I love reading just about everything, watching comedy and documentary-type things, and wholeheartedly embrace the podcast. I also enjoy hearing about what other people are reading, watching, and listening. Here's my two cents worth.
READ
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
My brother and sister-in-law gifted me a subscription to the Book of the Month Club for Christmas. This was my first pick. I'm so used to reading ebooks on my tablet it was nice to page through an actual real-life paper book again! I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book until I was nearly halfway through. Eleanor Oliphant herself was actually completely neurotic, pretentious, and annoying to me at first. But as I learned more and more about her and got into the story, I ended up loving her and the other characters. I'm glad I kept on and gave it a chance.
Born A Crime
So, so good. Even better because I read the entire thing in Trevor Noah's voice. It's a memoir but also a commentary on South African and our own American society. He's had quite the life and it was fascinating to delve more into his background and explore what it really means to be black, white, and biracial.
Promise Me, Dad
Joe Biden's memoir of the year his son was diagnosed with cancer and his concurrent time in the White House. I have to say this one was truly a labor of love to finish. I kept on because I like Biden, but found the writing dry and journalistic. It was very much a "this happened and then this happened" telling of the story. It was interesting to read about his travels and work as Vice President and about his son's diagnosis and treatment, but I longed for more of the emotion behind it all instead of just an account of what happened.
Love Does
Fell in love with this book. Bob Goff's memoir/faith journey/whimsical examination of life was beautiful, funny, shocking, and touching to read, often all at the same time. I appreciated that it's not a theological tome - at one point he talks about starting a "Bible doing" group instead of a "Bible study". It's real, authentic, and motivates me to find out just what love can do in my own life. I already know I will be coming back to this one again and again.
Little Fires Everywhere
I saw this one everywhere last year and made the purchase before we left for Arizona. I zipped through most of it on the flight back and am so close to being finished. The mark of a good novel to me is the depth of its character development, which this book has in spades. I love all the characters, their good sides and their bad. There's a strain of mystery and discovery throughout, which keeps me thinking about it throughout the day. Is it too soon to say it's my favorite novel of the year?
WATCHED
The Crown
Does a large part of me watch this show solely for the design porn of everything from the clothing to the various palace sets? Yes. It's also clever, fascinating, and sends us down a Wikipedia wormhole after (if not during) each episode. Now to wait for season three...
Top Chef
We're Top Chef junkies. We're loving the cast, based in Colorado, this year. Everyone is talented but more importantly nice. For the most part people get along and it's so interesting to see how everyone works together (or sometimes don't). I have a trip to Denver planned in August, so I'm also keeping my eyes open for things to check out while I'm there!
LISTENED
Nothing new here. January was such a busy month (a birthday, Tyson gone for a week, our trip to Arizona) that I didn't much keep up with the ones already in my queue. Despite the business, hardly a week goes by that I don't check in with One Bad Mother, Pantsuit Politics, and Risen Motherhood, so be sure to check those out if you haven't already!
Note: any links to Amazon in this post are affiliate links.