March 2020.

I love Caribou’s new album, Suddenly. It’s a subtle, sparkling pop album from one of our most modest and inventive musicians. And the latest reimagining of Gil Scott-Heron’s seminal I’m New Here (now called We’re New Again) by Makaya McCraven is brilliant; powerful, engaging, raw and beautiful.

If you enjoy the Sally Rooney books then you’ll equally enjoy Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. It’s a highly believable, warm. human book about race, class, guilt and friendship. It isn’t heavy and it isn’t a game changer but it’s a good read and it will be (is already) an absolute smash. I loved Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson; it’s a beautiful, often very funny story about twins who spontaneously combust and their massively capable/completely capable nanny and it’s beautiful and quite profound. I read Pine by Francine Toon after reading a compelling review in one of the serious papers. It was quite good; a sort go ghost/crime story with some lovely imagery. Ultimately I found it a bit ponderous and lightweight but if you like ghost stuff, give it a go. Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Desapin has been translated from its original Korean. It’s a lovely, cold, atmospheric book about a strange relationship during a winter in the South Korea.

In podcasts; I have three good series to recommend. The Fake Heiress, The Missing Crypto Queen and The Assassination are all BBC productions. Look them up; they’re perfect for a long car journey or your daily commute