January 2023

A post about art, music, books, shows, activities, and life.

A Monthly Review

Recommendations from me & You*

January is a month of time-wasting for me. It’s been that way for a long time. Comes with seasonal work, I suppose. First as a wedding photographer and now as a realtor. I think time-wasting is viewed as a bad thing, but I’ve found it to be invaluable. It’s a time in my schedule where there is nothing to do, and so I get to do nothing. Nothing, meaning, nothing of ‘profit’, ‘success’, ‘worth’, ‘value’, ‘productivity’, or ‘have-tos’. In my early years of freelancing, I would go into overdrive, spinning my wheels like a car stuck in the snow, mistaking panic for inspiration*. Now, I’ve started to accept it for what it is, a precious gift.

This January, I’ve read a lot. Watched a little. Drank nothing. Here’s my recommendations from me and those who sent their own through Instagram.

Books

  1. These Precious Days by Ann Patchett - A book of essays about her life, Ann gives a glimpse into her world and her thoughts on it. I enjoyed getting to know the author better, along with reading someone who’s lived life. I learn a lot from people older than me. I’m not an essay reader but this captured my attention and I couldn’t put it down.

  2. Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith - A mystery novel set in the post Berlin Wall Era of the Soviet Union. It starts cold (Arctic waters) and grey on a ship in the Pacific Ocean and keeps the reader there until the end. Historical and thrilling, it sounds bleak because it is, but the writing is good and the protagonist is likable. It kept me guessing and gave me a view into Soviet culture, a view I’m grateful I could better understand and leave with the closing of the book.

    (I also learned about slime eels. I won’t link that for you. But if you want to know, be warned, the ocean is a world unto itself. With real things that sound like made up monsters.)

  3. The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand - After a few mystery novels, my general sense of wellbeing started to turn sinister, so I picked this off the Pale Fire Free Library last Sunday. The definition of a beach read, this righted my paranoia. About identical twin sisters, and the aftermath of divorce, familial relationships will always get my attention. It’s always relatable even when it’s not. It wasn’t five stars but certainly worth reading.

  4. How to Cook a Wolf by MFK Fisher - RECOMMENDATION FROM LINDSEY*

    “Written to inspire courage in those daunted by wartimes shortages, How to Cook a Wolf continues to rally cooks during times of plenty, reminding them that providing sustenance requires more than putting food on the table.” - MacMillan Publishers

Shows

  1. The English (Prime) - Set in 1899, Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer star in this epic Western drama. It meanders, it is violent, it is cruel, but it is also sweet and the performances by the two main characters made it bingeable for me. This, like the Polar Star, gave me an historical perspective (it’s a show, so take the history part as probably not actually). I perspected that I live an easy life.

  2. Shrinking (Apple TV) - A relevant show about a flawed therapist who wants more for himself and his clients. It’s the feel good vibe that I got from Ted Lasso. More real, less English, but all about relationships and failing upwards.

Food

Besides making sure there’s Costco seltzer waters in my fridge, and some bread, I can’t contribute to kitchen happenings this month.

  1. Fig, Pear, Walnut, Brie, Honey & Goat Cheese Pizza - RECOMMENDATION FROM GINA*

    “I made this pizza 3 days ago and am still dreaming of it. Add truffle oil to the arugula.” Consider it made, that sounds like a perfect February pick-me-up.

Amelia Schmid