Welcome + Three Recs
An eerie investigative podcast, a mother-daughter novel, a noir TV series
Welcome to Keep Up, Kids! What are we keeping up with? Glad you asked.
This substack is an extension of the TV recommendations I started doing on my Instagram stories about a year ago. That was about the time that the people I talk to on a daily basis finally got tired of me gushing to them about every single new TV show I loved – many of which they’d never heard of. The fact is, it’s part of my job to keep up with what’s on TV, so I watch a lot of TV. Fortunately, I love a lot of it.
It’s also part of my job to watch lots of movies. And listen to lots of podcasts. And read lots of books. And I love a lot of those things, too.
So here’s how this is going to work: Every other Friday, I’m going to give you three recs, each with its own little blurb. Art is subjective, so just because I love it doesn’t mean you will, and that’s just fine. In fact, I’d love to hear what you did or didn’t love about something I recommend!
Also: Please feel free to recommend stuff back to me! I wish I could say that I can single-handedly keep up with culture, but that would be a lie. Hopefully we’ll all discover cool new stuff.
Rec 1: The Sound (pod)
Remember the news articles a few years back about “Havana Syndrome”? Where all these US diplomats in Cuba (and later, elsewhere) were having these strange and disturbing symptoms after hearing these high-pitched noises? I find this sort of shit fascinating, so have been following the story from the beginning. Imagine my delight when Project Brazen started releasing this investigative podcast about it earlier this year.
It’s good journalism about a genuinely thorny mystery, and host Nicky Woolf and producer Max Johnston have woven a compelling story. They go to Cuba, they do their best to poke holes in the various theories, they even try to cook an egg with directed energy waves. But I think my favorite thing about it is the fact that, like Wind of Change (another fave, if you haven’t listened), we still don’t have answer. It’s all about the journey, etc etc.
Where: wherever you listen to podcasts
Rec 2: How to Love Your Daughter (book)
Either pre-order or get on your library app to request the English language version of this gorgeous book by Hila Blum before it comes out this summer. I had to read it for work a few weeks ago and it blew me away.
Just an absolutely stunning portrait of a mother-daughter relationship, with more things hitting disturbingly close to home than I’m comfortable admitting (and I’m not a parent!). It’s nonlinear and quite internal, but it’s also a slow-burn mystery about parental love and the sometimes-blurry line between child/parent identities. The English translation is beautiful and lyrical, and I especially appreciate the way the pace and tension ratchet up as it goes. And yes, I did recommend it to my mom!
Where: Reserve it at your library or pre-order from your non-Amazon bookstore of choice (like Bookshop US or Bookshop UK). (In the name of full transparency, I’ve included affiliate links to Bookshop.org here – if you’re going to pre-order from them anyway, please use my link so I can make a little extra cash!)
Rec 3: Perry Mason (TV)
Instagram followers will recognize this rec, and with three episodes down in the new season, I only feel more confident in urging you all to watch it.
If you’re just hearing this rec for the first time, no, I’m not talking about the 1950s-60s TV show that inspired at least one of my uncles to become a criminal defense attorney (my parents were very confused when I suggested they watch it). This is a 1930s LA (swoon) noir (double swoon) detective (stop targeting me!) reboot starring Matthew Rhys (of The Americans and also Wales) as a haunted WWI vet with an unshakeable sense of justice. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season because everything in that last sentence is like catnip for me, and also I love Tatiana Maslany and John Lithgow, but I will admit that it didn’t quite reach the heights I’d hoped for.
Three eps into season 2, though, and I think I can safely say it’s surpassed its predecessor. I might even posit that, if you like noir detective mysteries but are a bit squeamish, you could even skip season 1 and just start with s2.
So far in s2: plenty of brooding Matthew Rhys, more laughs than s1, a sexy lesbian romance, Shea Whigham chewing the scenery in the best way. I can’t wait for more, but I’m also thrilled it’s a weekly drop.
Where: HBO (US), Sky/Now (UK; release date TBD)
And that’s all for now, folks! Have you read/seen/listened to any of these? What did you think? Leave a comment and let’s discuss! Please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested and I’ll see you in a couple weeks.
xo
Kate
Did someone recommend this to you?
Thanks Kate - looking forward to checking this out!