What Moved Me: March 2024
Catching up on the books, music, podcasts, and other things that I've loved lately
I’m back for another round up of the books I’ve read, the music I’ve listened to, the podcasts I’ve binged, and a few other things I’m loving.
As always, this monthly offering is free. I love sharing the things I love, especially books. However, if you value what I share here on What Move You, please consider signing up for a paid subscription. Your support means so much to me. For those who are already paid subscribers: thank you so much. I am so grateful for you.
Let’s start with the books:
I read 6 books in March!
I read 1 more book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger, Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau, MORE by Molly Roden Winter, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre, and The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The 7th Keeper of the Lost Cities book was intense and probably could have used a more stringent editor. It’s the 7th book, so there’s already been a lot of story and in this book, you meet new characters, as well as new mythical species. That part is pretty cool. But there is also a gruesome torture scene within the first few chapters, which was rough to read, even for me as an adult. And as far as understanding more about the story or what might happen next, this book leaves a lot to be desired. I feel like it could have been probably 100 pages shorter and would still have been great. The climactic scene also didn’t have much to clue us into what might come next. So I’ll just have to wait until next month when I read book 8. I still highly recommend this book series to any fantasy oriented kids, grade 5-10.
Donut Fall in Love was a charming book. It’s your classic boy meets girl story except that the boy is a Hollywood hunk, whose abs are as famous as he is, and the girl is a bakery shop owner. The writing was fine, the spicy scenes were sizzling, and the story followed a very familiar arc (they meet under odd circumstances, instant electricity, they begin meeting up to help the guy learn how to bake for a reality tv competition, they have serious sexual tension followed by very hot sex, they fall for one another but only one of them can admit it, they separate, they come back together, the end).
However, what I loved about it were the small details and subplots: the sister of the Hollywood hunk having ppd, the mention of unrealistic expectations for male bodies in Hollywood, the choice of one character to not have children. I loved the phenomenal Asian representation in a wide array of characters. I loved that it takes place in Toronto and some of the Canadianisms. It might not be the best book ever written, but it was a fun, easy read and if you’re into romance, you’ll enjoy this one.
I read More in just 3 days. In some ways, it reads like a spicy romance novel, just with a lot more matter-of-fact descriptions of sex and way less emphasis on the idea of having one true love. In fact the whole premise of this book is that we can, maybe should, love more. I was actually moved more by her offhand descriptions of her experience of motherhood than the revelations she had about opening her marriage. Also, while this book is marketed as the author’s sexual revolution and her adventures, as well as evolution, in polyamory, but the heart of it is about her self-discovery and self-awakening, which is not sexual but emotional.
Homegoing has been on my TBR list for a long time and it did not disappoint. In some ways, this book reads like a series of short stories, connected through lineage. Each story is the next generation in a family tree emerging from one Akan woman in Africa in the late 1700’s. The book follows the descendants of the 2 daughters of Maame, half sisters who never know the other exists and whose lives, as well as descendants, follow different but also similarly painful paths. The descendants of one, stay in Africa while the descendants of the other end up in America as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. Following them through the generations reminds me a bit of Blackbird House (a book by Alice Hoffman, documenting the lives of the people who live in a particular house over the course of 250 years). Except that the threads that connect these 2 parallel families are more brutal and undeniably tied to the color of their skin. There are beautiful moments, in which a character is able to access their own power, but all of it seems to come with a cost they have no choice but to pay. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time.
I was honestly a bit disappointed by The Only Purple House in Town but mostly because the previous witchy/supernatural romances I’ve read by Ann Aguirre are super spicy. And this book was definitely not. It was a great story about chosen family, which I appreciated. And the subplot about intolerance is powerful and timely. I also really appreciate the broadening of the supernatural world beyond witches to include shapeshifters, vampires, and changelings (fae). The vampires are especially fascinating, feeding off of pain (they are healers) or anger (lawyers) or grief (therapists). It was a quick, very readable book with a sweet ending. Just none of the spice I expected and wanted.
Up until a few days ago, I’d read all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s big, well known books except one. Thanks to 2 plane rides and vacation, I read The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and oof….what an incredible book. The characters are complex and interesting and imperfect. To say they’re human is obvious but also, they are larger than life because many of the main and supporting characters are movie stars. But the descriptions are so vivid, the conversations so substantial, the stories so detailed, that it feels as though these are real people and not created specifically for this book. The character of Evelyn Hugo is based somewhat on Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and Ava Gardner, with a dash of Tab Hunter (yes, you read that correctly). It’s old Hollywood glam and it’s a fascinating story and if you haven’t read it yet, put it on your list.
Music and Things to Listen to:
At the beginning of March, I went to see one of my favorite bands (the Beaches) live at the Howard Theater in DC, with 3 amazing women. On the way back from this incredible show, we listened to MUNA. I do not know how this band has been off my radar, but now it is firmly on. I love pretty much everything I’ve listened to, but top 3 are Silk Chiffon, Anything But Me, and The One That Got Away.
I listened to a lot of podcasts this month, but there are a few that I absolutely loved and I’m still thinking about.
First up is an episode of Burnt Toast with Virginia Sole-Smith and her guest, Christyna Johnson. The episode is titled, “Is Not Shopping a Diet” and it’s all about the intersection between diet culture and consumerism and what we can actually have individual responsibility for. I love this entire conversation and I think it’s an important one to hear if you tend to lean hard into the idea of individual responsibility for the environment, particularly around food consumption and choices.
Another podcast I loved was a Rethinking Wellness episode featuring Jessica DeFino (her phenomenal substack is called The Unpublishable). I loved this one so much I’m probably going to listen again because there was just so much good stuff in it.
I also listened to and loved an episode of the Movement Logic podcast, debunking some BS from Dr. Stu McGill when he was on a podcast hosted by Peter Attia. It’s a long episode but really worth it. Laurel and Sarah are so smart but also incredibly funny as they take McGill and Attia to task. You’ll learn a lot in this episode, most importantly of which, ignore Stu McGill.
Lastly, I’ve just binged the first 5 episodes of a limited series podcast called, Time Capsule: The Silver Chain. It’s a “true no-crime story” about a swingers club in suburbs of Minneapolis in the 1970’s. I don’t even know how to describe it without giving away too much. It’s riveting to listen to. Paul Ditty, the host, is a wonderful storyteller. And while it’s about sex…lots and lots of sex…it’s listening to the folks interviews, who are now in their 80’s, talk about their experiences. And in some ways, likely unintentionally, this podcast highlights how getting older is a gift, but it’s also lonely and difficult. Only 5 out of 9 episodes have been released as of this writing and I am so excited for the remaining 4.
One fun movement thing:
This was circulating FB at the beginning of the month, but I loved it so much that I kept the tab open on my computer for weeks after. I want to learn some of the dances….or maybe I just want to go back to dance class. Either way, if you have 4 minutes, watch this. It’s so joyful and fun.
Lastly:
I am always inspired by movement. Watching the flowering trees on the military base where we live move from buds to bloom has been one of the ways I experience hope right now.
And if you want to get moving, here’s the latest video from my YouTube channel.
Did you know I have a YouTube channel? If you’re not subscribed to my movement-only newsletter, you’re missing out on a once monthly roundup of the YouTube videos, bonus classes, and movement programs I offer. You can sign up for it here.
This particular video is based around the idea of spring cleaning — revitalizing your movement practice with one simple and fun way to approach familiar yoga poses.
This video also happens to be a small section of one of the live classes I taught last week in my online studio, MOVE with Naomi. The class was part of my 8-week Better Balance series and this particular class was about dynamic balance vs “static” balance.
If you want access to the whole class, along with the opportunity to practice with me in live classes and an online archive full of fun classes like this one, join me in MOVE. We have a good time there.
If you click on the link above (highlighted in green) and use the coupon code COMMUNITY 2, you’ll receive 80% off your first 2 months.
I hope you enjoy it.
What are you loving lately? Hit me with your book recs, music, podcasts, and anything else moving you right now!
Let me know in the comments!
Love the dance video. Thanks Naomi. Transcendent Kingdom is another great book by Yaa Gyasi. Insightful themes of faith, addiction and daughter mother relationship.