my top 8
#4: my recent favorites that I'm not in the business of gatekeeping
This is both a list and an invitation.
A list of 8 things I have been obsessing over, lately.
An invitation for you to check them out, and if you too are obsessed or want to talk about said obsessions, then let’s chat.
I hope you are well.
And thank you for being here, my dear friend.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (novel)
I’m not going to front here, this is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best. I’m willing to die on that hill. The perfect blend of space talk, feminism, clandestine sapphic romance, and drama. I have many thoughts on this, and might further delve into it in another post. For now, let’s leave it at this: If you love TJR, then read this. If you want a queer romance that’s not too spicy and more wholesome, read this. If you love astronauts, space talk, and a “period” piece of sorts….read this.
Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill (novel)
I know that any book that is praised by Petya K. Grady I will love, and this was no exception. What I was not expecting was how seamlessly my newly acquired space knowledge from Atmosphere would carry right over to parts of this book. A raw portrait of a marriage and motherhood, in the style of vignettes. Tiny little peaks into our narrators life, slowly painting a picture of her reality. It’s inspiring lit fic for the writer in me who aspires to write something like this, stylistically. I am now Jenny Offill curious, so more to report on that later. Also, very much enjoyed the Rilke references, so much so that I re-read Letters to a Young Poet after this as well. If you like the works of Ayşegül Savaş or Rachel Cusk, then this is very much for you my dear.
A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shepherd (novel)
Disclaimer: if you are not prepared for tears, do not read. An age gap queer clandestine romance, with the owner of a bookshop and his new “apprentice.” It’s not as horny as you would think given the premise. I could not put this down on a recent flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, so much so that I finished it in its entirety on said flight. Fighting the bubbling embarrassment of my tear-soaked face while avoiding eye contact with the pilot sitting next to me. I’ve seen Jack Edwards praise this book in many a video, and I was not lead astray. Without spoiling too much: if you like Young Mungo, or Lie With Me, then you would most definitely like this.
Shrinking (Apple + TV Series)
Am I the only person in the world who did not realize that the show SHRINKING is about SHRINKS???? Please tell me no. I beg of you. Embarrassment aside, this series is incredible. My boyfriend and I have plowed through two seasons of this series and are now Pasadena-curious because it is the set for this series and it really elevates the landscape. This show is incredible at portraying the many tenets of grief and how a friend group, family, and coworkers navigate life in the “After”. This is Harrison Ford as his best!! You cannot convince me otherwise. Many laughs, some tears, and I cannot recommend this enough. Woof.
Audrey Hobert, Who’s The Clown? (music)
What sad rock was I living under, without the musical stylings of Audrey Hobert? Better yet, where was I without the song, “Don’t go back to his ass.” The lyrics speak for themselves. I’m obsessed with the album because it gives the punchy lyrics of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, but with more grit and this raw honesty that makes you want to punch a wall. If you are not familiar with her work, jump on the train…please? Then we can ride down PCH with her music blasting in our petobismol pink convertible with a vanity license plate that’s more ironic than anything else.
Don’t go back to his ass, that shit is a trap…
Kacey Musgraves, Middle of Nowhere (music)
To know me is to know I ride for Kacey Musgraves. And at this point I am riding so much for her that I might as well have a horse and a tattoo of said horse or the initials KM tatted on my chest. Maybe a little extreme. I’ll dial it back. In all honesty, nothing will ever live up to Golden Hour, but this new album comes close. It’s incredible to see Kacey’s appreciation for caballero culture and for my fellow Mexicans. Some early standouts are “Mexico Honey” and “Dry Spell” but I am sure the entire album will be on repeat for many months to come. If you like country music, you will love this. If you love Kacey, then obvi you will love it. If not, idk.
Chicago (the city)
You know those cities that you visit and you get this overwhelming electric feeling pulsating through you? Chicago is one of those for me. Too intoxicating to move to, but great in small spurts. I ride for this city, the weather is a little upsidownsies…but it’s always a fun time. The bookstore scene was incredible and I enjoy a walkable and planned out city with friendly Midwest people. I wrote a bit about this trip and what it woke up within me in another piece, specifically about the joys of getting out and breaking free of COVID PTSD. The food scene is incredible too!! And any destination is made better in the company of friends who live in said city. :)
Ukranian Food (food-result of Chicago trip)
Speaking of yummy food…I was recently obsessed with Ukranian cuisine. I went to Tryzub Ukranian Kitchen in, you guessed it, Ukranian Village in Chicago. It was delicious and my friends and I inhaled their rainbow platter of delicious dumplings, and then some…I was so passionate about finding a Ukranian spot when I got back to LA, that I dragged one of my great friends on a walk-turned-food-expedition to a local spot called Mom, Please in Playa Vista. We gorged on their two greatest hits the pork and the potato and mushroom variations of their varenyky. We Stan a local spot with authentic and comfort food, I have plans to return in the winter or possibly for a brunch tea.
(left) Chicago rainbow platter (right) mom, please What are some of your recent faves?
Want to chat any of these?