Jenn D’s October Recommendations
Spring is trying to break through here in the Antipodes, and I have to say, I’m enjoying it against my will. (Darn human body, enjoying sunshine and warm breezes even though my soul appreciates cold, wintry weather!) My garden is going crazy and I’m trying not to dwell on the ephemeral nature of the blossoms we only get for a few short weeks. So, aside from that (and lockdown), I have not been up to very much, but here goes!
Having finally been vaccinated, I figured it was time to buy myself a cute pin to tell all the people in the world that I’m safe to be around (not that I’m out in the world, or going anywhere without a mask on, or getting close enough for people to read my badges, but I digress). I’ve ordered the pink & blue versions of these cute pins. Hurry up and get here, I wanna be cute and tell everyone I’m a good citizen!
Podcast recommendation - I’ve definitely talked about The Anthropocene Reviewed before, if not here, than in the podcast. (I can also highly recommend the book.) My favorite episode is called “Googling Strangers”. There’s a follow-up to the story of “Googling Strangers”, which was just published, as an episode of Heavyweight (another fantastic podcast). It’s a conclusion that I didn’t know I needed, but I did. It hit me hard (have tissues handy) but it’s worth every second to follow that story through to its end.
This month in order to stretch myself I decided to do a prompt list for artwork. A friend got me onto the #peachtober21 list hosted by @furrylittlepeach and I have been really enjoying stretching myself a bit. My parameters were to use what I had, and not be too critical, and to do it every day (if possible). So I knew it wouldn’t be a bunch of masterpieces. Nor would I plan it. But I’m enjoying the journey and I’m actually putting all those hoarded art-supplies to good use! Or even mediocre use! Which is better than letting them molder in a drawer, “too good” to play around with.
Reading has been a great comfort & source of joy for me. Romance is a safe bet—I love love, and I love love stories—and while it’s not strictly about romance, I think this one counts: Hana Khan Carries On. Highly recommend it. (I think it was pitched to me as “You’ve Got Mail” but podcasts and restaurants, and I’m here for it.)
I finished The Gilded Wolves trilogy by Roshani Chokshi, and hoo boy, I had a lot of feelings about that series. It was a full-tilt, skin-crinkling, goosebumps to the end kind of story, and I want to read it again. (But maybe in a year, once I’ve recovered.)
I also started the Inheritance Trilogy by NK Jemisin and finished the first book in that series (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms) last night. As always, Jemisin is a fantastic writer, whose stories are so outside of what you’d expect, that even though I’m not likely to write in her genre ever, it pushes me to think through all of my own settings and characters.
Unfortunately, not all trilogies that have caught my interest are complete! I got my mitts on The Last Graduate and of course, as per usual, Naomi Novik has torn my heart out. I had to lie down when I finished that book. I need that third book ASAP… (If only I could speed up the harvest and teleport myself off this rock, etc etc.)
Speaking of Star Wars, my ten year old took it upon herself to watch the original trilogy and the prequels, over school holidays, and she’s got a lot of opinions about Anakin Skywalker. I’m here for it. I love that she decided, on her own, that she needed to see them. Her very first movie in cinemas was The Force Awakens so it’s a bit special to me that she grew up to enjoy something that her parents both love. Yay!
TV Time! Well, season 2 of Ted Lasso has come and gone, and I’m left with a furious smoldering ruin where my love for Nathan Shelley used to be. Thanks so much for that, guys! Just what I needed! (Jokes aside, the writing this season has been superb.) Anyway. I’m definitely not counting the hours down until next July…
My husband has been watching a show called Blindspot, and even though it’s not my own recommendation, I’m adding it here because it’s the first time in about a decade he’s binge-watched something. He gives me little play-by-plays and we talk meta while he comes out for coffee and food, and honestly I’m loving how much he loves it.
And for music: the littles sometimes struggle to get to sleep, and one of the things I love to do is leave the lights down low, put on Open Heart Story by Luke Howard, and “go get a cup of tea” (and let them fall all the way asleep on their own). But it’s just a beautiful piece of music. It’s always nice to find a local-ish contemporary composer whose music really speaks to you.
Also, the search for the perfect running album continues. I did try to make a pop playlist and ended up smashing my pace goal (yikes, but no thanks), so I have gone back to the drawing board. Nothing too fast, but something that still moves me and doesn’t distract me… enter: Sigur Ros, Kveikur. It’s also, by the way, just about right for a 5k run with a warm up and cool down walk. Highly recommend.
Well, it’s just about time for me to do today’s art prompt, so I’d better get a wiggle on. Here’s hoping the rest of the month is as cheerfully productive as it has been so far. Stay safe everyone!