September Recommendations
I have no idea where September went, but I still have lots to share and to look forward to!
Books
Dearborn by Ghassan Zeineddine: It’s been hard in the past for me to get into short story collections but in the past few years, I have really liked a few and Dearborn is one of those. It was so easy to read each story and the writing was smooth and painted great pictures of a community throughout the separate stories. All about the Arab-American communities that have made their home in Dearborn, MI and so many different perspectives and stories across the community. Truly, I laughed and cried and cringed!
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal: This was a great stand alone mystery and a pretty good reflection of the life of the service class of “helpers” in Singapore who serve upper and middle class of families -the majority of whom are Filipino. I wanted to know who “did it” in the mystery, while at the same being drawn in by their individual lives and the every day indignities they face, and so annoyed/angered at how these folks are treated. This author also wrote Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows which was quite popular, but I liked this one more!
TV Series
Avoidance (BritBox): I first encountered and enjoyed British-Sri Lankan actor and comic Romesh Ranganathan from his one-season show Just Another Immigrant (Showtime) a few years ago. It was the “mostly true story” of his journey from the UK to Los Angeles with his family to do a live stand up show at the Greek. And his latest series Avoidance is also good and he’s really grown as an actor and writer above and beyond his comedy. The character he plays is really frustrating because I wanted to shake his character over and over - he avoids a lot, and also doesn’t listen, mostly to the women in his life, and his son sometimes parents him. As usual with UK shows, the banter is A+, and Ranganathan’s dead pan is amazing. The young actor who plays his son is too wonderful and I appreciate the very real portrayal of family life, tensions, anxiety and yes…avoidance. I hope it is renewed but if it isn’t, it’s a good stand alone show! If you like this you can also check out his stand up.
“To watch him try to articulate his feelings under pressure, to manage his anger when this strange emotion does well up in him, to parse the difference between being assertive and aggressive when neither comes naturally, or simply to step up to where he needs to be – to watch all this is to feel seen in the worst and possibly most valuable way. Not that we’ll tell anyone, of course.” - The Guardian
The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix): This is a two season series inspired by the book and movie. I really enjoy this legal procedural and the cast of regular characters. In my opinion, this is a big improvement from the Matthew McConaughey movie, which I actually enjoyed. The lead actor, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, is charismatic, complex in his portrayals and attractive, his staff, ex-wives, his family and his clients and colleague make it a great show, with a great all around cast. There seems to be one season-long case that they work on with the personal lives of the main characters and their friends anchoring throughout.
Coming Soon!
Sept 28th: Starstruck Season 3 (Max): This show has been in my best of recommendations for the past two years. Rose Matafeo, a New Zealand comic, who created, writes and stars in it, is a great comedic talent, and the show is at its best when it pays homage to the greatest RomCom movies and tropes by also doing more and going above and beyond. Nikesh Patel is another British actor who I follow and he’s lovely in this series! The seasons are short and 30 min episodes, so watching the first two seasons is fun and easy. This show is smart, snarky, funny, and sweet. I expect I will watch the entire 3rd season this week when it drops, unless Max makes me wait for one a week!
Oct 5th: Lupin Season 3 (Netflix): The long awaited season 3 of Lupin is out next week - this French series is a fun thriller inspired by a character in the Arsène Lupin book series which is big in France and amongst lovers of detective novels. I have not read them. Omar Sy, the lead actor, is excellent and charming and his character is also frustrating. It’s an interesting France he lives in because he tends to be the only Black personapart from his immediately family in France 👀👀, but putting that aside for a moment, you will enjoy this. Please please watch it with subtitles because the English dubbing is atrocious and often racist!
Oct 10th: Opinions by Roxane Gay: You probably already know that I love Roxane Gay for her cultural criticism, her book reviews, her fiction, her work advice column, and her singular voice in all of these things. Her Substack, The Audacity, has excellent links and readings. She has a collection of her essays and opinions coming out in October!