most interesting vol. 4

I discovered some really good watches lately! 

Shrill is a 3 season Hulu series that has made it over to Netflix. The main premise shows Annie navigating life while the world deems her not good enough because of her weight. I found it so relatable, heartwarming, and funny. I laughed and I cried. It was so sad that Hulu cancelled it so abruptly during season 3. So I ordered Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West from the library. The show is loosely based on this book of essays so I'm still getting my fix even though I'm done watching the series.

Art and Craft is a "this can't be true" story of Mark Landis who forged art for decades before he was outed. Watching him paint so quickly while casually sitting on his bed with just an art board and paint tubes strewn about is absolutely bonkers. This is a really fun conversation with Mark with questions from just Reddit users. What I'm most curious about is why with so much talent he hasn't become a highly regarded artist in his own rite. He explains this a bit in both the documentary and the Reddit thread.

The Booksellers gives a sneak peek into the life and business of rare and antiquity booksellers.

Robin's Wish is such an interesting look at Robin William's last few years unknowingly battling Lewy Body Dementia. Interviews with those closest to him in his personal and professional life provide an intimate look and set the story straight about what led up to the world losing someone way too early.

book review: Etna by Paul Yoon

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Wow. Just… wow. I’m calling it now: this will easily be my favorite book of the year, and honestly, likely one of my favorites for a long time to come.

As my own dog napped, head laid contently on my legs, I began this book. And from that first paragraph until the last, I was immersed, seeing so much of Etna in my own. She is taken from the only place she’s known and thrust into the front lines of a war. As the war finishes, Etna yearns to go back home, encountering humans and animals along the way, all lending to a deeply woven journey of the harshness and strife of life, but also the beauty and humanity as well. So much emotion is contained within this short book, I’d like to start back over on the first page to experience it all over again. 

I think almost anyone could find something to connect with in this story. It’s a beautiful, universal tale.

Thank you Scribner for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

book review: The Lost Mozart by David K. Israel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  5/5

Thank you Post Hill Press for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of classical music! David K. Israel, the author of The Lost Mozart, is a composer and musician himself, so this literary work is deeply infused with musical history, songs, and classical composers.

This is a coming-of-age story about Noah, a twenty-one-year-old college senior trying desperately to figure out how to use his degree—partly to prove his parents wrong, and partly to prove something to himself. While interning at a radio station, Noah forms an unlikely friendship with Bertram, an elderly radio announcer. Noah is welcomed into Bertram’s wider circle of friends, who provide a listening ear, crucial support, and wise guidance during this pivotal time in his life.

While hanging out and discussing music with this eclectic group, Noah unbelievably stumbles across the beginning of an unfinished Mozart string quartet. He decides to complete the piece in an effort to gain notoriety and earn money to help his friends. Getting the piece finished and finding an audience is a bumpy ride, but Noah’s inner circle stays close, and he even navigates a new romance with Eos along the way.

Israel’s personal background in classical music brings an incredibly rich layer to the characters and the overall story. The musical tidbits are woven in beautifully without ever feeling forced, and I came away with a much deeper understanding of the genre. However, readers who are already familiar with—or have a deep love for—the ins and outs of classical music will likely appreciate this the most. While the narrative always expertly circled back to the main plot, there were times when the heavy musical detours caused me to lose track of the story a bit. Still, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a rich, rewarding, and challenging read.