The weather has officially reached a temperature that requires me to buy a new coat. I dread it. Unlike most other types of clothing, coats and jackets never seem to suit me, regardless of the style. To soften the blow of having to order several coats on the Internet hoping one will work for me, I granted myself three sets of retro socks.

I finished reading The Midnight Library, which I had borrowed from Annelie. It sure has been a long time since I last read a book that was both so entertaining and easygoing. It feels borderline young adult, and entirely unpretentious.

I never get much reading done unless I’m sleeping elsewhere. Most often, I associate sleeping elsewhere with having time off, and having time off means I’m away from a computer screen. This frees up time for reading.

Anja had booked a suite for my birthday at Okura, and six months after I turn 33, Covid measures are finally so mild that we actually get to do it. It’s on the sixteenth floor, overlooking the Amsterdam Centre and West Side. We eat like royalty, and fall asleep watching the sunset from our California King. I’m feeling like a million bucks.

• If you ever happen to find yourself in the sleepy fishing town of IJmuiden: the fish, service, atmosphere, and cheesecake in the fish restaurant  De Meerplaats are all very pleasant.
• For my birthday,  Erica Bouma gave me Jesus by rebel theologian Hans Küng. It’s a great and easy read — a recommendation for anybody interested in the history of Christianity.
• The Son and the Stranger is a beautiful Dutch-language documentary about Daan, a man who, after studying Hebrew in university, converted to the ultra orthodox Jewish faith. Filmmaker Thomas Vroege attempts to understand his motives.
• Ghost Shark, in which the translucent, bright blue ghost of a murdered shark jumps up from the smallest water surfaces to eat innocent holiday goers, is the worst worst Syfy-film of 2013. With a comeback from 7th Heaven‘s youngest daughter. Totally worth the choke by laughter, though.
• I think Noah Kalina’s photo series  Internet/Sex (2007-2009) is something very special.
• My poet friend Jelmer van Lenteren runs a very nice  Tumblr, where he shares his beautiful work and many great music tips.

• Essex Country by Jeff Lemire
• Ergens Waar Je Niet Wil Zijn (Wrong Place) by Brecht Evens
• Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson
• Lucille by Ludivic Debeurme
• Swallow Me Whole by Nate Powell
• 120 Days of Simon by Simon Gärdenfors
• Underwire by Jennifer Hayden
• The Playwright by Daren White and Eddie Campbell
• Any Empire by Nate Powell
• Lost Dogs by Jeff Lemire