2020 Wrap Up

Despite my good intentions, my blog has been neglected for months. However, I've been reading, listening, and watching just as much as usual. Looking back over the year, these are some of my favorites in each medium. Most are what have brought me comfort or laughs or travel or growth — reality has been tough, so my entertainment has been easy and light. 

Books

The fifth book in Sherry Thomas' Lady Sherlock Series. She is one of my favorite writers, and this is a fun, feminist, historical reimagining.

I loved my years of studying Latin and all the etymology I learned. I also loved following Ann Patty's journey learning Latin as a retiree. And I didn't have to translate!

This is a heartfelt  romance of yearning and young men finally finding each other. Its tone lingered with me for days after finishing it.

Maybe the most transformative self-help book I've ever read. It gave me a totally new framework of seeing my past.

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Podcasts

Unlocking Us is Brené Brown talking with a WIDE variety of guests: artists, celebrities, neuroscientists, activists. And every episode is worth listening to.

Art for Your Ear is hosted by Danielle Krysa. She herself is an artist and art teacher, so these interviews with other artists are a great BTS for how artists create.

Design Perspectives is a recent find, and I've been loving these conversations with interior designers. Listening to creative women in business discuss what they do is my jam.

In A New Earth podcast,  Eckhart Tolle and Oprah discuss his book of the same name chapter by chapter. It's been a great re-listen during this tumultuous year.

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TV

Most of what I've watched this year can be found on HGTV, but Home Town with Ben and Erin Napier is my total fave. From Ben's dad jokes to Erin's design aesthetic, it's just lovely.

The Great British Baking Show returning to Netflix during the pandemic was a gift from the universe. The baking might not have been outstanding, but it was serious comfort viewing.

Long Way Up is the third docuseries that follows Ewan McGregor and Charly Boorman on months-long motorcycle trips. This one starts at the tip of Patagonia and ends in LA. Total vicarious travel with lovely hosts.

This title sums up my confusion about how I feel about Ted Lasso: "How on Earth is 'Ted Lasso' Actually Good?" But it is — it's sweet and funny and well-written and -acted. It's inexplicably great.

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Movies

For most of college, all I listened to was the Beastie Boys. This doc is a sweet revisit by Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond of the band's history.

Palm Springs (my fave vacation spot!) is a romcom (love them!) with a time loop (what??). It's fun and funny and weird.