Morgan Leigh Davies
@mldavies.bsky.social
Victorian lady invalid, lying in bed surrounded by books. Long covid, ME, other ailments. Bylines in The Sick Times, Electric Lit, Jezebel, etc; cohost of Overinvested pod in absentia; picking away at a novel. she/her https://linktr.ee/morganleighdavies
Pinned
Belatedly sharing some of my favorite pieces from last year. I wrote essays, reviews, and conducted interviews, about fiction and all kinds of nonfiction.
This year I plan to do more of the same but hopefully at some new outlets in addition to the places I write regularly. Commission me!
This year I plan to do more of the same but hopefully at some new outlets in addition to the places I write regularly. Commission me!
Great piece about a great episode of television
The cast and crew of ‘The Pitt’ debrief on season two’s most heartbreaking good-bye: “If nurses and doctors care for a guy like this in real life, that’s a tribute to the health-care system.”
Farewell to a Frequent Flier
The cast and crew of ‘The Pitt’ debrief on season two’s most heartbreaking good-bye: “If nurses and doctors care for a guy like this in real life, that’s a tribute to the health-care system.”
www.vulture.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Great piece about a great episode of television
I am now tormenting myself by watching FRANKENSTEIN which both looks like shit and is so historically stupid it’s making my brain melt out of my skull.
February 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM
I am now tormenting myself by watching FRANKENSTEIN which both looks like shit and is so historically stupid it’s making my brain melt out of my skull.
Wrote up my thoughts on THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, about which I was fairly ambivalent: letterboxd.com/mldavies/fil...
A ★★★ review of The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)
Really don't know what you're all so over the moon about but... happy for you guys I guess? I mean that's a little disingenuous, I absolutely do understand falling for the dancing and music (mostly, m...
letterboxd.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Wrote up my thoughts on THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, about which I was fairly ambivalent: letterboxd.com/mldavies/fil...
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Okay this is wild but I posted about my three year bedbound anniversary on LinkedIn and talked about LC. And it has over 500 reactions and soooo many comments. Ive had at least ten women of color message me saying they have LC. There are so many people suffering.
February 12, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Okay this is wild but I posted about my three year bedbound anniversary on LinkedIn and talked about LC. And it has over 500 reactions and soooo many comments. Ive had at least ten women of color message me saying they have LC. There are so many people suffering.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
I am of course aware that these concepts have changed over time, I fundamentally don’t agree with this characterization though of course the matter was complex. Too complex to debate on this platform probably!
February 12, 2026 at 10:22 PM
I am of course aware that these concepts have changed over time, I fundamentally don’t agree with this characterization though of course the matter was complex. Too complex to debate on this platform probably!
> dispossessed groups, but I think she definitely intends him to be read as non-white.
Post above probably too hyperbolic bc I’m so annoyed haha!
Post above probably too hyperbolic bc I’m so annoyed haha!
February 12, 2026 at 10:14 PM
> dispossessed groups, but I think she definitely intends him to be read as non-white.
Post above probably too hyperbolic bc I’m so annoyed haha!
Post above probably too hyperbolic bc I’m so annoyed haha!
I think this is certainly possible as a form of inspiration, esp given her background, but imo the descriptions of him in the text are too clear about his appearance for this to scan as a full explanation. Certainly the lack of explicit identification encourages associations with various >
February 12, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I think this is certainly possible as a form of inspiration, esp given her background, but imo the descriptions of him in the text are too clear about his appearance for this to scan as a full explanation. Certainly the lack of explicit identification encourages associations with various >
Anyway to conclude I’m just beyond fed up with headlines asking “Is Heathcliff Black/White?” The text is ambiguous in some ways but it’s not ambiguous about him being racially different, and it’s only because Fennell was allowed to whitewash that we’re even having these stupid conversations.
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Anyway to conclude I’m just beyond fed up with headlines asking “Is Heathcliff Black/White?” The text is ambiguous in some ways but it’s not ambiguous about him being racially different, and it’s only because Fennell was allowed to whitewash that we’re even having these stupid conversations.
Jean Rhys wrote WIDE SARGASSO SEA in part based on her own experiences growing up in Dominica (much later on) and she and her Bertha are both white, in fact WSS has some dubious Black characters while being brilliant in many ways.
Could everyone get their facts straight and maybe read a book.
Could everyone get their facts straight and maybe read a book.
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Jean Rhys wrote WIDE SARGASSO SEA in part based on her own experiences growing up in Dominica (much later on) and she and her Bertha are both white, in fact WSS has some dubious Black characters while being brilliant in many ways.
Could everyone get their facts straight and maybe read a book.
Could everyone get their facts straight and maybe read a book.
This is perhaps the most egregious bit. If anything, WH is MORE attuned to these issues than JE, which certainly engages with them but in a pretty uncritical way. It’s also worth pointing out that “Creole” in this context does not mean Black but, generally, a white personal born in the Caribbean.
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
This is perhaps the most egregious bit. If anything, WH is MORE attuned to these issues than JE, which certainly engages with them but in a pretty uncritical way. It’s also worth pointing out that “Creole” in this context does not mean Black but, generally, a white personal born in the Caribbean.
The article has a whole paragraph about whether he might be Irish but doesn’t get into these other options in any detail. I am sorry suggesting he is meant to be Irish is the kind of thing a scholar does to get attention that is zero percent backed by the text.
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The article has a whole paragraph about whether he might be Irish but doesn’t get into these other options in any detail. I am sorry suggesting he is meant to be Irish is the kind of thing a scholar does to get attention that is zero percent backed by the text.
There are some interesting details here about the presence of Black people in the North though connections to the slave trade, but the text intentionally doesn’t specify: he might be Romani or Indian (“little Lascar”). It doesn’t matter. Brontë makes a point of racially othering him and that’s it.
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
There are some interesting details here about the presence of Black people in the North though connections to the slave trade, but the text intentionally doesn’t specify: he might be Romani or Indian (“little Lascar”). It doesn’t matter. Brontë makes a point of racially othering him and that’s it.
Candidly, this article intensely annoyed me.
The article mainly focuses on analyzing whether Heathcliff is Black, specifically, which is an extremely American lens through which to view this debate.
The article mainly focuses on analyzing whether Heathcliff is Black, specifically, which is an extremely American lens through which to view this debate.
Is Heathcliff White?
We called up some academics and asked.
www.vulture.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Candidly, this article intensely annoyed me.
The article mainly focuses on analyzing whether Heathcliff is Black, specifically, which is an extremely American lens through which to view this debate.
The article mainly focuses on analyzing whether Heathcliff is Black, specifically, which is an extremely American lens through which to view this debate.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Just published an update to this, covering the team structures for the US and Canada (ie. who is on which line), and the news that Team Canada left the Olympic village after one day and moved into a hotel:
February 12, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Just published an update to this, covering the team structures for the US and Canada (ie. who is on which line), and the news that Team Canada left the Olympic village after one day and moved into a hotel:
Anyway, figure skating is FUBAR, I only pay attention once every four years because otherwise my head would explode, on we go I guess.
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Anyway, figure skating is FUBAR, I only pay attention once every four years because otherwise my head would explode, on we go I guess.
Yeah, his former partner left the sport because of his mistreatment, then you fired her from your coverage after she published a book describing her experiences. What a triumph over adversity!
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Yeah, his former partner left the sport because of his mistreatment, then you fired her from your coverage after she published a book describing her experiences. What a triumph over adversity!
Just caught up with the ice dancing from earlier today and I am pretty disgusted at NBC’s decision to mention nothing about the multiple scandals surrounding the French team and instead repeat that Cizeron is the first man to win with multiple partners like this is some amazing achievement.
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Just caught up with the ice dancing from earlier today and I am pretty disgusted at NBC’s decision to mention nothing about the multiple scandals surrounding the French team and instead repeat that Cizeron is the first man to win with multiple partners like this is some amazing achievement.
Episodes forthcoming about the Oscar noms and THE FIFTH SEASON!
February 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Episodes forthcoming about the Oscar noms and THE FIFTH SEASON!
For the Overinvested patreon, @gavia.bsky.social and I chatted about PLURIBUS: www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-...
Bonus Episode: Pluribus | Overinvested
Get more from Overinvested on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM
For the Overinvested patreon, @gavia.bsky.social and I chatted about PLURIBUS: www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-...
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
FWIW, newspaper book review sections are part of the mission of journalism. Every year, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry titles tell us something we didn't know before, or advance the craft of verse and prose in new ways. This is the purpose of reviews: to alert us to the shaping of our culture.
February 10, 2026 at 8:47 PM
FWIW, newspaper book review sections are part of the mission of journalism. Every year, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry titles tell us something we didn't know before, or advance the craft of verse and prose in new ways. This is the purpose of reviews: to alert us to the shaping of our culture.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
"The books section of a newspaper plays an altogether different role. It does not cater to aficionados; it seeks new recruits."
A stirring defense from Becca Rothfeld--just laid off from the Washington Post and hired by the New Yorker--of the democratic importance of the newspaper book review, which respects its audience as true readers: people "you hope to change, convince, and surprise" www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
The End of Books Coverage at the Washington Post
Becca Rothfeld, a former critic at the Washington Post, on the death of the paper’s books section.
www.newyorker.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:17 PM
"The books section of a newspaper plays an altogether different role. It does not cater to aficionados; it seeks new recruits."
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
"It is a sign of a fatally limited imagination to assume that we can only ever desire the pittance to which we are currently reconciled." www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
The End of Books Coverage at the Washington Post
Becca Rothfeld, a former critic at the Washington Post, on the death of the paper’s books section.
www.newyorker.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:40 PM
"It is a sign of a fatally limited imagination to assume that we can only ever desire the pittance to which we are currently reconciled." www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
As a Massachusetts native I can’t even describe how much this disgusts me. If you live there, call her office now
NEW: Of all the states that voted for Harris over Trump in 2024, there's only one where a Dem governor is overseeing an ICE's 287(g) program:
Massachusetts.
Other blue states have quit, or even outright banned it. My colleague on what's happening: boltsmag.org/massachusett...
Massachusetts.
Other blue states have quit, or even outright banned it. My colleague on what's happening: boltsmag.org/massachusett...
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.
boltsmag.org
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 AM
As a Massachusetts native I can’t even describe how much this disgusts me. If you live there, call her office now
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
"The Massachusetts Department of Correction... formally partners with ICE to transfer people who have finished their sentences."
Healey's office has also not responded to my calls about this (and why would they) BUT maybe if a lot more of us call and keep calling, they'll get the drift. 617-725-4005
Healey's office has also not responded to my calls about this (and why would they) BUT maybe if a lot more of us call and keep calling, they'll get the drift. 617-725-4005
NEW: Of all the states that voted for Harris over Trump in 2024, there's only one where a Dem governor is overseeing an ICE's 287(g) program:
Massachusetts.
Other blue states have quit, or even outright banned it. My colleague on what's happening: boltsmag.org/massachusett...
Massachusetts.
Other blue states have quit, or even outright banned it. My colleague on what's happening: boltsmag.org/massachusett...
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.
boltsmag.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:35 AM
"The Massachusetts Department of Correction... formally partners with ICE to transfer people who have finished their sentences."
Healey's office has also not responded to my calls about this (and why would they) BUT maybe if a lot more of us call and keep calling, they'll get the drift. 617-725-4005
Healey's office has also not responded to my calls about this (and why would they) BUT maybe if a lot more of us call and keep calling, they'll get the drift. 617-725-4005