It’s been frustrating trying to find things to read and watch lately that suit my mood. I don’t even know what I’m craving half the time—something dark? Romantic? Melancholic? I tried watching the new Dracula: A Love Tale because Booktok was gushing about Caleb Landry Jones’s yearning Dracula, but for me it was too nice.
If I could rewatch something all over again right now with fresh eyes, the list would look something like:
Anne of Green Gables + the rest of the series (Megan Follows version)
Any decent non-modernized Jane Austen adaptation
Peaky Blinders
The Bourne Movies
What Dreams May Come
Babe
Doc Martin
There may be a common thread or two buried in the depths of that list, but I’m not seeing it. Basically, I want to be immersed and have my heart ripped out of my chest. Lots of tears. Maybe some laughter here and there too. Is that too much to ask?
This miniseries won a BAFTA award in 2021 and is based off the book of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney. It’s about two very awkward people who can’t quite figure out how to love each other or themselves. I cried incessantly. Perfect.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll try to write about this carefully. It’s one of those films that reminds you what cinema is for—immersing you in something we usually only get to theorize about. It was unsettling and infuriating in the most effective way.
This film is exactly what I hoped it would be. Nearly perfect casting, acting, editing, costumes, color palette, music… it’s one of those movies where you know they’ve gone above and beyond, and it shows in all the little details. Plus, Jacob Elordi’s performance stands out because the man can act. What a relief.
Alchemised by SenLinYu
I’m going to say very little about this book because if you’re like me and you’ve never read Manacled, which is where this story originates—as fanfic for Harry Potter—then almost anything I could say would spoil the plot, and that’s half the fun. So I’ll leave it at this: the writing is beautifully rich (some say it’s dense, but I enjoyed it), the book is very long (1000+ pages), and the vibes are dark, devastating, and cold-weather-friendly.
Because it’s been so difficult for me to find books or shows to watch lately, I’m usually just playing ambiance videos in the background while I work. For this, I turn to Moonlight Cottage ASMR, which I stumbled upon years ago and have been watching regularly ever since. She has apothecary, library, kitchen, old-world, and craft-themed content, and more.
Note: I find most ASMR cringe, but Diane’s videos don’t cross into awkward territory for me, so if you’re someone who tends to struggle with ASMR for that reason, give her a try anyway.
This channel popped up on my YouTube home page last week. It centers a family in the mountains of Azerbaijan who farm, garden, and preserve the harvest in a mostly-outdoor kitchen setting amongst their animal familiars.
I can’t tell if these folks are working their own harvest, or if it’s more a community-based endeavor, but either way, the work is soothing to watch and there’s no talking or music. I’ve been playing these videos nonstop—sometimes watching intently, and sometimes just as background noise.
How Do You Read So Much So Quickly by Grace Smith - an article about voracious reading that inspires me to read more even if I can’t read that much
A Letter to My 35-Year-Old Self by Dr. Mary Claire Haver - great tips for anyone transitioning into perimenopause.
Healing is Making Us Mean by Gloria Alamrew - for everyone who turned “sitting with my inner child” into an excuse to ghost adulthood.
25 Habits That Will Make You a Writer by Shaunta Grimes - simple, actionable tips that inspire me to write.
The Intimacy of Never Speaking Again by Maisa - exactly the sort of melancholic train of thought I love to ride.
Life as a Highly Sensitive Person by Molly Ella - one of the pieces I ran into before starting my own Substack, and one that made me want to more openly discuss the experience of being HSP.
An Existential Guide to: Making Friends by The Shadowed Archive - if only I could write like this. “Ask a small favor. Not money, not a kidney. ‘Can you watch my bike while I wee?’”
Typically, there’d be more on this list, but what can I say? It’s been a weird year.
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