February Favorites!
Books, music, poems, inspiration!
Hi all!
We have an extra Monday this month, and I thought I’d use that extra time to do something y’all requested before next week’s new episode of the Daybird Sessions: share my current favorite reads, listens, and doings of late! These are all things that I’ve found particularly meaningful, enjoyable, or transformative in recent days. You’ll see there are a few names that pop up a few times—they’ve been at the forefront of my growth and learning these days. Let’s get right to it.
READING:
Wintering by Katherine May
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Ledger by Jane Hirshfield
(In particular, this poem and this poem from Ledgers have really stuck with me.)
LISTENING:
The Wintering Sessions with Katherine May
Jane Hirshfield: The Fullness of Things with Krista Tippett, On Being
Sister, I Recognize You by Courtney Ariel
WATCHING:
I Am Here (Walk + Sing with Ben Platt) by Ben Abraham
(This video has been on repeat because it is currently my son’s favorite song, and this performance is lovely.)
Moana
(Also playing nonstop on account of it being our boy’s go-to movie—he loves it so much, and now I do too.)
Inventing Anna
(This is the one we watch when the kid goes to sleep :’D)
DOING:
- Visiting my favorite bookstore with my son
- Family walks through our neighborhood
- Writing more prose, which I hope to be able to share with you soon :)
Please share what you’ve been enjoying lately—I always love your recommendations! And, a brief aside, don’t forget that I currently have an overstock sale going for $9 prints.
Next week, we’ll have a new episode of the Daybird Sessions coming out! If you want to hear it, subscribe below.
I’m really loving doing these newsletters for y’all. If there’s anything particular you’d like me to touch on in coming newsletters, please do let me know :)
torri
I love these! Thanks for the recommendations! Also...I LOVE Moana. Singing the soundtrack as loudly as possible with tinies is one of the pleasures that I love most in this life. :)
Reading:
-Ink and Sigil (and sequel, Paper and Blood) by Kevin Hearne (an amazing fantasy series, blending goofiness and great characters!)
-Us Against You by Frederik Backman (I read everything he writes. This one is heartbreaking and lovely and profound all at once, sequel to Beartown)
-Lumberjanica (to read while going to sleep. I'm obsessed with the Lumberjanes comics, and the authors came out with this delightful, illustrated editions of the life stories of some feminist icons! I'm hooked. :))
Listening:
-"Title" by Meghan Trainor (the whole stinking album...my hyperfocus makes it so listening to things over and over is extra enjoyable for me, so I love it)
-Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast (I love the hosts and the history lessons)
-Ear Hustle podcast (this one changed my life. Podcasts by people living in San Quentin state prison, and hosted by a former incarcerated person and a lady who teaches photography and art. Incarcerated people get to tell their own stories from their perspective and its' amazing. In particular, please listen to an episode called "Tell Christy I Love Her". Trigger warnings for violence, but it's unbelievably beautiful).
Watching:
-Schitt's Creek (I'm behind the times, but...I frigging love it)
-Parks and Rec (for the millionth time...it's my comfort show)
-Loooots of educational YouTube (Crash Course, TED-ed, SciShow, sheep shearing channels, etc. :))
Doing:
-Lots of digital art (I have very active and very dormant days, and it's getting a little out of hand. Haha)
-Lots of outside adventures (today was my five year old cousin's birthday and I got to learn to operate an excavator!!! Dream I didn't even know I had.)
-Spending time with dear ones. My birthday is on Tuesday, and I get really excited, so I had my party early (on Friday, so not toooooo bad).
There's a lot of parentheses in this, but I trust you won't mind. :) Have a lovely evening! Thanks as always for the opportunity to hear from you and also to share.