Reading, Watching, Listening (July 2021)

A friend noted that I haven’t posted one of these in awhile, so I thought I’d draft one while I was waiting on wedding photos to download. Here’s what’s new in the entertainment department . . .

READING

(1) First Person Singular: Stories - I’ve been a hug Murakami fan for years now, but his last few novels have disappointed me. These stories, however, hit the perfect note with their focus on aging, memory, and the decisions we made (or didn’t make).

(2) Girl Land - This book is an analysis of how our perceptions of teenage girls have changed over the last 100 or so years. I found it particularly insightful that the term date rape wasn’t coined until somewhat recently, according to the author, “[i]t’s hard to explain how deeply that concept would change the way all of us felt about the time we spent alone with boys and young men, the rights we hand, and the ones the men did not . . . . We sort of thought that if things go out of hand, then it was our fault.” For example, The Seventeen Book of Etiquette and Entertaining (circa 1965) advised girls, “If one or both of you starts laughing or can be distracted, you can avoid the rather dull feminine response of scratching, screaming, and kicking." Take a moment to process that last sentence. A long moment.

(3) The Weekend - This novel - about three seventy-year old women who reconnect to clear out their deceased friend’s beach house - is so incredibly well-written that I read several passages multiple times, marveling over how the author created such a wonderful book from a rather simple story. Or, as summarized by the Guardian, “The Big Chill with a dash of Big Little Lies . . . Knife-sharp and deeply alive.”

(4) Whereabouts - Have you ever read the perfect book at the perfect time? This, for me, was Whereabouts. It’s a lot more subtle than Jhumpa Lahiri’s other fiction. And there’s a note of sadness to all these small vignettes about a single middle-aged woman’s everyday life. But the writing is strong and poignant. I couldn’t put it down and finished reading it in one afternoon.

(5) Lenin: The Man, the Dictator, and the Master of Terror - I’ve been fascinated with Russian history for awhile now. This probably started when I read Ian Frazier’s Travels in Siberia. Then continued with Svetlana Alexievich Secondhand Time (which won the Nobel Prize for literature, despite being a work of nonfiction). And now Lenin’s biography, which was a great read. The downside being that Lenin was a narcissist jerk (how did I not know this?) who completely set the stage for Stalin in every way. Anyways, totally recommend!

WATCHING

(1) Starstruck (HBOMAX) - Okay, so this rom/com plot is somewhat predictable (everyday woman accidentally finds herself in a relationship with a famous actor), but I still liked the characters and the whole show was both sweet and funny.

(2) Shrill, Season 3 (Hulu) - I was mixed on Season 2 of Shrill (Aidy Bryant’s sitcom about an overweight reporter coming to terms with her size), but Season 3 was SO GOOD. I loved that the main character’s weight was no longer the show’s main focus, thus allowing for new plots (and love stories). And I’m so sad that there won’t be any more seasons. Maybe Hulu will reconsider and approve Season 4?

(3) Plan B (Hulu) - This raunchy, girls trip, high school comedy had a surprising number of really great moments (and laughs). I wouldn’t watch it as a family (seriously, DON’T WATCH AS A FAMILY), but the overall message - how one mistake can ruin a girls’ life - really hits home in between all the crazy antics as two best friends try desperately to access Plan B.

(4) The Mauritanian (Amazon) - I feel like this movie and its all-star cast - about a lawyer’s fight to free a prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for six years - got lost in the weeds of Covid. The storytelling is a little predictable, but the acting and cinematography are amazing and it’s a true story. Totally worth a watch.

(5) Sex/Life (Netflix) - I debated whether or not to include this as it is receiving LOTS of hate - Time magazine said “it’s so bad, it’s funny. According to Buzzfeed, “it’s the worst show I’ve ever watched and I have seen all of television.” Sex/Life currently has a 31% on Rotton tomatos. But still EVERYONE is watching. And while this show isn’t high brow entertainment by any means and, obviously, everyone is going to criticize a show about a young mom lusting over her ex - I still found it binge-worthy. Granted I played it in the background while I culled and edited 10,000 (yes 10,000!!) wedding photos and was desperate for any show that had enough suspense (who will she choose??) to keep me in front of a computer editing for 9 hours in a row. But still, I’m a little surprised that it is receiving this much hate, I thought it was sort of a fun watch.

LISTENING

(1) Josh Ritter - See Here I Have Built You A Mansion - I love Josh Ritter and I love this album. The songs are happy and catchy and fun. You can’t stop singing along.

(2) Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee - I need to pay more attention to this whole album, but Be Sweet is on constant replay. Constant.

(3) Sun Ra - Not sure how to summarize this - maybe quirky/visionary jazz? There’s a lot out there and I have no idea which album is which, but I can’t stop listening. Interested? Check out Sun Ra’s New Yorker profile. (Random Fact - he’s also referenced on the new Laney Del Ray single, White Dress, which is SO GOOD!)

(4) Lord Huron - Long Lost - I’ve waited for this album for years. And while it’s not perfect, it’s a fun listen. A little more varied and slow than their previous works, but still fun.

(5) Olivia Rodrigo - Sour - Maybe I should be too old for this. But it’s so catchy. And well-written and raw. And I love any 18 year old who can create great art out of a bad breakup.

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WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE? ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS?

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Darcy Troutman Photography is a Northern VA/Washington DC/Maryland documentary-style family photographer, who believes in capturing real moments. Interested in learning more? Please click here to sign up for my newsletter or schedule a session.