The real #39: How are you getting through January?
Plus books, movies and making AI GPT custom tools
Hi, it’s almost the end of January–how can that be? What are you doing to get through the winter? What copying strategies, amusements and projects are giving you life? Please share in the comments or email me; it would be cool to highlight some of what you all are up to in a future Cover Your Bases.
READING
Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch, Atlantic Monthly Press, December, 2023: "Prophet Song" a brilliant novel by Paul Lynch, recently won the Booker Prize. This novel is the story of a contemporary Irish working mom, Eilish, her husband Larry, and her family of four children, Mark, Molly, Bailey, and baby Ben, who are caught in an increasingly perilous trap of a repressive, fascist government tightening the ropes around its citizens.
In our everyday lives, when we attempt to comprehend a world edging towards totalitarianism, "Prophet Song" is a parable of tension. Eilish and her family are trapped, and destroyed, bit by bit, despite their resiliency, because they cannot escape the anger and callousness unleashed in the world. Lynch's portrayal of the chaos of everyday life amidst turmoil is remarkable, particularly in how these events impact the children.
I LOVED reading Prophet Song, and yet, I could not wait to finish it. Beautifully written and filled with moving language, Prophet Song has the power of Orwell’s 1984 and of McCarthy’s The Road in making the unbelievable (and the unbearable) vivid and real. Lynch’s poetic writing and keen eye made it hard to look away, and it is a great, if difficult read.
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Six California Kitchens, By Sally Schmitt, A Collection of Recipes, Stories, and Cooking Lessons from a Pioneer of California Cuisine, Chronicle Books, April 2022: Sally Schmitt, the culinary visionary behind The French Laundry, published this cookbook and memoir at the age of 90, shortly before her passing. "The Six California Kitchens," as she titled it, chronicles of her journey through the kitchens that shaped her, beginning with her mother's kitchen. Each kitchen tells a unique story, complete with recipes and anecdotes.
"Six California Kitchens" is a journey through the evolution of California cuisine, filled with humor, inventiveness, and memorable tales. A delightful read, it offers deep insights into food and hospitality, particularly in Napa Valley during the 1970s.
WATCHING
American Fiction, Cord Jefferson, Amazon/MGM, December 2023: American Fiction is an instant classic movie. New director Cord Jefferson smacks it out of the cultural norms park with this very sharp and very funny movie about culture and race, and, uh, racism. Jefferson skillfully navigates these themes, delivering a film that resonates deeply, and is funny as hell.
The casting is superb, spearheaded by Jeffrey Wright, who delivers an exceptional performance as an underappreciated novelist. Wright's character grapples with the frustrating reality of Black literature being celebrated primarily when it caters to white audiences' biases. Sterling K. Brown, as his brother, brings depth and nuance to the screen, while Leslie Uggams, playing their mother, adds familial complexity. Issa Raee shines in her role, contributing to the film's dynamic energy.
The humor in "American Fiction" is as sharp as its commentary, striking a balance that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. It doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths but presents them in a way that's accessible and engaging.
Check out the trailer and get a glimpse of what makes "American Fiction" an instant classic and a must-watch film.
Mare of Easttown, HBO, April 2021
I recently watched HBO's Mare of Easttown, a show I missed when it first aired in April 2021. . Mare of Easttown seems heavily influenced by Sally Wainright’s Happy Valley series, but it holds its own, along with Dopesick, in depictions of small-town life and crime. Kate Winslet is stellar.. Her portrayal is real and utterly compelling. The strength of her performance is matched by the rest of the cast, who bring depth to the story. The seven episodes are a mix of intense drama, unexpected humor, and suspenseful twists that kept me hooked.
MAKING (AI): GPTS for the win
I’ve been building GPTs with my Open AI Chat GPT-4 subscription, and have made about 10 of them. Building customized and personalized GPTs feels like one of the best uses I’ve found for AI; I’m starting to build them for other people (and small nonprofits), and want to keep improving my skills.
My custom GPTs are mostly private, designed for organization or single-person usage. Typically, they support editing and writing in person’s specific voice, or analyzing data through the perspective of a nonprofit’s mission, vision, data, and voice.
I’ve also made two public GPTs, and am working on a few more:
Deliciously Decadent Drawings GPT: Create your very own Beardsley-inspired black-and-white line drawings.
Parisian Patisserie Pathways GPT: Looking for pastry shops to visit in Paris? The Parisian Patisserie Pathways GPT can answer questions, tell you how to get there, and knows what's good.
If you want to play around with GPTs and have a subscription to CHatGPT-4, here are a couple of how-to guides for getting started that could be useful:
DIY Custom AI: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own GPT
Learning DALL-E: A Beginner’s Guide to Visual AI, Inspired by Tech Threads
If you enjoyed #39, please share it with someone who might like it, or share it online. And if you got this from a friend and would like to subscribe yourself, please do so here.
If you would like to know more about building a custom GPT for you, or about the training, coaching, and workshops planned for nonprofit staff and leaders who want to improve their skills using AI (or just get started), get in touch.
Stay warm!
Susan
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