💬 Friday Thread: What Are Your Favorite Reads, Watches, Listens, Products, etc of April?
And what are you reading now?
You might remember me saying how much I was loving my reading life for the first quarter of the year. Well, April has proven to be a tough reading month for me, both in terms of quality and quantity. I share this because even though my job is centered around reading, I can and do sometimes hit a giant reading speed bump and have to regroup. I will say, I think the first step to getting back on a better reading track (for me and maybe for you too) is to acknowledge where my reading jumped the track in the first place.
This month, for me, it’s been reading for my Surprise Books and More podcast episode. For that episode, I typically search for under the radar books, sample a lot of them, and then read at least two that pull me in the most and I anticipate loving. Usually I hit the jackpot with the books that call to me. This month, however, I’ve ended up not finishing a couple that I had been pretty far into.
I’m in the process of getting back on track, and one way I’m doing that is by allowing myself to read exactly what’s calling to me in this moment which is nonfiction. I mentioned in my The Reading Lounge newsletter this week that I started The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad and that’s been really working well for my mood. I also dipped into the book I just bought—Next Level: Your Guide To Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond by Dr Stacy Sims—after listening to the author on this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast. Dr Sims insights, advice, and suggestions are exactly what I’ve been looking for at this point in my life!
Since this is the last Friday in April, I’m asking you to share your April favorites—books read (with or without star ratings), what you’ve watched and loved (or not), listened to as far as podcasts or great audiobooks, products you’ve loved (or not) and/or what notables have made up your month. Maybe you discovered a new product, article, hack, or advice that’s made your life easier this month, whatever you’ve enjoyed or discovered we want to know. Feel free to share one thing or all. We’re here for all the shares and recommendations. I’ll share more of mine in the comments:)
Question Time
The questions I ask in weekly threads are meant to be fun and help us connect, so please know you don’t have to answer each question, if you only have the time/desire to answer one, great! Please put book titles IN ALL CAPS for easy reading:)
What are your favorite reads, watches, listens, products and/or other notables this month?
What are you reading now (and are you enjoying it)?
If you’re reading this in email, click itsbooktalk.substack.com to comment and join the conversation!
** Due to the amount of spam comments in the last two weeks the comment section is closed to paid subscribers
1. What are your favorite reads, watches, listens, products and/or other notables this month?
2. What are you reading now (and are you enjoying it)?
I've mentioned I've been listening to various PODCAST episodes, I've got the Poured Over Podcast episode with Suleika lined up for my walk today. I've also enjoyed The Midlife Makeover: Redefining Success and Happiness After 40 With Chip Conley on THE ONE YOU FEED PODCAST -https://www.oneyoufeed.net/midlifemakeover/
We started watching RANSOM CANYON on Netflix and have watched 3 episodes so far- I like it a lot. It's an easy binge watch but I did tell my husband that some of the acting is really really bad. I like Minka Kent though. It's reminding me of a more drama filled faster paced Virgin River which we had started and lost interest in a long time ago.
We just went to the movies and saw THE AMATEUR, a fantastic spy thriller based on the book of the same name by Robert Liddell. I haven't read the book which I'm bummed about because I usually try to read the book first. We went with my two sons and the whole family gave the movie two thumbs up. If you watch it, know you have to just go with some interesting plot happenings for the sake of keeping the movie flowing.
Did you know the new trailer for season 3 of AND JUST LIKE THAT is out??!! I can't wait, it's coming back May 29 and looks sooo good! https://www.glamour.com/story/and-just-like-that-season-3-details
PRODUCT - We've been finding so many ticks on ourselves and around the house after walking Vinny - truly they are THE WORST so we just got our order of WONDERCIDE, it's a Deet free natural essential oil mosquito, tick, and bug spray that I've used in the past and it seems to work pretty well. I spray it on my clothes before our walks and it's never stained. I like it because it's got a fresh scent and no chemicals - I bought the lemon scent -https://amzn.to/4cYmnjC
April was a pretty good reading month for me with LOTS of variety which is essential for me! I had 3 five-star reads: DETRANSITION, BABY by Torrey Peters, JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine, and GHOSTROOTS by 'Pemi Aguda.
Favorite show this month is Top Chef! I absolutely love Kristen Kish as the new host (though I will always love Padma) and I'm excited to pick up her memoir which came out this week.
I have a few books going right now:
DEATH TAKES ME by Cristina Rivera Garza - this one is so hard to describe (and hard to read), the writing style changes every few pages and has a poetic quality. I'm taking this very slowly and reading deeply which is a nice change of pace for me, but this one will be hard to recommend to others! The content itself is also pretty challenging.
I also just started ERASURE by Percival Everett and it's all I want to pick up 😊