Reading, Watching, Listening (October 2025) - A Really Big Entertainment Roundup for Fall
/It was a wonderful summer, so many great reads, listens, and watches . . .
READING
(1) Theft - The latest novel by 2021’s Nobel Prize for fiction winner, Abdulrazak Gurnah, is a surprising page-turner of a read. All of the characters seemed so real - I couldn’t wait to see what happened to them next. It’s also one of those books that doesn’t give an objective lesson at the end, instead the author leaves it up to you to figure out what to make of it all, which I loved. For more info, the NY Times wrote a wonderful review (gift link).
(2) Crooked Cross - I learned about this long forgotten novel centered on the early days of the Holocaust through the New Yorker Article- The 1930s Novel That’s Become a Surprise Hit in the UK.
“Out of print and forgotten for decades, “Crooked Cross” has become a surprise breakout success in the U.K., after having been republished in April, in a handsome edition by Persephone Books, which specializes in neglected works by female authors. The press’s founder, Nicola Beauman, dug up a copy some years ago, when researching British women writers from the nineteen-thirties. “It has been sitting on the Persephone Books shelves ever since, waiting for its moment in the light,” Francesca Beauman, Nicola’s daughter and Persephone’s managing director, told me. “Following the U.S. election last November, we felt that the time had come.’ ”
This novel, which I’d say is a must read in today’s political climate, will give me nightmares for years (not exaggerating). Wow.
It’s part of a trilogy, but the other two novels aren’t in print. Hopefully Persephone will release them soon.
(3) The Pole - Whenever I travel to a new place, I try to read a book or novel that takes place there, hence how I discovered the Pole before our trip to Mallorca. And it’s an odd book. Sort of a love story. Sort of not a love story. I’m not sure what to make of it. I think it asks the questions - what are we really looking for in other people? can two people ever really know each other? And do they actually want to know each other or are they more happy with the illusions they create?
(4) Private Revolutions - Four Women Face China’s New Social Order - I thought this book would be full of insights about how different China is from the US, but instead it presented so many similarities - parents obsessed about college prospects, parents lying about addresses/papers to get their kids into various school districts, attempts to organize labor with punishing effects, companies blatantly disobeying labor laws, etc.
(5) Dream Count - I loved Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s previous novel, Americanah, so I couldn’t wait to read her newest work and it didn’t disappoint. The writing is predictably wonderful and all four female narrators have fascinating stories to tell. But the men in this novel fall short. Like way short.
(6) The Safekeep - The plot of this book is a little obvious, but the writing is so good that I didn’t mind. The novel, set in the Netherlands of the 1960s, tells the complicated story or the relationship between two women who both love a house, for different, yet also similar, reasons.
(7) In the Country of Men - I apparently can’t stop reading books about authoritarian regimes (this time Libya). This novel is a haunting portrait of a father’s rebellion as seen through a child’s eyes.
(8) Lies & Sorcery - I’ve been trying to read more forgotten books by female authors and s Italian novel originally published in 1948 was a favorite of Elena Ferrante (who I idolize).
“Ferrante has said that “Lies and Sorcery” was “the book through which I discovered that an entirely female story—entirely women’s desires and ideas and feelings—could be compelling and, at the same time, have great literary value.” What she seemed to take from Morante was permission: to write about women, ambitiously and at great length, without apology or fear of ugliness.” (Read the full review here).
I bought this novel for Kindle without realizing how long it is. Usually, I love a long book, but this story seemed a little drawn out. The characters are all flawed and miserable, but also complex and somewhat fascinating. All in all a good read, but it takes some time.
(9) Three Days in June - Finally a happy book. Plus a well-written, page-turning read. Full of simple, beautiful, everyday moments. I’ve been reading Anne Tyler since I was a kid and she never disappoints.
(10) Heart the Lover - I know Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh are the big female names if literature these days (and they’re both very good), but wow do I love Lily King.
Last weekend, I photographed a wedding in Shenandoah, so I rented a cabin for the weekend, with plans to hike and explore. But then I started this novel. And I couldn’t put it down. Literally. I never even left the cabin. I cried. I smiled. The characters became friends. It’s that good. And a love story. For one day I forgot about everything else in life and lived in King’s world. And I’m so grateful for that.
WATCHING
(1) All We Imagine As Light - This was the best film I’ve seen in years (it may even make my top 35 list). A wonderful, unexpected and super subtle love story that takes place in Mumbai. I especially loved the realistic cinematography and the soundtrack (lovely piano pieces accompanied by street noises). All of the characters were so flawed and lovable.
(2) Such Brave Girls (Season 2) - I loved season 1 of Such Brave Girls and season 2 was equally good. The jokes are crude and mean and, yet, super funny. Kind of like if It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia merged with a family sitcom. So dark.
(3) The Girlfriend (Season 1) - Based on plot alone, this show should be sort of bad (a “war” between a mom and girlfriend over a son), but the storytelling is so suspenseful and the scenes are so well shot that it somehow makes both a great thriller and an fascinating commentary on class and privilege.
(4) Don’t Let Us Go to the Dogs Tonight - Usually when I love a book (and I loved this book), I don’t love the movie. Or vice versa. But this book and movie (about an English child growing up in Rhodesia during the Civil War) go well together. Almost like you need both of them to really tell the whole story. This is probably because it is such a visual movie, which concentrates on scenery over dialogue.
(5) Industry (Seasons 1-3) - I tried watching this show a few years ago and couldn’t get into it, but it kept appearing on best of lists so I figured I’d give it another try. And by episode three I was hooked. I love the ways this show deals with sexuality, racism, and power dynamics. I also love that there’s always a plot twist. Admittedly, by season 3 I was hoping for a little more character development. But still an addictive watch.
(6) The Materialists - When I learned the writer/director of Past Lives (one of my favorite movies) had a new feature film coming out, I hurried to the theater (dragging Parker along with me - it is hard to be lonely when the girls are home for the summer). But, unfortunately, this movie was a fail. The rom-com plot centers around a match maker (Dakota Johnson) who is single herself and views dating as a marketplace (so cynical). And the background characters are pretty great - demonstrating a world in which everyone thinks they deserve love but also has ten zillion boxes that must be checked for love to occur. And then Dakota finds love. Sort of. Or a love triangle. I don’t know. None of the characters had any chemistry. I’m (sadly) not sure Johnson can really act. Past Lives was full of all these long pauses that worked so well (so much unspoken longing), but the pauses in the Materialists just felt awkward - like the actors forgot their lines. The final takeaway seemed to be that money doesn’t matter. In fact, by the end of the movie, it is unclear whether the main characters are even employed, but who needs food when you’re hot?
(7) Aka Charlie Sheen - I wanted to hate this, but it was too much fun for hate. Poor Martin Sheen. Poor prostitutes. Poor everyone. Despite everything, Charlie Sheen seems to have very few regrets. But the interviews with Jon Cryer and Heidi Fleiss are pure gold.
(8) American Teen - I saw this in the theater in 2008, when it premiered. After I finished reading Cue The Sun (described below), I thought it would be fun to revisit (and see if it still held up). Amazing how nostalgic the world seems without smartphones. And what high school would agree to be the subject of a documentary anymore? And some of this move is REALLY cheesy. But the (albeit short) love story between two high school seniors still charms.
(9) The Hunting Wives (Season 1) - I expected this show to be super trashy, which it was - but in the best of ways. Murder. Sex. Guns. It’s like they tossed in every stereotype about Texas and it came out amazing. So much fun to watch.
(10) - Your Friends and Neighbors - I found this the perfect binge show. Not too deep. Somewhat mysterious. Sometimes it is nice to be reminded that rich people are often miserable. Oh, and Jon Hamm. How wonderful is Jon Hamm?
LISTENING
(1) In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom - I’ve realized I prefer reading fiction and listening to memoirs and non-fiction. This story of a woman’s escape from North Korea to China is fascinating and horrible (the narrator learns about sex by watching her mother’s rape). Also, I had no idea that North Korean refugees have become so despised by South Koreans (very similar to the US’s immigration debates).
(2) Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV - Some chapters are better than others, but all in all Emily Nussbaum’s biography of a genre makes for fascinating reading. Though prepare to be depressed by the chapter on the Apprentice. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but apparently Trump’s behavior (both past and present) continues to astound me.
(3) Mother Mary Comes to Me - I never read The God of Small Things, so before this memoir I didn’t know much about Arundhati Roy, but when I heard that the book was about her horrible mother, I knew I had to read it. And the first three fourths of Roy’s memoir are fascinating. I couldn’t stop listening. That being said, the end didn’t really make sense to me. But everyone has a different story to tell.
(4) The History Chicks - For the past six months or so Glamorous Trash has been my go-to weekly podcast. And while I still love it, there’s finally a new podcast in the mix. On our drive back to Michigan, I convinced Trout to listen to several episodes of History Chicks and he said, “why is every episode about a woman? Aren’t there any men in history?” If only. Anyways, this wonderful podcasts covers so many fascinating, remarkable women some of whom I’d never heard of before. Plus the hosts are funny and never too serious.
(5) A few good podcast episodes - Mo Amer - Armchair Expert; The Daily - 100 Years of the Great Gatsby; Call Her Daddy - Abby & Glennon
(6) Double Infinity/Big Thief - This album is best summarized by a text chain I had with Freya. First text from Freya, “the new big thief album is soooo good.” Then 30 minutes later, “OK, I take it back the first few songs are incredible and then it gets kinda slow.” Yup. I know Big Thief’s founding bassist left the group while making the album and maybe he was way more important than we all realized. Because the songs go from amazing to cheesy sort of fast. No Fear is just plain bad. And the cover art is confusingly horrible (why??). I’m a little sad about it all. But then again, the first four songs are amazing. I wish they would have stopped there.
(7) Twilight Override/Jeff Tweedy - I’m still making my way through Tweedy’s three disc, two hour “magnum opus”, but so far I really like it. Perfect background music for editing.
(8) Bones/ Rainbow Kitten Surprise - I love how RKS’s music seems both obvious and poppy and yet somehow different as well, like they’ve created a new sound. Anyways, this album has been on constant repeat lately. Especially 100 Summers and Murder. I can’t get their melodies out of my head.
(9) The Life of a Showgirl/Taylor Swift - Swift’s newest album is getting a lot of hate online and I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. It’s so catchy, fun, and curated. I found Midnights sort of messy and Tortured Poets Department super messy, so I’m glad that Taylor has decided to entertain us again in an easy-to-listen to way. Opalite and Ruin the Friendship are two of my favorite Taylor tracks in a long time.
All that being said, I’m not sure I love Taylor’s move into raunchiness, while Sabrina Carpenter can carry off certain lyrics (how fun is her latest single - House Tour?), Taylor’s Wood just didn’t really work for me (ugh, the rock and magic wand lines). Plus, Actually Romantic is just mean and the wet lyric is weird (it seems like Taylor’s more obsessed with Charli xcx then the reverse). And it is ironic that a billionaire made an anti-materialism song called “Wi$h Li$t”, but then again she’s a showgirl - full of petty quarrels and conflicting attitudes about fame. I’ll agree with everyone else that maybe Kelce isn’t the best muse - other than “saving her” and the size of his redwood - we still don’t really get a lot of info about why she loves him. But who cares? This album is fun. And can’t we just celebrate that?
(10) Straight Line Was a Lie/ The Beths - The first single of this album is so good that I really wanted to love the whole thing. And maybe I will one day. But it sort of lost me somewhere along the way. That being said, the best song is so good that I still love it.
WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE? ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS?
CLICK BELOW SEE TO ALL OF MY READING, WATCHING, LISTENING POSTS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR FAMILY’S CRAZY LIFE? Then please click below
. . . .
Darcy Troutman Photography is a Northern VA/Washington DC/Maryland documentary-style family photographer, who believes in capturing real moments. Interested in learning more? Please click here to sign up for my newsletter or schedule a session.