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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 19 November 2019
Lucy Ellmann's 'Ducks, Newburyport' is brilliant, addictive

By DONNA LIQUORI ers, Indian mounds, her The reason this book reso- ily dissolve, considering its
Associated Press childhood dog and more. nates is that we all seem length, but Ellmann fortifies
"Ducks, Newburyport," Bib- The listings, beginning with to be thinking in spirals, fu- it with mini-surprises tucked
lioasis, by Lucy Ellmann "the fact that" and separat- eled by nonstop news, so- in throughout the narra-
When you mention to peo- ed by commas, aren't just cial media and multiple tive. (Yes, this book has a
ple that you're reading a lumped together. screens. While the narrative plot and sticking with it of-
nearly 1,000-page book There's an art to them, a seemingly jumps from one fers a big payoff ending.)
that's mostly one sentence, rhythm, that sort of takes topic to another in sort of The meaning of the title,
the reaction is odd. Some you: a random stream of con- "Ducks, Newburyport," is
people roll their eyes, oth- "the fact that I don't know sciousness, reading it is an buried in there too, and it's
ers get a little angry over how animals think but I act of focus because it's unexpected and touch-
the audacity. But when think in spirals, dizzying spi- so mesmerizing. We can all ing. There's also a parallel
you say the book is brilliant, rals, the fact that the WWF relate to money problems, story told with fully realized
incredulity seems to take video of a deaf girl talk- raising children and illness. sentences about a lioness
over. ing in sign language to an Throw in climate change, and her cubs that at times
"Ducks, Newburyport" by orangutan was completely gun violence and anxiety is harrowing.
Lucy Ellmann IS brilliant — fake, and I fell for it, the fact and you have a picture It's the lovely bits of this
and addictive. The main This cover image released that, landsakes, orang- of what the United States beautiful life despite all
character is an unnamed by Biblioasis shows "Ducks, utans don't campaign for is right now. It's no mis- the ugliness that makes this
woman who is a mom, Newburyport," by Lucy the rainforest, the fact that take that the protagonist book really resonate. It's not
cancer survivor, wife and Ellmann. the good news right now is is a former college history all a horror show, especially
baker, who also raises Associated Press that animals don't yet know teacher who weaves his- when the character talks
chickens. She's trying to in Ohio and offers a mono- we've wrecked the place, torical atrocities and trivia about the tender relation-
hold it together after her logue of thoughts (many, or they don't know we did in with old movies, an ob- ship that she has with her
family is hit with numerous many thoughts) on Presi- it at least, or they'd come session with "Little House on family and her husband,
challenges and she's strug- dent Donald Trump, Otis after us, red in tooth and the Prairie" and tales from Leo.
gling. Maybe she's all of us, elevator operators, school claw, the fact that it's actu- her childhood as she bakes There have been com-
at least the moms, anyway. shootings, pies (many, ally pretty lucky they don't multiple pies for her current parisons to James Joyce's
Shortlisted for the Booker many pies), laundry, chick- blame us for it, not like in business. "Ulysses," but Ellmann is in a
Prize, the novel takes place ens, mothers, bridges, riv- The Birds ..." The book could eas- class by herself.q

Chang says his new Netflix show honors Bourdain

By MICHAEL CIDONI LEN- ability and information, this
NOX is a golden age of food,
Associated Press Chang said. Consumers,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — With manufacturers and the
its food-travel fusion and culinary industry are bet-
trips to parts unknown, ter informed than ever. But
“Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner” the ripples from climate
host David Chang says he change could lead to a
understands why critics are “different kind of food sys-
making comparisons to tem,’’ he said.
work done by his late friend “We may eat things dif-
and colleague Anthony ferently,’’ he said. “My
Bourdain. dad used to tell me, man,
“I don't know how you ‘When I got an orange
couldn't,” said the restau- once a year, that was the
rateur, chef and food per- greatest day of my life.’...
sonality. “He was a pretty And we may have to go
significant person in my life. back to that. And I don't
But, whether we were suc- know what that looks like.
cessful or not, the last thing This image released by Netflix shows host David Chang, right, and actor Seth Rogen eating But we can't get whatever
we would ever want to do donuts at Lee's Donuts in Vancouver, Canada, in a scene from the Netflix series, "Breakfast, we want anymore.”
Lunch & Dinner."
is to not be respectful and Associated Press There’s also been personal
pay homage. He was a 2018. in Phnom Penh, Seth Rogen the ‘60s. change for Chang as he
pretty significant person in Perhaps what’s most dif- in Vancouver and Lena Representation is an im- and his wife, Grace, be-
my life. ... The whole thing ferent about Chang’s new Waithe in Los Angeles. portant subject for Chang. came parents with the birth
was hard to do, for obvi- Netflix series is the sweet It’s with the history-making In September, he told a of their son, Hugo.
ous reasons. But, you know, and occasionally salty chef Waithe — the first black Washington Post inter- “It’s definitely, like, you
we tried very hard and we himself. His empire includes woman to win an Emmy viewer that the ethnic food know, everyone says,
were very aware of try- restaurants, cookbooks for comedy screenwriting aisles in grocery stores are ‘changes your life,’ and I'm
ing to make it a different and now two Netflix shows. — where things get most in- “the last bastion of racism’’ trying to find how to find a
show.” The first, “Ugly Delicious,” teresting. They chat in a no- in retail America. better balance,” Chang
Bourdain, a chef and au- debuted in 2018. frills, suburban Los Angeles In talking to The Associated said. “I'm a work in prog-
thor, was known for us- The first four episodes of diner as the conversation Press, Chang presented an ress, man. And working a
ing culinary traditions as a “Breakfast, Lunch & Din- turns to their respective example. “Why should my lot is what I know how to
storytelling tool to explore ner’’ pair Chang with ce- lack of representation in hot sauce be in an ethnic do. And I do know that,
cultures around the globe lebrities as they explore mainstream America. Wait- food aisle, but Tabasco is in soon, I’m going to have to
in his CNN series, “Parts Un- a city — Chrissy Teigen in he is gay. Chang’s parents a main aisle?” learn how not to work so
known." He killed himself in Marrakesh, Kate McKinnon immigrated from Korea in Even so, in terms of avail- hard.”q