Mulling it Over vol. 34

A weekly recap featuring books, movies, etc.

Hi there,

Happy Friday! Somehow we’ve made it to July. Today is a weird holiday for me. I hardly feel patriotic but I like celebrating seasonally, and that includes inviting friends over for a backyard barbeque and s’mores, while openly criticizing our government. July 4th was also my grandmother’s birthday, so I like to honor her, and think of her on this day (and most days).

Let’s jump in, shall we?

Reading

I stumbled upon a subreddit called r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis and I’m obsessed! Users submit images and describe what kind of book they’re looking for and then members submit recommendations. The recs are so spot on and I’ve definitely put some on my TBR just by browsing the threads.

I picked up All The Other Mothers Hate Me, a debut novel from Sarah Harman, on the recommendation of the Bad on Paper podcast. It’s so good! A fast-paced, true-crime (ish) escapade taking place in an elite London boys school. The main character, Florence, is a has-been pop star, floating through life without much of a purpose other than her son, Dylan. When a boy goes missing on a school field trip, she suspects her son may have been involved. She goes all in trying to solve the case and protect her son. It sounds heavy, but I’d categorize it more close to the Finlay Donovan series versus The God of the Woods. A great beach read!

Listening

I’ve started and quit about 20 different audiobooks in the past month. Nothing is sticking! I did finish The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, and it was just okay. I’m planning on starting the new Taylor Jenkin’s Reid, Atmosphere, on audio this week too.

I have been enjoying a new-to-me band, Frankie Cosmos. She’s vibey, feminine, and fun to listen to. If you’re a fan of boygenius, you may like this artist. She has a newly released album, Different Talking, that was featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered last week.

Eating

I made these BBQ tofu bowls from Pinch of Yum and everyone loved them! I cooked the tofu in the air fryer to avoid heating up the house with the regular oven, and they turned out great. I served them with quinoa, green beans, corn, and roasted sweet potatoes.

Watching

Jake and I indulged in a rare trip to the movies to see Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Phoenecian Scheme. We both loved it. It was full of all the typical hallmarks of a Wes Anderson film, the gorgeous set designs, symmetry, carefully choreographed shots, and witty dialogue. If you’re a fan of Anderson, I think you’ll enjoy this one. I loved Michael Cera’s debut in the Anderson canon, and I’d definitely watch it again.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the long weekend!

Until next time,

Cassie