jeevs' march media recap
don't judge me pls xo
Hi friends. As March comes to a close, I thought I’d do a quick recap of what media I enjoyed consuming over the past month. If you’re looking for a new read, watch or listen, perhaps this list will be of help to you. Let’s jump in.
📚 Current reads:
“Your Driver is Waiting” by Priya Guns
“Your Driver is Waiting” is a reimagined, gender-flipped take on the film Taxi Driver. Admittedly, I’m not all the way through this book yet. But what I can tell you is the book follows protagonist Damini, a rideshare driver who is exhausted and frankly broke. She watches as her city erupts in protests trying to defend people like her, but between trying to hold it together enough to get through the day and fighting to make ends meet, she can’t afford to care. Her life changes when she meets Jolene, until she does something *wild* setting off an explosive chain of events. A fun read so far.
Essays:
"Your stuff is actually worse now” by Izzie Ramirez [Vox]
It’s hard to find essays about consumption that hit address how capitalism has created a system that benefits from waste and degeneration, while still highlighting the importance of personal responsibility. We cant, “there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism” our way out of anything. What we do matters. At least I think so. Even if the conditions are a result of big structural issues, personal responsibility has to come into play somewhere, right?
“As a third-generation Indian-Canadian, I’ve lost a lot by not speaking Punjabi” by Arjun V.K. Sharma [The Globe and Mail]
Yeah. You can guess why I relate with this one. Despite going to Punjabi classes when I was younger and being able to read and write the language, I still struggle immensely with my relationship with Punjabi. I wish I was a little more comfortable with it. Practices makes perfect though, right? This essay reminded me of the importance of trying. I’ll lose so much more if I don’t.
🎧 Current listens
“The Best Parts” from The Swaddle
I stumbled across The Swaddle an Indian media platform that tackles a range of topics from health and gender to film and tv. They have a series in one of their podcasts called “The Best Parts”, where they dissect beloved film characters, with a little help from the women who created them.
Aurora (2022) Daisy Jones and the Six
Yes, the album from the show about the fictional band. I know everyone was flaming them and saying they’d rather listen to Fleetwood Mac, but I like it and you can’t make me feel bad about it!!!!!!! Plus Riley Keough is pretty and a beautiful singer and nepo royalty. Fav songs from the album: The River, Let Me Down Easy, and Regret Me.
🎥 Current watches:
Manmarziyaan (2018)
I just love this movie. It’s certainly not perfect, but I haven’t seen a romance movie where I really don’t know what’s going to happen in a while. The protagonist, Rumi (played by Taapsee Pannu) is a vibrant, fearless, strong-willed woman who acts purely out of her own desire and stubbornness. There’s a way to go about marriage, sure. But Rumi really does lead with her heart. I love the characters in the film, and the world created by Anurag Kashyap is so warm and vibrant I really just want to live in it. I’d recommend for a fun, light-hearted Sunday afternoon watch.
Anywhooo, this was fun. Please let me know if y’all enjoy reading this kind of stuff because I’m feeling a little Diane Nguyen trying to write her book coded today. If there’s anything you’d be interested in hearing my thoughts on, don’t hesitate to reach out:) Love y’all and Happy Spring.
