Issue #142: A Massive Guide of Recs to Watch, Read, and Listen To Now

Plus, my media diet and a chat with Jo Piazza.

🎥 ‘The Idea of You’ on Prime: I was fully prepared to be disappointed by this movie, given recent romcoms (lookin’ at ‘Anyone But You’), but I loved it. Honestly, it has everything I’m looking for in an escapist romcom, normally limited to Nancy Meyers movies: Inexplicably wealthy divorcee excelling in a creative field? Check. Gorgeous house in L.A.? Check. Star-studded cast and “kind, talented feminist” lead? Check. Plus, the behind-the-scenes of a One Direction member pop star’s life and commentary on being a celebrity was fun to watch.

🎧 “Talk Easy” Podcast: Similar to Sean Iling’s “The Grey Area” podcast, albeit with a less philosophical and more Hollywood bent, the New Yorker reporter interviews actors and writers like Dev Patel and Rupi Kaur. I particularly enjoyed his recent conversation with Nick Offerman on the portrayal of “centrist” politics in media, and the responsibility of a director to take a political stand.

📚 The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza: Our April Book Club pick alternates between timelines as Sara, named for her great-grandmother Serafina, travels to Sicily to investigate a deed to a family plot of land—and the mysterious circumstances of Serafina’s death in the early 20th century. The result is an un-put-downable narrative that bring Sicily’s rich culture, including its historically deep-seated misogyny, to life. I’m hosting a Zoom conversation with author Jo Piazza this Thursday—the link to join is below for paid subscribers!

P.S. I just released tickets for the first stop of my book launch—a chat at one of my favorite bookstores, P&T Knitwear in New York! You can buy tickets here (attendees who purchase the “Book Bundle” will get the book three days before its public release!). Hope to see you there!

Although I try to be as intentional as possible, there’s no getting around it: From the moment I wake up, I’m consuming media. It begins early, with an online yoga class, a poem, and the news. After breakfast, it’s emails, articles, and podcasts. Then books, maybe a movie or show. It’s a cycle we’re all familiar with and, even though I keep social media off of my phone, I spend most weekdays steeped in other people’s creations. Part of it is the reality of living in a digital age, but I also want to be a sieve for you, to sift out all the chaff, in order to find the recommendations and links worth your time each week!

Below, I’ve shared my “media diet” from last a fairly typical work day (last Wednesday), to give you an idea of the shows, workout classes, poems, and books that take up a given day, followed by a brand new (!) Recommendation Index of my favorite movies, television shows, albums, and podcasts, and an interview with author Jo Piazza. Enjoy!