Once a month, I share the best of what I’ve been reading, watching, and exploring. Enjoy!
Books
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Some books keep you up at night because you can’t put them down. Others because you can’t stop thinking about them. This one does both. It’s a thriller, but not in the usual sense. Yes, there’s a mystery. Yes, it’s dark and harrowing. But at its core, it’s a story about survival, tenderness, and how people carry each other through hell. I didn’t expect a page-turner to feel this beautifully written—or this human.
Shows
Adolescence. [Netflix] One of the best things I’ve ever seen across any category—film, TV, anything. It’s a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate—and the emotional fallout that touches everyone around him. And here’s the amazing part: Each episode is filmed in a single continuous take. No cuts. No hidden edits. Just raw, real-time storytelling that makes you feel like you didn’t just watch a show—you lived it.
Films
Dazed and Confused (1993). [Netflix | Amazon Prime] From the cover: “America, 1976. The last day of school. Bongs blaze, bell-bottoms ring, and rock and roll rules.” No plot, no big twist, just a group of teenagers trying to make the most of one summer day before life starts asking them to be something. And yes, it’s the film that gave the world “alright, alright, alright”—still a better mantra than most self-help books.
In the Mood for Love (2000). [HBO Max | Apple TV+] This one’s for the arthouse lovers. It’s less a film and more a slow-motion reflection on restraint, longing, and the things you wish you had said. The cinematography is stunning—rain-soaked alleys, tight hallways, whispered glances. The score repeats like a memory you can’t shake. There’s little dialogue, but you feel everything.
I Love You, Man (2009). [Amazon Prime | Apple TV+] The kind of movie you put on when your brain needs a break. Paul Rudd being awkward, Jason Segel being weirdly soulful, and a bunch of grown men trying to become friends without making it weird.
Music
Goldie Montana by Goldie Boutilier. [Spotify] One of my favorite musicians just released a new album. “Goldie Montana” is the alter ego she created to be louder, bolder, and more fearless—and the songs reflect that. It sounds like something you’d hear on a jukebox in a dark bar right before things get interesting. Standouts include “King of Possibilities,” “Snake Eyes,” “Favorite Fear,” and the title track “Goldie Montana.” Any of them could soundtrack a Tarantino scene.
Related
Bold
