Hello from frigid New York, where we have a proper literary hoopla on our hands, just like the good old days. The most hyped new book of the season is presently getting more attention than the advance the writer received, and yet, the critics, and the discourse, have hit Ms Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt like napalm.

The internet also had a lot to say about the new uniform for Space Force, which sounds like a set up for a movie by Mr Mel Brooks.

As we get into the nitty-gritty of awards season and as Mr Brad Pitt continues to headline the shows, we’d like to nominate whomever is writing his jokes. In other news, Mr Jeff Bezos claims Saudi Arabia hacked his phone; architect Mr Frank Gehry is still crumpling up buildings in his nineties; we may be losing Fairway, New York’s greatest grocery store and Radiohead have assembled a digital library of all of their output.

If you’re into the wheeling and dealings of the Davos set, Mr Stephen Rodrick is reporting live from the conference and its environs. Sports columnist Mr Arash Markazi, on the other hand, is in Miami covering the NFL beat for the LA Times in the lead up to Super Bowl LIV on 2 February. It’s nice to be able to follow these goings-on from home, in our robes, where we can take in a tour of Ms Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s Long Island studio, and follow along on the impeachment proceedings, without being made to drink milk (which, for some reason, is what Senators are allowed on the floor?).

This week, I finally get to read the new Venice-set novel, A Beautiful Crime, from Mr Christopher Bollen; I’ll go see Bad Boys For Life, and catch up on the new short film from Mr David Lynch, What Did Jack Do?, on Netflix. Oh, also, Ms Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring just went up on streaming platforms so here’s a case for the film if you need any encouragement. Happy Friday.