Hello there,
Thanks to having some time on my hands from long weekends, I’ve been reading and watching a lot recently, so I’m sending another edition of the newsletter this month. That said, I’m just starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel on things to watch, so if you have recommendations, let me know!
Watch
I’m a little behind on these two nonfiction books turned into movies/series, but I can’t recommend She Said (Peacock) and The Dropout (Hulu) enough. I’ve read the books and the original reporting, and saw the Theranos documentary, and still I found them both incredibly compelling thanks to strong scripts and fantastic actors. She Said tells the story of the two New York Times reporters who covered Harvey Weinstein, and The Dropout is the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her downfall. While they feature journalists, both of them made me so incredibly grateful for whistleblowers, who risk everything in the hopes of helping others. She Said’s final scene will also make any journalist incredibly emotional. And watching The Dropout in the aftermath of two recent sentencings will make you gleeful.
I also recently watched Mars One (Netflix), a quiet, beautiful Brazilian movie about a family living in Minas Gerais just after Bolsonaro is elected. It recounts the struggles of the parents and two children that echo larger societal struggles like machismo and homophobia, and it felt like briefly peering into their lives. It’s simple and sweet, and I really enjoyed it.
Read
I’m also really late to the graphic novels Persepolis, but especially given what’s been happening in Iran, I can’t recommend them enough. Written by an Iranian artist now living in France, they’re a comic memoir of her life after the Iranian revolution, fleeing the country during the war, her eventual return, and then leaving for good. Even though they’re upsetting, they’re also poignant and funny, and I burned through them.
See all the recommendations.
Follow
I like to get road trip and hiking ideas from a couple that does *a lot* of hiking in the West, called The AZ Hikeaholics on Instagram.
Do
Stromae, a Belgian pop artist, is one of my favorite singers, and I don’t think I remembered to share when his latest album came out last year. If you ever get the chance to see him live, it’s one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. In the meantime, have a listen.
Until next time,
Rachel