This Week In Recommendations - 14.05.23

May 14, 2023

Hello and welcome to You Should Check Out! I hope you’ve had a good week filled with nice plans or relaxed with some good reads/movies/podcasts to accompany you. For once, we have had some b-e-a-utiful weather this week.I love slightly hotter days without the sun burning on you or feeling sweaty and sticky. This weekend I’ll be in the garden soaking up the warmth with a good book.

I’ve had a very solid reading week with some fantastic reads I can’t wait to share with you. And with a busy work week, I’ve had some great podcasts in my ear and started a few new TV shows too. So lots to share this week - fabulous!

THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH ..

Last weekend, I made this super tasty Steak Teriyaki Ramen that I found on IG and it was simply *chefs kiss*. The broth was filled with so much flavour and I will for sure be making it again soon. I also got a new foundation by the brand Kosas. It is called the Skin Revealer foundation and it is the most gorgeous product. Medium coverage, dewy finish packed with lots of skincare ingredients - it is perfect for summer! Last recommendation I’ve have is by The Strokes. They released Volume 01 which is an album filled with original recording, demos and A/B sides. If you don’t know me, they’re actually my favourite band. I’m swooning over this one track called I’ll Try Anything Once (similar style to their YOLO song). It has been on repeat.

READING

The first book I read this week is one I have mentioned before on my wish-list that I eventually bought called Permafrost by Eva Baltasar. This has been a word off mouth hit book that has taken off and when you read it, it is for good reason. The book is told in hilarious, brief vignettes on our main characters life from being an au pair in Scotland, family members, relationships, sexuality and more darker things like suicide. It was extremely witty. The humour element was spot on for me and at only 131 pages, I read it in one sitting. Very funny and I highly recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something short to get lost in.

Following up with another very wacky book in the form of Darryl by Jackie Ess. This book was one WILD ride. Infact, let me copy the synopsis as it sums up better than I could. “Darryl Cook is a man who seems to have everything: a quiet home in Western Oregon, a beautiful wife, and a lot of friends to fuck her while he watches. But as he explores the cuckolding lifestyle, he finds himself tugging at threads that threaten to unravel his marriage, his town, and himself.” So as you can imagine from that, it was a pretty bizarre book. Darryl is a protagonist I won’t forget. He was so endearing yet very weird. It is filled with humour that will make you chuckle. A fun one!

Last up, I read Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman that was just so, so good. This is fiction and followed Zelda, Jen and Isobel who belong to a religion called The Disciples of The Last Days. The book is a slow burn story that is so readable about the women and explores the complexities of being a woman within a religion that makes modern life challenging. It was moving and I loved each of the characters in different ways. Powerful and well written, this is one to add to your TBR.

ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES

I thought since I’ve read two funny books this week, I would pluck Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby as this weeks one from the archives. I read this in May 2020 and went on that year to read the rest of Irby’s work. This is a collection of essays that are so funny and Samantha is such a talented storyteller. I am such a fangirl of hers and I am keeping her new essay collection, Quietly Hostile, to read this summer. A commitment I know I will keep given how much I adore her work. Plus, this sounds a real hoot. If you haven’t read anything by Samantha, I would encourage you to - you won’t regret it. She also has a wonderful Substack that you can check out.

BOOKS ON MY RADAR

Here are three books I added to my Storygraph this week that I am so intrigued by.

The first is The Beautiful Summer by Cesare Pavese. When I read the synopsis of this, it sounds like an ideal book for my upcoming trip to Italy! Set in Italy in the 1930’s, Ginia is sixteen year old and craving adventure. She strikes up a friendship with a young, stylish model named Amelia who is living the life she would like to. Introduced to a new group of people through Amelia, she falls in love with a young painter named Guido. It soon becomes clear that this will be a summer fling and nothing further and how Ginia copes with her emotions and love for him. I can see me taking this to read in the Italian sunshine, soaking up the atmosphere of the novel in the ideal surrounding!

Next up is Mister, Mister by Guy Gunaratne . I read Gunarante’s first novel, Our Mad and Furious City, that was long-listed for the Man Booker and was obsessed with it. Mister, Mister follows our protagonist Yahya Bas who finds himself in a UK detention centre after escaping war-torn Syria. His interrogator is called Mister who wants to keep him locked up. So Yahya decides to tell his life story. This sounds insanely good and I can’t wait to get a copy of this.

The last book is actually a penguin classic called An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector. Published in 1973, this is a book that probes a relationship between man and woman that borders on friendship, romantic and also sexual. I love books about love and human desire - but not anything cheesy or romantic. This ticks all the boxes I like in a book that explores the above and I do not read enough classics.

INTERNET READNG

WATCHING

I’ve watched so many movies in the last few weeks since I was unwell and feeling sorry for myself. I may do a full post dedicated to them actually as a little bonus edition since there are loads to share. But let’s crack on!

My husband and I started Fatal Attraction - the new TV series that is a remake of the late 80’s movie. I am really enjoying it mainly because 1) I loved the movie which I may rewatch after and 2) I love the cast. I mean Joshua Jackson is fantastic (and will always be Pacey to me) and Lizzy Caplan who isn’t just the iconic Janis Iain from Mean Girls but a very good actress. I am enjoying this. It hasn’t strayed too much from the plot but the episodes show more perspective from the other characters involved. I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds.

Next I watched Pretty Baby, a documentary on Brooke Shields that is on Disney+. I knew who Brooke was but nothing about her career and wow, this is frightening. It explores the sexualisation of her at such a young age and how Hollywood exploited Brooke’s looks in an alarming way. It was insightful on the impact that has had on Brooke and how she feels looking back retrospectively. Thoroughly recommend!

The last is an oldie but a goodie! Last weekend, the BBC aired lots of movies on BBC2 through the day and Edwards Scissorhands was one. I love this movie and although I’m not always a fan of Tim Burton’s work, this is such a classic. I have seen this so many times but, it is so beautifully shot and it never fails to entertain me.

LISTENING

I’ve been listening to lots of great podcasts this week - and discovered new shows too! Whenever I need to work on something, and even typing up The Low Down, I will always knuckle down and most likely always have a podcast on.

This week, I listened to Shona Rhimes on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. Wow, this was such an in-depth interview with the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and more. She is such an inspiring lady and this was amazing to listen to. I have so much respect for her, her impact on entertainment (I was a HUGE fan of Scandal) and I was shocked at how normal and down to earth she was. This is a must listen!

Another interview I listened to was Bill Hader on Smartless. Smartless is a podcast hosted by Seth Rogan, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes who are a hilarious trio. Now, not to bang on AGAIN, but as you could tell from the last few editions, I have watched and obsessed over the TV show Barry for ages now. It is like it is my personal mission to introduce this show to other people. Bill spills how he fell into the industry, his time on SNL and of course, his own work and Barry. This one had me proper belly laughing with the different impressions etc. I will probably listen to this again because it had me giggling so much and I loved the energy between Bill and the hosts.

The last episode I have to recommend was a new podcast I discovered called Every Outfit who recently interviewed the LEGENDARY Candace Bushnell - author, journalist, TV producer and author/creator of Sex In The City! This interview was so much fun. Candace is a wonderful guest and has lived such a fun life. We learn so much about her career, her inspiration for her writing and the importance of female pleasure and why this is a focal point of her writing. We hear about her involvement in my favourite iconic scene from the Real Housewives of New York and her thoughts on the SATC spin off, And Just Like That! A must listen even if you aren’t a SATC fan, this is such a light, uplifting episode.

ON MY WISHLIST

I don’t actually, for once, have much of a wishlist this week but I do have my eye on three things for my office/reading room that I wanted to share.

First is this gorgeous book vase that is just such eye-catching piece. When I saw it online, I had to stop myself from just going straight to check out but, I think come payday this will be in my basket. It is not only gorgeous but affordable too.

Another thing I’ve added to my Etsy favourites is this mini under desk foot stool. I do have my eye out for an orange one to co-ordinate with my chair but, the green would blend in with all the other furniture. I would love one of these as it would be good, on busy days, to be able to stretch out a little and make being stationary a little more comfy.

The last thing is there is an etsy store that lets you create a quote of your choice on a print. There is an empty wall in my office where my futon sits and I would like to start adding some of my favourite book quotes on there. I think it would be a nice edition to the room!

And that is this week. I so hope you enjoyed this issue. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Thanks for reading!