Hello, and welcome to the second installment of "My Favorite Things." This was supposed to be a monthly roundup of my favorite, books, movies, tv shows, songs, etc. from each month, but I think keeping it to a seasonal roundup is far more feasible.
I have not had as much time to read as I would normally like, but everything I have read recently has been fantastic! Here are two of my favorite reads from this winter.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Shannon Chakraborty is the author of one of my favorite fantasy series: The Daevabad Trilogy. She writes incredibly well researched historical fantasy, and her latest novel did not disappoint. It's full of pirates, sea monsters, and a wonderfully diverse cast of middle-aged heroines and heroes with bad knees who never thought they'd find themselves braving the seas again. I believe this tale also exists within the same universe as The Daevabad Trilogy, which is endlessly exciting for me.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
I don't normally read short stories, but this collection got me through an otherwise lonely and boring day in January. With genre-bending stories evoking the smoke and mirror thrills of phantasmagoria, Machado paints vividly disturbing depictions of womanhood and sexuality. Some of these stories could be triggering, so I would recommend looking up trigger warnings beforehand if that is a concern.
Shockingly, I do listen to artists other than Taylor Swift. Recently, I've been listening to my Spotify playlist I call "Extra Serotonin" because I think it is impossible to feed badly while listening to it. This playlist is full of certified bops from Lake Street Dive, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Leon Bridges, ABBA, and other artists with similar retro-big-band vibes. I've included a link to the Spotify playlist if you'd like to check it out!
Some of my favorite songs from this playlist are:
Know that I Know Lake Street Dive
Hypotheticals Lake Street Dive
If It All Goes South Sammy Rae
Leaning on You Haim
August flipturn
I haven't been watching much television or many movies, but I have been staying up to date with Abbot Elementary! If you have any experience with the American public school system, you will find yourself simultaneously laughing and crying at its relatability. I would place it in a similar vein as Ted Lasso or Derry Girls in that it is a comedy with surprisingly poignant social commentary. With impeccable writing, acting, and storytelling, it is no surprise that Abbot Elementary is currently sweeping the awards season. I highly recommend checking out this silly and powerful show!
I must admit that I also found myself binging Law and Order: SVU after my sister introduced it to me while we were home for break. It's not a show that I would recommend for its writing, social commentary, acting, or music, but something about it is shockingly addictive and comforting despite its dark subject matter. Its inconsistent portrayal of the Covid-19 pandemic is also sadly hilarious to watch.
I hope this was interesting for you! Please leave a comment if you also love anything I mentioned, or if you have any recommendations for books/music/tv shows/movies I should check out!
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