24 Comments

So much to love in this post! Thank you for the sports book recos; they've been added to my wish list! And, I just love George Saunders and his Story Club. You're absolutely right that his gentle approach is so supportive, especially for the toughest and most irritating story issues.

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May 19Liked by Courtney Maum

ooh, i loved glazer's "under the skin" (actually, i've liked all his movies, they've got that highbrow horror vibe) but never read the book and now i want to tho i'm also skeered. glad you're on the mend and thanks for all the recs!

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author

Highbrow horror vibe is exactly it! Try the book— it’s so wildly different than the movie. The whole book is from a woman’s perspective which is super interesting— it’s a fast read so if you do find it scary you could get through it pretty quickly.

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May 20Liked by Courtney Maum

oh that is interesting it's from a woman's perspective. okay, sold!

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Hope you get better as I write:

I'm clarifying that I'm in a more severe "ostrich mode" media diet because, firstly I'm petrified (PTSD) about the upcoming elections here and in my poor authoritarian regime suffering birth country Venezuela.

Secondly, I'm caregiving my husband who has several commorbidities + dementia. So my choices and recs will reflect my deep dive into non inducing anxiety entertainment:

Series:

•Shōgun x HULU ( I read the book 1975 so I know what happens).

•K Dramas, mostly Netflix

(Warning: seriously addictive)

Crash Landing on You

Eve

Mine (art direction is impeccable)

Romance is a Bonus Book

Because it's my First Life

Marry my Husband ( Prime)

100 days my Prince

Under the Queens Umbrella

There are a bunch more, mostly excellent Crime Thrillers. But not for recovering or weaning insomnias.

<>

Books: I love and write Speculative Fiction/Magical Realism, I'm Latina 🤷🏼‍♀️ you can read my short stories here: https://open.substack.com/pub/janinevicicampbell/p/04la-catrina-part-one?r=ez84n&utm_medium=ios

And part 2

https://open.substack.com/pub/janinevicicampbell/p/05-la-catrina-part-two?r=ez84n&utm_medium=ios

So I hear lots of Audiobooks during my very busy chore filled day.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo ( narrated by her) + her Ghost Bride & Night Tiger are also excellent.

Novels:

The House of Doors by Tan Twang Eng

Kantika by Elizabeth Graver

An American Beauty by Shana Abe

Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley

Hope you enjoy my recs if you decide to try any or all of them.

😴😴😴😴

My nighttime ritual for sleeping:

A/C down to 65F

I take: two L-Theanine+ two Mag Glycinate+ one 5 HTP + 1 CBN//CBD from Extract Labs PM Caps. ( hate gummies)

Shower in low light, use OhhO Body Oil afterwards,

Read like two minutes

Eye mask

Gratitude & meditating for 5 mins

Zzzzzzz

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author

I'm sorry to hear all that you are going through. I too am a fan of K Dramas-- thank you for all these selections! I also like Crime Thrillers but-- as you surmised, can't watch them at night.

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Thank you Courtney for your kind words. I'm glad you also like K dramas. Marry My Husband is the best revenge porn ever.

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If either of you would like a historical K drama with a healthy dose of fantasy- I highly recommend Alchemy of Souls. 🫶 (on Netflix)

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If you have HBO, I can't recommend enough The Great Pottery Throw Down. The creativity is hypnotic and inspiring, and there hasn't been one contestant in seven seasons that I've disliked.

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author

Ooooh that sounds incredibly relaxing!

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May 18Liked by Courtney Maum

There is an Australian 'Dog House' which is similarly heartwarming. I had been a cat person until my husband's desire for a dog (he had dogs before we married) led to us getting a rescue dog, a black Labrador we named Dan. Then I too turned into a dog person. And like you with the lurcher, I started following a greyhound Blue the Grey who had his own FB page and fell in love with the greyhound, a dog I had never particularly liked before. So between Dan and Blue, I am now a cat AND dog person who says hello to dogs when I am out and about and sneaks a pat whenever one lets me.

Cathy

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oooh! I wonder if we can watch the Australian version in the US...I too am getting a soft spot for Greyhounds!

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May 18Liked by Courtney Maum

Oh hey! That was me! (the Saunders recommender).

Very glad you are recovering and feeling better.

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author

THANK YOU SAL! So very much. I printed out that entire post and highlighted the heck out of it!

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'In any case, I think it’s fun to dissect directors’ adaptations of literary fiction—does anybody else do this?' DOES ANYBODY ELSE DO THIS? Qu'en penses-tu? I once taught a class (not the whole semester, just one class) on how skillfully Ang Lee expanded "Brokeback Mountain" from the novella to the screen. One of my favorite past-times is analyzing adaptations. (And judging when the screenwriter or director has wisely or unwisely departed from the original.)

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Partner in crime! Love it.

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Love that George Saunders tidbit you shared, and your interpretation of it 💯

Re: entertainment, we just finished Ripley, which I thought was excellent. Andrew Scott is phenomenal, the black & white Italian setting is chic and spooky, the story is as compelling as ever, even when you know what’s going to happen. I dearly hope they’ll continue with another season🤞🏻

Also watching the new season of Hacks, which is hilarious. (And much more fun than seeing my beloved Red Sox lose 9 of their last 13 games 🤦🏻‍♀️) Jean Smart is a national treasure.

And since you are a cat person—if you’re ever in an impossibly low mood, know that there is a show called “Kitten Party” where you can just watch kittens roaming around a playroom for as long as it takes you to feel better. There is a voiceover. It’s mesmerizing. My husband found it one night and it’s become my nuclear option for dark days 😹

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My gosh I'm really out of the loop- Andrew Scott (heartthrob) is in an adaptation of Ripley? !! Kitten Party sounds like a portal I need to go through...thank you Sarah!

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He should be too old for the part, but damned if he doesn't pull it off.

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Just listened to the podcast. Don’t know where to post! Talk about backward! Loved every minute. Thank you!

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Everyone is horny that is Spring.

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author

Thank you so much for listening! The giveaway was won a few weeks back but I’m so glad you listened!

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May 17Liked by Courtney Maum

were you at Interbrand when we were working on iVillage and they wanted all of their audience segments to be named _____ista? Kitchenista, Gardenista, etc etc it was so so painful, I cringe whenever an "ista" crosses my path.

your poor nasal passage! your poor sleep! hope the surgery is working as desired!

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YES! This is when there was a deep dive into "Maxxinista" and I was like, am I the only one who thinks this sounds basic and dumb as freaking hell?? Scarring. It was scarring.

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