7 Ways To Entertain Yourself This Week
What to watch, play, read, and more.
Rebecca Hendin / Getty Images / BuzzFeed
Watch La La Land.
Louise says, "As the world falls down around us, there is nothing more reviving than a dose of pure fantasy. La La Land is the story of a Hollywood romance between a pianist obsessed with the golden era of jazz and a struggling actress, and whether both can succeed in a city filled with disappointment as well as magic. The music is fantastic - as are stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (he learnt to play piano like that in three months - what?). It's visually stunning, hopelessly romantic and at times ridiculous - just the indulgence many of us need."
If you'd rather stay home and watch something on the couch, The first episode of Riverdale on Netflix is sure to draw you in.
Warner Bros
Read Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin.
My usual policy is to avoid speculative Hitler-won-the-war fiction (the world has enough Nazis as it is, right?), but I really, really enjoyed this. Even though it wasn't a genre I'd typically choose, even though the premise raised my eyebrows a little (Hitler wins + shape shifting + cross country motorcycle racing), I loved every second of it. Ryan Graudin has a killer gift for atmosphere and suspense, and her writing really made the book for me.
Get a copy here.
For something shorter, how about this lovely essay about lipstick and self-love?
Listen to Baby Boomers 2 by Recreations.
Rebecca says: "Full disclosure: I created the artwork for this album and its videos, so I've got a personal attachment to it. But if I had no connection whatsoever, I'd still think the recent album by Recreations (aka musician Sam Duckworth, f.k.a. Get Cape Wear Cape Fly), 'Baby Boomers 2' is wonderful. It's filled with music and lyrics beautiful and inspiring - at once sad and hopeful, political and personal. My appreciation of the record developed and deepened over listening to it in the course of making the art, during which time I absolutely fell in love with everything in it. I've spun it more time than I can count, and I'm not sick of it yet; I don't imagine I ever will be. Big recommendation."
Listen here.
Or check out the excellent BookRiot podcast.
Rebecca Hendin / Xtra Mile