I Would Be Doing This Anyway by Jia Tolentino

I Would Be Doing This Anyway by Jia Tolentino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lives lived on social media, superficial Insta posts, artificial perfection. This short story delves into that and more, feeling very of the moment.

It's told in the time of Covid, and deals with the odd place we're in now. It involves a friendship (kind of?) between two women, one a wealthy Instagram influencer who faces backlash for some of her out-of-touch posts, the other a down-on-her-luck social media coordinator. 

What to Watch February 2022

The country's in winter storm mode, so it's a perfect time to plan what to watch this month while you're snuggled up at home cradling a hot drink and a remote control!

As always, I've compiled a list of shows I want to see that drop soon, and I'm sharing it here along with links to everything coming to those streaming services so you can pick your own must-watch viewing. Most of what I've collected is on streaming, but a few shows can be found on good old-fashioned network TV. And away we go! 

The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante

The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As always, Elena Ferrante's is a fantastic writer and unafraid to present bleak tales.

She doesn't shy away from dark topics and even darker personalities, and you probably won't love the people you meet in this short book. But damn, you'll want to see where it goes and appreciate the character development along the way.

The Lost Daughter is a tale of imperfect motherhood, and also a story of what it is to be the daughter of an imperfect mother. The main mother here, Leda, simply wasn't into motherhood all that much. She can be selfish and unkind, and provides food for thought on how motherhood isn't the same experience for everyone. 

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

The Vacationers by Emma Straub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had trouble rating this book. It worked the magic of keeping me engaged and happy to return to it (in between bouts of indulging my new Bravo addiction), but it didn't blow me away.

This story of infidelity, family and figuring out what you want in life had a crispness to it, an easy style. But a certain depth was missing for me, I'm not sure what it was. This would be a good read for the beach or plane, being breezy and entertaining without offering much challenge or complexity.

I mean that as a compliment, truly — sometimes I want a light read, but not so light as to be pointless or poorly written, and this book is neither of those things. 

Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel

Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writer and actor Michaela Coel lays her life bare in so many ways through her work. Ways that seem scary, dangerous and difficult, but she's fierce enough to reveal what most would hide from the light.

Misfits is the text of a lecture she gave in 2018. In it, she cracks herself open to share thoughts on individuality, not fitting in, and doing what you can to make things better as you go. It's honest and powerful and kinda badass, just like she is.

This book is like a mini memoir, and it was both satisfying and left me wanting a full-fledged memoir from Coel at some point. 

Ark by Veronica Roth

Ark by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful short story, submerged in a sense of pending doom and loss as the end of the world nears. Hope flowers nonetheless (little pun intended there).

There were many lines I loved for various reasons. Here's an example of the author's lovely way with words:

The wind shifted, and flakes of ash blew toward her face, pricking at her eyes. One landed on her lip, and she tasted it with her tongue. It tasted like burned leaves curling up at the edges in the flames, like musty old coats, like breaths you could see unfurling.

Evan Rachel Wood delivers a pitch-perfect narration, capturing the story's mood. This is lovely as a listen or a read.  

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