February Worthwhile Stuff

📚 Books
The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Sebastian Faulks: A very well written inter-war doomed romance with a richly realized female protagonist. The book also touches on antisemitism, which (sadly) makes it feel even more relevant in the current climate. Though much of the book is set in summer, it has a cozy vibe perfect for these bleak and cold days of winter.

Loveboat Reunion, Abigail Hing Wen: This fun YA romance is a sequel to Loveboat, Taipei but I liked it much better than the first book. It's not 100% required to read the first book to enjoy this one, but either way, these books are sort of like teen versions of Crazy Rich Asians, and Loveboat Reunion has a lot of heart, especially in the second half of the book. Bonus: since it’s YA, it’s a really quick read.

Mouth to Mouth, Antoine Wilson: A tightly written tale set against the Los Angeles art world in the 90s that touches on the themes of choice, fate, mortality, ethics, and the stories that we tell ourselves and others that shape how we want to be seen. The story and characters exude strong Dominick Dunne vibes, and the ending is just ambiguous enough to keep the reader guessing and pondering for several days after finishing the book.


🎶 Music
Gravity and the Stars Above, Donaher: This delightful sophomore album is even better than Donaher's debut and makes me nostalgic for the Orange County soundtrack and the band Lit (which, to be clear, is a very good thing). "For Your Love" is the standout track here, with “Sleepless in New England” and “Worth the Wait” coming in close on its heels. The band also delivers a solid punk rock cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." I love that this band continues to evolve and explore new themes and sounds. Hopefully they'll continue to do so for years to come.

Anaïs Mitchell, Anaïs Mitchell: A lovely, gentle New York-centric folk album from the woman who conceived of Hadestown. Opening track "Brooklyn Bridge" pulls the listener in with rich storytelling, and "Bright Star" keeps the momentum going. "On Your Way (Felix Song)" is another favorite. I love this album for moments I just want to chill out, relax, and unwind. It's deep music that is also undemanding.


🎤 🎭 Performance
MJ the Musical: Pretty much anything that sends me down a rabbit hole of watching music videos on YouTube deserves a spot on my "worthwhile" list. The book of this musical leaves a lot to be desired, but the singing and dancing are a spectacular tribute to the undeniable force of Pop Music that Michael Jackson was. He was heavily flawed, but he was also a visionary and a genius, and this show makes all of those things abundantly clear. The lyrics for "Smooth Criminal" might not make that much sense, but, damn, the choreography is great; the cast executes that number, and many others, flawlessly. Since Jackson is no longer with us, this musical is a worthy substitute in a world where we can no longer see the man himself perform live.


🎬 Film
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom: This film makes me want to visit Bhutan -- though perhaps not the far-flung village of Lunana, as lovely as it and its inhabitants seem to be. This is not a documentary, but it is extremely humanistic film that does not have a "Hollywood ending." Bhutan is famous for its Gross National Happiness index, and this film does indeed explore the theme of happiness, comparing and contrasting city life with rural life, as well as Bhutan vs. other countries. The characters in this film are richly formed, and I wanted to spend more time with them, getting to know them and their ways of life. During this COVID era of curtailed travel, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom offers a short, yet unforgettable, trip to the other side of the world.