Reading, Watching, Listening (January 2023)
/I haven’t posted one of these in a long time, but I’ve spent a lot of time lately reading, listening, and watching. Here are some of my current faves.
READING
(1) Lapvona - Ottessa Moshfegh’s books are always weird and it’s hard to know what to make of them (is there ever a moral?) and her newest book is especially odd - it’s about a group of villagers (including a sheepherder, “healer”, and lord) in a medieval fiefdom. There’s religion and magic and boredom. The first few chapters are SLOW and I almost put it down, but I’m so glad I kept reading as it became one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a long time (but what to make of it all?)
(2) The Fortnight in September - I really loved this fictional account (written in 1931) of a family’s trip to the beach. Full disclosure - nothing really happens, which, if you ask me, is the genius of the novel. The author does a wonderful job describing ordinary, even mundane, moments and filling them with a sense of wonder. For example, the family debating who to task with bringing their pet bird to an elderly neighbor’s house and, thus, having to sit and talk with her. Or the joy of deciding to upgrade to a nicer cabin. And the mom’s happiness about spending a night of vacation by herself and doing nothing. And the teenage daughter’s thrill about meeting a boy on the boardwalk. All little things, which add up to “big things”. I found it all oddly relatable despite the fact that the book is almost 100 years old.
(3) And Yet: Poems - I’m not usually a poetry fan, but Kate Baer’s descriptions of motherhood and the unreasonable expectations society puts on moms are so unexpectedly beautiful. For example, if this doesn’t take your breath away, then I’ve got nothing left to say.
(4) Happy Hour - The main character of this novel is sort of a modern day Holly Golightly who seems to drift through life. But her observations are spot on, funny, and fun to read. Example - “I am comfortable saying I don’t do anything because that way people are always surprised by me.”
(5) Chip War - The Fight for America’s Most Critical Technology - Dan suggested this book and I’m a little shocked by how fascinating it is. I never thought of “chips” and “wars” as things that went together. But turns out I was very very wrong.
(6) The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach - This history and exploration of beach resorts was pretty fascinating. Also, a good account of how different beaches/areas effect the nearby environment (now I know Cancun is probably fine, but I should avoid the Riviera Maya).
(7) I’m Glad My Mom Died - Though I’ve never experienced anything as bad as what Jennette McCurdy went through, I found this book very relatable. I hope you will not find it relatable. If you do we should talk, as we’re both probably processing a lot.
WATCHING
(1) The White Lotus, Season 2 (HBO) - I really enjoyed The White Lotus Season 1, but I was full out obsessed with Season 2. The scenery (Sicily!!), the sexual dynamics, Portia’s outfits, the use of background art for foreshadowing, etc, and the finale - absolute perfection. I can’t wait for season 3.
(2) The Dropout (Hulu) - I have no idea what I put off watching this docu-show about Elizabeth Holme’s rise to fame because once I started the first episode I ended up binging the whole thing. And I still have so many questions. What a disturbing story.
(3) Mosquito Coast, Season 2 (Apple TV) - I’m so mixed on how I feel about Mosquito Coast. On one hand, all the main characters are sort of detestable (isn’t that the point?). On the other hand, every episode ends in a cliffhanger and I continue to cheer for them despite not liking them. And then I sort of hate myself for cheering for them. Oh well. On a different note, the cinematography is amazing.
(4) Sr. (Netflix) - Robert Downey Junior’s father introduced him to drugs as a child, which lead to years of addiction and criminal activity by Junior. And now, as adults, they tried making a movie together. And Senior died. You can tell Junior is still hoping for some sort of explanation (ie - how did you let this happen to me?), but he’s also trying to show his father at his best. Life is complicated. A really good watch.
(5) Partner Track (Netflix) - Did anyone else watch this light look about the toxic “bro” culture of big law? As a former big law lawyer this got to me and brought back a lot of long suppressed emotions. I’m so glad I don’t practice law anymore.
(6) Tell Me Lies (Hulu) - Despite all the graphic sex scenes, I’m convinced that every teenage girl should watch this show before they leave for college, as it is a great summary of how toxic certain men/boys can be.
(7) Fleishman is In Trouble (Hulu) - I was almost scared to watch this as the book (reviewed by me here) sort of broke my heart. Plus, I pictured Adam Scott in the lead role (though Jessie Eisenberg ended up doing a great job). Claire Daines was perfectly cast, I couldn’t imagine anyone else in that role. In the end, I’d say the series is actually better than the book. And I wish Libby was my best friend in real life (despite being fictional). Adulthood is hard. As is marriage.
LISTENING
(1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool it Down - This is such a fun, interesting album. The music makes you want to dance and the lyrics are strong. I can’t say enough good things. Burning is on constant rotation.
(2) If Books Could Kill, Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” - Despite the fact that Malcolm Gladwell has fallen out of favor lately (White Lotus, Season 1 certainly didn’t do him any favors), I still sometimes like his work (for example, his podcast episodes on the Little Mermaid were excellent). But still, Gladwell makes it way to easy to mistake good writing for good data. And this podcast does a great job destroying many of his conclusions.
(3) Maggie Rogers, Surrender - I loved Maggie Roger’s last album so much that I put off listening to her newest one for fear of disappointment. Then my friend ended up getting us tickets to Rogers’ sold-out February concert and now “Anywhere With You” is on constant replay (and my new favorite song). It’s a wonderful album.
(4) Caamp, Lavender Days - For reasons that make no real sense I avoided Caamp for awhile because I sometimes get sick of folksy music. The I finally listened to their new album and admitted to myself that I love folksy music and now I just want to have a campfire in the woods somewhere with this album playing.
(5) Back to the Beach, Podcast - Okay, so I admit being oddly fascinated by Laguna Beach when it first premiered (what was real? what was fake? what was editing?). And now, almost 20 years later, we finally have answers. Well, maybe. Can the stars even remember the truth anymore? As this podcast went on, I questioned their realities just as much as I questioned the original show. The past is complicated.
(6) Taylor Swift, Red - Controversial opinion, but I was a little disappointed in Midnights (it’s not bad by any means, but . . . ), so I decided to spend some time diving into Taylor’s older stuff. And this album is delightful (Holy Ground, State of Grace, Message in a Bottle, etc.). Why did it take me so long to become a true Swiftie?
(7) The 1975, Being Funny in a Foreign Language - We saw the 1975 at the Anthem last fall and it was one of the best concerts I’ve attended in a long time. The stage set was an old living room and it almost felt like two separate shows. First they played their whole new album and then they changed sets (and clothes) to play the older stuff. I love how their songs are sort of odd, but fun (maybe that just means easy to dance to) - though the new album is much more simple/catchy than the older stuff.
WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE? ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS?
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