February Recommendations
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2015) The best book I’ve read in quite some time, Yanagihara’s epic novel of friendship and abuse spans an abstract period of time in New York City following four college friends from their twenties through late middle age. Extremely intense emotional trauma and physical abuse is in here though, so be forewarned, but the commentary on the arc of relationships and the truth and lie between identity and memory make this novel truly epic and beautiful.
The New Contemporary at the Art Institute of Chicago Plenty of excellent stuff to see in the newly opened installation of new contemporary works at the biggest and best art museum in the Midwest. My favorite was some Cy Twombly paintings and sculptures I’ve never seen before.
Sourdough from Pleasant House Bakery Their pies are great, their pastries are great, their fish and chips with peas is a death row meal for me. Pleasant House’s new bread offerings did not disappoint. Carbs forever.
Turning Spoons Into Forks, Alex Chitty (Hyde Park Art Center, through March 5th) This small hybrid exhibition (part photography, part sculpture, part installation) at the HP Art Center stole the show in a museum full of contemporary art exhibitions. Fresh, clean, and with a touch of humor, this exhibit was delightful.
Brief Encounter directed by Noel Coward (1945) This film is a classic, but I only recently saw it for the first time. There is more unsaid in this film that there is spoken, but the shadows, soft focus on even softer skin, and longing paint a melancholic portrait of unrealized love. Truly beautiful and wholly captivating.
