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. I also enjoy hearing about what other people are reading, watching, and listening. Here's my two cents worth.
READ
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage
Some books I enjoy in the moment and then can’t recall much about them later. That’s this book. Sorry, Dani Shapiro. I remember it being lovely and well-written and honest but I’ve been sitting here for several minutes and literally cannot recall any details. Though maybe that’s not surprising given the state of **gestures** everything. FWIW, I apparently gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God
I adore Sarah Bessey and this book did not disappoint. She writes memoir just as well as she writes about faith. I’m always nervous when a person I adore releases a new book and there’s a lot of hype around it because what if I don’t love it? What if the hype doesn’t match up? Well, this book did not disappoint. So many crazy stories woven together. (Her time in Rome just blew my mind.) Thank God there is a Sarah Bessey in the world.
March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women
If you’re obsessed with Little Women, as I have been since elementary school, this book of essays on each sister is a must-read. I unfortunately have to agree with most of the reviews that the essays on Meg, Jo, and Beth are far better than the one on Amy. It’s extra unfortunate, as Amy has always been my favorite. (I know. I didn’t know there was such a general loathing of her until the movie came out and I read all the think pieces.) Still. This book was an absolute delight. Maybe I need to write my own Amy essay?
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir
I give the first half of this book, primarily of her time in Pakistan, 5 stars. The second half maybe 3 stars. So I compromised in the middle and left it with a 4. The first part felt more complete and powerful, the second half felt like a lot of “and then this happened.” But. It’s important to immerse ourselves in other narratives and this memoir of a queer Muslim woman and immigrant is an important read.
Coming Clean: A Story of Faith
Meh. Didn’t love it. (P.s. I feel like an absolute monster when I say this. I’m so sorry. I know how much hard work went into writing and publishing this.)
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You
I got this as a library hold and wasn’t even halfway through before I ordered my own copy. I need to go back and underline ALL THE THINGS. I was even more nervous for Jen Hatmaker’s book than I was for Sarah Bessey’s. Because: Jen, why are you on the cover? I definitely judge books by the cover and this looked a little too cult self-help-y. Rest assured that it is ANYTHING BUT. Jen brings it in this book and my own hardcover copy will soon be covered in underlines and circles. She’s funny and fierce and full of truth.
Wow, No Thank You
Another meh. I wasn’t familiar with Samantha Irby until I started seeing this book of essays all over. It was fine. I really enjoyed a handful of essays but others I struggled through. I appreciate her honesty and vulnerability but her writing overall didn’t do it for me. Her humor is in the same category as Jenny Lawson, and honestly, I feel like it’s often too gross and try-hard. I’ll note that I’ve since seen some of Samantha’s writing around the internet and have enjoyed it, so take that for what it’s worth.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
I had this on my library holds and it came up within just a couple of weeks after George Floyd’s murder, so: perfect timing, I guess? This is very accessible and well-written. I was familiar with many of these concepts before reading because of people I follow on Instagram (notably Rachel Cargle, Layla F. Saad, and Austin Channing Brown). This was a good brush-up and deep-dive into issues of race.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity
I so enjoyed the writing of this one. This one gave more of a deep dive into the psychology of understanding race, growing up as a POC, and detailed the experiences of different racial groups in the United States—a piece I found particularly helpful. I found it fascinating and easy to read, given the difficulty of the subject matter. There’s a reason this one appears time and time again on books to help with anti-racism.
Know My Name
Chanel Miller wins everything as far as I’m concerned. This book was brave and unflinching and heartbreaking and just so. well. written. Another one that, despite the difficult subject matter, I could not put down. Brock Turner made two big mistakes that January night: 1. Choosing to touch any girl at all without consent and 2. Choosing the one who can WRITE and has ensured his name will go down in history as synonymous with campus rape culture.
Of Mice and Men
This was my first Steinbeck read ever. The only way to sum this up is to say that a novel doesn’t have to be long to be powerful.
RE-READS: Where’d You Go, Bernadette , Anywhere But Here, A Man Called Ove
I needed some things to read (especially before bed) that were less…weighty. These are three that are all very different but that I adore and can read over and over and over again.
WATCHED
Top Chef
We love Top Chef. Everything about it. It’s the best.
Hamilton
(I’m having trouble linking it for some reason but by now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know it’s on Disney+.) We watched it three times the weekend it released. I’m not sorry. The first thing we’re going to do once this is all over is fly to NYC and see it on Broadway.
The Last Dance
I like sports in general. I love the excitement and the cheering and the passion and the raw talent. I don’t love watching actual sports themselves. Some of them are fine. Others get boring. (* cough * football * cough *) But I LOVE sports documentaries. Give me the backstories of every Olympian, every time. (* sobs at the postponement of this summer’s Olympic games *) Anyway, maybe we’re just desperate for any sports of any sort at all, but this chronicling of Michael Jordan’s career and the culmination of that final Chicago Bulls season was excellent. Also the music. Brought me right back to elementary school, where the ultimate symbol of coolness was a Chicago Bulls Starter jacket. Please tell me you remember those days.
Douglas
An excellent follow-up to Nanette. The first 10-15 minutes or so where she sets everything up : the best. I love Hannah Gadsby.
LISTENED
The Ezra Klein Show
I don’t listen to this regularly, though I adore Vox and Ezra in particular. This conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates is worth listening to more than once. And it’s actually hopeful! Something we could all use more of right now.
Good One
I’ve only listened to a couple of episodes to this podcast about jokes so far (thanks for the recommendation, Molly!). I can highly recommend this episode with Hasan Minhaj to you, about how he structured his segment in response to the murder of George Floyd. It’s an excellent listen—both Hassan’s spot (which they air in its entirety during the podcast), and the analysis.