As the year winds down, the RUSSH editors find themselves deep in the glow of November’s cultural offerings.

Between rewatching Lynchian fever dreams, devouring feminist myth retellings, and revisiting the genius of Ryuichi Sakamoto, our editors have kept their hearts and minds busy this month – whether it’s sinking into the moody prose of Briefly, A Delicious Life, rediscovering The The’s back catalogue, or swooning over Cate Blanchett’s impeccable wardrobe in Disclaimer, there’s a little something for every moment.

From iconic soundtracks to unputdownable novels, here’s what’s been spinning, screening, and inspiring us this month. Check out what the RUSSH editors have been consuming in November 2024...

Alys Hale

Music Editor and Creative Producer

Watch … Having conquered X-Files last year, it was decided that a rewatch of Twin Peaks was necessary. Even though I keep falling asleep towards the end of the episodes, it’s amazing how much I missed on my first watch in my early 20s. I also have designs on watching the KLF documentary, Who Killed the KFL, when I finally have a rainy Sunday.

Listen … I’ve been re-visiting the whole of The The’s back catalogue as well as the new record, Ensoulment. For reasons I would rather not disclose, I was forced to listen to Shake It Off, and I am still traumatised.

Read ... Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes. I devoured this retelling of the myth of Medusa as it oscillated from deeply poignant feminist reflection on beauty to character assassinations of the figures we have traditionally seen as ‘heroes’. Natalie Haynes makes serious classical study accessible to those who know nothing about it, and keeps some deep jokes in there for those who have a penchant for ancient history and myth.

Cassandra Dimitroff

Features and Production Editor

Watch … Somewhere by Sofia Coppola (a new favourite that had me itching to book a trip to the Chateau Marmont) and Stealing Beauty (recommend for fans of Tuscany, Luca Guadagnino films and Liv Tyler – of which I am all three).

Listen … Yellow Magic Orchestra (I recently re-read one of my favourite interviews from Lindsay with Ryuichi Sakamoto and have been diving into his back catalogue of music as a result).

Read … I finished Honor Levy’s My First Book (a frenetic, hyperspecific day-in-age that I felt my brain both grow and shrink three sizes from) – we also interviewed Levy in our November issue. I’m now a few chapters into Didion & Babitz, a retrospective on the lives of both formidable writers in 70s Los Angeles (in other words: a dream read).

Phoebe Holden

Designer

Watch … The new season of both Yellowstone and Bad Sisters.

Listen … Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson’s My Rifle, My Pony And Me and ROLE MODEL’s cover of Somebody Else (too much time on TikTok, obviously). This month my Audible subscription included All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot by Lucinda Price, it was shocking, funny, a little triggering but overall rather sweet.

Read … I have almost finished A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm, I could have (and nearly did) read this in one sitting, it’s brilliant. Yesterday I picked up Stanley Tucci’s What I Ate in One Year, I loved his first memoir Taste: My Life Through Food so I have high hopes for this. I still have Asako Yuzuki’s Butter on my never-ending TBR list, that will be December's goal I think.

Lilli Corbett

Partnerships Manager

Watch … All I want to watch is Anora, but while I’ve been waiting (patiently!) for her, I rewatched Zola and discovered a French film called My Sole Desire; both excellent, both follow the lives of strippers which are always more gritty than you expect. Saw Saturday Night, set in the 1.5 hours prior to the first broadcast of SNL – fast paced, chaotic and funny but I’ll watch anything with Rachel Sennott. Aside from that, still watching Aquamarine by Addison Rae on a loop. Choreography by Danielle Polanco makeup by Pat McGrath and creative direction by Mel Ottenberg – a Michelin star feast for my eyes.

Listen … Kendrick’s new album GNX but also Angie Stone’s 2001 album Mahogany Soul, so special.

Read … Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens and what a pleasure to sink into. Set in dreamy Mallorca, fourteen year old Blanca is a ghost who lives in an abandoned monastery. It’s here she lusts after its recent inhabitants, nineteenth century power-couple writer George Sand and composer Frédéric Chopin. Not here for the plot as there isn’t a particularly strong narrative arc, mainly here for the moodiness and indulgence. Still working up the courage to begin I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman but it’s next in line so pray for me.

Aleksandra Beare

Art Director

Watch … Disclaimer* Apple TV+: it was a hard watch to start, chaotic sounds and filming at times lead to the unease of the whole situation, but persevering to the end has its rewards. Some great interiors and Cate Blanchett's blush pink Raey cocoon coat are stars too.

Listen … Born with a Broken Heart by Damiano David (Maneskin). He’s not so angry anymore, and has tapped into his emotional side for a beautiful sound.

Read … I’m about to start the next Haruki Murakami book, The City and It’s Uncertain Walls having loved Norwegian Wood, I’m hoping the writing has the same beauty in its darkness.

Samantha Corry

Assistant to Editor in Chief

Watch … Going to the Wicked premiere and the Gladiator II one in the same week, was the best week of my life. Both were incredible – uncomparable. To be honest, I was quite in awe of Paul Mescal, meeting him that night. I couldn’t focus on this film. So I need to see it again. Smile 2 I also saw, while it was really good, it wasn’t that scary compared to the first one… so I think I preferred the first one, despite the fact that I will never put myself through that again. And I am itching to see Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Queer!

Listen … I have been listening to plenty of Gracie Abrams, and I’ve recently got into Fontaines D.C.

Read … I am officially about to start reading Normal People and thus, be emotionally unstable.

Vera Rode

Intern

Watch … This month has been full of watching television. The new season of Outer Banks came out this November, so I've been busy catching up on that. What a terrible ending. But it's always such an interesting storyline. With my family I've watched Good Girls, which took us by surprise as every episode went on. We got fully caught on that series, and binged it to the end. There were some crazy plots, and it took me by surprise. And then best for last; Wicked. I went to the movies for the first time in ages, and it did not disappoint. I’m usually not into musicals on film, but this one had me blown away. The most beautiful voices, paired with great scenic works, created the best experience for me.

Listen … This month's music has been rather mixed. I've listened to everything from 80s–90s classics, up to new releases. I mostly listen to music that reflects on my mood, and thereby it varies quite a bit. This month most listened artists must be D1MA and Ed Sheerans album x (deluxe edition), but they are definitely not the only ones.

Read … I'm not much of a reader, but this month two books have caught my attention. One is Schindler's List, which is a classic. It's really well written, and caught my attention from page one. The second book is damer der fik nok (translation: Ladies Who Had Enough), and it tells the story of 12 Scandinavian women artists from 1915 to 1960, and how they went through life in a quite conservative society.

Stacey Gaskin

Consumer Revenue Manager

Watch … Lately I’ve been rewatching Suits and it’s just so good. Louis Litt carries the show.

Listen … Like Sam, I also have been deep in Gracie Abrams’ discography. I also have been listening to some old punk and The Great Escape from BOYS LIKE GIRLS has been on repeat.. 

Read … Zodiac Academy: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and, Susanne Valenti  is on the top of my TBR so I will pick that up next.