Retreat edit - #3
An edit of what I've discovered this week - in case it takes your fancy, too.
Hello, and a warm welcome to Retreat edit.
If you’re a new Retreater, you’ve landed on a feature I write called edit. It’s a round-up of discoveries that inspire, entertain or intrigue me.
Whether that’s a book, music, podcast, article, online nourishment or something lovely to dream about owning, I wanted to share the joy. You can find out more about the series here.
If you’re looking for creative inspiration but don’t have the time to hunt it down, consider this a good place to start.
What I’ve been Reading…
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. She’s part of an all-male team at Hastings Research Institute in the 1960s who take, let’s say, an ‘unscientific’ view of equality. Apart from one; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated genius Calvin Evans who falls in love with Elizabeth’s mind. True chemistry results. Yet, a few years later, Elizabeth is a single mother and the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. As her popularity grows, not everyone is as thrilled - especially as Elizabeth is not only teaching women to cook, but to challenge the status quo. Bonnie has created a winning formula here, bonding plot, character and intellect with female empowerment. I’m half way through, bubbling with impatience to reach the denouement (although Nigella Lawson was ‘devastated to have finished it.’ so maybe I should enjoy it while it lasts.) *SPOILER ALERT* - Very excited for the TV series, due to debut this year on AppleTV, with Bree Larson as Elizabeth, Lewis Pullman as Calvin and Aja Naomi King as Harriet.
I chomped through this Guardian feature on actor James Norton, with striking photography by London-based Alex Bramall. A glimpse of the man behind Tommy Lee Royce, and a good way to fill the Happy Valley void. *Next on list, attempt to get tickets for A Little Life*
What I’ve been listening to…
Music
I record a music podcast with friend and radio presenter, Rosie Kendrick, called Pause and Play it Forward. It brings me enormous joy to listen to, research and talk about one of my greatest passions. For our Music Club segment (a bit like Book Club, but with albums - and less wine) we choose a record for the other to listen to, then chat about it in the next episode.
Fancy listening along with us? Great! Your homework is:
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) - My choice for three reasons; (1) to commemorate the great David Jolicoeur, AKA Trugoy The Dove, who sadly passed in February aged 54 (2) to celebrate the long-awaited, full DLS catalogue release this year (3) because I was obsessed with De La Soul and this album in secondary school. I covered my text books with photos of them, neon colours and daisies (and had 3 Feet High and Rising The Videos. On VHS!). Will be revisiting Native Tongues Posse this week including A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah and Monie Love (tell him to be nice or ditch the mister.)
Say She She - Prism (2022) This is Rosie’s choice. They’re a female-led discodelic soul band whose name is a silent nod to Nile Rodgers (C’est chi-chi: It’s Chic!). It’s all dreamy harmonies and catchy hooks so far and the line up includes London-born Piya Malik who featured on El Michel’s Affair’s Yeti Season.
I’ve also been mesmerised by:
The Teskey Brothers - Take My Heart (2023). Big fan of the Australian indie blues rock band, and their highly anticipated third studio album The Winding Way is out on 16 June. For now, I’ve been listening to Take my Heart, Oceans of Emotions and This Will Be Our Year, available to stream now.
Podcast
Cold: Season 2 - Justice for Joyce Yost. I first mentioned this true crime podcast in Retreat edit - #1. It’s thorough and well-researched and, crucially, honours rather than exploits the victims. Season 2 though, and Joyce in particular, has had an impact on me. Not only because of the brutality and cruelty of Joyce’s murder, but because producer and host Dave Cawley has shown us who Joyce was; a vibrant woman with hopes, dreams and a family who adored her. She was fun-loving and glamorous with a zest for life - and a violent, cowardly man took that away from her. We must never, ever become desensitised to true crime and, now on episode 10, I’m desperately hopefully there’ll be justice for Joyce.
What’s caught my eye on socials…
@sainthoax - The perfect go-to when you’re craving a side of pop-culture and satire with your news. Saint Hoax is a pseudonymous Syrian artist and socio-political activist who uses Insta / other mediums to subversively depict political and celebrity figures and satirise the viral moments we’re (possibly) all talking about. The post below on the Gwyneth Paltrow ski gate debacle had me howling, while the captionless-post showing Ashbey Beasley’s emotional plea to reporters following the mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School and info-slides was powerful. It’s the guns.
What I’ve been Watching…
Emily Atack: Asking for It? - In this BBC documentary, actress and comedian Emily shares what it feels like to be sexually harassed online every single day - and why the blame for unwanted sexual attention and unsolicited images or videos (cyber flashing) is so frequently placed on the victim. Devastating, infuriating and necessary. Keeping an eye on the Online Safety Bill, currently at Committee Stage in the House of Lords.
What I’d love to buy…
Ever since I discovered Aesthetic Laundry at Stylist Live last year and met the lovely Heidi - one of the co-founders, I’ve had the Whitney Boxy Jumper on my wish-list. It remains firmly there, with its glorious rainbow tassles. Look at it, look! (ps squealed with excitement on their behalf when I opened the latest Stylist and saw they were featured on The Style List).
Happy exploring.
Nicola x
ps - Let me know what you’ve discovered, too.
Will definitely check out Say She She - Prism! x