Read, watch, listen
With autumn around the corner, it’s the perfect time to prep a list of the best books to curl up with, tv shows to binge and podcasts to catch up on. We’ve rounded up everything that the ME+EM team has been reading, watching and listening to over summer to help inspire your cultural intake as the nights draw in.
READ
“There are two books in particular that really stayed with me. Firstly, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi made me realise the absences of my education. I am very attracted by character in any book I read, and this is a generosity of rewarding female and male stories that educate about the history and monstrosity of slavery while pulling me in on an emotional level. This made me understand black history in a personal and revealing way. The other was My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay. The most incredible fact about this book is that a child can become a successful adult having experienced no loving or stable family. Moving, eye opening and ultimately life affirming.”
Clare, Founder + CEO
“Browsing through my mother-in-law’s bookshelves I found a little gem, The Collector by John Fowles. It’s a Sixties thriller which delves in the psychosis of an abductor. Isolation on a somewhat different level...I also couldn’t put down Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – it completely transported me to the marshes of North Carolina.”
Ashleigh, Art Director
“Zadie Smith’s Imitations is a series of essays that she wrote during lockdown that reflect on the times. And I’ve just added Just Like You by Nick Hornby to my list, which is out at the end of September.”
Phoebe, Senior Marketing Manager
“Beloved by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison isn’t a new book (it was first published in 1987) but it is still utterly relevant. It was inspired by the true story of an African American woman name Margaret Garner who escaped slavery in the mid-19th century. It’s one of the most haunting, powerful books I’ve ever read.”
Sabi, Content Manager
WATCH
“I’ve been watching a lot of documentary series this summer: Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich on Netflix, which explores how he used his wealth and power to abuse his victims, and Once Upon a Time in Iraq, which was a particularly extraordinary exploration of the war by the people who lived through it on the ground.”
Clare, Founder + CEO
“I have just binged watching the first 5 series of Line of Duty in preparation for the new series that was due later this year. They were brilliant if you have a spare 30 hours…”
Lucy, Operations and HR Manager
“Greyson Perry’s show Grayson’s Art Club on Channel 4 got me through the darkest lockdown times. Each episode is like an art masterclass, exploring different themes and involving other brilliant artists and comedians.”
Caroline, Buyer
“I finally moved away from reality shows and fell in love with This is Us. It's a feel-good drama about three siblings throughout various stages of their lives (which will also have you bawling your eyes out at some points!)”
Meera, Finance Manager
LISTEN
“I found Afua Hirsch’s podcast We Need to Talk About the British Empire to be a really good listen and so educational.”
Caroline, Buyer
“Reply All is about all thing’s internet-related, but the issues they choose to investigate makes some episodes feel like a true crime podcast. They cover some eye-opening topics, which make for interesting conversations with friends and family. Episodes I’d start with are The Long Distance and The Snapchat Thief.”
Phoebe, Senior Marketing Manager
“The Michelle Obama Podcast on Spotify. Her way of speaking alone feels so calming and reassuring to listen to, but the former First Lady also has some really interesting conversations about women’s health, family and friendships. Naturally, there’s also a great episode with her husband.”
Sabi, Content Manager