As I’m writing this the Michael Cohen testimony is happening and yes I did watch his opening statement in my PJ’s this morning… Consuming pop culture in this political climate can be hard if you’re a political junky AND pop culture fanatic like me. I continue to find that I’ll watch TV or catch up on Twitter instead of read a book (50 pages to go…) or binge Russian Doll. There’s always a shiny object to distract me…
Reading
I have 50 pages left in The Power and I am hoping to have an update to this blog post over the weekend about it. I am LOVING this book, it’s got a Margaret Atwood vibe to it and it’s a story I think we need today. Update: I stayed up late last night and finally finished it! I REALLY loved this book. It does have one storytelling trope I don’t love, however it wasn’t as awful as some others handle it. And the story being told through multiple people is one of my FAVORITE storytelling devices. If this book had a theme song it would be this.
Last week my friend and I went to hear Angie Thomas who wrote The Hate You Give. Her new book On the Come Up just came out and I can’t wait to read it next! Powell’s did a great job with the event and it was fun to hear Thomas talk about writing the rap lyrics and how hip hop and rap have influenced her life and her writing.
I am insanely behind on my comics and haven’t even been to pick up my box since the end of the year, whoops! That’ll change in the next couple of days and I’m a little afraid of what’s in store…
Watching
I’m enjoying this season of Top Chef as usual. Perfect timing for the James Beard Semifinalists list to show up this week! Speaking of food tv…my friends and their son are obsessed with the Great British Baking Show and introduced me to it a few weeks back. I totally get the appeal of the show and agree the original hosts were WAAAAYYY better!
I finally finished Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It wrapped up the story well but this last season being split in two (which I hate) made me forget what had happened a lot of the time!
In advance of the Oscars my husband and I watched ONE movie the night before – Bohemian Rhapsody and it WAS AWESOME. Once we finished we immediately watched the full Live Aid video on You Tube.
I gave up on The Passage. I really wanted to like it but it’s not working for me. I may go back at the end of the season to binge but for now I’m going to pass. I started watching Drunk History again. I go in spurts with this show, but this season has been hilarious – the drugs episode was so fantastic. I’m also loving (and sad about) the last season of Broad City. It’s an almost perfect show. Also almost perfect? This season of Schitts Creek and Brooklyn 99.
Listening
Last week I saw Justin Timberlake in concert and he was AMAZING. The man loves to perform and he is SO FUN to watch. At one point there was a campfire on stage (yes with flames) it was great. So, I’ve been listening to a lot more JT lately. And, yes more Queen obviously…
Thanks to the Grammy’s I discovered I really do love Cardi B. Pro tip: the Weezer Teal Album is SO DAMN GREAT.
As for podcasts, I finally finished the second season of Slow Burn which I really liked/found fascinating. A friend had recently recommended an OPB interview and I discovered the OPB Politics Now podcast which is a great way for me to learn more about statewide political issues. Which is super helpful given what I’m up to this year.
The Daily episode about the Oscars was REALLY insightful – I’ve always appreciated Wesley Morris and he does a great job of explaining what the Oscars got wrong this year.
So, what pop culture is keeping you sane in this political climate and during snow storms?
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