Oh, the restless mind! For months my focus has darted and dived — yours too? — but I recently stumbled across these excellent distractions and attractions. As usual, books and film lift & move me.
BOOKS:
The Hare by Melanie Finn
A taut and intoxicating tale of bad decisions and precarious moments that make a life, with a claustrophobic Joyce Carol Oates-esque feel.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
A slow and gentle novel with poignant beauty. (Starts slow — stick with it!)
Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine
This dense and stirring collection of conversational essays, fragments, poems and images (along with a running litany of fact-checked notes and comments) is a deep dive into the racism, privilege, and prejudice that beats beneath every surface.
See also: Citizen: An American Lyric and Don't Let Me Be Lonely.
MOVIES / TELEVISION:
Lupin
A French mystery mind-twister, with sharp writing and quick action. The first season, available on Netflix, consists of 10 episodes. A second season is in the works.
Call My Agent!
In this rompy French series (I’ve listed two great French shows, by pure coincidence), Parisian talent agents struggle to keep their famous clients happy and their business afloat. Now in its fourth and final season, this drama-comedy is fun relief.
Imposters
A mad-dash addictive series with millenial humor, mystery & twists. Originally on Bravo, now on Netflix.
Books, films, poems, art — what’s moving you?