Seen, Read, Heard (and Loved): April Edition
What I'm watching, reading, and listening to this month
I saw The Drama last weekend with a friend, and we both loved it. I’m more of a A24 movie studio fan than she is, so it was a surprise to me just how much she enjoyed the insanity, “minus all the projectile vomiting.” Fair enough! It’s a dark comedy directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, and centers on the Robert Pattinson character (a Brit), which makes the European perspective on the eponymous drama very interesting. It’s twisted, wonderfully acted, and ultimately is technically a romantic comedy, though with a very, very 2026 lens. Plus… Zendaya’s wardrobe? Yes.
I appreciate any movie that takes a big swing to tell an original story. I’m so tired of the enshitified IP revivals and sequels. I’m side-eyeing the Practical Magic sequel trailer big time… Of course I’ll see it, but it looks absolutely horrible.
And for my television recommendation:
If you are remotely interested in human stories, appreciate smart people, and believe in science, this is a great show for you. Every episode covers an hour in a Pittsburgh emergency department day shift (15 episodes/season). It’s riveting, it’s emotional, and actual doctors and nurses confirm it is highly accurate. One of my favorite moments from this season (this is not a spoiler): in the finale, we get a view of the staff in their street clothes that feels like a special treat after weeks in increasingly mussed scrubs.
And oh my God Doctor Bangs’ pants. (She is affectionately called by this nickname by The Prestige TV Podcast, which I also love as a TV nerd.) These and these look similar, but nothing beats The Row for perfect pants. I wish I had the budget.
P.S. You must watch the season 2 end credits!
Do not expect to relate to this woman’s upbringing or lifestyle. That’s not the point, and yes, wealthy people can experience trauma, too. I know, it’s shocking. This is the memoir of an heiress—the granddaughter of socialite Babe Paley—and a hard-learned lesson in the importance of maintaining financial independence from your spouse should he have a midlife crisis and dump your family for a mistress in the middle of COVID. Have your own money, ladies!
I read this in a single weekend, which says a lot (I am a slow reader, people!) This story follows a young woman through two college relationships, and the unexpected aftermath later in adulthood. I enjoyed her writing style so much that I bought two of her other books to add to the stack, including Writers and Lovers, which follows the same characters at another stage in their lives.
If you’re a fellow podcast girlie, you’ve come to the right place. My favorite company when cleaning, cooking, or putting my makeup on in the morning is a good podcast. Here are some great recent episodes:
You’re Wrong About: The Great American Spelling Bee
Walks through the history of American English, how spelling was formalized (and the battle against where we’ve ended up), plus Spelling Bees themselves as a Puritan pass time turned athletic-level competition spectacle. I loved every minute! And it made me feel better about my dyslexic “jazz spelling” tendencies.
Other podcasts I absolutely love: The Big Picture (movies!), Fixing Famous People (pop culture), and of course, Good Hang with Amy Poehler. She’s so good.
As for music, guess what? I still make playlists. Here’s mine for this spring:
Please share any of your recent recommendations in the comments, I’d love to hear them.
Thank you for being here,
In case you missed it…
Come visit Pittsburgh!