BOOKS
I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness by Claire Faye Watkins
I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg
Real Estate by Deborah Levy
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
In Every Mirror She’s Black by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom
The Last One by Fatima Daas
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
Catch & Kill by Ronan Farrow (2019)
Writers & Lovers by Lily King (2020)
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020)
MUSIC
Adele, 30
Beach House, Once Twice Melody
Chvrches, Screen Violence
Emma Ruth Rundle, Engine of Hell
Half Waif, Mythopoetics
Juliana Hatfield, Blood
Julien Baker, Little Oblivions
Lana Del Rey, Blue Banisters
Lucy Dacus, Home Video
Mini Trees, Always in Motion
Nick Rhodes/ Wendy Bevan, Astronomia I-IV
Snail Mail, Valentine
Still Corners, The Last Exit
Wolf Alice, Blue Weekend
FILM
The Dig
CODA
The Lost Daughter
My Salinger Year
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It
Fanny: The Right to Rock
Queen of Glory
West Side Story
Being the Ricardos
King Richard
Holler
tick, tick . . . boom!
TELEVISION
MAID (netflix)— definitely binged this one. Based on a memoir, it’s compelling and incredible.
Dickinson (Apple TV+) —clever and delightful. Hailey Steinfeld is excellent. I love the usage of modern music and slang, as well as literary and cultural references. Louisa May Alcott showed up in a recent Civil War episode and Sylvia Plath on a futuristic one. Wonderful sets and costumes, too.
Hacks (HBO MAX)—Being middle-aged, I’m drawn to older central characters. There aren’t many. Jean Smart is so good in this role of an aging comedian.
Dr. Death (Peacock)— Scary true story based on a popular podcast.
Call the Midwife (PBS)—I’ve loved this show from the beginning. It’s always moving and profound in addressing various social issues.
Dopesick (Hulu)—another horrendous true story. Strong overall although it ran a couple episodes too long.
Shrill (Hulu)— loved the book, loved the series
Firefly Lane (netflix)— a bit schmaltzy but it’s nostalgic.
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)—fun show with a zany premise and a few twists
The White Lotus (HBO MAX)— excellent cast, thoughtful thriller
Halston (netflix)— fashion! Ewan McGregor does a good job as Halston
Bo Burnham: Inside (netflix)–brilliant.
ENTERTAINMENT REALM 