August meant vacation and traveling for me – which is GREAT when it comes to my pop culture consumption. I read a bunch and caught up on some TV and went to the best concert of my life. Oh, and Norm turned 4 and Cliff is sleeping longer through the night. Everyone wins! Here’s what I was loving this month…

Reading

A Gentleman in Moscow – Enough people raved about this book that I snagged it at the library for my vacation. It was an incredibly lovely story and although I didn’t know much about it, that was okay.

Recursion – I really loved Blake Crouch’s last book, Dark Matter so when his new book came out and the library had it? I snagged it! I haven’t read a book in a day in a very long time, but Recursion was just that much fun. If you liked Dark Matter you’ll like this, and if you like modern technology overreaching – you’ll love it. Also – it had the WEIRDEST (non spoiler) twist when the author of A Gentleman in Moscow was a character name in the book…

Persepolis – Years ago my dad told me I should read the book, and I didn’t. Then I got a copy for my birthday from my brother & sister in law and I finally read it on vacation. It was such a great story about a woman growing up in Iran (and Europe) in the 70’s and 80’s. A story and time period I feel I should learn more about.

I read the final issue of The Walking Dead and it was a perfect wrap up to the series. I was shocked, like we all were, to learn the series was ending so abruptly – but I was starting to wonder how many more big bads they could run into. A very fitting ending.

I’m currently reading Bored to Brilliant which is the Hillsboro Reads book this fall. I’m trying to savor it and only read one chapter at a time – which when a puppy is around is harder to do than you’d think! I also picked up Life Will be the Death of Me, the latest Chelsea Handler book about how the 2016 election lead her to finally go to therapy and what she learned. I’m really liking the story.

I also read the NYT story about Jason Kander and his comeback after dropping out of the 2018 Mayoral race to deal with his PTSD. If you haven’t read it yet, here you go.

Listening

I finally got on board with Lizzo. Apologies for taking so long.

This past weekend my husband and I flew to Phoenix (yes in August, yes on purpose) to see The Rolling Stones. It was the best concert of my life. Mick Jagger is 76 years old and his energy was making ME tired just watching him – he’s amazing. I’m so glad we got to see them while they’re still alive (although Keith Richards will out live us all I’m convinced).

On vacation I listened to the 2nd season of Bundyville which was really interesting. I went to college in Northeastern Washington so learning more about the white supremacy history in the region was really interesting. Some of it I knew, and a lot of it I didn’t realize was going on. It was also interesting in how it relates to the current political climate.

Watching

On vacation I finished up the new season of Veronica Mars. I have some strong opinions about it and am happy to discuss. If you haven’t watched it yet GET ON IT, it’s great and very fun and I would be happy for the show to pop up forever.

I finished the latest season of The Handmaids Tale and liked how the season wrapped up and the way it moved forward. I was curious how this season would go but they put together a great story line. I especially liked Aunt Lydia’s flashback episode.

We watched Jurassic Kingdom on vacation. Catching it for free on HBO was the right way to consume that movie. It was fun, but not worth paying for.

I am SO SAD that Jane the Virgin is over, but it wrapped up really well and I loved it. I will miss this show…

I’m slowly making my way through S2 of Mindhunter. It’s starting out strong, I’m savoring it, AND it’s hard to watch too many at a time.

The Righteous Gemstones is a new series about a televangelist family on HBO and it is BRILLIANT. I am so happy this series exists and can’t wait for Sunday nights to watch it. It just started so you aren’t too late to get on the bandwagon with me.

Alright – what pop culture is keeping you entertained as we come to the end of summer?

What a whirlwind month! Adding a new member to the family along with a lot of house guests meant my pop culture consumption was VARIED this month. Between a puppy and attending a lot of Hillsboro Hops games – here’s what helped keep me sane with puppy sleep deprivation in July.

Reading

I finished Nine Perfect Strangers the latest Liane Moriarty. I really liked it! I read the first chapter a couple months ago and put it aside but a friend encouraged me to keep going and I’m so glad she did. I loved the storytelling style.

We’re going on vacation next week and I have a large stack of books I need to pair down. Expect a lot of book and graphic novel recommendations next month.

Listening

I really enjoy OPB Politics Now as I’ve talked about before. And they just teased Bundyville which was FASCINATING. Especially because it’s focused on the Pacific Northwest and the white supremacist movement here.

I haven’t been listening to as many podcasts this month but I did discover The Argument, another New York Times podcast and I like how they provide a more balanced view than a lot of political podcasts.

On a constant rotation is My Type by Saint Motel – a client mentioned the song in her newsletter and it is a perfect summer ear worm.

Watching

So the whole point of Big Little Lies Season 2 was to get Meryl an Emmy right? I mean, the season was fine but having read the book I didn’t need a second season…

I’m really enjoying and trying to slowly consume the new Veronica Mars season on Hulu. Cliff has kept me from getting to really pay attention to The Handmaid’s Tale but I am enjoying (that’s the wrong word…) this season. I’m also trying to slowly savor the latest season of Queer Eye – the 2nd episode (Disabled but Not Really) was so damn good.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to Jane the Virgin…

Obviously the addition of Cliff demands a rewatch of Cheers. It’s about the right amount of show between potty breaks (but not always…)

I watched the first two episodes of Blown Away and it did not… I like glass blowing but the show doesn’t give you enough relationship between the artists or much background on them – that it’s hard to really care who wins or goes home.

Live Theater

When your friends 14 year old daughter is in a one time only performance of “The Chilling Adventures of Riverdale” a Sabrina/Riverdale mashup musical (YES!) you get to the show. It was exactly what you would expect from a junior high summer musical theater camp. Complete with about 1/3 of the kids knowing how to project so a PRETTY quite rendition of Do You Believe in Magic.

I had a great date with my husband to see Bag & Baggage’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing. I am sorry I didn’t see it earlier to get everyone to a show – it was INCREDIBLE. The theater does at least one Shakespeare a year but they always do an adaptation and this version included Benedict and Bertram (not Beatrice) and it was EPIC and lots of house music and dancing. Yup. It was great.

This week we welcomed Cliff to the family! Everyone is doing well but we’re TIRED and I think my pop culture consumption for the next month or two may be a bit sidelined by over Instagraming my puppy! the good news is Cliff joining the family is a great excuse to binge Cheers on Netflix. Here’s what pop culture I consumed before Cliff arrived this month…

Reading

I read a book in two days this month and it was amazing! My Sister, the Serial Killer is a super fun and fast read. I appreciated the twists and turns and unique writing style.

I picked up the latest Lianne Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers, a few months ago and finally started reading it after a friend encouraged me to keep going (the first chapter is really random). Now that I’m in to it I’m really enjoying it. I love how her characters connect…

I also caught up on my giant comic book stack a couple weeks ago. I still love The Walking Dead and this latest story arc was really well done even if a MAJOR character dies. They did a great job.

Listening

The David Letterman interview on WTF was wonderful. I’ve loved Dave my whole life (thanks to my dad) so this was a go to podcast interview and it didn’t disappoint.

The Daily did a week of episodes from Europe talking about the rise of nationalism using the EU Parliament elections as background. It was FASCINATING. The rise of Millennials who are anti-immigration is frightening.

I’ve been enjoying Chelsea Handler‘s podcast – the story about her Best Friend Mary and a water bottle is something I can’t un-hear. And her conversation with her psychiatrist is also fantastic. On the other end of the spectrum This Land is a really well done, although heart wrenching, story of Native Americans in Oklahoma and a Supreme Court case that should be decided on this week.

Watching

The Ellen Degeneres episode of Letterman’s My Next Guest… was really wonderful. I’ve always liked Ellen but didn’t know half her story.

I discovered the final season of Unreal on Hulu recently and it was just as over the top ridiculous as every other season. A great summer escape show.

I’m really liking this season of The Handmaid’s Tale. The relationship between Serena and June is great and Emily’s escape was fascinating.

I am LOVING the last half of this final season of Jane the Virgin. I don’t want this show to end but I am hopeful it will be all I want it to be.

I’m caught up on Big Little Lies and while I didn’t think the show needed a second season, it has been fun to watch Meryl Streep this season…