Culturally Consumed: Sentimental Value, The Gilded Age, and The God of the Woods
Plus, a romance novel about a hunky ghost of Christmas past
Hi, friends! I’m back after a busy few weeks! Between a vacation to California, an unexpected week in Tennessee, and an accounting class I’ve decided to take this semester for reasons that now elude me, I haven’t had the most time for cultural consumption lately so I’m catching up on a few reviews from earlier this winter. I’ve luckily been on a streak of reading some really good stuff (and like 3 other books about gay hockey players, but that is a review for another time) and have a couple of recs for what to watch on any upcoming dreary Spring weekends. Enjoy!
Reading…
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: I read a thriller about once a year mostly because I’m generally afraid of them, but I get curious enough to read whichever one is bubbling up at the moment and then have nightmares for a month. But I’m happy to report that The God of the Woods leans more Spooky Lite, while still being incredibly engaging. With a huge cast of characters and a lot of time jumping, Moore does a masterful job of switching between POVs and making you care about (mostly) everyone. The pacing, the way information is revealed over time, and the rich summer camp setting all make this a total thrill to read. Unfortunately, the audiobook narrator has this breathy quality that I found distracting at first, but I got over it and still highly recommend it!
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows: This book came to me through a bit of kismet. Thomas and I were on vacation in Stowe, Vermont and of course we dropped by the local bookstore, Bear Pond Books. Per usual, I walked around pointing out all the books I liked (Thomas is very used to this ritual by now lol) and noticed that many of them were ‘recommended’ by an employee, coincidentally also named Maddie! So when I came across A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a queer romantasy I’d never heard of, I had to buy it in honor of Bookseller Maddie’s excellent taste. After reading it, I feel very divided on this book. On the one hand, I absolutely loved the characters and the world-building and the distinct cultures of the two star-crossed lovers really worked for me. It grappled with serious issues (TW for sexual assault) while still building emotional intimacy and romantic tension. On the other hand, the plot felt aimless like we were completing missions in a video game and some characters, like Velasin’s mute best friend, felt more like plot devices that basically disappeared from the narrative entirely until needed. Ultimately, though, I’m glad I read it and it was refreshingly different from other romantasy I’ve read!
Good Spirits by B. K. Borison: If you read this newsletter then you already know I love an insane romance novel premise, especially one involving a paranormal love interest. So when I saw a novel about a sexy ghost of Christmas past over winter break, I was immediately sold. What I didn’t expect was for this to actually be kind of good! Obviously it’s still campy - the heroine tweely carries candy canes in her pockets and magical snow falls when they have sex - but it really captures the desperate anxiety of hanging onto someone you love when you know there’s only so much time left. In that way, it’s actually a really sad book and felt more driven by fear than love, but it’s ultimately heartwarming and reminds you that being your joyful, whimsical self is way better than being a stuffy, boring lawyer who hates Christmas (sorry to any lawyers reading this).
Watching…
Sentimental Value (In Theaters): Wow I loved this movie! We saw it with a sold-out crowd at the local indie in Cambridge, the Brattle Theater, and went to dinner after and just talked about the movie the whole time because there was so much to unpack. Where does performance end and authenticity begin? Does art have to be personal to be good? How does our family history determine who we are? The movie begged so many intriguing questions, not to mention the subtle, layered performances and the gorgeous house at the heart of it all. It’s a total intellectual and emotional treat and blurs the lines of performance in such meta and thought-provoking ways. It reminded me a lot of Anatomy of a Fall in the way it played with language and felt ripe for unpacking so many juicy questions. I’m crossing my fingers for an unexpected Oscar win from any of the cast, especially the Norwegians Renate and Inga! They’re on another level.
The Gilded Age - Season 3 (HBO Max): I watched this a while ago, but haven’t reviewed it here and think it would be a perfect show to binge on a cold, rainy weekend. So much happens on this season of The Gilded Age, which is really saying something for a show mostly about choosing which opera to attend! While some plot lines felt particularly phoned in (sorry Marian, I just can’t support you while you’re throwing a fit at your perfectly nice boyfriend), characters like Peggy and Gladys had incredibly compelling stories and some fiercely acted moments (Denée Benton crying on the stairs had me in tears!). But what I love most about this show is its ability to wring both genuine emotion and peels of insane laughter from me in the same episode. Hearing Kelli O’Hara say “bedecked myself in these geegaws” while getting dumped by her husband is a unique experience only this show can bring.
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