I love reading just about everything (okay, you won't see any mystery or sci-fi picks on here), watching things that make me think and especially if they make me laugh, and wholeheartedly embrace the podcast. Here's my two cents worth.
When you walk downstairs to find everyone reading and it’s the best thing ever. Wondering how much longer until I can convince them that this is all we should do for a whole entire calendar day.
READ
(Follow the links below or click through to bookshop.org to find all books referenced in this post and past Read, Watched, Listened posts. And here’s your friendly reminder that these are affiliate links!)
All Boys Aren’t Blue
This book of essays, written by George M. Johnson about his experience growing up as a queer black boy, honestly got just too explicit for me. I skimmed through the sex scenes. And yet, I can’t help thinking that for a young adult who may be wrestling with/questioning their own sexuality, those examples could be incredibly helpful. For that reason alone I think the book is important, even if it wasn’t to my own personal taste. And the writing was otherwise wonderful.
Anxious People
I finished this book (after racing through it in a couple of days), set it down, and said to Tyson, “I just finished the most fantastic book.” And he said, “What was it about?” And I said, “The human condition.” That’s it. There’s no other way to sum it up. Fredrik Backman is God’s gift to humanity.
Open Book
Meh? I know people kind of raved about Jessica Simpson’s memoir and I tried to care but just really didn’t. Even when she got sort of vulnerable there was this whole goody-good undercurrent through the whole thing that I couldn’t get over. Maybe you have to be more into celebrity than I am to appreciate this one.
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language
Another book that was…fine. Gretchen McCulloch walked through how we use language on the Internet and I found some parts absolutely riveting (please tell me all the things to know about memes and also this is a thing you can study?) and other parts much less so (meaning I skimmed entire chapters).
The Art of Memoir
I read this as part of a writing class. It was kind of like the book above: there were some pages where I underlined everything and other parts I skimmed. Honestly, I took a memoir-specific writing class last fall that was like the Holy Grail of Memoir Writing, so anything else is just going to pale in comparison. I think there are better writing books out there but that also feels like an unpopular opinion where this book is concerned, so take it with a grain of salt.
The Color of Compromise: the Truth About the American’ Church’s Complicity in Racism
This book was difficult, important, and also wildly unsurprising in so many ways. I think anyone who is involved, was involved, ever will be involved, or is simply interested in the capital-C Church in America should read this book. Jemar Tisby’s book is difficult to read, not because of the language but because of the subject matter. Parts of this book will (and should) make you feel sick to your stomach. It’s one of those hard but necessary reads.
The Book of Two Ways
People, give me a Jodi Picoult book any day. (Except for The Storyteller which was brutal (like, in a good way) and I can never read ever again.) Egyptology? I’m here for it. Hers were the first “adult” books I ever really read way back in 8th or 9th grade. Yes, they can be formulaic. I don’t care. They’re easy and delightful to read and people might not really talk like that and I just don’t even care. I will read any book she puts out every single time.
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
This book was a delight. Did I finish this book and then find the Josie the Short-Necked Giraffe episodes (which were my absolute favorites as a kid) on Amazon? Did I download them immediately for Nolan to watch? Did the lyrics to the songs come back to me? Yes, yes, and a resounding yes. And as much as Maxwell King tried to emphasize that Fred Rogers wasn’t actually a saint, I couldn’t quite believe him.
What Kind of Woman
Kate Baer is the poet laureate of my generation. That is all.
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as Told to Me) Story
One of the most beautiful books I read all year. What Bess Kalb has really written is a love letter in the purest sense. It’s not romantic but familial; an ode to her grandmother. It’s funny and touching together at the same time. I devoured this book and it ended all too soon.
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
This book was a more literal love letter to the author, Tembi Locke’s husband, who she lost all too soon to cancer. And while it’s about their relationship, it’s about so much more: place, belonging, identity, family. I wavered on this book; at some points I couldn’t get enough, at others it stalled out for me. Mostly, it made me wonder why I hadn’t fallen in love with a Sicilian: her descriptions of the Italian countryside are among the most poignant in the book.
WATCHED
Challenger: The Final Flight
We are here for all the docuseries. Especially when they combine the low-key love in our household for all things space. This one was fascinating but devastating.
America Wrote the Pandemic Playbook, Then Ignored It
A quick watch to fuel your righteous anger by one of my favorite filmmakers, Johnny Harris.
Schitt’s Creek
How much do I love Schitt’s Creek? All of it. I love it all. Except for Roland, who is skeevy as hell. But besides that, I love it. Watching Schitt’s Creek is a journey I love for all of us right now.
Dolly Parton: Here I Am
Dolly Parton is having a moment and I’m here for it.
The Queen’s Gambit
So. Good. I think I want to learn chess now? And if you do know chess, like Tyson does, and if you’re meticulous, like Tyson is, you’ll pause the video to analyze what’s going on during various chess games. Also: the fashion. Can 60s fashion come back please? The shoes. The dresses. All of it. Except for maybe the undergarments. Love. (Also? The wallpaper.)
LISTENED
Nothing new or in particular to say here. Pantsuit Politics and The Popcast have been keeping me sane: one by helping me process through reality and the other by helping me let it all out in laughter. God bless them.