Here are the things that caught my eye in March!
books.
Men to Avoid in Art and Life by Nicole Tersigni. I picked this up on a whim when we were in Hudson over New Year and I am so glad I did. I keep it on my coffee table and flip through it whenever I need a good laugh, and it has brought me a lot of joy.
Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux, translated by Tanya Leslie. This was recommended by Teddy so I borrowed it from Libby and as promised flew through it. There’s no real plot — it’s 67 pages of a woman’s inner thoughts — but there’s something about Ernaux’s writing that is very captivating. I loved how quick it was and have another on deck for April.
Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Blair. I have been following Gabrielle’s blog and Instagram for years and was thrilled when I found out she was adapting her famous Twitter thread into a book about the role men can and should play in preventing unwanted pregnancies. Condensed into 28 well-researched and presented thoughts, you’ll fly through this book. Alexa and I had the opportunity to attend her NYC book event at the beginning of the month, and it was lovely to finally meet her in person after all these years. (also she complimented my sweater so we are pretty much besties for life now)
I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution, written and read by Emily Nussbaum. Holly Whitfield recommended this one to me and I decided to listen to it as an audiobook. New Yorker critic Emily Nussbaum reads new as well as previously published essays about the new age of television. I especially loved the essays about shows I have watched, but the ones about shows like The Sopranos were interesting even without having seen the shows. Each essay is a standalone, so you can skip around or take breaks in between without losing out on the experience.
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. This essay collection covers a lot of difficult topics but is really a pretty remarkable read. Because Hong is a poet her writing has a certain lyricism to it, and it makes even the hardest parts somehow lovely. My top recommendation from March.
2023 book tally to date: 14
all of the book links are affiliate links through bookshop.org so if you use them to make a purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you will be supporting independent booksellers. you can see my full list of 2023 reads here.
movies.
I saw and loved Return to Seoul, a really beautiful film about a young Korean woman adopted and raised by a French family who finds herself back in Korea in her early twenties. The film follows her over a stretch of years as we see how her different identities shape her decisions. The more I think about this film, the more I like it. currently in theaters
podcasts.
Mobilizing Members to Impact Memphis [Meanwhile in Memphis with New Memphis] — Traci Strickland interviewed about her time at Junior League Memphis. Love her so much and all the work she has done for the city.
The Orangeburg Massacre: A Forgotten Story of a Team and Tragedy [ESPN Daily] — I had never heard this story before and learned a lot from this episode.
Supplantation [The Allusionist] — the story of a 9-year-old in Ontario who launched a petition to get the name of her street, Plantation Road, changed. An “if you only listen to one” recommendation.
Hasan Minhaj is Trying Not to Care If You Like Him [A Slight Change of Plans] — I love listening to interviews with Hasan because he’s so thoughtful in how he approaches his responses, and it’s interesting to hear how his perspective has changed since becoming a parent.
‘Catch Me If You Can’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessy [The Rewatchables] — loved this episode and now want to rewatch the movie.
Hari Kondabolu [Thresholds] — Mira Jacob is currently guest hosting on this series and is interviewing the coolest people. I loved listening to her and Hari share their experiences growing up in the U.S. as children of Indian immigrants and how that has shaped their adult lives and careers. One of my “if you only listen to one” recommendations.
Why Creed III is Personal for Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors [ESPN Daily] — I have treasonously not yet watched the movie, but this episode is fantastic.
Episode 210: Out of the Box [Criminal] — this story of a man who shipped himself via cargo plane from England to Australia in the 1960s is fascinating.
The value of good teeth [Planet Money] — all about the different ways having good - or bad - teeth can impact your life and your earning power.
Sarah Thankam Mathews [Thresholds] — Sarah and guest host Mira Jacob have written two of my favorite books of the last five years, so listening to these two in conversation was such a lovely gift.
Your Workplace is Not Your Family with Gloria Chan Packer [Work Appropriate] — why the mentality of “workplace as family” is toxic and how to navigate if you find yourself in that situation.
HIBT Lab! Saysh: Wes and Allyson Felix [How I Built This with Guy Raz] — Allyson and her brother Wes talk about the journey that led to founding their own shoe company and how it has impacted their lives. And ps, if anyone has a connection to Wes, please feel free to let him know I am also single :)
Green Cotton [Into the Mix] — this is a great episode on its own about a man who received a sentence of 40+ years for a nonviolent dug charge and at the 17:20 mark you’ll hear my friend Alexa for a quick minute.
Your 3-step guide to setting better boundaries at work | Nedra Glover Tawwab [TED Talks Daily] — for any of you who also struggle with setting boundaries without feeling guilty.
Stop Looking for the Perfect Partner [Modern Love] — I feel like the title says it all.
shopping.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Season!! If you don’t have a specific Girl Scout or troop to support, this link will allow you to order cookies through Troop 6000, a first-of-its-kind troop in the country that brings the GS experience to girls living in the New York shelter system.
articles + other links.
We still need Judy Blume. the atlantic
How teachers feel about all those school spirit days. culture study
Another great profile of my best friend Paul Mescal. hollywood reporter via anne helen petersen
Anne Helen Petersen on choosing to be friends with yourself. culture study
These Hungarian versions of phrases are amazing. My favorite is the one that translates to “even the dog is uninterested”. twitter via adventurous kate
Loved this profile of Catherine Lacey and so excited to dive into her newest book soon. ny times
Great review of ‘Return to Soul’. indiewire via michael
This isn’t what millennials were told our mid-lives would be like. ny times
Which type of traveller are you? I like to think I’m the last one… ruth chan for cup of jo
Updated dating app filters. new yorker via cup of jo
This excerpt about a family’s round-the-world sailing journey is a wild read. the guardian
Anne Helen Petersen on the gender breakdown of ambition. culture study
Happy April, friends!