What's distracting Sarah? #1

TV: Somebody Somewhere

(click here for the HBO show site)

I can't tell you how much I love this series, billed as a 'coming of middle age' story.  Sam has moved back to her hometown to look after her poorly sister who has since passed away. There she slips back into family drama, life long frustrations as well as connecting with people she knew from her school days. It's kind of a platonic love story between two people - Sam and an acquaintance who idolised her when they were both at school, Joel. And it's also an exploration of how being stuck where you are, in the circumstances that life has placed you in, can also have its moments of wonder. Also, secret karaoke.

As Sam grapples with loss and acceptance, singing is her saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in but don't give up, showing that finding your people, and finding your voice, is possible. Anywhere. Somewhere.

I am besotted with comedian, singer and New York cabaret star Bridget Everett, who stars in 'Somebody Somewhere' as well as being its executive producer. She is one of the most body positive women around, who absolutely celebrates her own physical shape in all its glory.

Here's a brilliant piece in The NewYorker about her and the show.

Website: Turn Black

Ethical clothing for every size, where every garment is black. Click here to visit.

I haven’t bought anything from here so I can’t comment on quality, reliability or delivery. But what grabbed me was the poetic way the designer talks about the reason for only designing black clothes. Read about it here.

And of course the super inclusive sizing. I mean, what about this? Chuffin ace!

“Free Customization for all sizes! Just mention your sizes on the customization request form at checkout, we will stitch it to your body shape’

And there’s some lovely dresses too from modest to a bit slinky. I’m saving up!

Art: Whistlejacket by George Stubbs

Read more about Whistlejacket here.

I'm not an art expert by any means, but I work hard to keep an open mind and try to pay attention to what I feel when looking at a piece of art. I like to think of engagement with art as a theraputic experience. Mindfulness 'n' that innit.

I had a moment a few years ago in New York where a Jackson Pollock in MOMA (click here) took me by surprise and had me mesmerised for an hour or more. Honestly it made me cry I was so moved. Previous to that experience I thought Pollock was a load of meaningless splatters. I still don't know why my reaction to it was so profound. I just know it was.

Whistlejacket grabbed me during my visit to The National Gallery in London last week because to me it represented power, strength and beauty. Also it's an absolutely massive canvas. In Episode 2 of Middle Aged Fat Lasses Podcast (click here) Sezl talked about being called 'a fat horse', a term which she liked. And this proud, formidable beauty reminded me of her.

Fiction: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Read more about author Elizabeth Strout here

This was the first Elizabeth Strout that I read, only last year, and have since consumed everything of hers I could get my hand on. I have become a veritable 'Strout-head'.

Olive is a retired school teacher in a small coastal town in Maine USA, who struggles to make sense of the changes in her life. She's a real contrradiction- blunt and unpredicatble but with immense compassion. Plus she said my favourite put down of all time. Referring to a woman she's not keen on she simply describes her as, 'not much'. Ooooh that's one shady biyach.

It tells the story of a woman's everyday life by exploring the small community she lives in. I'm a slow reader, but I found it really easy and accessible, with some beautiful prose.

And if like me, you fall in love with bad-tempered, complicated Olive, you'll be thrilled to know that a follow up was published in 2020 called 'Olive Again'.

For a link to Olive Kitteridge on Amazon, click here.  By the way, I'd urge you to read the book rather than watch the mini-series. Though it's very good (who doesn't love Frances McDormand?), I much preferred the book.

Thanks for having a read through this week's collection of shiny things that have distracted me. Hope there was something to catch your eye, too.

If you could ask your friends to subscribe to the newsletter and the podcast, I tell you what, that would be absolutely brill.

Have a lovely week.

Sarah xxx