5 From Fitch: January 2025
You know those friends you have who always offer great recommendations for books to read, movies to see and places to go? That’s us! Every month, our intrepid writers will share five recommendations based on their current favorite things. Have you read a riveting book lately? Seen a movie or show that deeply affected you? Eaten a new take on an old classic? Check out any interesting art installations? Please drop us a line in the comments!
??Watching: “A Man on the Inside” (Streaming on Netflix)
What is it?
“A Man on the Inside,” is a television series, starring Ted Danson and created by comedy television giant Michael Schur.?
Why I love it.
It’s funny, sweet and poignant, yet not so syrupy that my teeth ache. Danson is a widower who moves into a retirement home to uncover a crime. Rather than presenting the retirement home as a depressing antiseptic place, the show depicts a group of complex people enjoying themselves and still seeking to figure themselves out. And Danson is so charming!
??Reading: “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” by Erik Larson
What is it?
A narrative history of the political, personal and military machinations behind the April 1861 attack on Fort Sumter by bestselling author Larson.
Why I love it.
To understand America, you have to wrestle with its brutal history of slavery and contemplate the Civil War that ended it. But where can a beginner start? I was glad to find this book by Larson, a master of creative nonfiction. He’s applied his talents to the opening salvo of the Civil War. Larson’s portrayal of day-to-day life in Charleston in the 1850s, where the Plantation-owning gentry celebrated notions of chivalric “honor” while enjoying the fruits of labor provided by enslaved Blacks, are shattering. His portraits of serpentine “pro-slavery” leaders like James Hammond and Edmund Ruffin are unsparing. And his description of the dismaying attack by Confederate forces upon Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor left me keen to find more books about these dark chapters in American history.?
??Baking: Triple Chocolate Cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction
领英推荐
What is it?
The ultimate treat for a chocolate lover, with chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, and chocolate chips on top for maximum deliciousness.
Why I love it.
As a casual baker, I love to make my own birthday cake! And as I am a January baby, I was recently reminded of this delicious chocolate cake I made to celebrate last year. It is incredibly chocolatey without being super dense — a rare balance. Plus it’s very easy to make. Personal tip: For the buttercream, it says use unsalted butter, but I used Kerrygold Irish Butter (which is salted) and it made for a buttercream everyone raved about. After writing this recommendation … I think I know what I’ll be baking (again) for my birthday this year!
??Watching: “Small Axe” (Streaming on Amazon Prime)
What is it?
“Small Axe” is a collection of five films focused on the West Indian community in London from 1968 to 1982, directed by Steve McQueen (“Blitz,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame,” “Hunger”) and originally shown on the BBC in 2020.??
Why I love it.
Each film is based on real-life experiences and events, casting an unflinching eye on the racism, classism and injustice that Black immigrants from the United Kingdom’s former colonies in the Caribbean endured at the hands of the British police, legal system and society — and how they persevered. The acting is visceral and real and human, the stories are infuriating and uplifting and the soundtrack — which taps deep into Jamaican popular music, from rock steady and lover’s rock to heavy reggae and dub — is the bomb.?
??Listening: “Nobody Loves You More,” by Kim Deal
What is it?
The first full-length solo album from Deal (Pixies, The Breeders), released in November.
Why I love it.
Listening to this album feels like hanging out with a wise, funny old friend who just keeps getting better at her craft. Deal’s pop-grunge Breeders’ sound is all over “Nobody Loves You More” — she plays not just bass and guitar but keyboards, drums and at one point ukulele, with contributions from Breeders musicians like her twin, Kelley. But there’s a vulnerable sweetness in Kim’s voice and lyrics that make her music more personal than ever. While I’ve been walking around with “Coast” in my head for days, every song is a pearl, from the lovely and bittersweet “Nobody Loves You More” to “A Good Time Pushed,” the closing track engineered by the late Steve Albini.?
Founder and Editor in Chief, Fitch Ink
1 个月Ted Danson is a national treasure. Thank you for the recommendation, Amy Kover !
Associate Editor at Fitch Ink LLC
1 个月I made that chocolate cake this year and everyone wanted the recipe! Cannot recommend enough!
Senior Media Relations Leader
1 个月I have to get that new Kim Deal album. Thanks for the reminder Dianna Delling!