January recommendations for cold (and warm weather) escapism
Spent a lot of time in November and December on long flights, and these kept me company!
BOOK: Eyeliner by Zahra Hankir: I grew up wearing eyeliner (or kajal amongst my peeps) and this book was a great read, both with historical and modern stories and connections, how eyeliner is connected to gender norms, or NOT, and how it is also connected to the environment and protecting our eyes. Perhaps you’ve seen very young children no matter gender wearing what you think is black eyeliner, mostly in South Asian, Middlea Eastern and African families, when it’s actually some version of kohl kajal or surmeh - because it’s a coolant (camphor), repels UV rays in the sunny areas, and a dust repellent and/or a protector against evil, or both! I still wear it and use pots as well as pencils as well as liquid modern options (with none of the old school dangerous ingredients). Hankir did a fantastic job up to the current times. I’m now reading her anthology she edited “Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World.”
BOOK: Babel by Gaston Dorren: Okay I am down the rabbit hole of reading about languages, and this was the latest. It’s organized well - with a focus on 20 languages with the most speakers in the modern world - some are obvious, and I think would surprise those who have a Global North perspective only. There is some good history and focus on how empires/travel/intermarriage impacted the languages and some focus on the script. The author has a voice that is uneven, sometimes great storytelling, sometimes very dismissive of cultures and history and impact of Empire and sometimes goes all in. All in all though I recommend this as a good companion to my previous recommendations Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words by Jennie Nuttal and The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language by Rosemary Salomone.
MOVIE: Fry Bread Face and Me (Netflix): Written and Directed by Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo), this is a lovely and quiet coming of age movie taking place in 1990, when Benny is sent to spend the summer with his grandmother on the reservation. His cousin, who everyone calls Fry Bread Face also joins and become each other’s companions for the time being. What follows is the normal family fun and drama, windows into code switching and cultures that are missing for one but not the other, and the evergreen struggles about what it means to be a man across so many cultures, ancient and modern.
TV: Fisk (Netflix): This is an Australian workplace comedy/legal procedural which is rare - an awkward lead character, Fisk, who works in estate law in Melbourne, Australia. I love this wry and cringey show that also has some sweet moments. Short episodes, short seasons, it’s a great binge for an evening, or a snow day, or over a week. The star is also the co-creator and now I’m starting to watch her other shows!
MOVIE: The Holdovers (Peacock and rentable online): This is getting a lot of awards attention and wins for all the actors and it should. I have to be honest, I’m not a Paul Giamatti/Alexander Payne fan (ugh Sideways), but a friend told me this movie about a teacher, student and school cook stuck on campus for winter holidays in the 70s was worth it, and she was right. It’s forced proximity of folks who would never spend time together, but you see hints of real connection between the adults. Da’vine Joy Randolph is a joy to watch and recently won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice awardas for this role; she shines in a recurring role in Only Murders in the Building and i liked her in Dolemite is my Name and I hope she continues to shine. The actor who plays the student is in his first ever role and is really quite good. And Giamatti is always good, I think this role fits his grumpy persona.
MOVIE: Colman Domingo in Rustin (Netflix): I recommend this purely to see the performance by Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin - a key advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. and key figure in organizing the 1963 March on Washington who was often forced into the background because of his sexual orientation. This biopic is fine and if you don’t know about Rustin, you will learn a lot, but Domingo is truly a force in this movie. He’s also appearing in the Color Purple this season. And he’s killing it on the Red Carpet.
TV: Slow Horses (Apple+): Season 3 just finished airing. It’s a spy show. It’s an action show. It’s also about a bunch of misfits who have to support each other. I haven’t read the novels it’s based on but Iwas drawn to it because of the Gary Oldman of it all. It also has a Kristin Scott Thomas and Sophie Okonedo - two great UK artists, and then once I got into this series about MI5 dysfunctional agents, the rest of the cast is stellar too.
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO
TV: January 18th Final Season - Sort of (Max): I have already mentioned this AMAZING, funny and sweet show in previous newsletters. The final season airs starting January 18th. This is a dramedy, a Canadian show created by, written by and starring Bilal Baig, a queer, transfeminine Muslim creator, as Sabi, one of the most open, vulnerable and real characters I’ve seen on tv. Sabi is one of the kindest, most lovely people on TV. I want to know them, be their friend and hug them. The cast of friends, employers and family (oh the family! I watch these scenes over and over) is something! If you haven’t watched it yet, there are two seasons ready to go, and if you already love Sabi like me, see you on January 18th for the final season.