You keep dancing with the devil, one day he's gonna follow you home.
May 2025.
Welcome back! After a short April recap I have lots of stuff for you this month, so get ready and here we go —
*ps as usual this post is too long for email so it will be easier to read if you click on the heading and read in your browser*
books.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. The reviews on this one are so mixed that I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started reading. There are a lot of shades of Evelyn Hugo [which itself had lots of shades of Genuine Lies], but there’s also a lot of the witty banter and playfulness that you expect from Emily Henry. It’s a fast read and got me out of a reading rut, and for that I appreciate it. I would put it in my middle Emily Henry tier alongside last year’s Funny Story — not one I will re-read, but not one I viscerally disliked. It’s fine.
Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This is my third or fourth book from this author, and goodness does she know how to hit all your emotions. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a few years, and something about the recent happenings between India and Pakistan made me feel like it was finally time to read it. It’s the story of three sisters living in a village in West Bengal during India’s independence movement and its subsequent partition into India and Pakistan [which at the time included East Pakistan, now Bangladesh]. Following their father’s death during Direct Action Day in Calcutta in 1946 each sister makes a series of decisions that further splinters their family, and yet in their times of need they are still the ones to provide love and support and compassion to one another. It’s a fast read that balances a lot of tragedy and trauma, and as always with Divakaruni’s books it forces you to see all sides of an issue. My favorite of hers will always be Sister of My Heart, but this was also quite good.
2025 book tally to date: 17
all 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. this year I am supporting Bluestockings, a cooperative bookstore and activist center in NYC. you can see my full list of 2025 reads here.
movies.
Listen. I always knew I would love Sinners. The Michael B. Jordan x Ryan Coogler combo is unbeatable, and I have watched and loved all of their collaborations. And even knowing that, I wasn’t prepared for how much I would love this movie. Yes it was the writing and the directing and the acting, but it was also the music and the cinematography and the setting and the tiny little details that create such a huge impact to the film. It really is so good and I will be watching it many more times.
Molly and I saw the Hindi-language Sister Midnight and wow was it great. It’s darkly funny and weird and we left the theater with so much to talk about. I don’t even really know how to explain it, but if you are able to see it I highly recommend.
other things I watched:
had a sleepover movie night with Maggie and Molly and we watched Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela which is admittedly a ridiculous movie but watching it with company made it somewhat entertaining. prime video with eros
the Love Factually podcast episode on Frozen [linked in the podcast section below] inspired a rewatch and it is still great. disney+
revisited some nostalgic Hindi movies —
my beloved Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge which remains perfect and you’ll never convince me otherwise. prime video
Dil To Pagal Hai which continues to have great songs but overall I remain very meh about. prime video
my childhood favorite Silsila which will always be slightly problematic and which i will continue to love nonetheless. prime video
tv shows.
I finally watched The Pitt and can attest that it lives up to the hype and is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. The real-time format works so well for this show, and it covers so many things that healthcare workers have been dealing with the last few years, from overcrowded and understaffed emergency departments to parents not vaccinating their children and then wanting medical treatment to the impact of mass shootings. The characters are flawed and the writing is tight, and I love that there are real-life doctors and nurses who consult in the writing room and act in the show. I’m looking forward to seeing what new directions they go in for season 2. hbo max
other things I watched:
The Four Seasons was a nice watch. netflix
finished this year’s seasons of Abbott Elementary [hulu] and Ghosts [paramount+]
podcasts.
Slam That Door* [Ear Hustle] — visiting San Quentin’s now-cleared death row with four of its former residents.
Family Separation 2.0* [The Daily] — what the recent focus on migrants with criminal records looks like through the eyes of the daughter of one such man.
The Power Broker #1: Robert Caro [99% Invisible] — now that I am finally [very slowly] reading The Power Broker I am enjoying listening along with 99% Invisible’s podcast series from last year.
Cyndi Lauper, singer-songwriter [Desert Island Discs] — seeing as how Cyndi and I are besties I obviously had to share this but it’s also a great interview and her music selections are pretty excellent.
A Frightening Moment to Fly* [The Daily] — what the recent issues at Newark reveal about larger air traffic concerns across the country.
Ryan Coogler on “Sinners” [The New Yorker Radio Hour] — I have listened to so many interviews with Coogler about the making of Sinners and this conversation with Jelani Cobb was one of my favorites.
I’ve got 1099 Problems… [99% Invisible] — how the US tax system got so complicated.
Is the reign of the dollar over? [Planet Money] — a look at what it means that the US dollar is the world’s “reserve currency” and what could happen if that changes.
There Is Not a Sharp Angle to Be Found [Vibe Check] — Sam, Saeed, and Zach discuss the xAI project in Memphis and its impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.
Ryan Coogler Paid A Steep Price for The Films He Made [Fresh Air] — my other favorite of his recent interviews.
How ‘The Pitt’ Isn’t Just Another ER Drama* [Chasing Life] — a great listen even if you’ve not yet watched the show.
Tabatha* [Criminal] — a great conversation with Tabatha, a formerly-incarcerated woman who now serves as a doula to incarcerated women.
Syria’s Missing Children* [Up First] — what happened to all the children who disappeared during the Assad regime?
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World [Song Exploder] — I had to.
Frozen (2013) [Love Factually] — an exploration of all the relationships in 2013’s hit film and how people with different attachment styles cope with stress. Loved this conversation so much I had to rewatch the movie.
Michelle Obama* [Good Hang] — listen, it’s a conversation between Michelle Obama and Amy Poehler, I am obviously going to share it.
Jose Gonzalez: Show Up and Be Curious [The Wild Idea] — loved this conversation about the connections between community and conservation and what it means to belong in nature.
Cole Escola’s ‘Stupid’ Dream Came True With ‘Oh, Mary!’ [Fresh Air] — “Oh, Mary!” is one of the best shows I’ve seen and listening to Cole about their experience bringing this show to the stage was such fun.
The Long Goodbye: Tony Reali and the End of “Around the Horn” [Pablo Torre Finds Out] — there was a solid stretch of years when I watched “Around the Horn” every day, partly because I enjoyed the banter and partly because I had [still have if we’re being honest] a crush on Tony Reali, so I’ve been very in my feelings since I found out a few months ago that ESPN was ending the show; listening to this interview was a great walk down memory lane.
*my “if you only listen to one” recommendations
music.
The Sinners soundtrack is phenomenal and has gotten a lot of play in my home after watching the movie.
Alexa, Larissa, and I are going to the Sunday of Governors Ball next weekend so I have been listening to the artists we are planning to see — RAYE / Royel Otis / Glass Animals / Hozier
recipes.
No new recipes this month, but I made a few favorites for my dog sitting adventures:
khichdi
masala shakshuka
creamy tortellini soup
cucumber salad
articles + other links.
Isaac Fitzgerald on his search for the perfect hat. gq via roxane gay
On the importance of juke joints. capital b via roxane gay
On the inclusion of so much Irish music in Sinners. indiewire via alexa
^ a great read and a great comment section. culture study
An old but very good article about an Everest expedition from the 1920s. vanity fair
Roxane Gay on finding home. the reader
Will Forte pays tribute to Val Kilmer. vulture
I loved this story about how the most rural community in America receives its mail. the atlantic gift link
Broadway legends reminisce about some of their most iconic roles. vulture
^ loving this new series from Shea Serrano and especially this recap of one of my favorite movies of all time. good movie
Tina Fey. the hollywood reporter
Inside the living rooms of famous New Yorkers. the new yorker
Indian restaurants are now some of the toughest reservations to get in New York City. cn traveler
^ a great rundown of many of the reason I loved this show. culture study
I loved this story about the decades-long tradition of Auburn students managing a helpline for callers from around the country. oxford american via jodi ettenberg
What is your creative type? I’m the Guide! my creative type via creative mornings
^ a lovely short film about one of my favorite writers. youtube
^ loved this for J’s breakdowns of Sinners and The Pitt and for introducing me to the idea of “possibilitarians”. ~ channeling ~
other things I wrote:
Happy June!
xx
From the headline alone I knew you watched Sinners haha! Also since you watched Ram Leela may I recommend Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, if you haven’t watched already 😁
The day he followed me home was July 1, 1983….