There's nothing like starting May with some thunderstorms rolling through Chicago. But, hey, as long as it’s not a tornado, I’ll take it. In other news, I have been doing puzzles at rapid rates. I used to tease my roommate for her puzzling obsession. That is until I had a bunch of anime to watch for class and needed something other than TikTok to keep my hands busy.
This week, I laughed, I cried, and I pondered. From books bound in human skin to girlies chatting over wine, here’s what kept me busy…
For My Ears 🎧
Songs 🎶
Conceited by Lola Young
Out of Touch by Daryl Hall & John Oates
Ok Love You Bye by Olivia Dean
Podcast 🎙️
Wine About It by QtCinderella and Maya Higa
Wine About It normally features the hosts (and sometimes a guest) drinking wine and sharing life experiences. This week, I watched the episode where QtCinderella interviewed Caroline Kwan about streaming, trying new career paths, and infiltrating the parties of rich LA wives. It feels like catching up with your girlfriends on a weeknight when nothing but wine and complaining will save you. 🍷
For My Eyes 👁️
TV 📺
Fallout
Based on the video game Fallout by Bethesda Softworks, we navigate a post-apocalyptic, retro-futuristic world with bunker dwellers, bounty-hunting cowboys, and…militarized cults. Amazon Prime has some of the best original series, and Fallout (so far) has not disappointed.
Films 🎬
Players by Trish Sie
As a woman sports writer, the amount of puns used to convince us the protagonist watched sports was equally impressive and insulting. Director Trish Sie is now the director of my apartment since she has made us laugh with Players and sob with Sitting in Bars with Cake. 🏀
Kill Bill by Quinten Tarentino
This was a movie I would pretend to have seen before if it came up in conversation. But we hosted a movie night and Uma Thurman did some serious damage in what is true Tarentino-style violence.
Documentary
We Work: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn by Jed Rothstein
Update on my We Work hyperfixation: I’ve now watched the biopic and documentary. What a fascinating company. I look forward to the next riveting finance/business/tech biopic. Jesse Eisenberg please play Sam Altman from OpenAI. I’m begging you.
Video Essay
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the 2003 Oscars by Caroline Kwan
It’s a shame when I find out a celebrity I like has done something disappointing. (I’m looking at you Adrien Brody 👀) Kwan does a great job of recapping and explaining the takeaways of the disastrous 2003 Oscars.
why everyone on Succession talks so weird by Scene It
There is a Succession-shaped hole in my heart, and Fallout is not filling it. I have a Kendall Roy poster, and Scene It knew I needed this video.
The Macabre Death of Edgar Allan Poe by Buzzfeed Unsolved
After all the Watcher drama, I felt the need to look back at the good old days of Buzzfeed Unsolved. I’ve watched this one before, but the Ghoul Boys are always a reliable pick-me-up.
For My Mind 🧠
Articles and Essays
“What should we do with books bound in human skin?” by Brittany Allen (Literary Hub)
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. Gross, ew, human skin? Why would you recommend this? Yes, it is disturbing, but I’m fascinated by true crime and book history, so reading about the politics of human-bound books is (concerningly) right up my alley. 📖
Some Words Feel Truer in Spanish by Natalia Sylvester (The New York Times)
Sylvester explores how individuals and writers can use multi-lingual vocabularies to transcend grammatical rules in favor of deeper expression. Although my native language is English, I find myself using certain Spanish and French words after years of studying them. This meditation on language encourages me to expand my written voice beyond mere English.
Having No Time is the Best Time to Get Writing Done by Jessie Greengrass (Literary Hub)
Greengrass dives into what helps her progress in her writing despite having a busy schedule.⏱️ If you want to get a small dose of what it’s like to post on the internet, I recommend reading through the comments on any Lit Hub essay.
Newsletter
Future Social by Jack Appleby
This one's for the communications girlies. Appleby writes the weekly letter for 70,000+ marketers with tips and tricks for the social media/content industry. It was recommended to me by a social media manager, so I can confirm the pros use it.
Till next week,
xoxo sarah
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