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....
And I am likewise so happy to see you in my comments, Michelle! Thank you! Oh the Strike novels are brilliant ... well I read the first three, but then got very behind and decided to catch up with TV series instead over the Christmas break. They've cast Strike and Robin so well I think, the tension ... my gosh! I listened to JK Rowling being interviewed by Simon Armitage on a podcast last week and it's inspiring how much she just loves to write (she certainly doesn't need to anymore!), and how she went with the pen name to allow herself that moment of going back to the start and being 'unknown' again.
Isn't that something, to want to be unknown again, and here we are trying to come out of the shadows with our own words! I did not know there is a TV series out so you know what will be on my to watch list! PS: still waiting for Happy Valley to become available here in Italy...
Oh I'm very happy to have put that on your radar. There are I think five series of Strike to enjoy! I'd thoroughly recommend that Simon Armitage/JK Rowling podcast interview too. I mean yes, her story as a writer is almost incomprehensible to us. And I think it's still pretty surreal for her too!
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.
Thanks so much for sharing your 'what this week', Claire! The novel sounds great. Witches and feminism I can wholeheartedly get behind, so thanks for the recommendation. Hey, it's great that you are the TV are becoming reacquainted after so long. No Love Island judgement from me ... whatever gets us through January! (Insert exhausted face here!)
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.)
Hi Silvia, thanks so much for subscribing and diving straight into the chat! And thank you for those very interesting recommendations. I haven't heard of either, so I'm off to investigate. But yes, ALL for beautiful Swedish landscapes. And I hope you enjoy Aftersun. It truly took a piece of my heart. Come and tell me what you think when you've seen it.
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" :)
Yay, Sinù! Thanks so much for reading and offering such wonderful sounding book recommendations. I love that your reading really reflects this place you're in of reclaiming what makes you joyful. I'm no foodie, but both books sound incredibly inviting.
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!
Slow Horses is excellent! Let me know what you think. And absolutely go for it on the recommendations front ... the more suggestions of good books and TV/film, the merrier! x
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! 🤣
Hi Rebecca! Thanks so much for coming over from Helen's brilliant Substack. 'On Writing' is an excellent book, but it's so long since I read it that I can remember nothing other than I loved it! You may well have prompted a reread, thank you. I'm definitely leaning more heavily on TV than books at the moment, but I think that's fairly standard winter behaviour for me. When sitting in the garden weather starts kicking in, my reading rate will (hopefully) crank up a bit.
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
Thanks so much, Loretta. These are great! I read Nightingale by Kristin Hannah years ago and really enjoyed it, so I'll look that one up. Thank you! Interesting that you went for something outside your usual reading choice. I'm not great at that, but I guess reading for my book group pushes me out of my bookish comfort zone. Not that I always appreciate it!! I've been timing rewatching the earlier series of Happy Valley, so I can now bingewatch the new series up to Sunday's final episode! Can't wait! Haven't seen Vera for years, but BB always good x
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!
This sounds brilliant, Helen. I loved the cover when you put in on IG stories this week. Will look up SJ Bennett--we need those role models! Have you ever read 'The Uncommon Reader' by Alan Bennett? Not cosy crime, but a little novella about the Queen stumbling across the mobile library outside Windsor and becoming a voracious reader!
Oh brilliant! I thought I was just taking up a 7-day trial to get that Will Ferrell Christmas film and my free trial actually runs through to March, so I'm making the most of it. There are two seasons of Slow Horses available, so that's a real treat in store. Let me know what you think. Also highly recommend the film CODA that's another Apple original.
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....
And I am likewise so happy to see you in my comments, Michelle! Thank you! Oh the Strike novels are brilliant ... well I read the first three, but then got very behind and decided to catch up with TV series instead over the Christmas break. They've cast Strike and Robin so well I think, the tension ... my gosh! I listened to JK Rowling being interviewed by Simon Armitage on a podcast last week and it's inspiring how much she just loves to write (she certainly doesn't need to anymore!), and how she went with the pen name to allow herself that moment of going back to the start and being 'unknown' again.
Isn't that something, to want to be unknown again, and here we are trying to come out of the shadows with our own words! I did not know there is a TV series out so you know what will be on my to watch list! PS: still waiting for Happy Valley to become available here in Italy...
Oh I'm very happy to have put that on your radar. There are I think five series of Strike to enjoy! I'd thoroughly recommend that Simon Armitage/JK Rowling podcast interview too. I mean yes, her story as a writer is almost incomprehensible to us. And I think it's still pretty surreal for her too!
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.
Thanks so much for sharing your 'what this week', Claire! The novel sounds great. Witches and feminism I can wholeheartedly get behind, so thanks for the recommendation. Hey, it's great that you are the TV are becoming reacquainted after so long. No Love Island judgement from me ... whatever gets us through January! (Insert exhausted face here!)
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. :)
Hi Silvia, thanks so much for subscribing and diving straight into the chat! And thank you for those very interesting recommendations. I haven't heard of either, so I'm off to investigate. But yes, ALL for beautiful Swedish landscapes. And I hope you enjoy Aftersun. It truly took a piece of my heart. Come and tell me what you think when you've seen it.
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" :)
Yay, Sinù! Thanks so much for reading and offering such wonderful sounding book recommendations. I love that your reading really reflects this place you're in of reclaiming what makes you joyful. I'm no foodie, but both books sound incredibly inviting.
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!
Slow Horses is excellent! Let me know what you think. And absolutely go for it on the recommendations front ... the more suggestions of good books and TV/film, the merrier! x
Thankyou 🌺
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! 🤣
Hi Rebecca! Thanks so much for coming over from Helen's brilliant Substack. 'On Writing' is an excellent book, but it's so long since I read it that I can remember nothing other than I loved it! You may well have prompted a reread, thank you. I'm definitely leaning more heavily on TV than books at the moment, but I think that's fairly standard winter behaviour for me. When sitting in the garden weather starts kicking in, my reading rate will (hopefully) crank up a bit.
LOL, Claire - you're absolutely right that telly is 'winter behaviour', absolutely!
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
Ooh, I do love a bit of Kristin Hannah in my life when I get that feel-good-romance bug. I loved her book The Great Alone.
Thanks Silvia. Another for the growing reading list!
Oh, the list that just grows and grows and grows. 🤣🤣🤣
Reading not wedding 😂😂🙃🙃🙃
Thanks so much, Loretta. These are great! I read Nightingale by Kristin Hannah years ago and really enjoyed it, so I'll look that one up. Thank you! Interesting that you went for something outside your usual reading choice. I'm not great at that, but I guess reading for my book group pushes me out of my bookish comfort zone. Not that I always appreciate it!! I've been timing rewatching the earlier series of Happy Valley, so I can now bingewatch the new series up to Sunday's final episode! Can't wait! Haven't seen Vera for years, but BB always good x
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!
This sounds brilliant, Helen. I loved the cover when you put in on IG stories this week. Will look up SJ Bennett--we need those role models! Have you ever read 'The Uncommon Reader' by Alan Bennett? Not cosy crime, but a little novella about the Queen stumbling across the mobile library outside Windsor and becoming a voracious reader!
Oh brilliant! I thought I was just taking up a 7-day trial to get that Will Ferrell Christmas film and my free trial actually runs through to March, so I'm making the most of it. There are two seasons of Slow Horses available, so that's a real treat in store. Let me know what you think. Also highly recommend the film CODA that's another Apple original.