October is coming to a close, and with it, the pages of the books we have been reading. This month's watch, read, listen is sponsored by Sally Rooney, Squid Game, and for some, switching off. Some have been throwing themselves into the dense pages of fairy smut, others have been training their brains to read in French. Whichever way you fare, you're bound to come across a recommendation that resonates. Below, is what the RUSSH editors have been watching, reading, and listening to in October.
Ella Jane
Content editor
Watch...As the year comes to a close, my brain real estate is becoming an increasingly tighter market. Meaning, my capacity to absorb complex shows that may or may not let you down is whittling away, and after White Lotus, Mare of Easttown, and Squid Game, something to serve as a screen-time salve was in dire need, which is why coming across Ted Lasso was one of the best thing that has happened to my television in 2021. I was late to the party, but I am here now, and god, Ted! you've saved me from the worst of it. As far as film goes, I recently, finally got around to watching François Ozon's Summer of 85, which was chilling and stunning and quite perfect.
Read... The month of October has been a stretch for many of us, and I admittedly am amongst those who haven't quite gotten through a good book. I have however been reading Elizabeth David's Italian Food, which, alongside being a comprehensive collection of regional Italian recipes, is a vivid reminder of just how evocative female food writers can be.
Listen...I have been taking a lot of baths, and in them, have been listening to endless voice notes from close friends. With sprawling lockdowns and zoom fatigue, we are all completely sick of scheduled catch ups, so send voice notes to each other when we have spare moments in the day. At the end of the day, listening to friends catch me up on their lives without having to immediately engage is my idea of heaven.
Jasmine Pirovic
Digital writer
Watch… Just like Meg, I also went and saw Nitram at the cinemas. It was a tense watch, but I was struck by how much nuance Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant managed to bring into the film. Also, it's a reminder that Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia are some of our countries' best actors. Other than that, I've been slowly gulping down Maid on Netflix.
Read…It's that time of year when the Quarterly Essay is published and Lech Blaine's Top Blokes did not disappoint. He delves into the myth of the 'Battler' and 'Larrikin' and how these are devices wielded in politics to separate who gets to be considered 'Australian'. Also, I'm currently at the tail end of The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm, a book that's been recommended to me at least 5 times a year since I began my degree.
Listen…to anything that brings comfort. At the moment I've been revisiting Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou's solo Éthiopiques Vol. 21 album.
Mia Steiber
Digital content director
Watch… like just about everyone else on the planet I binge watched Squid Game. I absolutely loved it and sincerely hope they make another season. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re going to be really confused when everyone turns up in pink jumpsuits with black masks at Halloween.
I also recently started Sex Education - a recommendation from the team and I have not been disappointed in the slightest.
Read… Look, I’ll be honest that I haven’t managed to get all the way through a book this month. But I am 50 pages into Beautiful World, Where Are You. I’ve also been reading Egg of the Universe which is all about seasonal eating.
Listen… I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Blue Bannisters and will be listening on repeat for the next six months. Don’t @ me.
Megan Nolan
Digital operations manager
Watch… I recently saw Nitram at the cinemas (hello post-lockdown activities) and would say it’s a must for those who enjoy Australian film. We’ve put together a full overview of Nitram here but in short it’s the story of Martin Bryant - the gunman who committed the 1996 Port Arthur massacre - and it’s incredibly powerful.
Read… like Mia I am about a third of the way through Sally Rooney’s Beautiful World, Where Are You. My last endeavour however was Love, In Theory by Elodie Cheesman. A very light, easy read it’s perfect for any single gals out there navigating the unique landscape that is modern dating. Set in Sydney it provides some very relatable dating app anecdotes and got me thinking in a new way which is always refreshing.
Listen… I’m less about albums at the moment and more about a couple of songs which I’m Spotify radioing off. Pink Skies (Demo) by Wiley from Atlanta is my ultimate smooth, feel good track, whilst Beige by Yoke Lore is giving me all the feels.
Lucienne Bambridge
Brand & campaign coordinator
Watch…Agonisingly enough, every show I’m watching seems to be in weekly instalments, but that’s ok because the Sydney lockdown is finally over and there’s less time to binge. This week I’ve started the newest season of Succession (Binge - thank you Uber Eats rewards), but for the last month of lockdown it’s been The Morning Wars (Apple Tv) that’s been keeping my Friday nights occupied - there really ought to be more Reese & Jen shows, highly recommend if you’re looking for something with a combination of light & easy to watch but also dramatic enough that you’re hanging on for the next episode.
Read…Sent from a friend from afar, I’m currently digging into Albert Camus’ ‘L’Etranger’ which is truly testing the limits of my French, but I’m determined to keep my lockdown reading habits going.
Listen...Praise God by Kanye - it may be cheesy but it hits all the post lockdown feels - after all, ‘it cannot always be night’.
Elyssa Kostopoulos
Content producer
Watch… For most people, lockdown presented the perfect opportunity to go hard and fast on the TV binging. Somehow, I found myself in the other, very small minority of people who switched off all together. Which is why I’m only just now finding myself tuning in to one of the most talked about show of the year – The White Lotus. Just like everyone else on the planet, I am utterly enthralled in a complex cycle of intrigue and complete cringe. I simply cannot look away.
Read… I have always been a bit of a sucker for a good dose of fairy smut, and I’ve had Sarah J. Maas’ Crescent City sitting on my shelf for over a year. It’s a thick one, and I haven’t previously had the chance to get into it, but this month I completely gave myself over to it and have made it the whole way through. There’s nothing I appreciate more than being transported to a place that doesn’t exist after a long day.
Listen… Anytime I’m in the car with my boyfriend, he has a habit of blasting Dutch pop songs that I obviously cannot understand. I have no clue what any of the words mean, but it’s become this running joke that I’ve almost come to love.
Angel
Market Editor
Watch… Honestly it has been the busiest few weeks of my life coming up to the deadline for our next issue that I’ve barely had any time for Netflix indulgence at all! The last thing I watched however was the most beautiful documentary titled The Heart of the Sea; documenting the life and work of female Hawaiian surfer Rell Sunn that left me shook in tears. Otherwise my go-to is usually falling asleep at the comfort of old Channing Tatum films :)
Read…Letting Go: The Pathway To Surrender by David R Hawkins currently sits on my nightstand.
Listen…Down Ass B**** by Ja Rule has been my energy all year.
