January roundup
Reading, watching, listening, tasting, making, wearing
I had the first week of January off of work and being able to spend my days reading and going to the movies and writing and making art is just the best. Really need to hurry up and win the lottery so that can be my life. As always I’d love to hear your standouts from the month! Drop me a line :)
Ok, on to the roundup...
Reading
Moby Dick, Herman Melville. I like to do a classic each January. It was finally time for this leviathan. What a strange delight!
Vaster Wilds, Lauren Groff. A quiet, visceral story of surrender.
Creative Act, Rick Rubins. Gag me with a spoon (derogatory).
- . I was looking for something to get me back on my vegetarian ish, this might just do it.
Best American Essays 2023, ed. Vivian Gornick. Not my favorite batch but a few standouts, as usual. Always worth a read.
My tabs are in a complete state of chaos and I didn’t have time to go through them, next month I’ll throw in a few January articles for good measure.
Watching
The Americans (rewatch): We’re deep in season 4. This show gets so brutal, I’m surprised they got away with so much on tv!
Banshees of Inisherin (rewatch): A perfect movie.
Pig (rewatch): Another perfect movie.
Her (rewatch): This didn’t hold up for me as well. I find a story about a man falling in love with his AI much less endearing these days…
Presence: I absolutely hated this snoozer, but what do I know. One of the perks of living here is getting to see stuff at Sundance, so that’s always fun.
Sweet Smell of Success: Stylish! Loved it.
Poor Things: LOVED. What an experience. Makes me want to invest in some ruffles and pastels.
Iron Claw: Get in brother, we’re breaking generational curses.
May December: Ben wasn’t so hot on this, I was.
Past Lives: We both loved this one. What a lovely movie about the way our lives branch off and how we never stop feeling the echos of who we could’ve been. I revisited Sarah Russell’s “If I Had Three Lives” after and had a nice cry.
Listening
Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell
Hayley Williams: FLOWERS for VASES / descansos
Bully: Lucky for You
LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
Nation of Language: Strange Disciple
Little Simz: Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Pharoah: Harvest Time
Spiel: Office Dog
Astrid Sonne: Great Doubt
Podcasts
60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s: Rambling, funny, and informative with late night dj vibes. I came to this late but it’s my new obsession.
Ezra Klein Show — How to Discover Your Own Taste with Kyle Chayka: I really liked this conversation!
Tasting
New Year’s Day ramen, a tradition
I’ve been on a big pb and banana toast kick
Gringo tacos
It’s been a takeout heavy month. Lots of curry and pizza. Plus our oven died and we were without it for a bit (love 2 rent).
Making
I finished my second 100 days project (100 days of drawing recap) and I’m already itching for another. I might start Artist’s Way next month but I fear I’ll end up hating it like I did Creative Act. We’ll see.
Wearing
Is this embarrassing? It feels a little embarrassing. Oh well. I’m trying to get out of the habit of wearing the same jeans and sweater every day and when I snap a little pic it gives me incentive to actually wear more of my wardrobe. Being in your mid-30s is a weird time, style-wise. But I’m getting closer to what feels like me and figuring out what the “staples” are for my closet. Idk if I’ll post this every month but whatever.
Themes: big shoes, big scarves, black, fuzzy, denim
Otis moments of the month
Loved this! Makes me wanna do an Americans rewatch. Can you dish where the tall black platform boots are from 👀