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 (Follow the links below or click through to find all books referenced in this post over on bookshop.org. And here’s your friendly reminder that these are affiliate links.)
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power
D.L. Mayfield is my new favorite voice on all things social justice, faith, and politics. Her voice is strong, clear, and convicting. Basically, she writes how I wish I could. So thankful for her words on these issues.
Expecting Wonder: The Transformative Experience of Becoming a Mother
This was such a delightful read. Full disclaimer: Brittany Bergman is a dear friend of mine and I was privileged to know about this book when it was a seed her in imagination. If you follow me on Instagram you saw me spam you about this book for a good two weeks before it released. This is a lovely and comforting read about motherhood and my new go-to gift for new moms.
Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope
Holy man. Talk about voices I’m thankful for. Megan Phelps-Roper details her deep familial connection to Westboro Baptist Church and detailed what it looked like for her to leave. I could not put this down. This book is smart, compassionate, and nuanced…which is especially amazing when the church she left is anything but.
The Water Dancer
This book felt like it was about 150-200 pages too long for me. I was so drawn into the first half of the story but the rest was a major slog. Still, Ta-Nehisi Coates is a thoughtful storyteller, and you could feel the pang of family separation and slavery in his words. I’ll admit, I prefer Coates’ nonfiction works, though this book would have worked for me if it had only been shorter.
Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophies
Meh. Didn’t love it. The satire fell flat for me. I was hoping for a good, lighthearted read but ended up feeling mostly annoyed with this book.
Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America
I wasn’t swept away by this book, but I do think it’s an important read. I was particularly fascinated by Nerfertiti Austin’s deep dive into the history of adoption within the Black community. I think this book would have been better served if I’d read it with a book club of moms, where we could talk each chapter through.
Here For It; Or, How to Save Your Soul in America: Essays
HERE FOR IT. Easily one of my top five reads of the year. R. Eric Thomas is a national treasure.
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir
I could not stop reading this book. If you’re interested in cooking, if you consider yourself at all a foodie, if you love Top Chef, if you’re interested in race in America, if you’re interested in the stories of immigrants, or if, like me, you’re all of the above, then Kwame Onwuachi has the book for you. His life story, his descriptions, his youth, all drew me right in. This was one of the best memoirs I’ve read in a while.
To Kill a Mockingbird
A classic for a reason. I don’t think I’ve read this since ninth grade. I adore Scout. And Atticus. That is all.
The Grapes of Wrath
This book. People. It was harrowing. I wasn’t sure if I liked it but then I realized I could not. stop. thinking about it. Like so much so that I had trouble sleeping the four or five days it took me to read it. It was brutal. I’m not sure I can ever read it again that’s how intense it was. But also I want to take a literature class and discuss everything and write a 20-page paper about all the Biblical symbolism. Just. Wow.
Between the World and Me
Here we go. This is Ta-Nehisi Coates at his very best. This will go down as an American classic. Or maybe it has already.
The Vanishing Half
I wasn’t as jazzed about this book as everyone else seems to be. I don’t know why. I’ve even tried to list it out. Here: Things I Liked: the descriptions, the storyline (multigenerational family dramas tend to be my jam), the exploration of race, the exploration of race in the context of family. Things I Didn’t Like: …it felt hard to care about any of the characters? I guess? That’s the best I can put my finger on it. Also (*****SPOILER ALERT*****) why was Jude with a trans black man? I just…that part didn’t make much sense. I guess because they were both outsiders in a way? That storyline just never really followed through for me. I don’t know. If you have thoughts on this book let me know because mine are CLEARLY muddled.
The Book of Longings
This was such a lovely read. Just lovely. Despite everyone around me giving it rave reviews, I was skeptical. I love history (so much so that it was my minor in college) and historical fiction often falls…flat to me. Especially when incorporating real, live actual people. (One of the reasons I’m so hesitant to read Rodham.) So a woman married to Jesus? But Susan Monk Kidd dared. And it was beautiful. If I have any critique at all (and this is a possible spoiler so read with caution), it’s that I wished she spent more time with Jesus. I get from a writer’s standpoint why the choice was made to have them spend so much time apart, but still would have loved to see them interact more together.
RE-READS: Born a Crime, The Lager Queen of Minnesota
WATCHED
Immigration Nation
Oof. This is so hard to watch. I’m really forcing myself because exposing ICE and the treatment of immigrants in our country is so important. We were alerted to this documentary series by this episode from The Daily. Basically as soon as Tyson heard that Trump was against this documentary, he turned to me and said, “We have to watch this.” It’s gut-wrenching, powerful, and incriminating. I do. not. know how anyone could watch this and continue to support the Trump administration.
Into the Unknown
Almost a year after its release and I will still sing the praises of Frozen 2 (and the entire soundtrack) to anyone who will listen. So this docu-series on the making of Frozen 2? ALL THE PRAISE HANDS. Did Tyson and I watch this and then immediately watch Frozen 2 by ourselves, without children, on our next date night in? Oh yes, yes we did. No regrets.
Indian Matchmaker
We watched this. We liked it enough. It was interesting and prompted some interesting conversations between Tyson and me. However, I found these reads particularly insightful as they dove into what was left out or ignored: see this piece from the New York Times and this piece from No Borders.
The Babysitter’s Club
People, I was in The Babysitter’s Club Club when I was in fourth and fifth grade. I received a box each month with 2-3 books and other Babysitter’s Club paraphernalia in the mail. It was fantastic. I related to every single one of those girls. Now reliving my preteen years vicariously through this new series, which manages the perfect balance between my old nostalgia and 2020. LOVE. And Brooklyn absolutely adored watching it with me.
LISTENED
Nice White Parents
On building better schools. On the things that prevent doing us from doing so. (Hint: it’s the title.) On advocating for our own kids at the expense of others. On offering help to a community in a way they never asked for. This podcast mini-series is a must-listen for all us nice white parents out there.
The Bible Binge
I adore Knox and Jamie on The Popcast but somehow never got into The Bible Binge when it first launched. Well, that changed with the launch of their Favored or Forsaken series. It’s thoughtful. It’s nuanced. It’s hilarious. It’s the absolute best. If you like to have your thoughts provoked about faith-related things while also laughing your head off then this is 1000% for you.
Home Cooking
Samin Nosrat is a DELIGHT. I often listen while I’m cooking dinner. Give me all of Hrishi’s puns + Samin’s laugh.