What I'm reading/watching/listening to: April 2016

As a designer inspired by literature, I read a fair bit. As a knitter constantly producing more FOs, I watch a lot of stuff on screen. As an exerciser, I listen to all sorts of podcasts and music to keep me moving. Here's what's on my bedside table/television/iPhone this month...*

What I'm reading...

• Emma: An Annotated Edition by Jane Austen
  This version is from Belknap/Harvard University Press and includes all sorts of interesting bits about the book itself and the times in which it was set and written, as well as illustrations. I have slowly collected these "tomes" over the years and savored reading some of my favorite novels in this format - it is a very different experience, one I highly recommend.
• Venice is a Fish by Tiziano Scarpa
  We are reading this for my book club. It was my choice, since the host for the current book club meeting chooses the book that will be read next time. We read fiction, non-fiction, then a classic, and somehow I keep ending up hosting when it's time to choose non-fiction (not the first choice of this classic novel girl), but having spent one glorious day in Venice (my sister took me when I visited her in Bologna longer ago than I care to admit), this book intrigued me. It is brief, poetic, and very evocative of the things I already knew about la Serenissima while also sharing new things I wouldn't have discovered otherwise. Now I want to go back!
• I Never Knew That About New York by Christopher Winn
  As a transplant to the city that never sleeps, I love learning new bits about my adopted city. This book is full of near and ancient history organized by location. I'm still way down at the southern end of the island, having just reached Wall Street. I read it in little bits often while, um, doing my business ;)

What I'm watching...

• The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on FX
  Yes, I lived through it all and remember where I was during the infamous Bronco chase (on my roommate's shlumply brown couch in Somerville), but beyond that I wasn't much interested in all this at the time. And now I'm fascinated. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I think this is such. good. television. The storytelling is compelling; the acting has real depth (aside from Travolta); the lighting and cinematography, the costumes and wigs, the music are exceptional. This is the only appointment television for me (everything else I watch is from the DVR or a streaming service). It addresses race, gender, culture, and I can't believe the finale is tonight.
• Broad City on Comedy Central
  Hysterical girls in New York sitcom (way more entertaining than HBO's Girls). I love those two crazy gals. The subway scene from season one's The Lockout makes me laugh so hard I cry. Every episode is clever. Lots of cameos and spot-on New Yorker humor.
• The Americans on FX
  This show is so good. So good. We started watching it in part because it was filmed in our neighborhood (subbing for DC and Philly), but it is so compelling. It's also really intense, yet we don't want to watch just one, so we often save up a couple and binge-watch them. As a general rule I don't like shows that make the viewer anxious, but that rule has totally gone out the window here. The 80s stuff is kind of fun, but it's the storytelling that keeps me coming back for more.

What I'm listening to...

• The History of English Podcast
  Want to learn more about why we use the words we use? This podcast is definitely one to listen to from episode one. Kevin is a patient and intelligent storyteller who clearly knows his stuff. I always find myself feeling cleverer for having listened to an episode. And I kind of love that at least once an episode I say "Well, of course. That makes total sense!"
• Elise Gets Crafty
  While Elise crafts in a different segment of the Craft industry, the people she talks to always have interesting things to say. I've started to work my way back into her archives for even more good stuff. I listen to this when running around the track - it does a great job of distracting me from going 'round and 'round the oval.
• Explore Your Enthusiasm
  To be honest, I'm not sure exactly when I discovered Tara's podcast, but I've listened to all 100 of her episodes (and am now a member of her Starship business group). The minute her episodes show up in my Podcasts app, I listen! Tara really understands small business, especially those of us focused on craft. Great guests and lots of interesting stuff.

So, what are you reading/watching/listening to? I'm always looking for good suggestions, so leave me a comment below.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, 

*None of these links are affiliate links. I'd rather spend my time sharing what I'm enjoying with you than tracking those down. Go see if your library or local book store (shall we make LBS a thing, like LYS?) has the books, check your local listings or favorite streaming service for the shows, and visit the podcasts' websited directly to find the best way for YOU to enjoy their content.