This year I’ve been more organized about keeping track of what I’ve read and watched, so thought I’d share a 6-months into the year list. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last 7.5 years of parenting + COVID, it is discovering how fun it is to watch and read things in a frenzy of consumption, because finding watching-reading-listening momentum is real, and you start to see so many threads from one thing to the next. If I’m being honest, it also takes the pressure off of any one watch or read being a great pick—I’m more ok with sitting through a shitty TV series or movie (looking at you, White Noise!), or stumbling through a mediocre book (or quitting halfway), because it’s still all a balm for my brain.
Coming up, I’m excited to see Past Lives by Celine Song and the doc, Love to Love You, Donna Summer. I’m also excited for Season 2 of The Bear, which is out in a few weeks. As for reading, I have Saving Time by Jenny Odell, The Nursery by Szilvia Molnar, and Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby in my ever-present bedside queue. I’d love your recs for great reads, binge-y TV, and very worthwhile films.
Books:
Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley (★★★★): A series of personal essays by writer and Director Sarah Polley exploring both meaningful and traumatic life events that informed who she is from being a child actress to an unexpected injury.
All This Could be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews (★★★1/2): Wanted to love this portrait of a young, queer, Indian women finding herself after college more. Alas, still a worthy read.
The Furrows by Namwali Serpell (★★★1/2): A haunting book about a girl whose little brother drowns when they’re kids and how that grief follows her into adulthood.
Museum of Rain by Dave Eggers (short story) (★★★★): a 44-page story about a man who leads his nieces and nephews on a walk to an elusive, but meaningful destination.
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet (★★★★): Loved this strange little book about a man who lives next to people in a glass house and the relationship he has with them.
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout (★★★★): My first Strout and glad to discover the world of Lucy Barton.
Natural History: Stories by Andrea Barrett: (★★★)
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee (★★★★★): Loved this so much. Also so excited for her forthcoming book on Korean night schools.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (★★1/2): I can barely remember reading this…
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami (★★★★1/2): The story of three women united in working class Tokyo through family bonds and life’s challenges.
Beyond Birds & Bees by Bonnie Rough (★★★★): a very informative and easy-reading book on navigating conversations about gender, sex, relationships with your kids.
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin (★★★★): a fun, light intro to the great Laurie Colwin
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin (★★★★): Therapists, transcriptionists, a small town, scandal, romance. An easy read that has it all.
We Don’t Know What We’re Doing by Thomas Morris (★★★1/2): A charming book of short stories that revolves around a town’s cast of characters by a friend of Sally Rooney’s.
You Have a Friend in 10A by Maggie Shipstead (★★★★1/2): Writes some of the most beautiful sentences I can remember reading.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (★★★★): The most discussion-worthy book of the year
Biting the Hand: Growing up Asian in Black + White America by Julia Lee: (★★★★★): Non-Asian people—please read this important book!
Movies:
Glass Onion (★★★): Liked it, wanted to love it, but didn’t. Daniel Craig’s styling was great though.
Matilda the Musical (★★★★): Truly enjoyable song and dance for kids and adults alike.
Sharp Stick (★): Directed by Lena Dunham; not her finest work.
The Menu (★★★★): Fun and terrifying in the world of skewer-the-rich movies (though I did like Triangle of Sadness better).
White Noise (★): The actual worst movie ever made?
Banshees of Inisherin (★★★★): Stellar performances by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson even if not my personal fave of the year.
Los Reyes del Mundo (★★★): 5 young friends from Medellin set out on an adventure across often-perilous Colombia to reclaim land that’s rightfully theirs
Women Talking (★★★★★): Miriam Toews’ incredible book beautifully translated to screen by Sarah Polley
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (didn’t finish)
The Swimmers (★★★★): A moving if very Hollywood’ed story of two sisters who are also talented competitive swimmers, who flee war-torn Syria and swim to safety across the ocean.
All That Breathes (★★★★): a gorgeous and quiet doc about two brothers who run a bird hospital in Delhi.
Le Pupille (short) (★★★★★): a fantastic short by Alice Rohrwacher about a group of orphan girls who rebel against their caretaking nuns on Christmas eve.
Anais in Love (★★★): I can’t actually remember much about this movie
Things to Come (★★★): A very french movie by Mia Hansen Love about French intellectuals navigating mid-life.
Petite Solange (★★★): A young girl gets caught in between her parents divorce and searches for her own love. Directed by Acelle Ropert.
The Donut King (★★★★): a 2020 doc about Cambodian refugee, Ted Ngoy, and his influence on independent Cambodian-owned donut shops in LA.
A Star is Born ★★★1/2: Watched Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper on a plane and it was perfect (for the moment).
Showing Up (★★★): Kelly Reichardt’s intimate (but not entirely successful) movie about a sculptor (Michelle Williams) trying to navigate her art practice amidst the drama of her daily life. Great art school style, though.
Closer (★★★★): This movie about young male friendship is so beautiful and so heartbreaking. The cinematography is incredible.
Judy Blume Forever (★★★★): a well-made doc about the enduring impact of the books of Judy Blume, her lifelong epistolary relationships, and the quiet revolution of her books.
Air: (★★1/2): Went into this Ben Affleck / Matt Damon reunion with high hopes, but thought this Nike story was pretty lame.
The Little Mermaid (★★★): Same great crab, a cute seagull rap, and terrible special effects.
Super Mario Brothers (★★★): Honestly, quite enjoyed this as far as extending IP goes.
TV Shows
Emily in Paris seasons 1,2,3 (★★★★): I love this show. Don’t come at me.
Call my Agent, seasons 1,2,3,4 (★★★★): Also a fan of this show (though kinda bored by Season 4) about French talent agents trying to manage the drama of their clients and personal lives.
Shrinking (★★★★): A little cheesy but love dad/daughter relationship shows and a man having to navigate feelings.
Break Point (★★★★): I’ve recently gotten very re-into tennis, so this was a fun watch.
Maestro in Blue (★★★): Cheesy but beautiful older man falls for teen girl on Greek island storyline
Succession season 4 (★★★★★). 5 stars, obvs, and @nocontextsuccession is my favorite IG of the year.
Wellmania (★★★★): Celeste Barber is one of my favorite IG follows, so knew i’d enjoy this show based on her forced-to-get-healthy wellness journey.
Beef: (★★★★1/2): Loved it, especially Steven Yeun and the styling of Joseph Lee (George).
Tiny Beautiful Things (★★1/2): The adaptation of the Cheryl Strayed book starring Kathryn Hahn that was somehow so boring it wasn’t worth finishing.
Queen Charlotte (★★★1/2): Fun Bridgerton prequel, which you will prob enjoy if you also like Bridgerton and all its pomp.
XO, Kitty (★★★): Very cheesy/tween, but I love Jenny Han and I like seeing the Korean teen vibes.
The Diplomat (★★★): I like Kerri Russell but didn’t find the plot or stakes of this engaging enough to feel invested, though the end of season 1 hinted it might ramp up.
Dave season 3 (★★★★1/2): This show about aspiring rapper, Dave Burd (Lil Dicky) is so smart and weird and well-produced.
Never Have I Ever Season 4 (★★★★): Binged this this week and while the guy who plays Paxton is way too old to ever have been cast as a high schooler, I liked how this last season went down.
Ted Lasso (Season 3): Still watching!
Till next time!
Love this!
5 stars: Highly recommend the World of Wonders, by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. A collection of short stories themed around the author's palpable enthusiasm and love for flora and fauna. The author is a poet, and it comes through clearly in her beautiful prose and sharp pacing with profound metaphors and reflections - I raced through this. It was so compelling that as soon as I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning to reread, just to better absorb all of the meaning.
4.5 stars: Hang the Moon, by Jeanette Walls. Also a compelling read from the same author of Glass Castle. A young women fights for family standing in a Prohibition-era bootlegger business.
3 stars: Super Mario Brothers. I went in with very low expectations and totally agree with your assessment lol.
The ultimate balm right now: Somebody, Somewhere on (HBO) Max! Also, Platonic on Apple+ is great, but I have a major Rose Byrne bias. I just love her! Can't wait to watch the final season of Never Have I Ever but I'll be so sad when it's over!