Three recs, joy edition
A musical not-gangster film, a primetime-esque political drama, a smart historical romance book series
Last week, I found myself struggling to regulate my emotions. Brits and Europeans would want to talk about the election and I could feel my rage welling up. It wasn’t rational. I quickly realized I could tell them I didn’t want to talk about it. They (mostly) respected that.
This week, I have regained control of my emotions, I think. Mostly. I no longer feel numb. I can have a conversation with a non-American without wanting to bite their head off. But, as you’ll see in my recs, I’m still hiding.
I prefer to think of it as seeking joy. Every longtime activist says that joy is a crucial part of survival. What is the point of fighting the good fight if we lose sight of the things that make life worth living? Far smarter people than I have explored this far more eloquently. But for me, right now, my joy is in stories that make me smile. Not to be all cheesy about it, but I hope they make you smile, too.
On to the recs…
Rec 1
Emilia Pérez (film)
Remember when you saw Everything Everywhere All At Once?* And it kind of blew your mind because you’d never seen anything like it before? Okay, so, Jacques Audiard’s buzzy new film is like that. Don’t get me wrong: Emilia Pérez has almost nothing in common with Everything Everywhere All At Once. I guess they’re both about relationships between women? But that’s about it.
No, what they share is that “what is this, what are they doing, I’ve never seen a film like this before” feeling. I mean, the Wikipedia description of Emilia Pérez is: “a Spanish-language French musical crime comedy film.” See? That feeling of something new is exhilarating.
Right. So. What is it about? A Mexican lawyer (played by Zoe Saldaña) gets recruited by a cartel boss to help them get gender-reassignment surgery. I kind of don’t want to tell you anything else, because this film takes so many left turns that absolutely nothing could prepare you for. It’s at times funny and delightful, at others tragic and horrifying, at still others strange and uncomfortable. Apparently Audiard originally intended for it to be an opera, and it’s got some of that same melodrama and grandiosity. And music, which I did not see coming, some of which is unnervingly catchy. Also, Selena Gomez is in it? Because why not.
Honestly, it’s films like this that I hope do well enough at the box office to encourage more studios and distributors to take risks. This isn’t a Marvel film, there’s nothing formulaic or safe about it. It’s such a deeply weird and unexpected ride. Some of its big swings definitely miss. But I still highly recommend getting on board.
*If you haven’t see EEAAO, for god’s sake, what are you waiting for?! It’s a truly exceptional film! Consider this a bonus rec!
Where: In cinemas in the US and UK, as well as on Netflix
Rec 2
The Diplomat, s2 (TV)
Longtime subscribers will remember that I recommended the first season of this fast-paced Netflix political drama (thriller?) when it came out last year. I binged it with my dad while he was visiting, and we both had a blast.
Naturally, everyone was psyched for season two. More Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell bantering and having mad chemistry in their very complicated marriage? Yes, please. More twisty cliffhangers and melodramatic political machinations? Sign me up. More American-skewed depictions of UK culture and politics? Eh, I mean, they could just hire me to help with that, but sure.
Fortunately, season two does more of what season one did so well: absorbing me into a really fun, engaging story, with delightful characters, snappy banter, and just enough geopolitical conspiracy. Rory Kinnear is back (and excellent) as the not-exactly-Boris-Johnson blowhard of a Prime Minister, and Allison Janney makes her triumphant return to fictional presidential administrations. The cliffhangers still make your jaw drop – and, if you’re me, laugh out loud – and the stakes just keep getting higher.
I still maintain that the show deserves at least 12 episodes, if not 22 – showrunner Debora Cahn wrote on West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, and Homeland, to name a few, and it’s clear she knows how to make long-running television that should be on a network at primetime – but heaven forbid if Netflix let her really run with it. I have no idea why this season only has six episodes, but apparently season three (already commissioned) will be back to eight, so at least they’re throwing me a bone.
Last thing: This show distracted me through the worst of last week, which is pretty much the highest praise I can offer for entertainment right now. Especially impressive considering it’s about politics, if you think about it.
Where: Netflix
Rec 3
Bringing Down the Duke (book/s)
The first thing I did last Wednesday, when I was feeling numb and like I wanted to hide from the world, was check out a bunch of fun historical romance novels from the library.
As I mentioned back in April, I had never read a romance novel before this year, before I ended up having to write some romance and rom com stuff for work. In the name of understanding the genre, I asked everyone for their favorites and did a deep-dive. One of the things I discovered? I prefer historical romances/rom coms with plucky, independent lady protagonists. Contemporary ones are fine, but it turns out I am not reading these books for reality. Give me a slightly unreal version of 19th-century Britain, a woman who refuses to conform to society’s standards, and a love interest who behaves in a way that almost no 19th-century British man actually would.
The book that made me realize this – the one that kept coming up from my most trusted recommenders – was Bringing Down the Duke, the beginning of Evie Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Women series.
The pitch: In Victorian England, an Oxford-educated bluestocking sets out to recruit a ruthless, powerful duke to the cause of women’s suffrage. Naturally, they both get more than they bargain for. It’s witty, it’s fun, it’s romantic, and yes, it’s sexy. It’s also really smart and legitimately good historical fiction, for those of us who appreciate that. I genuinely learned a few things about the fight for women’s legal rights in the UK – this entire series is set during the fight for the Married Women’s Property Act – and there are compelling debates throughout about what it means to be an activist and dedicate your life to fighting for change.
If this strikes your fancy, I highly recommend reading the entire series; in fact, I think the second book, A Rogue of One’s Own, might be my favorite. Have fun, and, yes, get ready for plenty of steamy, spicy scenes. It’s escapism, after all!
Where: Borrow for free from your local library, or buy from your non-Amazon bookseller of choice. (Here’s the Bookshop US link, and here’s the Bookshop UK link.)
(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.)
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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A Rogue of One's Own was great but I also really loved The Gentleman's Gambit. I hope Evie Dunmore comes through with another series!