I hope this finds you enjoying a slow moment. Curled up with a cup of tea. Resting. Nesting.
Welcome to the first ‘What This Week’. Aside from the more in-depth look at books, TV and film in my newsletters, I wanted to have a space for us to share recommendations.
I’ll go first. Here’s what’s been filling my cultural well this week.
Watching:
Navalny (BBC iplayer)—An amazing documentary (nominated for both BAFTA and Oscar this week) about the charismatic political opponent of Putin and the almost unbelievable story of him trying to uncover the truth behind his own attempted murder at the hands of the Kremlin. This should be fiction. It’s not. It’s jaw-dropping.
Slow Horses (AppleTV)—I seem to have a thing about spies at the moment. I’ll dedicate a whole newsletter to all the espionage viewing I’ve clocked up so far this year, but this recent series from Apple based on the Mick Herron books was a) a real shift from the classy, buttoned-up Cold War spy sagas I’ve been indulging in and b) also completely brilliant. Amazing cast.
Aftersun (available to stream on mubi)—Oof. I was drawn to this by all the plaudits and, let’s be honest, Paul Mescal (outstanding and Oscar-nominated). It’s such a naturalistic and simple-seeming depiction of a divorced dad and his daughter on a low-key package holiday in the ‘90s that early on I was actually underwhelmed. And then suddenly you realise a heartbreaking and poignant story has been told in all the details. I was reeling by the credits.
An honourable mention for Winterwatch (BBC iplayer), satisfying the nature geek in me.
Reading:
I’ve finally added the first book to my 2023 reading tally (insert small fanfare here!). I was feeling a little lulled into a reading stupor by slow reading War and Peace, David CopperfieldandLight Rains Sometimes Fall, so I went straight into the library book I picked up last week, Elena Ferrante’s The Lying Life of Adults. And yes, I reserved it because there’s a new adaptation on Netflix—my world is a perpetual loop of page to screen and back again! The Lying Life of Adults is classic, compelling Ferrante. Coming of age in Naples. Jarring and almost grubby in its brutal honesty. Ugliness, truth and the juxtaposition of the two are big themes. I’m looking forward to the screen version already.
Over to you. What have you been reading and watching this week? Share your recommendations in the comments …
(Includes affiliate links to Bookshop.org, an excellent bookselling website supporting indie bookshops)
Was so happy to find this in my inbox today Claire! I'm reading Silkworm by JK Rowling (even though I know she wrote it as Galbraith). My TBR pile by my bed always has a fiction, a non-fiction and something in Italian (because it's the only way I'll ever improve...) but lately I am only able to read easy mysteries because my head is mush....
Love this!! I have been reading Now She is Witch by Kirsty Logan - an excellent feminist novel set some time in the middle ages. And - shh - I've been watching Love Island. Mindless tat, I know.
I loved Paul in Normal People so looking forward to checking out Aftersun.
I'm currently reading a truly magnificent non-fiction book by Tamsin Calidas called "I am an island."
Also watched a Swedish film called "Border" recently that explored some interesting themes. And, need I say more, the Swedish landscapes in it were breathtaking. (A little obsessed with Sweden really haha.)
Wow, what a fantastic first edition of "What This Week", Claire! I love your recommendations. As for me, I've been reading "Breadsong: How Baking Changed Our Lives" by Al and Kitty Tait and it's a beautiful, heartwarming story about the power of baking and family. And I also started "An omelette and a glass of wine" by Elizabeth David, a collection of food writing essays that I'm sure will leave me feeling inspired. Can't wait to hear more of your recommendations in the next edition of "What This Week" :)
Loved reading all of these recommendations Claire. Slow Horses has been on my Up Next in Apple TV for while. In my weekly newsletter on email I always do a Reading/Watching/Listening round up just like you have done here. If I were to do this on Substack too at some point would that be OK - I don't want you to think I had pinched your idea!
Great post, Claire! Thanks for the recommendations. And welcome to Substack!
I started on the second series of 'Slow Horses' last week but found I couldn't really engage with it, because of an unexpected bout of I-am-not-READING-enough guilt prompted by advice in my current read, Stephen King's 'On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft'. I love this book - I can't believe that I hadn't picked it up before - so that's my recommendation for you and yours! I am learning SO MUCH about writing.
Really glad to have found your Substack via the brilliant helenredfern.substack.com. I haven't yet heard the podcast episode that you did together, but am hoping to get to it over the weekend.
Nice to find another Holden - no relation, but still! 🤣
Yo Claire! AWESOME first letter. I’m currently reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Loving it so far ... a love story with a twist. Not a normal book for me but quite enjoying it. Wedding been slow for me whilst I’ve been editing so hopefully I’ll have more time now. Watching Happy Valley and Vera. Ooof both excellent. Very main stream for me but they are soooo good xx
Currently reading The Windsor Knott by SJ Bennett - a cosy crime where the Queen is the detective. Was reading up on SJ Bennett last night and she got a her book deal in her fifties which gives me hope!
Was so happy to find this in my inbox today Claire! I'm reading Silkworm by JK Rowling (even though I know she wrote it as Galbraith). My TBR pile by my bed always has a fiction, a non-fiction and something in Italian (because it's the only way I'll ever improve...) but lately I am only able to read easy mysteries because my head is mush....
Love this!! I have been reading Now She is Witch by Kirsty Logan - an excellent feminist novel set some time in the middle ages. And - shh - I've been watching Love Island. Mindless tat, I know.
I loved Paul in Normal People so looking forward to checking out Aftersun.
I'm currently reading a truly magnificent non-fiction book by Tamsin Calidas called "I am an island."
Also watched a Swedish film called "Border" recently that explored some interesting themes. And, need I say more, the Swedish landscapes in it were breathtaking. (A little obsessed with Sweden really haha.)
P.S. Hello from a brand new subscriber. :)
Wow, what a fantastic first edition of "What This Week", Claire! I love your recommendations. As for me, I've been reading "Breadsong: How Baking Changed Our Lives" by Al and Kitty Tait and it's a beautiful, heartwarming story about the power of baking and family. And I also started "An omelette and a glass of wine" by Elizabeth David, a collection of food writing essays that I'm sure will leave me feeling inspired. Can't wait to hear more of your recommendations in the next edition of "What This Week" :)
Loved reading all of these recommendations Claire. Slow Horses has been on my Up Next in Apple TV for while. In my weekly newsletter on email I always do a Reading/Watching/Listening round up just like you have done here. If I were to do this on Substack too at some point would that be OK - I don't want you to think I had pinched your idea!
Great post, Claire! Thanks for the recommendations. And welcome to Substack!
I started on the second series of 'Slow Horses' last week but found I couldn't really engage with it, because of an unexpected bout of I-am-not-READING-enough guilt prompted by advice in my current read, Stephen King's 'On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft'. I love this book - I can't believe that I hadn't picked it up before - so that's my recommendation for you and yours! I am learning SO MUCH about writing.
Really glad to have found your Substack via the brilliant helenredfern.substack.com. I haven't yet heard the podcast episode that you did together, but am hoping to get to it over the weekend.
Nice to find another Holden - no relation, but still! 🤣
Yo Claire! AWESOME first letter. I’m currently reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Loving it so far ... a love story with a twist. Not a normal book for me but quite enjoying it. Wedding been slow for me whilst I’ve been editing so hopefully I’ll have more time now. Watching Happy Valley and Vera. Ooof both excellent. Very main stream for me but they are soooo good xx
Currently reading The Windsor Knott by SJ Bennett - a cosy crime where the Queen is the detective. Was reading up on SJ Bennett last night and she got a her book deal in her fifties which gives me hope!