The Great Believers – I was slow to read this book and I’m not sure why, but wow. Much like The Heart’s Invisible Furies
, which I read and adored last year, the novel is about a time and place I knew nothing about (in this case, the AIDS crisis in Chicago in the 1980s). It’s thoughtful and beautiful and heartbreaking and engrossing all at once. One of my favorite books of 2019 for sure. Highly recommend.
Forties Stories – I have mentioned this podcast before, and I love it. It was an honor to be interviewed by Christy a few weeks ago! If you want to hear a little more about my strange childhood (a tantrum about visiting the Berlin Wall, for example) please check it out. I love all of Christy’s episodes and think the world needs more curiosity, more stories, and more empathy. She’s contributing. Give them a listen.
All-School Reads – I am fascinated by what schools choose as their All School Read. I think it’s a telling choice in many ways. Grace’s this summer is Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing
, which I’m going to read alongside her. Whit’s school doesn’t have one this year. I’d love to hear whether your children’s school or college has a required book and if so, what it is!
The Handmaid’s Tale
– I subscribed to Hulu just to watch this series, which I started after re-reading the book in March. I just started the third season. Wow. I know I’m only adding my voice to the (deservedly loud) chorus but I think this is a must-watch. It’s terrifying and prescient, powerfully acted, and scary precisely because there are ways in which this dystopian world feels believable to me. I don’t watch a lot of TV, but in my opinion this is essential viewing.
I write these Things I Love posts approximately monthly. You can find them all here.
The Heart’s Invisible Furies was a real surprise for me and I love it so much. That and Pachinko reminded me of a certain kind of book I love…sweeping and heartbreaking and wondrous…where nothing and everything happens at once. Putting The Great Believers on my list!
I cannot figure out if Bradley Whitford’s character is a sociopath or actually trying to help. Anyway, LOVE the show.
Thanks Lindsey! It’s been a pleasure to connect with you over our shared interest in amplifying women’s midlife stories.
I’m with you on the summer reading…
My rising 8th grader has to read two books (from a list) on mid-20th century African American experience for their first unit on Dreaming in America – with A Raisin in The Sun.
My rising 11th grader has to read The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last Hermit. I’d never heard of it, but will read it with him because it looks interesting and he likes to discuss. They just finished Kite Runner and I couldn’t recall enough detail, so he just left it on my nightstand to read while he’s at camp.
I’m reading and loving Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott. I wouldn’t be surprised if you already read it, but if not you might like it.