Whenever I reach the end of a beloved TV show or book series I always feel empty and panicked.
It's like waving "goodbye" to a friend who's moving to another country, and I know we're never going to see each other again—or if we do, it just won't be the same. Not like the first time around.
It's like getting dumped by your ultimate crush in the most cold, unfeeling manner. ("Come on baby, just one more season? Please! I LOVE YOU!")
I'm guessing you know the feeling.
If you've been yearning for a new book, show, or artist to fill the media-void inside your heart, I have a few recommendations. Here it is: my official summer reading & listening list for 2016. Lots of things that I love—and that I hope you fall in love with, too.
The list is fairly long. It's very eclectic. I hope you enjoy it. Here's to new discoveries!
READING
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. The first book in a fantastic trilogy about a handful of gifted teens and twenty-somethings who attend a magical university, discover a doorway into another
world, and get into all kinds of trouble. It's like Harry Potter meets Chronicles of Narnia, but intensely dark, gritty, and raw. The characters are deeply flawed—not "perfect" heroes—which makes their journey feel very believable. Not for kids. Grown-ups only.
Lexicon by Max Barry. A secret society of master wordsmiths—known as "Poets"—learn how to wield words to persuade ordinary people to do literally anything they want. When immense power falls into the wrong hands... well, you can guess what happens next. Thrilling, fast-paced, and thought-provoking. This book forces you to think about the power of language, specifically,
about how we are all manipulated (in some way or another) every single time we watch the evening news or log onto the Internet. Yikes.
The Miracle
Morning by Hal Elrod. A friend told me that this book inspired her to start waking up at 5am every day to meditate, journal, and go running. She swore it would inspire me to do the same. It did not. Haha! However, it did inspire me to take a closer look at my "morning routine" and consider how I could make some positive changes. My morning begins closer to 9am on most days, not 5am, but it's "how" you begin your day that counts—not "when." (At least that's what I'm telling
myself.)
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This book made me feel very uncomfortable, but I think that's exactly what Steven is trying to do: rattle you awake and compel you to bring your creative work into the world before it's too late. This book provides a "stern
kick" rather than a "gentle nudge" but sometimes that's what you need, eh?
Daily Rituals by Mason Currey. If you've ever wondered what Pablo Picasso's morning routine looked like, or what George Gershwin liked to wear while composing music, or which famous author "needed" to look at
cows frolicking in the fields in order to feel "inspired" to write anything, you will be obsessed with this book. Inside, you'll find detailed explanations of the actual "daily rituals" of over 160 writers, musicians, and artists. I've owned this book for several years and I continually re-visit it, flip through it, and discover something new every time!
Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. One of the most gorgeous cookbooks I've ever seen—and every single recipe features vegetables! The photos are so vibrant and enticing. You will want to lick the pages. Put this on your kitchen table and let it inspire you to whip up "egg, spinach
and pecorino pizza" and "roasted sweet potatoes with lemongrass crème fraîche" all summer long.
Bust magazine. It's rare to find a "women's magazine" where—after reading—I actually feel smarter than before I began. I love Bust because it's got everything I want in a magazine (style
inspiration, fascinating interviews, thoughtful articles from diverse voices) and nothing I don't (dieting tips, cruel celebrity gossip). Smart, provocative, and fun.
LISTENING
Getting Curious. There are certain questions that feel very difficult to ask, either because you don't know anybody who can provide a good answer, or because you're embarrassed by your own ignorance, or because asking feels invasive or just downright awkward. Questions like: "What is gender identity?" and "What constitutes an eating disorder?" and "What's it like to be a cancer
survivor?", for starters. Answering those types of questions (and many others) is what this brilliant podcast is all about. The host, Jonathan Van Ness, is so unbelievably charming, bringing compassion and levity to all kinds of nuanced and emotional topics. I LOVE this.
Another Round. I'm just going to quote the hosts, directly, because I couldn't sum it up better myself: "Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton cover everything from race, gender and pop culture to squirrels, mangoes, and bad jokes, all in one boozy show." If you're a musical theater nerd, I recommend starting with the Lin-Manual Miranda episode and then browsing through the archives from there.
Real Talk Radio. Nicole Antoinette is a close friend, one of the most inspiring people I know, and... the host of this show, which she describes as "refreshingly honest conversations about the wonderful mess of being human." In one episode, she talks to an endurance athlete about cultivating discipline and mental toughness. In another, she shares why she decided to stop drinking and why—some days—it's still hard, five years later, to stay sober. The topics are
eclectic. The vulnerability is beautiful. Give it a try, and I suspect you'll love this podcast as much as I do.
Simplethings by Miguel. This was my "official song of summer" last year, and I think it might be my top pick for this year, too. "Lay with me babe / And laugh
with me babe / I just want the simple things."
Hadestown by Anais Mitchell, featuring vocals by Justin Vernon (from Bon Iver), Ani DiFranco, and many other amazing artists. You can listen on Spotify, buy it on iTunes, you know, all the usual
places. Currently, my favorite tracks are "Wait for Me" and "Flowers."
With the Ink of a Ghost by José González. "All deserted yearnings come to life / Surface from the dark to realize / How in a vast field she runs / From the deepest valley past the
sun."
Creation EP by Seven Lions. Every time Seven Lions drops a new track, I feel like I need to clear my schedule for the rest of the day to fully immerse myself in it, feel it, recuperate, listen again, repeat, etc. If you love soaring, epic electronic music, you'll love this.
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." —Khalil Gibran
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Do something that makes you feel grateful to be alive. Get offline. Call a friend you haven't seen in forever. Eat fresh
strawberries. Make memories. Or curl up with a book and ignore everything and everyone. Personally, I intend to spend my evening inside a romance novel that involves cowboys and/or vampires. Off to the Kindle store I go...
Love,
-Alex
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