Was Pablo Neruda Assassinated?
An international group of forensic experts concluded that Pablo Neruda’s official cause of death is incorrect–he did not die of cancer. Instead, after inspecting samples from the prolific Chilean poet’s exhumed remains, they have determined that the actual cause was related to an infection. The experts have said they “can’t exclude nor affirm the natural or violent cause of Pablo Neruda’s death.” But the discovery is already stirring up old questions about whether Neruda was assassinated in his hospital bed, by way of an injection of a mystery substance, as both his nephew and personal assistant attested.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Throws Literary Shade
Newsweek wrote about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new short story–namely, how it paints the first lady as a casual racist, reluctant wife of the president, and as being envious of Michelle Obama. In the story, “Mrs T” keeps a folder full of pictures of Obama on her laptop. The Americanah author wrote the story for T, The New York Times’ style magazine. Janelle Asked to the Bedroom follows a pre-election short story about Mrs T titled, The Arrangements.
Indigenous Representation On The Thor: Ragnarok Set
The Mary Sue wrote up a piece about all the ways Taika Waititi pushed for indigenous representation on the Thor: Ragnarok set. Waititi, who’s directing the film, is Māori. From shadowing opportunities for indigenous filmmakers to an opening Karakia ceremony to avoiding appropriation, Waititi did the good work for better representation and inclusion. The piece pointed out how rare it is for a movie to be turned over to an indigenous director.
Thank you to 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant, for sponsoring today’s newsletter.
Inspired by the real psychology study popularized by the New York Times and its “Modern Love” column, this contemporary YA is full of humor and heart. It explores the interactions between Hildy and Paul, two random strangers in a university psychology study, when they ask each other the 36 questions that are engineered to make them fall in love. Told in the language of modern romance–texting, Q&A, IM–and punctuated by Paul’s sketches, this clever high-concept YA will leave you searching for your own stranger to ask the 36 questions. Maybe you’ll even fall in love.