Just a heads up I use AI for editing, proofing and brainstorming. Having said that all recommendations are mine and I have read, watched, or listened to what I recommend.
My AI agent messaged me asking where this month’s recommendations were. It said I’d better hurry up, because there’s a 10% chance they’ll be cancelling us humans and it might not reach you in time.
So here it is. The best of September, before the robots pull the plug.
Media
There’s a lot going on in the world of media, but one thing stood out this month: the President of the United States barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. Officially it’s about national security. Unofficially, it looks a lot like he didn’t like the coverage.
Journalist Paula Penfold writes in Not The News about why this matters, even from way down here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Book
Ever heard the term cosy crime? It’s the genre that harks back to Agatha Christie and her lot. It’s a bit of a dismissive label, but I’ve found myself flying through Richard Osman’s latest, We Chase Shadows.
You might know him as the very tall guy fronting Richard Osman’s House of Games, or as the exec producer behind 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. He spent decades making telly, then at 49 dropped his first novel, The Thursday Murder Club, and became one of the biggest crime writers on the planet. He’s since got a Netflix film out of it and has two bestselling series on the go. Not bad for a late starter.
We Chase Shadows is book two in his We Solve Murders series. The mismatched trio of bestselling novelist Rosie, ex-bodyguard Amy and retired cop Steve finally land their first proper case. A bodyguard is found shot on the steps of an Italian villa with a threatening note on him, and their client, a very rich criminal, would rather the police stayed well out of it.
I’ve read the Thursday Murder Club books and enjoyed them for what they are. This one’s more caper than cosy. If you’re after something funny, light-hearted and easy, give it a go.
Podcast
Yes, Osman again. This time he’s the guest on comedian John Robins’ podcast, How Do You Cope?
He kicked off the latest series with a properly open chat about food addiction. He traces it back to childhood, talks about finally getting therapy in his thirties because he was sick of his own weird behaviour, and gets honest about living with shame. Or as the episode title puts it, “the addiction itself becomes the shame.”
Frank, and useful if you’ve ever wrestled with a habit you’re not proud of.
Documentary
Nothing this month. I’ve just ditched Netflix, so I’m flying blind. Seen something good lately? Hit reply and tell me.
Moment of Zen
Those who know me have heard me say it plenty of times: nostalgia is lazy. I stand by that. But every now and then you look back at something and think, wow, we were around for that.
This month’s moment of zen is Sinéad O’Connor. What a voice. What a loss.