Recommendation Roundup
A list of recommendations on everything from muting people online to reading the books you already own.
Welcome to Recommendation Roundup! As I scoot around the internet, I keep a running list of podcasts, tv shows and articles that I like, and think you might like, too. Then I share them here.
Come see me!
I’ll be in conversation with Jennifer Haigh for her new book Rabbit Moon at Parnassus Books on April 17. More info and (free) registration here.
Greetings from the country!
I’ve spent the past month moving, but I’m finally starting to settle down and get back in the habit of listing things to tell you about. I’ve read so many articles and newsletters. We’re all reading a lot, right? Below is a list of things that you may have missed, or that I just want to shine a little more light on. Enjoy!
This whole essay from Cadence Dubus is excellent. Towards the end she writes about her boundaries around how often she reads the news and muting people online who post breaking news as soon as it happens. Dubus writes, “I'm also unfollowing or muting ppl who post political content that I might agree with but find too upsetting to be caught by surprise by.” YES. In the days after the Christmas 2020 bombing in Nashville, I had a friend who kept posting bombing photos to their IG stories. I mean, now everyone does some version of this, but in 2020 it was a new maladaptive behavior, and I hated it. Still do. You are not a television newscaster, Sharon!
Traci Thomas from The Stacks needs our help. Thomas is hosting Stack the Shelves, an event in L.A. described as “A community-focused free pop-up bookstore designed to help replenish the books lost in the fires and bring the joy of reading back to those most impacted by fires.” She needs monetary donations, volunteers, donated books and lots more. Let’s help Traci help L.A. Learn more here.
I’ve noticed an uptick in people hating popular tv shows right now. So many people proudly announcing that they didn’t watch Severance or The White Lotus. Ok? The new Shondaland Netflix show The Residence is getting a touch of this, too. Congratulations on having a heart too dark to enjoy a slow murder mystery starring Uzo Aduba, Randall Park and including a strong bird-watching component. (I loved it.) Guys, have we considered chilling out?
Along those same lines, Chrissy King wrote about Meghan Markle and the (white) backlash to her show. While you’re there, King’s recent post on Lizzo is a must read.
I’ve got Gaga fever. I’m obsessed with all of her media appearances and the think pieces being written about her and Mayhem. I’ve watched three straight days of Coachella TikToks. If you missed it, I highly recommend hearing her on Bowen Yang and Matt Roger’s podcast, Las Culturistas. If you’ve got a New Yorker subscription, read this deep dive from one of my fave culture critics, Rachel Syme.
I continue to enjoy Sam Sanders’ new podcast/radio show, The Sam Sanders Show. He recently had Torrey Peters on to talk about her new book, Stag Dance. I became a Peters fan after reading Detransition, Baby. I haven’t read Stag Dance yet, but it’s on my list. In typical Sanders style, this is a great conversation.
A few weeks ago I bought Sucker Punch and Woodworking and then saw Sam Irby share this post about reading the books you own. Bone-chilling. Can you imagine? I’m just kidding. This is a fascinating exploration into what I once heard Jacqueline Woodson say about how we all need to read slower.
When Emma Copley Eisenberg was on tour last year for Housemates, I LOVED seeing all the outfits she wore to events. Bright colors, Wray dresses, comfy shoes. Read Emma’s style story on unflattering.
If you’ve ever been Fat At The Doctor™️, Ragen Chastain’s newsletter is a balm. In this post, Chastain shares a letter a reader wrote to a podiatrist who auto-enrolled her in a weight-loss program for an issue she had with her toenail.
Around this time last year, I drove six hours to Athens, GA to see Hanif Abdurraqib on book tour for There’s Always This Year. TATY is out in paperback, so if you’ve been waiting to pick it up, now is the time. Below, a look back at my trip to Athens.
See you next time!
Kim
Thanks for posting about Stack the Shelves in LA. I contacted our LA office and they are tying it into their Kids Day at Work there and collecting book and monetary donations!
ahh thank you so much for linking my article!