Reading, Watching, Listening (May 2024)
/We spent spring break at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, where I did almost nothing but relax by the ocean - reading books and listening to music. Sometimes laziness is awesome. So lots of new recs this month . . .
READING
(1) Terrace Story - This surreal novel consists of interlocking stories all of which somehow involve a woman who can make space “bigger” and hence create a gorgeous terrace for friends in their cramped apartment that can only be accessed when she visits. Somewhat “magically”, for lack of a better word, the author’s imagined worlds often seem more real than our current world esp. in their expressions of heartache, grief, and fear.
(2) Biography of X - I’m a little obsessed with this book - a counterfactual novel that presents a view of history in which the south secedes from the north after World War II and becomes a a fascist theocracy. But it’s also a fictional biography of an artist who goes by “X”, as written by the artist’s deceased wife. As the narrator researches her wife’s past, she has to confront if she ever really knew or understand her spouse at all. And whether or not this matters when it comes to who we love. A fascinating look at loss and identity.
(3) Waiting for the Barbarians - Coetzee won the Nobel and this is considered one of his best novels, described by Amazon as “a startling allegory of the war between opressor and opressed. The Magistrate is not simply a man living through a crisis of conscience in an obscure place in remote times; his situation is that of all men living in unbearable complicity with regimes that ignore justice and decency.” It’s a sad read, though I couldn’t put it down.
(4) Trevor Noah - Born a Crime - How did it take me so long to read this book? I always assumed it would be sort of a “normal” celeb autobiography mostly dealing with Noah’s rise to fame. But I was VERY wrong. Instead it’s an absorbing perspective on what it was like to live in South Africa as a “colored” man during the end of apartheid. Noah intersperses heartbreaking stories of abuse and poverty, with funny stories of childhood and dating - so the book never feels too “heavy” until the end. Trust me, it’s a powerful read.
(5) Life Time (Stories) - I’m trying to plan a trip to South Africa with Parker this summer, so I’m a little obsessed with reading about the country. Nadine Gordimer is one of two South Africans to win the Nobel prize for fiction and her stories cover a wide range of characters - some are better than others, but all in all, they provide a variety of fictional lenses for looking at a hard to understand country.
(6) Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight, An African Childhood - This memoir about the author’s childhood on a farm in Rhodesia is almost more surreal than Terrace Story’s fictional worlds - told through the perspective of a child whose parents try to manage their family farm during a civil war.
(7) The Summer Before the Dark - I stumbled on this book while looking at a random list of best novels by Nobel Prize winners. And it hit home in a big way. The narrator, a 40-something mother of kids who are leaving the nest - spends a summer trying to figure out who she is. Sort of. That’s a vast oversimplification. It’s a weird book. And I loved it.
WATCHING
(1 ) Challengers (theaters) - Dan and I saw this at the Alamo Drafthouse last week (how fun is that place?) and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. The plot centers around a love triangle and tennis. And at times the dialogue seems a little forced, but the soundtrack (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus) is a whole other element. Plus, Zendaya is, as always, amazing. I can’t say it was my favorite movie ever, but it was a fun watch.
(2) Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Season 1 (Amazon Prime) - I’ve never been a huge fan of assassin movies and tv shows (why are there so many?), but this one pulled me in. The characters and the love story are complicated and, oddly, somewhat relatable. The marital fights and struggles seem oddly real, even when paired against such an odd professional backdrop.
(3) Palm Royale (Apple TV) - The kids walked in on Dan and me watching this the other day and asked, “we can’t tell - is it a drama or a comedy?” I’m not sure either - I guess a little bit of both. Either way, Kristen Wiig is oddly likable as a want to be socialite in 1970s Palm Springs. Plus the costume and styling are AMAZING. It’s a fun watch.
(4) Quiet on the Set, the Dark Side of Kids’ TV (Hulu/Max) - Um, WTF? Seriously, WTF?
(5) Plus One (currently on Netflix) - This is BY FAR the best rom com I’ve seen in a really long time. The characters are two old college friends who find themselves single during “wedding” season, so agree to be each other’s plus one. And then, of course, they fall in love. But even with such a cheesy plot, it’s somehow sort of believable. And funny. (Or maybe I just love anything with Maya Erskine).
(6) Baby Reindeer (Netflix) - I’m so mixed on this, I kept waiting for something “big” to happen, so at the end I was a little disappointed. And then I felt bad for being disappointed. It’s such a heartbreaking story (about a man’s messed up relationship with his stalker) and also more human and more subtle than most of shows we see on TV.
(7) Love is Blind (Sweden) (Netflix) - After I finished binge-watching Love is Blind US, Season 6, I couldn’t quite let go (seriously, how moving was that conversation between Clay’s parents at the end?). So I ended up diving down the Love is Blind rabbits hole by visiting other seasons in other countries. The dubbing makes the show extra awkward and funny. And the match ups are almost painful, nobody seems to like each other, which didn’t keep it from being fun to watch.
LISTENING
(1) All My Homes Hate Ticketmaster, Zach Bryan - I am, apparently, really late to the game on the whole Zach Bryan phenomenon. I “discovered” him because of his collab with Noah Kahn (“Sarah’s Place” is such a good song) and then I became obsessed and paid a ridiculous amount of money for noisebleed seats to his Capital One Concert, which may be one of the best shows I’ve ever seen live. And I screamed every lyric with a packed stadium of young kids in cowboy hats. He’s amazing.
(2) Bright Future, Adrianne Lenker - In general, I like Lenker more when she sings with Big Thief, but these songs are happier and more positive than those on her last solo album (only Lenker could make a song called “Sadness as a Gift” positive). Also a little catchier. At times it feels like Lenker is talking directly to the listener - like overhearing a beautiful conversation or eavesdropping on someone talking aloud to herself.
(3) Don’t Forget Me, Maggie Rogers - It’s pretty impressive that all of Maggie Rogers’ albums sound completely different. This one is both sadder and poppier somehow then her last two and, also, not to be a bummer, but a little more boring. Yet, still, all in all a fun listen (just somewhat forgettable). Also, sort of fascinating that she recorded it after graduating from Harvard Divinity School.
(4) Cowboy Carter, Beyonce - I love this album. It is, quite simply, fun. How wonderful are the transitions between songs, mimicking a radio station? Plus, the variety and how she mixed country themes with different genres. I find it impossible to not become happy while listening. Esp. Levi Jeans and Yaya.
(5) The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift - I know I’m suppose to hate this album (my kids really hate this album), but I sort of love it (in my opinion, it’s SO MUCH better than Midnights). Yes, it’s messy and too much and I could have done without some of the bonus songs. But it’s nice to see a more relatable Taylor - full of hurt, anger, and, still, some great song writing.
(6) Tigers Blood, Waxahatchee - This album is a little slower than some of the others, so it’s taking me awhile to get into it. But Right Back at It is such a great song.
(7) Only God Was Above Us, Vampire Weekend - I know everyone loves this album (the reviews are excellent) and Vampire Weekend is one of my favorite bands. But, musically, this seems a little blah. I hate when I want to like something everyone else likes and don’t. It makes me feel like I’m not invited to the party. But, seriously, why does everyone like this album? Maybe I just need to listen more carefully.
WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE? ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS?
CLICK BELOW SEE TO ALL OF MY READING, WATCHING, LISTENING POSTS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR FAMILY’S CRAZY LIFE? Then please click below
. . . .
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.