The Progressive Era Was Neither Progressive, Nor An Era: Discuss!
It’s not just us, right? Life is full of riches and exhaustion lately! This is our fancy way of saying that contrary to our own advice, all three of Your Dames are running ourselves ragged this week, and in the immortal words of Nancy Myers, something’s gotta give. We therefore encourage you, in the even more immortal words of Linda Richman, to talk amongst yourselves!
Have you been enjoying a particular TV show you’d like to share with Dames Nation? Is a new-to-you song prompting spontaneous kitchen dance parties? What do you look forward to reading this summer? Your Dames would love to hear all about it, and we bet your fellow readers would, too.
Some recent Dame Sophie-approved delightful tidbits: Somebody Somewhere (renewed this very day for a 3rd season, huzzah!), Matthew Perpetua’s Bubblegum Drum and Bass playlist, the latest season of Slow Burn, about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and Lyette’s top-drawer contribution to the whole Taylor Swift/Matty Healy situation.
AND Slow Burn devoted to the absent-for-ethics-class Clarence Thomas?? O frabjous day! What I’d recommend for a beautiful, short and slightly mournful read is West by Carys Davies. I learned about it by listening to a BBC podcast, and it’s well worth a read. Finally, if you haven’t listened to the “Alabama Astronaut” podcast, I’d do that. It sent me down a whole trail of reading about religious snake handlers (sounds strange, but the podcast is great).
Right? I know Joel Anderson & his team weren't aiming for resonances with Thomas's current newsy high profile, but oh boy is the series timely! As for West, beautiful, short, and slightly mournful sounds perfect to me. Thank you!
I'm planning to start Somebody Somewhere this weekend, so the renewal notice is very welcome! In other news, I'm mildly obsessed with this Brandi Carlile cover of "Home" from The Wiz, which was used in my favorite Season 3 episode of Ted Lasso (Mom City): https://youtu.be/Ug-10cLg9w8
I am also obsessed with this cover! She does such a good Diana Ross, I had no idea she had it in her (though I admit that I kinda wonder why the show didn't just use the Ross version).
I recommend making tulle tutus with friends for 🏳️🌈 pride parades. It’s so easy and they look great! I also recommend Michael Franti’s music for positive, summer soundtracks!
I am so ready for summer reading season! My favorite beach read of last summer was Freya Marske’s gay/magic/Edwardian A Marvelous Light & I have been saving the sequel as a treat for myself. Another one I have been saving is Jasmine Guillory’s By the Book, which I know I will be delighted by, since I have liked every one of her others. And I have a connection to this one, so not a totally unbiased rec, but it just seems wrong not to mention Jessica Martin’s Shakespeare rom coms The Dane of My Existence + For the Love of the Bard, which have all the theater nerd New England vibes and Gilmore Girls-esque small town charm and banter that I think readers of this fine newsletter would adore!
I just finished The Daydreams by Laura Hankin this morning and it was such a great way to kick off summer reading season. If you love 2000s era nostalgia, celebrity gossip, and want to unpack the unfair standards placed on young women on TV, you’re going to love this.
OMG - Somebody Somewhere renewed for a third season?!?!?! That’s the nicest thing to happen today. I made it no further - going back now.
Right?!! Best news of the week! — S.
AND Slow Burn devoted to the absent-for-ethics-class Clarence Thomas?? O frabjous day! What I’d recommend for a beautiful, short and slightly mournful read is West by Carys Davies. I learned about it by listening to a BBC podcast, and it’s well worth a read. Finally, if you haven’t listened to the “Alabama Astronaut” podcast, I’d do that. It sent me down a whole trail of reading about religious snake handlers (sounds strange, but the podcast is great).
Right? I know Joel Anderson & his team weren't aiming for resonances with Thomas's current newsy high profile, but oh boy is the series timely! As for West, beautiful, short, and slightly mournful sounds perfect to me. Thank you!
I'm planning to start Somebody Somewhere this weekend, so the renewal notice is very welcome! In other news, I'm mildly obsessed with this Brandi Carlile cover of "Home" from The Wiz, which was used in my favorite Season 3 episode of Ted Lasso (Mom City): https://youtu.be/Ug-10cLg9w8
I am also obsessed with this cover! She does such a good Diana Ross, I had no idea she had it in her (though I admit that I kinda wonder why the show didn't just use the Ross version).
Let me know how you like Somebody Somewhere!
I nominate Padam Padam by the illustrious Kylie Minogue as *a* song of summer…esp in this PRIDE month! Xo 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Literally obsessed.
I will be firing this up momentarily, thank you, LEM!
I recommend making tulle tutus with friends for 🏳️🌈 pride parades. It’s so easy and they look great! I also recommend Michael Franti’s music for positive, summer soundtracks!
Is there a tulle tutu pattern you particularly recommend?
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Tutu-Skirt Kinda used this but we didn’t bother with glue. Just got elastic and scissors and colorful tulle and got to it!
This looks extremely fun!
If anyone wants a Pride book rec, please read Butch Hijab Blues. A memoir about a queer Muslim immigrant. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
That sounds GREAT. Thank you!
I am so ready for summer reading season! My favorite beach read of last summer was Freya Marske’s gay/magic/Edwardian A Marvelous Light & I have been saving the sequel as a treat for myself. Another one I have been saving is Jasmine Guillory’s By the Book, which I know I will be delighted by, since I have liked every one of her others. And I have a connection to this one, so not a totally unbiased rec, but it just seems wrong not to mention Jessica Martin’s Shakespeare rom coms The Dane of My Existence + For the Love of the Bard, which have all the theater nerd New England vibes and Gilmore Girls-esque small town charm and banter that I think readers of this fine newsletter would adore!
The Dane of My Existence lololll I love a very silly pun -- thank you for all the recs!
I too love a silly pun, as does this author for sure!
I just finished The Daydreams by Laura Hankin this morning and it was such a great way to kick off summer reading season. If you love 2000s era nostalgia, celebrity gossip, and want to unpack the unfair standards placed on young women on TV, you’re going to love this.
I do, and I 100% believe that I will. Thank you, Lizzie!!
Thank you, everyone for all the suggestions! This was so much fun to read, and I’m taking everything on board. 🥰