Matthew Specktor
@specktor.bsky.social
Novelist, memoirist, co-founder of The Los Angeles Review of Books
Co-sign this. Lou’s stuff is the best
Anybody who’s into wonderfully written stories about life in the liminal spaces of Hollywood owes it to themself to pick up Lou Mathews’s Hollywoodski. And while you’re at it, get his books Shaky Town and L.A. Breakdown, all from @jimatdeltaco.bsky.social’s Tiger Van Books!
Nice Christmas present from Kirkus, a starred review for Hollywoodski. The money line : "A lively, funny journey on the fringes of Hollywood."
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
December 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Co-sign this. Lou’s stuff is the best
You will be visited by three spirits
December 26, 2025 at 4:26 AM
You will be visited by three spirits
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
If you want to spark some trans joy on such a scary day, may I suggest www.transanta.com? Let's get holiday gifts for trans kids.
You can pick a registry and send a gift directly or donate to them and they'll make the magic happen.
You can pick a registry and send a gift directly or donate to them and they'll make the magic happen.
Transanta
Send gifts to trans youth in need, safely and anonymously!
www.transanta.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
If you want to spark some trans joy on such a scary day, may I suggest www.transanta.com? Let's get holiday gifts for trans kids.
You can pick a registry and send a gift directly or donate to them and they'll make the magic happen.
You can pick a registry and send a gift directly or donate to them and they'll make the magic happen.
Episode 5 is where I bail out of this show I’ve been watching against my better judgment, thanks
December 11, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Episode 5 is where I bail out of this show I’ve been watching against my better judgment, thanks
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
Now online- “Fracking for Cool”, an essay I wrote for the companion booklet of Amalia Ulman's film “Magic Farm” earlier this year - on Vice, ZIRP-era media, and hipster globalization. Also see the film if you haven't already; truly one of the year's best borderstudies.substack.com/p/fracking-f...
Fracking for Cool
On Vice, the ZIRP Era, and Amalia Ulman's "Magic Farm"
borderstudies.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Now online- “Fracking for Cool”, an essay I wrote for the companion booklet of Amalia Ulman's film “Magic Farm” earlier this year - on Vice, ZIRP-era media, and hipster globalization. Also see the film if you haven't already; truly one of the year's best borderstudies.substack.com/p/fracking-f...
December 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Noah Baumbach’s None of That Jazz. Oof.
December 6, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Noah Baumbach’s None of That Jazz. Oof.
Happy to note that this book truly, truly rules.
Oh yeah!! I am beyond thrilled to have the honor of an advance copy of Grace Krilanovich's new novel!!!
November 26, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Happy to note that this book truly, truly rules.
She got a GREAT ASS, Charlie Brown.
Forget it, Charlie Brown, it's Chinatown.
I’m not the guy you kill, Charlie Brown. I’m the guy you buy!
November 24, 2025 at 3:51 AM
She got a GREAT ASS, Charlie Brown.
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
👇
ICE has been raiding my neighborhood and surrounding ones for the last couple of weeks now. They commandeered my local church (against the pastor's will) for a staging site and raided supermarkets, parks, Goodwills, bus stops, you name it.
The national media's been silent. So has @mayor.lacity.gov.
The national media's been silent. So has @mayor.lacity.gov.
Engagement on our updates re: ICE kidnappings/fed siege of Los Angeles is significantly lower on Bluesky compared to Twitter. Do ppl on here not care about LA anymore? Are feeds being taken over by liberal commentators? What's going on?
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
November 19, 2025 at 1:30 AM
👇
Ordinarily I refrain from dunking on this sort of thing because why bother, but for God's sake:
November 17, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Ordinarily I refrain from dunking on this sort of thing because why bother, but for God's sake:
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
My reflections on the month of October and why it’s my Jack Kerouac and Chet Baker month. Also, what I am reading and you should read, too. Oh, and my favorite horror films.
Mentioned: @lukeoneil47.bsky.social
@jasondiamond.bsky.social
@specktor.bsky.social
billshea.com/2025/10/29/u...
Mentioned: @lukeoneil47.bsky.social
@jasondiamond.bsky.social
@specktor.bsky.social
billshea.com/2025/10/29/u...
Under October skies: Jack Kerouac, Chet Baker, and what I am reading (plus Dracula)
My reflections on the month of October and why it’s my Jack Kerouac and Chet Baker month. Also, what I am reading and you should read, too. Oh, and my favorite horror films.
billshea.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:15 PM
My reflections on the month of October and why it’s my Jack Kerouac and Chet Baker month. Also, what I am reading and you should read, too. Oh, and my favorite horror films.
Mentioned: @lukeoneil47.bsky.social
@jasondiamond.bsky.social
@specktor.bsky.social
billshea.com/2025/10/29/u...
Mentioned: @lukeoneil47.bsky.social
@jasondiamond.bsky.social
@specktor.bsky.social
billshea.com/2025/10/29/u...
You mean it wasn’t actually like this?
I’m watching an illegal stream of the game on tik tok and the host has to use filters to keep the feed up so im consuming this hell game like this fyi
October 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
You mean it wasn’t actually like this?
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
I’m watching an illegal stream of the game on tik tok and the host has to use filters to keep the feed up so im consuming this hell game like this fyi
October 28, 2025 at 5:51 AM
I’m watching an illegal stream of the game on tik tok and the host has to use filters to keep the feed up so im consuming this hell game like this fyi
Guess I picked the right night to be totally destroyed by jet lag so I could enjoy a relaxing eighteen innings of easygoing small hours baseball, just as the good lord intended
October 28, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Guess I picked the right night to be totally destroyed by jet lag so I could enjoy a relaxing eighteen innings of easygoing small hours baseball, just as the good lord intended
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
I did not enjoy writing this; it can't even serve as an ad for my newsletter, which I've suspended due to an overbilling situation that has me almost regretting leaving Substack. But, you know, it's evidence for the piece I just didn't get to include.
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/patro...
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/patro...
Patron-Supported Journalism Can’t Be the Future of News
Writing about the failure of patron-supported journalism is itself a kind of...
talkingpointsmemo.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I did not enjoy writing this; it can't even serve as an ad for my newsletter, which I've suspended due to an overbilling situation that has me almost regretting leaving Substack. But, you know, it's evidence for the piece I just didn't get to include.
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/patro...
talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/patro...
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
10/23/78: Stories of John Cheever
Stellar collection bagged well deserved Pulitzer
Standouts incl The Swimmer (later film w/Burt Lancaster) [ @specktor.bsky.social "the fevered delirium of suburbia in decline"] & our favorite Goodbye, My Brother
More via @tcboyle.com: www.npr.org/2006/08/17/5...
Stellar collection bagged well deserved Pulitzer
Standouts incl The Swimmer (later film w/Burt Lancaster) [ @specktor.bsky.social "the fevered delirium of suburbia in decline"] & our favorite Goodbye, My Brother
More via @tcboyle.com: www.npr.org/2006/08/17/5...
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
10/23/78: Stories of John Cheever
Stellar collection bagged well deserved Pulitzer
Standouts incl The Swimmer (later film w/Burt Lancaster) [ @specktor.bsky.social "the fevered delirium of suburbia in decline"] & our favorite Goodbye, My Brother
More via @tcboyle.com: www.npr.org/2006/08/17/5...
Stellar collection bagged well deserved Pulitzer
Standouts incl The Swimmer (later film w/Burt Lancaster) [ @specktor.bsky.social "the fevered delirium of suburbia in decline"] & our favorite Goodbye, My Brother
More via @tcboyle.com: www.npr.org/2006/08/17/5...
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
Very excited to be in conversation about SQUIMBOP with the great @specktor.bsky.social
in LA this coming Tues -- we started the conversation several years ago, w/r/t DODGE CITY 2: @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social @southwestreview.bsky.social @1111press.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
in LA this coming Tues -- we started the conversation several years ago, w/r/t DODGE CITY 2: @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social @southwestreview.bsky.social @1111press.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
The Mythmaker Gazes at Himself: A Conversation with David Leo Rice | Los Angeles Review of Books
Matthew Specktor and author David Leo Rice discuss his book series, “A Room in Dodge City.”
lareviewofbooks.org
October 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Very excited to be in conversation about SQUIMBOP with the great @specktor.bsky.social
in LA this coming Tues -- we started the conversation several years ago, w/r/t DODGE CITY 2: @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social @southwestreview.bsky.social @1111press.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
in LA this coming Tues -- we started the conversation several years ago, w/r/t DODGE CITY 2: @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social @southwestreview.bsky.social @1111press.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
Every half inning of Mariners baseball
a close up of a man 's face with a few spots on it
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with a few spots on it
media.tenor.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Every half inning of Mariners baseball
Loved writing this for the good folks at @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social
Matthew Specktor (@specktor.bsky.social) unwraps a fishy feud between a high priestess of California modernism and the Pope of Pop Cinema.
nyra.nyc/read-herring
nyra.nyc/read-herring
October 11, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Loved writing this for the good folks at @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social
Really looking forward to this, on Tuesday night! Eastsiders, come through! (And don't forget to RSVP at the link . . . it's free)
LA Squimbop launch next Tues with @specktor.bsky.social and Chris Zeischegg -- RSVP here! @southwestreview.bsky.social @1111press.bsky.social @whiskeytit.com @wakeisland.bsky.social
partiful.com/e/C9AkXDbFpP...
partiful.com/e/C9AkXDbFpP...
RSVP to Book Launch: The Squimbop Condition | Partiful
David Leo Rice is the author of the novels Angel House, The New House, The Berlin Wall, and the Dodge City trilogy, as well as the story collections Drifter and The Squimbop Condition, out later this ...
partiful.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Really looking forward to this, on Tuesday night! Eastsiders, come through! (And don't forget to RSVP at the link . . . it's free)
Reposted by Matthew Specktor
Been in Los Angeles less than 24 hours and six people have asked if I’ve seen One Battle After Another and my response is “I’m on book tour. My life is one battle after another.”
Anyways. I’m talking with my king of LA @specktor.bsky.social, at Skylight tonight. I’m so psyched.
Anyways. I’m talking with my king of LA @specktor.bsky.social, at Skylight tonight. I’m so psyched.
September 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Been in Los Angeles less than 24 hours and six people have asked if I’ve seen One Battle After Another and my response is “I’m on book tour. My life is one battle after another.”
Anyways. I’m talking with my king of LA @specktor.bsky.social, at Skylight tonight. I’m so psyched.
Anyways. I’m talking with my king of LA @specktor.bsky.social, at Skylight tonight. I’m so psyched.