Food for Wavy Thoughts: Monthly Roundup #1
Articles, books, music, TV and other media I've been loving.
Ok, so here’s the deal. I’m trying something completely different from my usual output with this post so I hope you can indulge me…
Writing on Substack has done many things for me and my creative practice, including introducing me to lots of other media I would never have found elsewhere. I mostly find these recommendations in round-up posts from my favourite writers ( ’s ‘Bits’ and ’s ‘Slow Sunday Scroll’ both come to mind.)
As an experiment, I’m going to add my findings to the pile. Once a month-ish I’m planning on posting a ‘Food for Wavy Thoughts’ round-up of all the media I have been loving.
I’m no taste-maker. I’m just a middle-class cat-owner from Lancashire. But maybe you’ll like some of the same things as me.
Or maybe you’ll take a look and think ‘this ain’t for me, Ren’ and that’s fine. In fact, this newsletter is a ‘section’ of my Wavy Thoughts newsletter. That means if you don’t want to receive the ‘Food for Wavy Thoughts’ round-ups, you can just unsubscribe from them, but not the whole newsletter (that’s if you still want to receive the weekly emails).
Without further ado, grab a hot drink (I’ve recently started drinking coffee like a grown up), and scroll down for what I’ve been loving this past month….
Articles 📰
A Conversation with Autistic Ang on Recognition, Unmasking, and Returning to the Body
Two of my favourite Substack writers - and - have collaborated on an insightful and sensitive piece touching on the experience of discovering you’re autistic later in life, as well as masking and family relationships. I felt exceptionally seen reading this.Autistic Joy is Our Birthright
Beautiful piece by . What a celebration of autistic euphoria.
From: I don't want a real job, to a fiction deal.
, whose motivational words in her Notes and newsletters always spur me back into writing without fail, has announced her new book in such a creative way, I love it.Should I quit my job and write full time?
answers a pertinent question from her younger self and gives us all some sensible advice.A really touching interview between author Oliver Radclyffe and . Oliver’s story is so interesting (he transitioned later-in-life and was a parent by the time he transitioned) and I really enjoyed reading this conversation.
How To Be An LGBTQ+ Freelance Writer
Some fab advice from for ‘being in queer media’ (sorry, I couldn’t resist. I still tell people that I’m in queer media and the joke is so long dead. I don’t care.)THE NOTESAPP SYSTEM FOR WRITERS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL! ™
I found this window into Lena Dunham’s writing process really useful. Now to tidy up my unwieldy collection of notes in my Notes app.
My stuff in case you missed it 🤓
Books 📚
This section contains affiliate links because I’m cosplaying as an influencer. If you buy any of these books using the link I receive a small commission.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Who doesn’t love a creepy, dystopian, slightly ‘sci-fi but not’ book of British people at a boarding school? Even if the medical stuff implied makes no sense whatsoever.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A magnificent book that I love with all my heart, but particularly this one line:
‘I had an uneasy feeling we might be asked to spend the approaching Christmas with Beatrice. Perhaps I could have influenza.’ What a sassy queen. I had such a book-hangover when I finished reading it. The dull and nameless narrator’s fixation on the vivacious Rebecca is genius alone.
Fingers in the Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham
Britain’s own late-discovered autistic national treasure. This memoir of a childhood immersed in nature is beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Natives by Akala
Never has a book made me fully realise what a shameful history Britain has. This is a powerful book that I really recommend.
On Beauty - Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith could hit her head on a keyboard and publish it and I’d read it tbh. I loved ‘On Beauty’, which is apparently heavily inspired by ‘Howard’s End’ by E.M. Forster, so now I need to go and find a copy of that in a charity shop.
Magazines and Journals 📖
Stat Magazine features writing about the towns and villages of the North West of England, with a distinct ‘anti-Manchester’ sentiment. I picked up their most recent edition and loved the quirky stories and biting tone of a lot of the pieces. There’s a piece in there about a Wallace and Gromit statue in Preston. The writer made 200 rubbings of the statue itself and included one in each copy of the zine. I’ve framed mine.
Granta always comes up as a new writing journal that aspiring literary fiction authors should read. I finally bought a copy to see what all the fuss is about. Ok, I get it now. Not only is the writing brilliant, but the print of the magazine itself is beautiful, like a book. It’s hefty too, you get a lot for your money.
In the spirit of being a pretentious literary wanker, I bought myself a 12 issues for £12 deal a while back. I’m coming to the end of my subscription (and I don’t think I’ll renew given the price tag and my current budget), but it has been a joy to read such an eclectic mix of reviews and commentary. I especially love Contributing Editor Patricia Lockwood’s writing - her book ‘No one is Talking About This’ is superb.
Music 🎧
Clarity of Cal - Vulfpeck
Look, I’m not someone who really listens to new music. I’m usually quite content with listening to the same 1000 songs I’ve liked since I was 21. But I’ve recently been introduced to the funk band Vulfpeck and I can’t deny, their songs slap. Their most recent album is recorded live, so it has this vibrancy running through it. The musicianship is incredible. I also love the voice of Theo Katzman; take a listen to ‘Tender Defender’.
Dot - Vulfmon
‘Vulfmon’, the alias of Jack Stratton, aka the leader of Vulfpeck, has released several solo ‘visual albums’. His albums are a real mix of different music styles and I like some more than others. This is my favourite of his albums. What I find cool about Jack Stratton is that he is so unserious; he is clearly just messing around, having fun and this is the result. ‘Too Hot in LA’ is a banger and hilarious in equal measure.
Films 🎬
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
As someone who knows all the words to ‘White and Nerdy’, I was apprehensive about seeing this film in case they made what my Nan would have called ‘a pig’s ear’ of it. Not to worry, Daniel Radcliffe absolutely smashes it, plus the ending is so funny I still haven’t really recovered.
TV 📺
Australian Survivor and Hells Kitchen US
There was a time when I exclusively watched ‘serious’ television like the West Wing, Breaking Bad and the like. But now that the world is truly on fire, I want nothing more than to see either a bunch of Australians marooned on an island quietly thirsting over Jonathan LaPaglia, or a bunch of inept American chefs quietly thirsting over Gordon Ramsay.
Don’t call it trash TV, this is sustenance for awful times - Chicken TV soup for the soul. I could also write a full post about how Australian Survivor has helped me to develop my understanding of the mechanics and nuances of social interactions. Maybe that’s my next weekly post!
Listen, I might never write this feature again lol. But I hope you enjoyed it. If you made it this far down, give it a like and maybe leave me a comment. Happy Sunday (or whatever day you’re reading this on!)
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Take it easy,
Ren
Take a look at the Wavy Thoughts directory for more of my writing.
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