August 2026 Grab Bag
The kinetic energy of summer seems to really be reaching its peak in August. Lots of travel, sightseeing and conferences are eating up the time in my household. Maybe this intensity has contributed to my big reactions to things I’ve watched, listened to and read. There’s been a lot I’ve loved, and a few things I absolutely despised. Read on to find out what they are!
- At once intrigued and baffled by the New York Times “Best Thrillers of the 21st Century” list. Arguably I read predominantly thrillers so this was a good list of potential next reads. But of the books I have read I don’t understand the reasoning at all (wild to rank Tana French’s first book In the Woods above the rest of her novels that made the cut, Mexican Gothic is 1. not a thriller and 2. not very good, in my opinion)
- If brat was a stuck out tongue, Music, Fashion, Film is an ennui-filled drag from a cigarette. The existential dread predominant in it is so aligned with my fears it makes it feel a little tender to re-visit over and over like I have with brat, but still compelling as a piece of art overall. “Wink Wink” is fun though!
- I was lucky enough to win a raffle of a bunch of indie horror novels earlier this year (brag), and have been slowly making my way through them. The short story collection Olyoke by Vincent Endwell, centered on a Dollywood-like small town and its various hauntings and strange happenings, was really evocative and creepy
- This month I’ve had the (mis)fortune of encountering a couple of works I truly hated – thus giving me the pleasure of getting to rant and complain about them to my friends. If you are in need of a similar venting session, check out Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (I was sooo excited for this one and then so disappointed), and the Netflix adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10. Watch and see how they massacred my boys (the original novel and Guy Pearce)
- Ravenous is a one in a crop of the recently started worker owned media outlets, this one focused on food. I love supporting these ventures, and it helps when they do super interesting deep dives on phenomenon I don’t even know was happening, like the rise of real estate agents as food influencers
- Speaking of worker owned media outlets, a banger from Defector about trinket box drama
- I probably wasn’t in the right mood for Clockwatchers when I watched it, but even so it’s carried by some all star performances from Parker Posey (queen), Lisa Kudrow, Toni Collette and Alanna Ubach
- Late to the trends as always, I recently watched Obsession and it’s good! Maybe it’s because it became such a cultural phenomenon but it kind of feels like a film that’s always existed
- I love the hazy, sweaty atmosphere of Carly Rae Jepsen’s The Loveliest Time, her companion album to The Loneliest Time, and it seems like she’s continuing this vibe in the new singles for her upcoming album, so I’m pretty excited. Insanely memorable visuals in all the music videos so far, too
- Had the absolute pleasure of doing this walking tour about the (now defunct) elevated railroads in Manhattan. Highly recommend for anyone interested in trains (which should be everybody) and the history of New York City. Pair it with a walk down the High Line to really bask in the beauty of mass transit
What are things you’ve loved and/or hated recently? Share below!
Each month I highlight an organization that’s important to me. I encourage people to check out the cool work they do, and also to find causes within their community to support as well.
This month I’m selfishly highlighting a Kickstarter for Negative Space, a horror themed bar and theater near me, because I want them to open as quickly as possible.
