Good Recs Are Hard To Find!

plus: a show for the Kelce-curious, an $8 billion mystery; and a better way to take vacations

Happy first Friday of October! Here are three things I’ve loved this week:

📰 Jenisha From Kentucky (The Atlantic gift link): I held my breath at times during this magazine piece that reads like a memoir. It’s an elegant, heart-wrenching account of Jenisha Watts’s life story, from her childhood as the daughter of a poor, crack-addicted single mom in Lexington Kentucky to becoming a financially secure journalist and married mother in New York City. Watts is clear-eyed as she reckons with her guilt over the privileges she received compared to her siblings; the years she spent hiding her past and her perceived deficiencies; and the life-changing support she received from strong women.

📺 Kelce: I have historically had next to zero interest in American football, but now that Taylor Swift is maybe dating a player, I am extremely Kelce-curious. This led to a very enjoyable hour and a half learning about the sports-obsessed childhood of the likable Kelce brothers, Jason and Travis; their historic 2023 Superbowl face-off; and Jason’s struggle over when to retire, weighing the toll it takes on his body and family life with wife Kylie and three young daughters, against his drive to remain at the top of the game.

🎧 Search Engine Podcast: Where did the 8 billion dollars go? An illuminating account of what happened at FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange run by Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now on trial for fraud; and specifically, where $8 billion of customer money went. The podcast led me to the book I’m currently reading: Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall, by Zeke Faux, the Bloomberg reporter interviewed by host, PJ Vogt.

Recently, after a fun catch-up with friends, one of them paused in the doorway and asked one of my favorite questions: “Have you seen anything good lately?"

I smiled and rattled off some ideas and threw in a few book recs, too.

“You know, I do recommend TV shows and books every week in Some Happy Scribbles…” I murmured gently while watching my friend scramble for her phone so she could make a note of my ideas.

“Yes, but I can’t remember all that when I’m in front of the television ready to watch something! I just want to pull up a list and see everything you’ve recommended in one place, so I can quickly pick something that I know will be good,” our other friend chimed in.

“Oh God, yes, it’s a problem! I keep lists of things people tell me about everywhere and then I can’t find them!” The first one echoed while brandishing her phone. 

I stared at them, surprised and delighted. Because I regularly wish for this exact thing: a well-curated, organized, searchable guide for what to watch, read, and listen to.

Every time I switch on the television or enter a bookstore, I am overwhelmed by the endless options and fantasize about a reliable shortcut that leads directly to something I’ll love.  

In my experience, the best recommendations are from trusted sources – people with good taste (or similar taste to mine) who care about high-quality content, have taken the time to watch, read, and consider, and are eager to share the things they love: like the hand-written book reviews in independent bookstores. Newspaper and magazine lists of “new releases” and suggestions by the streaming service algorithms just aren’t the same: I want curated recommendations from people, not robots.

As I drove home, I wondered: could I create the entertainment recommendations database of my dreams?

After all, I am an enthusiastic recommender of all sorts of things - from recipes and restaurants to books and bars; I just happen to be an obsessive list-maker; and I’m firmly committed to taking leisure – and the pursuit of everyday happiness - seriously. I want to spend my downtime well, and I want to help you do the same!

And so, this week, I decided to create my fantasy database.

I'd love for you to check it out: there are over 200 carefully curated books, TV shows, movies, podcasts, and playlists. It’s not as elegant as I’d like, but there are separate pages for TV Shows, Movies, Books, Playlists & Podcasts; each sorted by categories like Fiction, Nonfiction, Drama, Comedy, and Romantic Comedy, and moods like Cozy, Engrossing, Upbeat, and Stylish Retro. There’s also a page for my most recent recommendations for when you want something very of the moment.

As I compiled and categorized these lists, I realized I should tell you how I think about what to recommend…my Curation Code of Conduct, if you will:

1. I have boundless respect for the creators who make things, and therefore, I don’t publish negative criticism or reviews. If I didn't enjoy it, I won't recommend it!

2. I personally watch, read, or listen to everything I recommend; and

3. I do not accept payment for recommendations.

My most fervent hope is that the next time – maybe tonight! – you’re cozy on the sofa ready to watch a show, or in desperate need of a good book, you click over to Some Happy Scribbles and find just what you’re looking for!

I’m in search of a good web developer to help me create a better version of this, but in the meantime, I would love it if you’d leave me a comment letting me know if I should add other categories, moods, or anything else that would make this work for you…

Here’s to everyday happiness! xo Amelia

In case you missed it: An adorable Instagram account that beautifully pairs books with food // Why do runway models always look so grumpy? (NYTimes gift link) // Taylor Swift and the US Economy // Is there a better way to take vacations? // Are you tuning in to find out whether the first-ever “Golden” Bachelor will find true love? !

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Thank you for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

In order to provide you with the best experience, Some Happy Scribbles never accepts payment for recommendations. Questions, comments, or story ideas? Reply to this message or email amelia@somehappyscribbles.com to reach me directly. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook.