Content Round Up
What I’ve been reading, listening to and watching recently
reading
I read this wonderful book over the summer. Olive Kitteridge is a fictional novel where the central character, Olive, appears in each chapter of the book without always being the focus of the story. Each chapter follows a different set of characters, all of whom are connected in the same community. This is not a novel where all the different characters come together at the end of the book and nor is it a book written where each chapter is completely separate from the others. Instead, the voice or presence of Olive Kitteridge is the thread that weaves throughout the stories being told. It is a beautifully written book with a lovely pace and Elizabeth Strout has created real well-rounded characters who are easy to connect with. It is touching and is a well written glimpse at what it is to be human and flawed.
Many of you will have already read A Gentleman in Moscow as it is not a new novel but it is a book that has been on my bedside table for a year or two and despite picking it up and starting it a couple of times, I somehow never found the time to sit down and actually read it. This summer I found the time and I loved it. It is not a small novel and the pace of it initially can feel a little slow - so it you’re looking for a quick gratifying snack of a read, this isn’t that book. What it is, is a beautiful rich book that unfolds at a leisurely pace and that develops into a wonderful compelling story. By the end of the novel you feel that you are part of the hotel where the central character is being held as a political prisoner. A satisfying read that won’t disappoint. (I also saw that it has been turned into a mini-series on Netflix?).
Ahh, I loved this book! It has just been nominated in the Shortlist for the Booker Prize. I had read about it through the New York Times (which has the best book recommendations) and eagerly anticipated its publication and I wasn’t disappointed. ‘James’ is the retelling of the classic story ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain, but in the voice of ‘Jim’ the black slave. The retelling of this classic novel from the slaves perspective is a clever way to reveal another side to the original story. It is immediately readable - you won’t need any time to get into this book, and the story progresses at a clip which makes it a quick read. Since finishing it, my 16 year old son has also read it and enjoyed it. (Also, you don’t need to have read the original Huckleberry Finn to read this version of the story).
A non-fiction book which I came across through an interview with the author, Kyle Chayka. I was immediately intrigued by his investigation into how algorithms are shaping and ultimately flattening culture. It is a broader look at algorithms as opposed to just a beat up job on social media itself (although it’s hard to detangle the two, as generally we come across algorithms most frequently through our social media interactions) and how they are influencing creativity. As a social media creator and consumer, I see the flattening effects of algorithms around what I do. Interiors are all starting to look the same, so much so that individuality is rarely celebrated or even seen. To be ‘seen’ by the masses you first need to adhere to the algorithm, and to do that you need to be pushing something the same as everyone else. This book makes for a really interesting, digestible read.
listening
I confess, I am a New York Times junkie. Some of my favourite journalistic podcast listening comes from them (The Daily, The Run Up etc) so no surprise, I’ve added this to my list. Recently launched, The Interview does what it says on the tin. It is an interview series with a variety of well-known people - from celebrities (Eddie Murphy, Vince Vaughan, Jenna Ortega) to politicians (Gretchen Whitmer, Pete Buttigieg) and other interesting people like Melinda Gates. My favourite episodes so far have been Gretchen Whitmer, the Will Farrell / Harper Steele episode and my pick so far - the episode with Jelly Roll. This is a great series that you can dip into when you want something somewhat thought provoking and also entertaining. Not heavy. Not meaningless crap. It is the goldilocks of podcasts to have in your list.
I have recommended this podcast series before - but I’m going to mention it again because they have just released a 3rd series and the first episode of the new season was such a thought provoking delight to listen to. The host, Hamish Blake (who is a comedian), has a lovely light hearted way of connecting with his guests even when the topic is something difficult to discuss - as it is in this first episode with guest Wayne Hope who reveals his childhood trauma of having a father who was violent. Wayne discusses his path to finding his way to being a great Dad in spite of the abuse he witnessed growing up. This series is all about parenting and how other people aim to be good parents - every episode touches on something that will have you thinking about your own parenting and provide insights or tips of things you might want to also consider - without being ‘self helpy’.
A thought provoking (and kind of alarming) podcast from Serial Productions. The Kids of Rutherford County tells the extraordinary story of a juvenile judicial system in the U.S. that used draconian measures to incarcerate children as young as 8 years old for seemingly mild breaches of the law (stealing a bluetooth speaker from their own grandma for instance). The limited series follows a group of lawyers who bear witness to these injustices and decide to take the County and those responsible to court with limited success. I listened in part to this series with my 13 year old daughter - and whilst the content of the series is alarming and awfully sad, it provides an opportunity to consider injustice and how it can affect communities and allow for follow up discussion.
WATCHING
I really enjoyed this Netflix documentary movie that tells the story of the world-breaking sherpa, Lhakpa. It is an extraordinary story that tells the life of a Nepali woman determined to climb Mount Everest and whose connection with the mountains fuels her very being. Through her life she faced tremendous hardships - as a young woman she moved to the U.S. with a man only to find herself trapped and abused for years. It is the story of a mothers love and of determination and strength in the face of adversity. The scenes of this incredible world-breaking woman who has achieved climbing accolades others can only dream of, working shifts at Whole Foods completely unbeknownst to her fellow workers pulled at the heart strings. It’s a great watch. I felt quite teary at the end. You could watch this as a family with slightly older kids.
If you like the work of Guy Ritchie then you won’t be disappointed with The Gentlemen. It was released on Netflix a few months ago but my 16 year old son and I have just finished watching this and we both loved it. The cast is superb and the story line of criminality and high jinks has plenty of twists and turns and cliffhangers, meaning you could quite easily binge watch. The production of this series is also exceptional - great editing and scriptwriting. We’re looking forward to season 2.