Jenn D’s March Recommendations
I love March. It’s the beginning of autumn. Down here, we don’t bother with actual, scientific things like “equinoxes”; no, we start autumn bang on 1 March, whether the weather likes it or not.
Speaking of the weather…
As you might have heard, the east coast of Australia has been devastated by flooding. It’s heartbreaking to witness; I can’t imagine how it feels to live it. There’s an article here about what to do to help, if you feel so inclined.
BOOKS
I feel like I’ve barely had any time to read, but I did smash out a few books this month. The newest Sarah J Maas dropped. I have no idea what’s happening, ever, when I read her books as they come out, so I was like “who? what? when? how?” the whole time. But it wasn’t bad. I still enjoyed the story. I’m a little over the samey-same love scenes though. Yes we get it, he’s huge, you have seventeen billion simultaneous explosions, you’re soulmates for life, etc, etc.
I also dipped my toe back into some contemporary romance—I read The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, which was cute, but the writing wasn’t as fluid as I like. (Several times I had to go back and re-read to suss out what was happening, and honestly, I just want it spelled out for me sometimes? But only when it’s like, about what’s happening? Otherwise ambiguity is fine? Anyway.) It was cute though! And I liked the characters fine. I also read the second Tessa Bailey book in the Bellinger Sisters series, Hook Line and Sinker, and it was pretty good, but I think I’m retiring romance from my TBR for a while, since I’m not feeling it as much? Everything has a season, I guess.
I did finish the third book in the Wheel of Time trilogy, and I even managed to start the fourth one! Go me and my goals!
I’ve also started Humankind by Rutger Bregman and I’m already fully heart-eyes about it. It feels very much in line with what I know to be true, but keep getting told isn’t true (that mostly, people are good). It’s easy to be a cynic, but hard to believe that goodness is present, that we are capable of it, that the world is full of it. But there you go. A whole book about the irrefutable proof of human kindness. I can’t wait to dive in more.
And finally, some book-adjacent pod stuff… I’ve been a staunch fan of Jane Eyre since I caught the 2006 miniseries on television, and I love the book. I also just listened to it not too long ago, narrated by Juliet Stevenson, and it was incredible to revisit it in audio form. I recently devoured all of the On Eyre episodes of Hot and Bothered. Reading the book isn’t necessary, because they break it down for you. I spent three days frantically cleaning and building furniture while catching up on On Eyre and I regret it not a whit.
TV
My daughter’s school sent everyone home to get PCR tests a few weeks ago, so we had an unexpected Friday off in iso while we waited for results. We spent the day playing with watercolor paint and watching something completely silly: the Saved by the Bell reboot.
Guys, it’s so charming. It also takes no brain cells to watch. And it’s reminiscent enough of the original to still vibe (if you, like me, watched it obsessively on TV as an impressionable youth) but fresh enough that it’s relatable and enjoyable. But of course I love it; it’s a Tracey Wigfield production. (See also: Great News, a show which was too good, too pure for this world.)
I also finished Girls 5Eva (which is hilarious) and I think every elder millennial will totally vibe with it.
MUSIC
In my small group chaplaincy class, someone recommended the “Enneagram album, by Sleeping at Last”. I finally added it to my rotation and even if I wasn’t listening with an ear to learning, it’s a beautifully moving, resonant piece of music. Highly, highly recommend. (I’m still not invested in enneagram. I think MBTI has my heart forever.)
Also, somewhat against my will, I’ve been listening to the Eskimo Joe live album (with the West Australia Symphony Orchestra) and it’s jerked me right back to the mid 2000s but like, not in a bad way. This is my husband’s doing. I’ve had From the Sea stuck in my head now for one hundred years. Send help.
So that’s it for me. I’m just trying to stay afloat and avoid the spicy cough. I’m trying to be kinder to myself. I’m trying to be kinder to others. It’s been a rough pandemic. We are all we have. But we are all capable of so, so much. So that’s what I’m holding on to!
Have a great month, and I’ll catch you guys in April!