus to keep trudging on — hopefully it'll do the same for you, too. To a T launches on May 28th on the PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Frankie Grande & MISTR Drop 'Boys,' A Sexy New Pride Anthem
Music Video Set in Locker Room Fantasy Celebrates Hot Gym Hookups, and Boy-Crazy Liberation, and Safer Sex with PrEP and DoxyPEP Frankie Grande for MISTR MISTR - Free online PrEP, DoxyPEP & STI Testing Miami, Florida, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Pride season, Frankie Grande is going all in on queer desire with the release of his steamy new single and music video, 'Boys' — a bold, body-positive, joy-fueled collaboration with MISTR, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ telehealth platform for sexual health delivering 100% free PrEP and DoxyPEP to the community. Set in a gym locker room straight out of West Hollywood dreams (or your last 10 DMs), 'Boys' is a sweaty, flirty, unapologetic celebration of what Frankie calls 'the summer I went to Fire Island to get with as many boys as possible.'Whether it's love or a good time, Frankie makes it clear: if it feels right, go for it. And with MISTR providing free online PrEP and DoxyPEP, the hookup doesn't have to come with worry. 'This song is about freedom — to feel sexy, to be safe, and to chase whatever kind of connection gets your heartrate, or anything else, up,' said Frankie Grande. 'MISTR was the perfect partner for 'Boys' because they believe in access without shame, and that being gay should never mean settling for less when it comes to your health.' With its infectious chorus, locker room choreography, and MISTRs hot enough to fog your screen, 'Boys' is primed to be the Pride anthem of 2025. 'Frankie's energy is playful, authentic, and unfiltered — exactly what we stand for at MISTR,' said Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of MISTR. 'Boys is a reminder that queer sex is worth celebrating, and sexual health should be easy, free, and judgment-free.' Fans can stream the 'Boys' music video now and visit to sign up for free PrEP, DoxyPEP, STI testing, and long-term HIV care — all online, no insurance required, always discreet and always free. Creative CreditsVideo Sponsor: MISTR, @heymistrCreative Director/ Director / Executive Producer: Phillip Henry, @majorphilebrityProducer/DP/Editor/Colorist: Ron Katagiri, @ronkatagiriProduced by: Kata Multimedia ProductionsSpecial Guests: Salina Estitties and Laith Ashley MISTR models: Christian Dante White, Marcus Williams, Gustavo Escobedo, Thomas Abramite, Taylor Stilson, Kyle Ehemann, Ty Talley Choreographer and Dancer: Michael SilasDancers: Nathan Groth, Ander Arabolaza, Jonas Suberian Second Camera: Orion AlvaradoAssistant Producer: Kobe Lamaur JamesProduction Manager: Dillon GregoireLighting Director: Juan Carlos LopezGrip: Carol GageProduction Assistants: Abishai Padilla, Ivonne Suncin, Chris WangHair: Lindsay WolfMakeup Artists: Zalvador Mejia Pena, Roshar Photographer: Gabriel Goldberg # # # ABOUT MISTRMISTR is a telemedicine platform offering free online access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Gay owned and operated, MISTR has brought together a network of the best doctors, pharmacists, and problem solvers to make PrEP, DoxyPEP and long-term HIV care available to all who need it. No doctor's office, no paperwork and free delivery. Visit Attachments Frankie Grande for MISTR MISTR - Free online PrEP, DoxyPEP & STI Testing CONTACT: Brian Rosman MISTR 323.443.7780 mistr@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
09-05-2025
- Business Upturn
Lexi Love Rolls into Action with MISTR to Serve Sexual Health Realness
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 9, 2025, 16:30 IST Miami, Florida, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MISTR, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ telehealth platform for sexual health, just dropped its latest campaign starring none other than Lexi Love — and she's not just serving skates and looks, she's serving 100% free PrEP and DoxyPEP to the community. The first video release in a four-party series is a high-glam throwback roller skate fantasy filmed at the iconic Moonlight Rollerway. Lexi is joined by a cast of drag legends including Willam, Acaia Forgot, Juella, and Mirage and a steamy cast of MISTRs, including de Hanno (@de_hanno.mp3), Nathan Groth (@thenathangroth), André Azvedo (@Iam_Andreazevedo), Daniel Justice (@deejota) and AJ Watkins (@aj_wtkns). The campaign is a joyful celebration of sex, prevention, and care — all delivered with MISTR's signature sex-positive style. 'Sexual healthcare should be easy, fun, and stigma-free,' said Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of MISTR. 'Lexi brings exactly that energy. She's bold, beloved, and unapologetically herself — just like MISTR.' Lexi Love added, 'As I always say — the bigger the hoop, the bigger the ho. So, if you're gonna be a ho, be a well-protected ho. PrEP to block HIV, DoxyPEP to dodge the STIs, and MISTR? Baby, they serve it fast, free, and fabulous — just like me. No shame, no copay. Just click, get it, and go get yours.' The first campaign video is live now on both Lexi's and MISTR's Instagram accounts —@mslexilove and @heymistr. Follow @heymistr to catch the rest of the steamy series. Fans can sign up at using promo code LEXI for free access to PrEP and DoxyPEP, discreet delivery, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes supercut from the shoot. MISTR continues to lead with bold, sex positive and inclusive campaigns. The Lexi Love campaign isn't just about looking good — it's about feeling safe, sexy, and supported with care that's 100% free, online, and judgment-free. Sign up today at Creative Credits Director/Executive Producer: Phillip Henry, @majorphilebrity Producer/DP/Editor: Ron Katagiri, @ronkatagiri Stylist (MISTRs): Mandoh, @mandoh Stylist (Lexi Love): Sebastien Hohl, @sebastienhohl_ Photographer: Zanauj, @zenauj Talent Management: Tj Liedel, @tliede20 # # # ABOUT MISTR: MISTR is a telemedicine platform offering free online access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Gay owned and operated, MISTR has brought together a network of the best doctors, pharmacists, and problem solvers to make PrEP, DoxyPEP and long-term HIV care available to all who need it. No doctor's office, no paperwork and free delivery. Visit Attachments Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
