Notes from March
a letter of recommendations following some European travel
Dear friends:
Happiest of Aprils. Are you taking care? Finding a moment to rest or two? I’m writing this letter in spurts on a few trips to Europe, the perks of a gloriously long Easter break. I had the pleasure of visiting Portugal, where my friend and I enjoyed blue skies and plenty of meandering strolls, before chaperoning a school trip to Cologne, a different flavour of travel but no less entertaining.
Travel always activates certain flights of fancy for me: what would life be like if I taught in Lisbon, say, or settled down in Germany? While I have no immediate plans to move elsewhere—and rare is it as easy to do so as it is in my head—I enjoy daydreaming about versions of my life in different locales. Admittedly, I have already relished the narrative of moving abroad and the intrigue it has provided my adult life, and lest I sound like a study abroad student who returns stateside transformed, I have been equally determined to make London a home, to avoid being just a visitor in the city in which I live. I have touched on this tension between staying and going before, and yet I return without any more satisfying an answer.
In any case, I wonder aloud without much resolution. But as I told my students many times this week, we move and groove! March had a bounty of items to note, which I believe is a sign springtime is here, granting us the renewed energy to do things and all that. Here we go:
To start, my favourite read from March was Madeline Cash’s Lost Lambs, which I devoured via audiobook. Deeply absurd and surprisingly heartfelt, the story is a delightful family romp about three sisters and the zany cast of characters that surrounds them. I spoke with my book club about how it feels like a novel shaped by the Internet in so much as Cash capitalises on a certain brand of Gen Z humour to craft the book’s tone. It also had a bit of a media flurry, which I love because it results in some mighty good literary criticism; see here for a taste. I appreciate a debut novel that enters the cultural zeitgeist!
Pitchblack Playback is the sort of thing I didn’t know I wanted. True to its name, you book a ticket to listen to an album (or two) in complete darkness. Goofy, sure, but also FUN! I went early last month, listening to Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidananda and Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage at the Castle Cinema. It was such a midweek treat, leaving me in a refreshing trance that lasted the rest of the evening; it reminded me of a sound bath in that you can let yourself simply submit to the music. Best of all, they host playbacks around the world, so you have a chance of doing the same, no matter where you live (!).
Did you ever watch Jury Duty? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that the second season is out and it’s just as charming as the first. For the unfamiliar, Jury Duty is a prank show where a cast of actors engage in a mockumentary about jury duty (first season) or a small business company retreat (second season), save for one unassuming participant who’s led to believe it’s all real. The desire to make the “real person”—in this case, a man named Anthony who joins as a temp—a hero leads to such little conflict, which understandably may not suit everyone’s tastes, but my end-of-term brain has absolutely gobbled it up. I haven’t yet watched the remaining episodes, but I’m looking forward to an evening finishing off the season with a cross-stitch in hand. Let us all aspire to the kindness and good nature that Anthony demonstrates.
I no doubt mention this every letter, but for the record: I’m a super fan of Raye. How could you not be after watching her perform at Royal Albert Hall? I’m far from the only one gushing about her newest album, This Music May Contain Hope., since its release, but it bears repeating just how darn good it is, an offer of empowerment and sheer musical talent in these trying times. I could play “Skin & Bones” all day; in the meantime, I’m settling for repeated listens on my walks home. Join me!
I’m also an unabashed fan of Maimuna Memon, following her work from her performance in the since-defunct Boulevard Theatre’s Ghost Quartet many years ago to now, as the writer and star of her own musical, Manic Street Creature. Accompanied by three additional musicians, Memon sings about the weight of mental illness within a relationship. The show found considerable success on the fringe circuit, and I was glad to see it snag a transfer to the Kiln last month. Even if I thought it was somewhat dwarfed by the size of the Kiln, the strength of her voice and vulnerability as a performer remained. The production has now closed, but we can all enjoy a few of the show’s numbers via Spotify. One listen, and I think you’ll agree: Memon’s voice is a knockout.
(March also had me see the exceptional Oh, Mary!, but I like to assume you’ve already snagged tickets to that…!)
Finally, if I’ve chatted with you in person this month, I have no doubt mentioned my latest obsession: drumming. I have started taking lessons and have loved the chance to learn something new—it’s hard for me to listen to a pop song at the moment without counting out the beat! I think there’s something so elegant about a drummer in action; I offer Karen Carpenter playing “Dancing in the Street” as my case in point. And for anyone else local, all credit goes to Music Mission for enabling my drumming dreams :-)
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We’ll finish there! What are your plans for the weekend? I hope to recover from my travels and do the errands I’ve avoided for a week before catching the highly acclaimed Seurat exhibit at the Courtauld. I have high hopes! I’ll also be contacting my reps about, well, everything and urge you to do the same.
Whatever your own plans, wishing you comfort where you need it and the courage to continue to do & choose right.
Love, always,
Bella