What we loved: November 2023
Spotify Wrapped, book to TV adaptations and another comedy history podcast.
The end of November brings some very exciting things: everything Christmas-related is now socially acceptable and Spotify Wrapped is out!
I (Michelle) went from starting 2023 with zero clue who Maisie Peters was to ending up with a clean sweep of her songs in my top 5 and (apparently) being in 0.5% of listeners. What can I say? When I love something, I love it hard. And honestly, it’s been quite joyful discovering and becoming completely enthralled with a new artist in a way that reminds me of being a teenager again.
Caitlin and I frequently recommend or talk about This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch, which explores this very thing: loving something with your whole heart to escape the difficulties life throws at us and connect with others.
Also, if anyone’s interested, I listened to 33,000+ minutes of podcasts across the year – interesting as 2023 was my first year listening to almost all my podcasts on Spotify.
On that note, Caitlin, it’s over to you. Does Taylor still reign supreme on your Wrapped?
She does! I made it into the top 2% of listeners. Considering Spotify is making a big deal about her being the top artist streamed globally, I’m pretty proud. Maisie is my #2 and my top songs were split between her and Taylor. I also listened to all my podcasts on Spotify this year, racked up 23,000 minutes of listening so not as much as you Michelle!
The thing that’s really made me laugh for my 2023 Spotify Wrapped is my genre stack - Pop, Show Tunes, and Wrock. In past years the genres are always versions on those (pop/post teen pop/dance pop/pop rock etc. and show tunes/soundtrack/broadway etc.) but what the hell is wrock? I googled it. ‘Wizard rock (or Wrock) is a type of novelty rock music themed around the Harry Potter franchise.’ Must just be the handful of A Very Potter Musical songs I was listening to before seeing Darren Criss in concert?
What did you enjoy reading, watching and listening to in November? What’s your Wrapped look like? Leave us a comment and let us know! You can also listen to our latest episodes – we’ve embedded some in this post, but you can also find it in your favourite podcast app.
*denotes review copy
Bonus image of Caitlin on stage during Jersey Boys! The shows were on the first two weeks of November, as has been mentioned during season 11 and in this newsletter.
Reading
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
If you’ve ever been part of a book club, you’ll know how rare it is to achieve universal agreement about the enjoyment of the chosen book. Small Things Like These was a novella chosen for our Waterstones Chesterfield book club, which brings together a group of very different readers. Yet we all agreed on the beauty of this novella. Keegan dissects a small Irish town through the character of Bill, who must decide if he can go against the grain to help a young girl. The writing is gorgeous, and the emotion of Bill’s story lingers beyond the final page.
– Michelle
The House That Joy Built by Holly Ringland
I listened to this one on audio, which I recommend to hear the wonderful Holly Ringland talk about her creativity and encourage you. It’s a delightful listen and kept me company while driving around a lot at the start of the month. The book is about working with and through the tricky feelings around creativity - like self-doubt, fear, procrastination, and criticism. Plus, leaning into the joy of creative activities and making space for them. It would be a wonderful addition to your desk or creative space (whatever that is for you) to read and reread in bits and pieces whenever you need.
– Caitlin
Ghosts: The Button House Archives
Okay, this isn’t a book I would have bought were it not for my magic bookseller discount card. But I’m so glad I did! Ghosts is one of our favourite TV series following Alison and her husband as they inherit a rundown manor house. After a near-death experience, Alison can see and speak to the ghosts of people who died in the house. The sitcom series explores their backstories (and deaths) – the companion enhances this with profiles of the ghosts and letters, writings and other things collected from their lives.
– Michelle
So That Happened … But Maybe You Already Knew That by Tami Sussman
This hilarious middle-grade novel follows Natalie, or Nutty, through a school year full of change. Mainly, she’s preparing to turn 12 and have her bat mitzvah - but she’s also finishing primary school, then her parents sell their house, and her friendships are changing. The key theme in this novel is being a good friend and fixing it when you’ve been a bad one. I think that year six/the last year of primary school is a really tricky time, and this would be a great book for people this age to read and relate to.
– Caitlin
Watching
Banged Up
Politicians, actors and ‘celebrities’ are ‘imprisoned’ with reformed criminals who have been told to act as they did while inside. This is an eye-opening show aiming to challenge widely-held views on the role of prison in society. What I appreciated most was seeing several people – including politicians I wouldn’t expect myself to agree with – changing their opinions in real time. It reminded me of reading A Bit of a Stretch by Chris Atkins and prompted me to buy his follow-up, Time After Time, which examines re-offending and returns to prison.
– Michelle
Lessons In Chemistry
I knew it was coming, but the timing of finally reading this hugely successful novel right as the TV series dropped was a coincidence. After reading this book and discussing it for our book club (before our interview with Eleanor Elliott Thomas), I was keen to dive straight into the series. I think Brie Larson was fantastic as Elizabeth Zott. I also really enjoyed Kevin Sussman as Walter and Stephanie Koenig as Fran Frask. With any book adaptation, it’s interesting to see what changes are made; in this case, they all added to the story – particularly for Harriet Sloane’s character.
- Caitlin
The Other Black Girl
I read The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris when it came out in 2021 – I remember being gripped but have forgotten all the plot details. So, watching the new adaptation was like rereading it for the first time. This tense psychological drama introduces us to Nella, the only black girl at her publishing company until Hazel arrives. As the pair become closer, Nella starts worrying that there’s something weird about Hazel. This is an unsettling workplace drama with elements of dark commentary on the publishing industry reminiscent of that in Yellowface by RF Kuang.
– Michelle
Hunger Games series
With the release of the Ballad of Songbird and Snakes film, I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s revisited this series. All of the noise and hype was starting to get to me, even though I never read the book and had been unsure if I’d see it - I just watched the first movie when I was home one night. I hadn’t thought about The Hunger Games in a while, and I was taken right back. I’d also forgotten how much I love Josh Hutcherson, but now I’m right back there as well (but since I am no longer 16, I will resist making him my phone lock screen again). About a week later, I watched Catching Fire (still the best YA book to film adaption ever), and while I haven’t watched Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 yet, I’ve been thinking about it a lot and will be watching them this weekend. Then I guess I’ll finally see the new one.
- Caitlin
Listening
‘Buzzfeed’ on Rehash podcast
It blows my mind that we have this website to thank for the ‘listicle’ and just how ubiquitous BuzzFeed quizzes became on social media in the 2010s. This podcast episode explores the rise and fall of BuzzFeed. As a journalist, I found it fascinating to hear more about what I witnessed while working in the news industry, seeing the website mocked for cat gifs become a significant player on the domestic and international news scene. But if you’ve ever taken a BuzzFeed quiz or scrolled a compilation of gifs, you’ll find this episode fascinating.
– Michelle
Idina Menzel on Armchair Expert
My listening recommendations are a bit random this month, so bear with me. I really enjoyed this conversation. I enjoyed these two things most: First, starting with Kristen Bell in the attic was wonderful. Frozen has just celebrated its 10th birthday, so it’s great to hear these two chat about the phenomenon. Second, I never knew about an accident Idina had on stage during her second last performance of Wicked. It’s a crazy story!
- Caitlin
Oh What a Time podcast
So, my new podcast niche seems to be comedy shows exploring interesting tidbits of social history. This year, I found and binged We Are History. In November, I found the relatively new Oh What a Time. Each episode has a broad theme (for example: jobs, parenting, education). Then, the trio of hosts explore a slice of life from three periods of history through the lens of that theme. It's a mega-hit in our house and a staple of my weekly podcast listening.
– Michelle
Wicked (Original Broadway Soundtrack)
Continuing… I saw Wicked at the Lyric Theatre here in Sydney towards the end of the month and a) it enhanced the previous listening experience of listening to Idina Menzel on Armchair Expert, b) reminded me how bloody brilliant this soundtrack is?! I love Wicked, I would have told you that and gushed about it a month ago. But watching this on stage again was just magical. I got chills as the opening of ‘No One Mourns The Wicked’ started. I almost jumped out of my seat when I remembered that ‘What Is This Feeling?’ was next. I muttered the curse under my breath during ‘No Good Deed’, wondering why I hadn’t listened to this song for ages, and definitely had tears in my eyes during ‘For Good’. So yeah, this is probably my top listen of the month.
- Caitlin
Something else
Alpro Coconut Barista
Please enjoy this random recommendation for anyone who uses a milk frother for at-home lattes. I’ve never been an alternative milk person until I tried this in Caffè Nero’s summer iced latte. I fell in love with the flavour and was curious whether I’d like it as much in a hot drink. Let’s just say that the marketing team deserves a gold star because Alpro’s Coconut Barista drink has become a staple for my daily at-home coffee since then.
- Michelle
Merrily We Roll Along cast interviews
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathon Groff, and Lindsay Mendez all currently star in Merrily We Roll Along and as the show has moved from off-Broadway to on, they’ve done a bunch of publicity. My favourites are their Vanity Fair lie detector test and Buzzfeed puppy interview. The three of them are just hilarious together, please start with these two and thank me when you fall down the rabbit hole watching them on various talk shows etc.
- Caitlin