A sneak peek into my culture diet

W magazine reporter Stephanie Eckardt recently did a fascinating Q&A with Neil Gaiman for the Culture Diet column. In it, Gaiman described all the wonderful bits of art and literature he’d recently consumed. Eckardt’s questions were fun so I decided to answer them as well.

First thing you read in the morning:

The breaking news alerts that have piled up on my phone while I slept. Unlike most people, I’m not addicted to my phone. I don’t even keep it by my bedside; instead it rests in a holder on my desk in the library downstairs, merrily buzzing away all day while I sleep in the Batcave that is the master bedroom. Once I’ve showered, dressed, fed the kitties and come downstairs, then I’ll stop by the desk to see what madness has occurred during the day. If there’s nothing hugely pressing — or nothing I can do anything about for another hour anyway — I make breakfast.

Books on your bedside table right now:

Currently I’m rereading “It” by Stephen King, a deliciously scary, 1,168-page horror novel that Hollywood is adapting into a movie (again). I last read this book when I was 12, the same age as the kids in the story. Now, 30-some years later, I’m reading it again, and remembering parts that once filled me with dread while discovering new bits I’d forgotten entirely. I’m also marveling over the fact that I’m now older than many of the adult characters. Yesterday, I finished rereading “Zen in the Martial Arts” by Joe Hyams, a nonfiction lesson-filled collection of essays by a writer who once trained with Ed Parker and Bruce Lee. I’ve read this book several times over the years yet I still manage to glean something new from its pages.

The TV shows keeping you up at night:

Well, until Netflix canceled it, I was utterly enraptured by “Sense8.” Those of you who follow me on social media know how terribly disappointed I was by the show’s abrupt and ridiculous cancellation. Best show on TV, by far. Such a waste.

Last movie you saw in theaters:

“Wonder Woman.”

Last show you saw at the theater:

“Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett” at the Boch Center in Boston. She was a hoot.

Last piece of art you bought:

A Silas the Gargoyle statue.

Last museum exhibition that you loved:

I haven’t been to a museum in ages, something I hope to rectify very soon. The last exhibit that truly blew my mind was Annie Leibovitz’s “American Music.”

Release you’re most eagerly anticipating:

Stephen King and his son Owen have a new book coming out in the fall titled “Sleeping Beauties.” I can’t wait to see how that collaboration turns out.

Last song you had on repeat:

Last concert you saw live:

Henry Rollins at the Academy of Music in Northampton, Mass. It was a week before the election so now it feels like ages ago.

How you get your news:

Online.

Do you read your horoscope?

If I stumble on horoscopes, I’ll always read mine and the one before it (I’m a cusp baby).

Last thing you do before you go to bed:

When I’m alone, I read before falling asleep. On those rare and delicious times when I get to share a bed with my husband, cuddling ensues.

What’s your culture diet?

–Photo by Eduardo Schäfer