New To the Queue is a semi-monthly thing around here wherein I give you a tiny glimpse into some of the books, movies, tv shows and music/podcasts I’ve recently added to my never ending queue of things to read/watch/listen to. For past posts, go here!
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TO READ
Down & Across by Arvin Ahmadi
Publication Date – Febraury 2018
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: Gayle Forman, one of my all time faves as you well know, just came to town for an event and naturally I climbed out of my mom cave to go. Arvin Ahmadi was also there in conversation with her and just listening to him speak and talk about his book, plus a fun dramatic reading, made me purchase the book when I hadn’t planned on it. That’s saying something as my book budget is pretty tight these days because I can’t justify buying a ton when I’m not reading as much as I used to! AND HIS NEXT BOOK SOUNDS AWESOME TOO!!
What It’s About: A coming of age story whose main character is a serial quitter surrounded by people in his life who know exactly what they want. Feeling pressured to commit to what he wants to do in his life, he runs off to DC to talk with a professor who is an expert in grit (the psychology behind success). This one day trip turns into quite the adventure when he meets a girl named Fiora who has him doing things he would never do and challenges him to the core about who is and what he wants.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
Publication Date- April 3, 2018
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: After Gayle Forman’s event some of us were talking books (shocker!) and Gayle recommended this one! I couldn’t NOT after the way she talked about it! Then when I was reading the blurb on Goodreads and this line got me: “At its heart, The Female Persuasion is about the flame we all believe is flickering inside of us, waiting to be seen and fanned by the right person at the right time. It’s a story about the people who guide and the people who follow (and how those roles evolve over time), and the desire within all of us to be pulled into the light.“
What It’s About: “Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at sixty-three, has been a central pillar of the women’s movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can’t quite place- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she’d always imagined.“
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Publication Date: October 2017
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: This was another Gayle recommendation and this science fiction-y/dystopian feminist story sounds AHHHMAZING.
What It’s About: “In The Power the world is a recognizable place: there’s a rich Nigerian kid who lounges around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power – they can cause agonizing pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly.“
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Why I Added It To My To-Be-Read list: I WILL READ ANYTHING COURTNEY SUMMERS. Her books deserve way more praise. And this one sounds AMAAAZING.
What It’s About: When Sadie’s little sister is found dead, she goes missing and is hellbent on revenge and finding out who killed her sister after the police botched the investigation. At the same time, a local radio personality hears about Sadie’s story and starts a Serial-like podcast to find follow Sadie’s journey and figure out who did it.
TO WATCH
Why I Added It To My To Watch Queue: I have an unhealthy interest in all things cults.
What It Is About: “When a controversial guru builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, it causes a massive conflict with local ranchers. This docuseries chronicles the conflict, which leads to the first bioterror attack in the United States and a massive case of illegal wiretapping. It is a pivotal, but largely forgotten, time in American cultural history that tested the country’s tolerance for the separation of church and state.“
Why I Added It To My To Watch Queue: I had started listening to the Lore podcast before I had Riley and plan to resume watching it. This is an anthology tv show from the podcast and I’m super into it also because anthology-type shows, like Black Mirror, are really working for me right now because it’s self contained in an episode which helps when my binge watching abilities are spotty these days.
What It Is About: “From an Executive Producer of The Walking Dead and an Executive Producer of The X-Files, this anthology series brings to life Aaron Mahnke’s “Lore” podcast and uncovers the real-life events that spawned our darkest nightmares. Blending dramatic scenes, animation, archive and narration, Lore reveals how our horror legends – such as vampires, werewolves and body snatchers – are rooted in truth. ”
Why I Added It To My To Watch Queue: I’ve heard good things and I’ve been in the mood for a good rom-com.
What It Is About: “Academy Award nominee, heart-warming, hit comedy from producer Judd Apatow (Bridesmaids and Trainwreck). The Big Sick is based on the real-life courtship between Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Nanjiani) and grad student Emily Gordon (Zoe Kazan) who fall in love but struggle while dealing with Emily’s mysterious illness and their families culture clash. ”
MUSIC/PODCAST ROTATION
The Aces — When My Heart Felt Volcanic
Why I Added It To My Listening Rotation: I’ve heard some of their singles!
Wye Oak — The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs
Why I Added It To My Listening Rotation: I’ve liked some of their other stuff so I wanted to check out this album!
Magic Lessons podcast
Why I Added It To My Listening Rotation: I found Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic inspiring and I’m finally jumping on this podcast. If you consider yourself a creative you should definitely check it out!
If you want to catch what I’m listening to…follow me on Spotify! Let me know who you are so I can follow back and check out youuur music!
YOUR TURN! Tell me one book you added to your TBR list recently! Tell me a movie/tv show you added to your must watch list! Tell me a new band/singer you just added to your musical rotation! Also, have you read/watched/listened to anything on my recently added list? Or did I make you add something to YOUR queue? Tell me, tell me!
To keep adding to your reading list, you might also like:
New Adult Fiction Books To Read In 2018
Erin says
Right now I’ve just added “The Big Book of Organic Baby Food” to my TBR list because my friend recommended it and we’re starting our daughter on solids soon. I’m also looking forward to listening to, “The Longest Shortest Time” podcast which I’ve heard is great. I’ve been enjoying the “One Bad Mother” podcast SO MUCH since you recommended it here. I’d like to say I have some non-Mom related stuff in my media queue but that’s not true ha. I did read, “Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud” recently and loved it!
Jamie says
Hahah I feel you on the baby stuff overtaking my life. I haven’t even posted a lot of the baby stuff I’ve been immersed in. We had plans of doing our own organic baby food when I was pregnant and then when we got closer to her turning 6 months we decided to do Baby Led Weaning which I LOVED and really worked for us and she did great with! My friends did their own baby food for their daughter and they had a lot of fun with different combinations they found!
Oooh Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud…haven’t heard of that one but definitely checkin it out!!
Liz says
I followed you on Spotify- I notice you add a lot of Chvrches on your playlists- have you listened to their newest song miracle yet? The new album drops soon!
If you need some new things to listen to, I recommend Verite, Xylo and Allie X.
Jamie says
YES I love Chvrches and I have been listening to Miracle nonstop on my April playlist! And I LOVE Verite also but haven’t listened to Xylo or Allie X so thank you so much for those recs!!
Sarah J. says
Yes!! Courtney Summers is so underrated and her work is so brilliant. I have only read one novel by her that didn’t blow me away. She is a force to be reckoned with and I wish that she would become a name that is synonymous with darker contemporary fiction.
Jamie says
SO UNDERRATED. It makes me nuts how underrated! And I agree with you 1000%. What’s your favorite of hers?
Sarah J. says
I think Some Girls Are is my favorite. I haven’t read All the Rage yet, but I have a feeling that it may be my favorite by the end. What about you?
Anne says
Just finished The Power and was a little disappointed, particularly after hearing it recommended so many places! I thought the premise was cool and I liked how it started out, but it just really didn’t hold my interest very much by the end. Will be interested to hear your thoughts!
Jamie says
Ah bummer I hate when that happens! I will report back!
Shan says
I binged Wild Wild Country on the weekend. I’m obsessed and can’t stop talking about it and I’m looking for books I can read on it now.
Jamie says
Omg I’m so glad to hear this!! I feel like it’s a weird thing to be obsessed with but I can’t ever get enough of cult things lol
Steph says
Wild Wild Country was pretty good… I recommend it for sure!
Sam@WLABB says
Down and Across was so wonderful. I loved everything about Scott and his journey. I need to make some time for the new Wolitzer book. I have really enjoyed all her books, and I just heard today that the book is getting a movie adaptation.
Linda says
The Power was great! And I didn’t know about Magic Lessons, so thank you – I really loved Big Magic.
Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads says
I can’t wait to read Down & Across. It wasn’t on my radar until the Boston Teen Author Festival posted their author lineup. It looks good! I hope you enjoy it!