Best (And Worst) Things I Saw, Read, Watched and Listened To – May, 2018

May 2018 entertainment review. Here’s a quick recap of the books, TV, movies, podcasts and music that captured my attention this month. Honestly, I spent so much time on this dang blog, that I didn’t have too much time to read, watch, etc.  But I did find a few gems as well as a movie you’ll want to avoid.

BOOKS

Brave Healing: A Guide for Your Journey – This is a brand new book that was just released on June 1st. The author, Laura Di Franco, wrote a guest blog post about creating transformation from crisis that you can read here. Laura sent me an advance copy and I’m about 1/3 of the way through. Before you dismiss this book as another “woo woo self help” offering, I want to tell you that Laura’s writing is direct, humorous and very, very insightful. She knows when to play the role of cheerleader and when to be an ass kicker. We are giving away a free copy of this book to one Grownupdish reader. See details on this post and enter through Friday, June 7th.

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows– This was Reese Witherspoon’s book club pick a few months ago, but I just (finally) got to the top of the library waiting list. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s a very enjoyable summer read about community, friendship, and women’s lives at all ages. If you love books and you’re not following Reese’s book club picks, you can check them out here.

Whole30 – The 30 Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom – I did my first Whole30 this past January and while I did a lot of research online, I really, really wish I had read this book before starting. I made lots of “rookie mistakes” that I could have avoided.

MOVIES

RBG – Take your daughter. Take your mom. Take your girlfriends. Take your partners. This is a movie that everyone should see. This thoughtful and touching documentary reveals how the quiet, intense Ginsburg became an icon … and how her tenacious nature and whip-smart legal mind literally changed American history. As discouraging and disheartening as today’s political climate is, I was struck by how far the fight for women’s equality has come in just my lifetime. RBG is a first-class badass and this is a truly uplifting movie that will not disappoint.

Book Club – As I noted in this post, I was super excited to see this movie and it was funny, lighthearted and perfect for a Friday night when you don’t want to watch anything too heavy. Will it win an Academy Award? Absolutely not. But is it a charming look at women’s friendships, aging, relationships and sexuality. And, I promise, the minute it ends you’re going to sit in the theater and Google the ages of all of the actresses …just like I did! Man, I really hope I’m as cute as Diane Keaton when I get to be her age.

Tully – Well my five word review is: “It was not a comedy.” This movie was not at all what I expected from watching the previews (and even glancing at some reviews that referred to it as “hilarious.”) It’s never a good sign when you end up in a discussion with a bunch of strangers in the ladies’ room because none of you are sure exactly what just happened. I had to come home and consult the interwebs to find out if my plot hypothesis was correct (it was.)

TELEVISION

Being Serena (HBO) – This is another short 5-episode series that gives unprecedented access to Serena during her pregnancy, new motherhood and marriage, while documenting her journey back to supremacy on the court. The intimate first-person show delves into her landmark career, family life and expanding role as a businesswoman and investor in the worlds of tech, fashion, fitness and philanthropy.

John Mulaney, Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (Netflix) – Three simple steps: 1) Watch this special on Netflix 2) Laugh your ass off 3) Thank me.

America Inside Out with Katie Couric (Nat Geo) – If you missed this 6-part series, you can watch it online or on Hulu and it is worth seeing. Katie travels the country to sit down with the people shaping the most pivotal, evolving, contentious and often confusing topics in American culture today. From interviewing founding members at the violent and terror-filled “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville to spending time with young, female Muslim entrepreneurs in Brooklyn to an in-depth look at America’s white working class, Katie enlists cultural icons and regular folks to help her look past the noise, politics and individual discomfort to understand the complicated truth about the complexities of religion, race, technology and cultural norms, while highlighting the humanity beneath the surface.

PODCASTS

• Pod Save America -A no-bullshit conversation about politics hosted by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help. I love their political analysis but I struggle to listen to them fast enough as the news cycle moves so fast!
• Tim Ferriss interviewing author Michael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics
• Tim Ferriss interviewing Katie Couric about America Inside Out.
• Next up I’m going to check out the Free Cookies podcast. I’ll report back next month.