WATCH
1. The Good Wife-All 7 seasons are finally out on Hulu, and I binged my way through in about 3 weeks. Aside from incredible acting, this show manages to deliver a strong story arc from beginning to end. Once I realized that it's really just a law show, I expected it to become rather formulaic, but it avoided that trap and actually delivered some fresh and creative takes on the same court cases that show up time and time again. While I wasn't pleased with the last half of the last season, (it feels a little rushed and the characters I grew to love just seem to disappear) I can forgive it because as a whole this show is pretty complex. I gave it a solid 8 on IMDB. |
| The Good Wife...she's really not that good. |
2. Love-I had about 6 people Snapchat me to tell me that they thought I would like this show, and they were right. While I'm really trying to commit to only watching shows that are completed, I have a few exceptions on the list and this is one of them. You can find it on Netflix and there is only 1 season so far. This is Judd Apatow's latest endeavor, so if you already know that you don't enjoy him, probably just stay away. However, Love is quirky and probably one of the more true to life shows I've seen in a while. I don't want to say too much about this one except that I think it's down to earth and I like that it doesn't rush itself. You might find that you want more from it...and isn't that the thing about love...? I gave it a 7 on IMDB.
3. The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story- Every time I bring this up, someone says, "I don't have to watch it, I lived it." Yeah yeah. Sure. But set your cynicism and ego aside and see what you can learn over 20 years after we all watched the famous Bronco chase down the freeway. Hindsight is everything, and Ryan Murphy (Glee/American Horror Story) brought his A-Game to the table for this show. In fact, it just received 22 Emmy nominations right behind Game of Thrones. I actually have one of my classes watching the show and doing a weekly analysis of the cultural contents then compared to today, along with an exploration of argument philosophies used throughout the case. The class as decided that sadly, not much has changed in 20 years. But amazingly, the show provides some context for the world we are living in and how we got here. The acting is superb. It's like watching a very well-crafted train wreck where you already know the outcome, but cannot look away. I have actually watched the 10 episodes 4 times now, and I am enthralled each time. I gave this a 10 on IMDB.
4. Chelsea-Over the last decade I have slowly grown to love Chelsea Handler. I thought she was a little too "out there" for me at first, but then I realized, that her persona is not a character she's working, it's just who she is. (Insert comments about my naivety here, but I stand by this statement). And I do respect authenticity. Chelsea is a representation of the progression of women in comedy. Gone are the days of Carol Burnett's slapstick and Ellen's stand up. Even Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are by most standards rule followers, toeing the line, but always knowing where the line is. Amy Schumer and Chelsea Handler have no idea where the line is and they honestly don't care. And it infuriates most people. Women have basically stopped playing by the rules and it's pissing people (mostly men) off. If you don't believe me, just read the comments from men about the new Ghostbusters movie, they are so scared we are going to take over! And Chelsea just might do that. Her show is on Netflix with a new episode released weekly. It's raw and funny and insightful and intriguing. Each episode is stand alone and introduces a new topic that she wants to learn about. The learning is not thorough, but that's by design. It's a short show and we have short attention spans. While the media continues to insult Chelsea, she has no problem surrounding herself with celebrity friends and other people who will gladly give her 10 minutes to discuss whatever thing she's exploring. She loves sex and alcohol and hates Trump. But there's a lot she doesn't understand, and that is what this show is about. Enlightenment. I gave this show an 8 on IMDB.
READ
5. The Girls by Emma Cline-My friend Joni spotted this title in a Good Housekeeping magazine back in May and texted that we should read it, I pre-ordered it that day. It released on June 14th and has been dubbed the book of the summer. Last I checked it was #3 on the Hardcover Fiction NYT Bestsellers. I read this in 5 hours. I could not put it down. It's beautifully written about a period of time I dream of often: Northern California in the late 1960's. It follows 14 year old Evie who finds herself in the midst of changes in her own life, which makes her perfectly ripe for falling into a new group of friends and their leader, Russell. As the book goes on, the reader realizes that the story is reminiscent of the Manson "family". Emma Cline is 27 and this is her first book. The way she explores the relationship between girls and their need for acceptance from others is so hard to read because every woman has been there at some point in their lives. It's a beautifully haunting book that enters into terrifying territory through a simple relationship, reminding the reader that anyone could be one friendship away from danger. I gave it a 5 on Goodreads. |
| 2014 was Gone Girl, 2015 was The Girl on the Train, now this. Writers, you know what to do! |
6. All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation by Rebecca Traister-I am slowly reading my way through this epic nonfiction work by Traister, a New York Magazine contributor. I heard about it on one of my favorite podcasts, "Call Your Girlfriend." The podcast had a meet-up in San Francisco, and Traister was there reading live from her book. The passages she read were addictive, discussing the way women are fulfilled in life, and the need to stop comparing our lives to what we are told they should be. When she stopped reading, I wanted more. I started reading this about a month ago, and it's a lot to wade through. Every single world is measured so carefully and is so validating that each chapter is like digesting a huge steak. It takes time to process and understand. It's also a little infuriating. The way that women have been set up to fail from the start of our country is damning to the fundamentals of Christianity as well as the ideals of equality and freedom that the USA so loves to claim and cling to. But the beauty of the book is that Traister is not mad. She's a reporter, and as I tell my students all the time, if you have good research, you can let the research speak for itself. Perhaps the most important thing the book offers is that there is no one right way to be a woman. The average age of marriage for women is up to 29 now and climbing. There are more single women than ever in our country, and that number is climbing too. Traister's book allows women to look past the assigned checklist of life (College, Job, Marriage, House, Babies) and validates that there are millions of us doing it a little differently. As a single 37 year old who loves to hang out with friends and travel, Traister's book is giving me permission to be happy now in this life rather than hoping any day now when I start my checklist, my happiness will begin. It should be noted that Traister is not anti-marriage (she is married, herself), nor is she anti-male. She's just pro-woman, and that's great to read. I gave it a 5 on Goodreads.
7. Jasmine by Bharati Mukerjee- I actually chose this book for one of my classes, but as I read it, it spoke to me more deeply than just another supplemental text for a class. While I do think the book starts out a little slow, once the reader starts to find out about the journey Jasmine has been on from her home country of India to her current place in life, Iowa, I couldn't put it down. It's a fiction book, but could easily be the story of any person coming to America for the first time. Aside from a good narrative, the book offers subtle commentary on what it means to inundate oneself to the American way of life, as well as the parts of humanity that are not dictated by birth or border. I was pleasantly surprised with it and found myself crying as I turned the last pages. I gave it a 4 on Goodreads.
LISTEN
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| Who tells your story? |
9. Lemonade by Beyonce- I should be clear, I'm referring to her music in this entry, not the visual album. So, I've been meaning to blog an entire blog on this, but I've decided to fit it into this one instead. I will admit that while I respect the influence Beyonce has had on the world, I have not been a big fan of her music in the last decade. But when Lemonade dropped, I picked it up to try again. Especially with all of the rumors circulating and cultural references being made--I am nothing if I'm not a fan of connectivity in the world. I had this on repeat for about a month after I listened. The album is a reminder that Beyonce doesn't have to grunt, whisper, or repeat herself to make music, she can really sing. It's a diverse album with a lot of unpredictable style and varied tracks on it, and it offers an empowering message. It's not Katy Perry's Roar or Sara Bareilles' Brave, which seek to build you up, Beyonce's message is more about breaking you out. I know there are rumors that the implication of Jay-Z cheating on her was a publicity stunt for selling the album, and if that's the case, I have to say Beyonce is taking a risk that no one has come close to taking with their stardom so far; deliberately spitting in the face of her fans to see if they will ride the rollercoaster with her. And most likely, they will. I'm afraid I would have to get off of that ride if that proves to be the case. There's a line between marketing strategies and blatantly lying to people to make money, and Beyonce is in a unique position to influence for good. But my gut (remember, we've already established that I'm naive) says that the time and heart Beyonce put into this album come from a real and raw place, which is what ultimately makes it so appealing and enjoyable. Anyone can be drunk in love, but it takes investment to offer a real piece of yourself to your fans.
10. Tell Me I'm Fat by This American Life- I listen to TAL weekly as a podcast on my drive to work, but this episode (#589) had me listening to it three times, jotting down names of books and people mentioned as I replayed it each time. As our culture begins to move into a more accepting place regarding what a body should look like, it's discussions like the one in this episode that will eventually move us to total change. Listening to a fat girl talk about coming out as fat, sharing the problems with finding clothing, and revealing that she is at her happiest, her most confident, is vital in a nation where the average woman is a size 14. On the other hand the podcast reveals the doubts of a woman who has recently lost over 100 pounds and finds herself married to someone who would not have loved her if she had not been skinny, forcing her to question everything. As a fat woman, I have spent too many years hating and shaming myself in this skin. I want to be healthy and strong, and I am. I am probably the most confident I have ever been, and I have no intention of altering my body in dangerous ways or never eating cake again just so other people might be more comfortable when they look at my skin. This episode is validating but challenging too, and incredibly painful to hear during some sections.
What are you watching/reading/listening to this summer!?
Thanks for your insights, Amber. I will definitely explore some of your suggestions, though I will need to take a slight detour from some of the crap I've been watching. ;)
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