What I read, watched and loved in March.
This is the monthly round-up of Stacks & Spoons, where I share the books, trends and headlines that caught my attention this month, plus snapshots from my daily life. If you enjoy it, make sure to subscribe here.
I think I will always be irrationally angry at Taylor Swift for saying jetlag is a “choice.” I have flown from New York to Melbourne and back in the last month (and many times before) and can absolutely confirm that jetlag is something I would never “choose.”
Give Tay the middle seat in economy on a 17-hour-flight, add a lengthy delay, 1.5 hour stop-over and a race through the airport to make the next 4 hour flight, making the total travel time over 24 hours, and *then* tell me it’s a choice.
(Sorry. I warned you I was irrationally angry about this.)
Jetlag aside, my wife and I just spent a great month in Melbourne staying with my family. We have been married for almost two years, together for four, but with the pandemic and then visa process restrictions, this trip was the first time my wife actually met my most of my family IRL. It was exciting to finally show my wife where I grew up, see her become BFFs with my nephew, and hear her observations of Aussie culture.
And just as my wife got a glimpse into my life growing up, my mum now gets to see what my life is like now; she flew back to NYC to stay with us for a few weeks.
So now, I’m writing this from my comfy couch in Brooklyn as my mum sits next to me, knitting a blanket for one of the many babies being born into my family this year. This is my mum’s first time in NYC, so I’ve been busy playing tour guide in the city I’ve called home for seven (!!!) years now.
As we were walking through the Lower East Side, my mum reminded me of how scared I used to be to cross the street. How, ten years ago, I couldn’t leave the house alone. I remember how small my world was then, how small I felt. Thinking of that past version of myself as I led my mum through one of the busiest cities in the world made my brain glitch a little, like I’d somehow fallen into a parallel universe.
No, not fallen. Jumped. Crawled. Climbed into this version of myself day by day over the last decade. Someone more confident, self-aware, brave. I’m tempted to give some of the credit to the simple passage of time and growing up, but no, I did a lot of inner work to become who I am today. Coming out as queer, divorcing my ex-husband, venturing into the world on my own, learning how to be disabled in a nondisabled world, none of it was or is easy. None of it has a finish line. Which makes me excited to see who I become in another ten years.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the ways I’m not living up to the capitalistic ideals of “success,” that I forget how far I’ve come in the ways that really matter.
MARCH WRAP UP
Stacks…
Books I read this month:
A lot of the reading I’ve been doing has been to my 2-year-old nephew, so most of the following books are adorable board books.
A Very Cranky Bear
My Mighty Marvel First Book Collection
Bluey: Grannies
I’m reading this graphic novel for the Trans Rights Readathon (which I wrote about here). The story and characters are full of depth and heart, and I could stare at the art on these pages for hours.
I also DNF’d a book for the first time. It was a cozy murder mystery that wasn’t cozy nor a mystery as I figured it out in the first chapter.
Screen time…
What I’ve been watching:
Anyone But You
I went in with no expectations, which is how I recommend viewing this loose adaption of Shapespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. But I’m a sucker for a fake-dating romcom, and this one was set in Australia – where I’m from and where we watched it – so it the Americans-vs-Australians jokes were extra funny for us. Also? The use of Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten was superb and I haven’t stopped singing it since.
Dune 2
I haven’t seen the first movie but I still enjoyed Dune 2 enough to stay awake through the almost-three-hours. I’m even considering reading the book once I have room for the giant paperback on my already high TBR pile.
Mission Impossible (all)
These are the perfect movies to watch on a long flight. Or two long flights.
YOU (rewatch)
My mum and I saw season 5 of YOU filming in the Lower East Side, so I suggested we watch it. I’ve seen every season and knew my mum – a crime show fan – would love it. I definitely forgot about all the horny scenes so that has made for some awkward moments.
Sound on…
What I’ve been listening to:
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
I told you I haven’t stopped singing this since I saw Anyone But You, and my Spotify is proof. I’ve listened to it in planes, trains and automobiles, to calm anxiety, to hype myself up before writing, it’s a song for any occasion!
Chronic and iconic…
Reads from around the internet:
“Shoots like these can be fun, but they’re almost never this fun — a sentiment that’s palpable on set, as giggles echo, limbs intertwine, and cover stars prance around in their boxers. Between the playful atmosphere and laid-back styling, Stewart is in her element, a welcome change for the longtime couture muse. “I’ve been wanting to do this photo shoot for the last 15 years,” she beams after wrapping the day.”
“Well, I answered it for myself by continuing on. The point is not the result. I don’t know what this book will do in the world. I can’t really control that. But I know what writing this draft did for me, how it transformed me, how it made me stronger, showed me parts of myself I didn’t know I had. I didn’t know I was this resilient, this determined, this focused. I had no idea I could face discouragement and perception of failure and still show up.”
“Y’all we have to talk about this. We have to take a real look at how we’re engaging with each other. We have to investigate how many times we scratch the itch of powerlessness with the quick, unexamined take-down of another human being. We have to talk about how rarely when these public recriminations start, that we stop and ask: “What have we done to heal this? Is this really where we need to be right now?”’
“When I think of the events of the last few years, I’m struck by waves of cumulative exhaustion that take a very real toll on my well-being. Sandy texted me, “Rest today, rage tomorrow,” but it’s been hard to rest. Chronic pain and frustration make it hard for me to sleep through the night. Yet I also have a burning desire to celebrate myself, create, and feel and give pleasure. This gives me hope.”