Venice: What I Saw, Wore, Read...
The Venice Film Festival Edition
Quick trip to Venice: in the books!
Film
My husband Kyle’s production company Morning Moon is one of the producers on a film called “Late Fame” starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee which just premiered internationally last night to a packed house of 1,600 people at the Venice Film Festival — and I was there!
“Late Fame” is actually adapted by Samy Burch from a novella called Late Fame by Arthur Schnitzler and is about a poet, Ed Saxberger, a postal office worker who wrote a collection of poetry years prior, and who we find living alone in the Village. He immediately gets (re)discovered by a band of intellectuals who call themselves “The Enthusiasm Society” and adopt him into their cafe-lurking, anti-technology crowd.
The film is so artistic that its very existence makes a statement about art itself. And, oh did they eat it up in Venice! It has since gotten amazing reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Indiewire, and Deadline. (Phew.)
The U.S. premiere will be at the New York Film Festival on September 28th, with additional showings on September 29th and October 7th. Tickets go on sale September 18th at noon or pre-sale for Film at Lincoln Center members. Buy them here!
It’s really about literature, creativity, art, success, fandom, freedom, and friendship, with some mentorship and family thrown in. An excellent film for book lovers!
I don’t know when it will come out widely yet. Stay tuned for developments.
By the way, everyone in Venice was talking about “Jay Kelly,” the upcoming Noah Baumbach film with George Clooney and Adam Sandler. And yes, I saw many stars but will play it cool and not name-drop. The only one I got the confidence to talk to was Mayim Bialik to thank her for her Jewish advocacy.
Basically, we had a great time with Kyle’s Morning Moon partners Austen Rydell, Billie Lourd, Ethan Lazar, and also Ethan’s wife Sara. Honestly the food in Venice? Not good. It’s no Rome.
What I Wore
Shop what I wore here!
I’m obsessed with Shoshanna dresses. Shoshanna is basically the only brand I can buy and know the dress won’t need any alterations, a miracle for 5’2” me. I also adore Shoshanna, the person (!), and follow her on Instagram. She was wearing this beautiful dress the other day and accessorized is so well, that… I copied her. Is it copying if she makes the dress herself?! Shop the look here.
I bought it and then texted her to find out how to even buy the jewelry she wore with it, which ended up being too expensive, so I took a bunch of my own necklaces and wrapped them up, something I wouldn’t normally do. I was sending her photos from the boat on the way to the festival!
The shoes were actually a brand recommended to me called Margaux. They’re platform dressy strappy sandals that I could walk all along the Lido in without blisters. Shop the look here.
Books
Speaking of books, here’s what I read and loved on the trip.
Table for One by Emma Gannon
I literally read this book by Emma Gannon straight through in about four hours on the flight there. I loved this book. Loved. The book is about a woman whose relationship takes an unexpected turn which leads to a lot of pain but ultimately to finding herself again. My kind of book!
Meet Emma: I’ll be doing a live podcast at the Core Club in NYC on Wednesday, October 22nd with the UK-sensation so you can join me there. Tickets here.
Twice by Mitch Albom:
Alfie has a special gift. He can say the word “twice,” think of a moment he wants to jump back in time to, and then be there — with only his memory of the first version in tact. No one else remembers. There are limits. He can only change events in his own life, not, like, the World Series. And he can’t change someone’s death date and time. It’s a love story. And ode to second chances. A casino heist mystery. And a world of what ifs. It’s absolutely captivating. Loved it! Mitch Albom is a genius storyteller. (He wrote Tuesdays with Morrie and a million other books.)
Meet Mitch: I’ll be doing a live podcast with him at the Whitby in NYC as part of Totally Booked: Live series of events on September 19, 25 and 30th. Tickets here.
The Gallagher Place by Julie Doar
We’re publishing this on December 2nd! (I’d only read an earlier draft and had to read the finished version!!) Julie is a Starbucks barista turned school teacher — turned novelist.
This twisty winter story of the Fisher family in Duchess County and their neighbors, the Gallaghers, weaves in a detectives’ inquiry into a dead body found on their property, the protagonist Marlowe’s best friend who disappeared almost 20 years prior, and a full family cast of characters including a caretaker, sisters-in-law, brothers, the stately matriarch and patriarch, neighbors, and the younger generation.
The double whodunnit is captivating. This is the perfect winter read. You’ll want to snuggle up with a glass of red wine and a blanket and wonder what really happened.
Meet Julie: I’ll be doing a launch event with Julie in NYC on December 3rd. Details to come. Plus she’ll be at our Palm Beach Retreat which will go on sale soon. Learn more and pre-order here.
Next Week’s Episodes!
Here’s a trailer of podcasts I have coming out this week on Totally Booked with Zibby. It’s going to be huge!!
Raegan Revord from “Young Sheldon” and Raegan’s Book Club, Rules for Fake Girlfriends
Rebecca Gardner from Houses & Parties, A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining
Rebecca Wolf, Alive and Beating
Esther Chehebar, Sisters of Fortune
Have a great week, everyone! Xx
You look gorgeous in that dress. Perfect color for you! And how nice for you to relax and enjoy without having to perform. It’s great that you have a partner also absorbed in his own creative endeavors. Such a fun event even with forgettable food! ❤️
U guys look great! 👍