Three recs, binge edition
A Blitz psychological thriller, a French heist show, a throwback German spy series
Does anyone else feel guilty when then they read a book in a weekend or binge a TV show?
Despite the fact that this usually means I’m enjoying the read or watch, I always feel a little bit like I’m betraying the writer(s) and everyone else involved in the creation. This was years of their lives. And I just tore through it. Sometimes I even have the gall to immediately want the next season or book. As if they could just whip it up for me real fast.
This is one of the reasons I like TV shows that are released weekly. I know, how retro of me. But I appreciate the enforced discipline. I like having the time to sit with the story, to think about it and discuss it. And I do think that not getting it all at once makes us more aware of just how much time goes into making something for TV.
Before you ask, no, I absolutely do not have the discipline to space out a show that’s dropped all at once. We tried to do that with The Bear s2 and I think we ended up watching it over 3 days instead of all at once. Which I guess is something, but I’m not giving myself credit for it. Do you have better discipline than I do?
Anyway, on to the recs!
Rec 1
The Midnight News (book)
Not gonna lie, after reading the blurb and looking at the cover, I picked up British novelist Jo Baker’s latest book thinking it would be a fun caper and a breezy period mystery. (I don’t usually rec them here, but I read a lot of breezy mysteries and cozy crime. If you’d like those recs, too, let me know!)
What I got was a far cry from that, in the best way. Yes, it’s historical – set in the early days of the London Blitz, during WWII, in a stark and unglamorous depiction. Yes, it becomes a mystery – when Charlotte, the protagonist, becomes convinced that someone is hunting her and her friends, amidst the bombs. I wouldn’t really call it a caper – there’s nothing breezy about her determined, if halting, quest to figure out what’s going on.
In fact, I’d call it a psychological thriller. It’s dark and unsettling in a lot of ways: Charlotte has, we quickly learn, relatively recently gotten out of a (brutal) mental institution*, and neither she nor many of the people in her life can quite trust her take on events. Is she a reliable narrator, or not? Is she seeing things that aren’t there? And is the experience of being bombed on a daily basis, people she loves dying, a new trauma itself or compounding an old one?
And yet, despite this, the novel is captivating and life-affirming. Amidst so much death and destruction, Charlotte and a few others with whom she builds connections are able to find hope and humanity. I don’t want to say much more, because the story is so twisty and unexpected, but all you need to know is that I tore through this in a few days and it’s still sitting with me.
One last thing: The structure on this story is impeccable. I can’t think of many other books where even the last couple pages help bring everything together. It’s really quite impressive.
*(Trigger warning for some rather horrifying scenes of how these institutions treated people deemed mentally unstable, btw.)
Where: Reserve it at your library or order from your non-Amazon bookseller of choice (like Bookshop US or Bookshop UK).*
*(In the name of full transparency, I’ve included affiliate links to Bookshop.org – if you’re going to order from them anyway, please use my link so I can make a little extra cash! If you want to see/order any/all of my book recs, I’ve made lists on Bookshop, too: US version, UK version.)
Rec 2
Lupin (TV)
Not feeling a dark and intense psychological thriller? You’re in luck! This French Netflix heist show is almost the complete opposite. It’s ridiculous, it’s over the top, the plot mostly holds together, and it’s so much fun that you’d have to be a grinch not to be along for the ride.
The deal: The charismatic Omar Sy plays a charismatic French-Senegalese “gentleman thief” named Assane Diop who models himself after the famous literary French “gentleman thief” Arsène Lupin. He’s sort of a Robin Hood type, and it’s a delight to get to watch him outsmart and outplay cops, rich assholes, and anyone who sets their sights on him. Seriously, if you dig smart, big set-piece heists and caper scenes as much as I do, then just put this on, kick up your feet, and enjoy the ride.
Of course, there is a decent plot and some character development, too. Assane isn’t just a thief. He’s also out to get revenge on the rich assholes who ruined his life and stole his father from him. He’s a guy who had to learn how to survive on his own in Paris at a young age, who was often a fish out of water in a racist, classist country. He’s got an estranged wife, a moody tween son, a (frankly, shockingly) loyal best friend, and, of course, a cop nemesis who’s just as much of a nerd about the Lupin books as he is. (In case you can’t tell, the cop nemesis is my favorite of the supporting characters.)
I’m glad all of that’s there. I am. Because it makes the show more than just popcorn. And it’s why I’m still watching, three (very short) seasons in. But, honestly, I am really just here for the fun heist and caper stuff. It’s worth it.
Where: Netflix
Rec 3
Deutschland 83 (TV)
I’ve had a few requests recently for some older shows, since apparently so many of you are all caught up on everything new. So I thought I’d bring back one of my favorite shows from (somehow!) 2015. And a good companion piece to my continued rewatch of The Americans.
In 1983, the Stasi send a young East German guy into West Germany as an undercover spy, embedded in West German military command. He sort of gets some training, but he’s not a career spy. In fact, he’s a kid who’s more interested in living his life and picking up girls than in fighting for a cause. However, he’s kind of being blackmailed into doing this, and he also doesn’t want to get caught and end up dead, so… Time to figure out how to be a spy. Naturally, he’s pretty good at it – because it wouldn’t be as fun to watch if he weren’t. And of course he’s going to end up in the middle of some kinda big shit, because what kind of spy show would this be if he didn’t?
The characters are thoughtful and nuanced. The conversations and themes are as relevant today as they were in both the 80s and 2015. The show is smart, it’s fun, it’s tense and exciting. Best of all, it’s all based around real political events of the late Cold War. It’s got all the ingredients of a high-quality spy show.
The first season is only 8 eps, so it’s pretty low commitment. But if you want more, they made Deutschland 86 and Deutschland 89 (both of which are unavailable in the UK and so I sadly haven’t seen!), so you can continue your Deutschland adventures.
Where: Channel 4 (UK), Hulu (US)
That’s all for this week! What are you reading/watching/listening to that I should be aware of? Drop me a line (or comment) to let me know if you check out any of my recs and what you think.
Please spread the word and I’ll see you in a couple weeks!
xo
Kate
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