4 minute read
Look / Listen
Our monthly round-up of good books, albums, channels, movies and series.
What we're reading
How to build a boat
by Elaine Feeney
Jamie O'Neill, a neurodivergent boy, has an ambitious dream of building a Perpetual Motion Machine to connect with his late mother. At his new school, he encounters two individuals, Tess and Tadhg, who may hold the key to helping him. Through Jamie's journey, the lives of his teachers and the entire community are transformed, showcasing the power of love, family, and imagination. With tenderness and vibrancy, this novel explores themes of connection, the impact of our dreams, and the importance of shared adventures. How to Build a Boat is a captivating tale that reminds us that our greatest journeys are often shaped by the relationships we forge along the way.
Goodreads score: 3.79 / 5
Orbital
by Samantha Harvey
The boundaries of space and humanity blur into a captivating tale of astronauts and their journey around our planet. As six men and women speed through space at over seventeen thousand miles per hour, they grapple with the profound impact of their mission on their lives and identities. Harvey skillfully weaves together snapshots of their experiences, from floating in gravity-free sleep to forming deep bonds amidst the vastness of space. Through intimate glimpses of their earthly connections and routines, readers are drawn into a contemplative exploration of humanity's place in the universe. Orbital is a profound and breathtaking meditation on space, humanity, and the interconnectedness of our world.
Goodreads score: 3.75 / 5
Where we're tuned in
Chicken Shop Date
by Amelia Dimoldenberg
This comedic and unconventional YouTube interview series is created and hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg. The show started in 2014 and has gained a cult following for its unique concept. In each episode, Amelia goes on "dates" with celebrities and public figures at chicken shops around London. Through her informal and at times very awkward interview style, Amelia manages to show viewers a different side of her celeb guests, pulling its weight in making famous people feel more relatable. Some notable guests include Cher, Burna Boy, Matty Healy and Rosalia. Chicken Shop Date offers a refreshing and entertaining take on celebrity interviews, blending humour, fast food, and genuine conversations in a relaxed setting.
Our favourite episode: Chicken Shop Date with Keke Palmer
The Tortured Poets Department
by Taylor Swift
Released on 19 April, TTPD broke a few records within the first few hours of its release, including the first album to amass more than 300 million streams on Spotify in a single day. Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album features a hefty 16 tracks with two collaborations: Fortnight featuring Post Malone and Florida!!! featuring Florence and the Machine. Swifties, as her fans are called, instantly began deciphering the lyrics of TTPD, drawing conclusions to her public dating life and relationships. But for those that could not be bothered by the insight into the artist’s life, the album is a delicious, good listen filled with relatable words and catchy melodies.
Our favourite track: Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me
What we're watching
The Tourist
Renewed for its second season and available on Netflix, The Tourist is a drama thriller series starring Jamie Dornan (50 Shades of Grey). In its first season, The Man (Dornan) wakes up in a hospital in the Australian Outback with no recollection of who he is. On a journey to retrace his past, The Man has very few clues to piece together his memory and merciless figures from his forgotten past pursue him. In the critically acclaimed second season, The Man’s (now called Elliot) search for answers takes him to Ireland, as more details of his past are uncovered with suspense and plot twists.
Tomatometer: 96%
Hip Hop Evolution
First developed in the United States in the 1970s, the hip hop music genre has steadily grown in popularity in the decades since then. This docuseries, hosted by Juno Award-winning artist Shad, traces the genre's dynamic evolution from the early days, through the 1990s. It starts with a look at artists including Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, who laid the foundation for the genre as we know it today, and then moves on to other influential groups like Run-DMC and Public Enemy. The show also explores differences in hip-hop and underlying feud between the East Coast compared to the West Coast of America.
