"Bad Behavior is largely about sex, but it’s not cheesy or cheap. In this book of short stories, Gaitskill writes about women in the sex industry, people in power play relationships, S&M, and the general psychology of people who engage in so-called “bad behaviors” in a way that’s honest, sometimes brutal, and always beautiful. (For example, the darkly erotic film Secretary was adapted from a story in the book.) I first read this book around the time that I started Slutever, my blog about sexuality that still exists today, and it gave me confidence that writing about sex was a legitimate pursuit, and could be seen as intelligent, meaningful, and maybe even poetic."

"There’s something bluesy, folky, country and pop about it. It’s got everything, and it’s sort of seamless. You can listen to the record and just get into the great songs and melodies, or you can dive in and immerse yourself in the themes and the storylines of relationships. It’s a record that ages well – as you grow up, you really understand the trials and tribulations of what pulls people apart. “The band was making this album while they were all breaking up as couples, which is incredible – imagine recording a work of art with great songs while your whole world is crumbling around you. It’s a timeless record, and I’ve listened to it throughout my life."

"I know everyone’s expecting me to list off all these action movies, but Stand By Me. There’s something about the relationships and the performances in that movie that I found really inspirational. And this is before I was even considering being an actor. I just found it to be one of the more true, real, honest sort of movies that really had an effect on me. I watched it a week ago and got goose bumps. Especially with the whole River Phoenix thing and how he disappears at the end. How genius is he in the movie? There’s something about a movie like that that can be so effective with no gimmicks."