Summer has FINALLY arrived, which means it’s warm enough (sometimes TOO warm) to sit outside and read – my favorite way to read. I had a great get away to the Oregon Coast for my birthday last week and was able to finish a book and get started on a new one. Not quite as much reading as I anticipated, but it was a great time to get out of town for a few days.
Here’s the pop culture that’s been keeping me sane this month…
Listening
Nothing too exciting on the podcast front this month. I don’t drive as much and since I now walk the dogs with my husband we visit instead of plugging in headphones. I appreciate What a Day for their voice on the news and The Daily continues to do a great job of deep diving on this world we’re living in. I am also appreciating Think out Loud and OPB Politics Now, especially when it comes to all the local Portland police/ICE fighting.
Watching
I meant to spread out the episodes of The Babysitters Club but as a HUGE fan on the books growing up, I couldn’t contain myself and binged them in a couple of days. Whoops. It was exactly what I was hoping for – a great setup from the books and modernized for today.
I watched half an episode of Down to Earth with Zach Efron and it was SO tone deaf that we turned it off. What could have been a fascinating show about science and the climate is two white bro’s on vacation showing off their abs and throwing in a little science on the side. I am SURE I am not the target audience for this, so hopefully there’s a 22 year old who’s learning something while watching, but it was painful.
I’ve been giving Space Force another try and it’s fun and ridiculous and redeems Steve Carrell after The Morning Show. My husband was afraid he could never watch him again.
Expecting Amy on HBO Max was a wonderful series! At just 3 episodes they shared just how hard her pregnancy was and how she continued to persevere, AND learning that her husband is on the autism spectrum while they were expecting. It’s sweet and wonderful and of course raunchy and funny as well. I need to go back and rewatch her Growing special on Netflix, it was HILARIOUS.
My husband and I just discovered Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On on Hulu (looks like it’s also free on Channel 4. Jamie Oliver’s newest series is designed for COVID times – it’s all about using food you may have in your freezer or pantry and he’s GREAT at encouraging you to use what you have, not what he necessarily is using. It’s AWESOME. I definitely picked up some new staples at the store this week…
I watched Palm Springs on Hulu when my BFF was visiting for my birthday. It’s definitely got a Groundhogs Day vibe to it, but it was sweet. I love Cristin Milioti so that was fun to see her being so ridiculous. I’m also glad that Peter Gallagher is okay with being everyone’s dad now. I was in the mood to watch Clueless but Netflix wasn’t having it so we ended up watching Can’t Buy Me Love which is still a great 80’s rom-com. Also, Seth Green was EVERYONE’s annoying little brother in the 80’s.
Reading
I have been in a GREAT reading kick lately which is so nice. I loved Homegoing which was such an incredible story. I loved the generational story approach and the way the stories ebbed and flowed. It was a great book. You should read it.
I finished An American Marriage over my trip and it was also wonderful and heartbreaking. I’d heard good things and it was recently recommended to me again, I’m so glad I picked it up at the library!
I’m currently reading The Likeness by Tana French. A client of mine (who always has amazing book suggestions) loves her work and said this is her favorite, so I added it to the list. It’s more dense then I was expecting but so far I’m hooked!
I picked up a pack of nonfiction books from Third Eye Books which is a local Black owned bookshop here in Portland. They have done a great job of curating antiracism and educational book packs. I highly recommend you check out their recs!
How’s your summer reading going? Are you getting through your stack or are you having a hard time concentrating? Share your latest pop culture finds in the comments!
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