17 Comments
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Gina Banks's avatar

I love the Dakota deep dive, but I think two of her greatest hits were when she called out Ellen on her show and her Arch Digest tour where she claimed (falsely?) that she was allergic to limes. An icon.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

haha see THOSE I was very aware of!!! I know the classics!

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Sarah Zachrich Jeng's avatar

What is it with Publix and the lack of bike racks?? (Some stores in my area have them but it’s very hit or miss!) I’ve been meaning to watch the Suspiria remake for *checks notes* six years (love a Thom Yorke-composed score, loved the music in the original) and maybe 2025 will be the year I finally do.

Good luck with the project just for you!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the Suspiria remake! especially you, with your own psychological horror/thriller background!

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Jane Mitchell's avatar

Love the spirit of the 2024 resolution, not just biking but biking for a light happy errand. Just terrific <3

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

a relatively simple, straightforward, actionable resolution!! look at me go!

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Jenna's avatar

One of my goals is to write a review for everything book I read even if it’s just a few words. I loved seeing all your screamy reviews you shared the past few weeks so maybe I’ll embrace those too!

Don’t have suggestions in other genres but some of my favorite romances from diverse authors are Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharo, I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram, and Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Part of why I do my short little reviews -- I want to leave a review for every book I read (both for the authors' sake, and also for my own to remember), but I know that if I held myself to more than a sentence or two I would get behind, then feel bad about myself, then stop doing it. So short shouty reviews it is! Thanks for the recs!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

This morning I woke up ready to do a new year Yoga with Adriene challenge, checked my email before I started (Adriene would not approve!), saw this email and said “Adriene can wait!!!” So excited for your Dakota journey…I haven’t seen Daddio yet so I need to make that a priority. I think The Lost Daughter is my favorite, but Suspiria really shows her range…she can be gross too! But really this is all making me want to rewatch Cha Cha Real Smooth, which I do think is kinda perfect. And I agree about Cooper Raiff. I find him and his large smile charming.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

To beat out Yoga with Adriene!!!!!!!!! wow, i'll be chasing this high all year. Would LOVE your thoughts on Daddio.

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Cath's avatar

I've never even heard of most of those movies! It's a hard adjustment to realize that I know longer go to the movies all the time or know about everything that's out. But I also used to go to movies that started at 9 or 10 pm, so I'm clearly a completely different person now.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I'm just really not up on movies! I can't say I ever was, necessarily, but I've definitely only gotten worse.

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Cath's avatar

Probably because the movies have gotten worse! Everything has to make a billion dollars now, no more mid budget gems.

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Jennie's avatar

Your “s” key really seemed to hang in there (and/or congrats on winning the battle against the keyboard)!

Love that you’re watching Dakota Johnson’s movies. I can’t really explain why I like her so much but I do. I hyper fixated on Johnson’s Persuasion movie when it came out because she is so great in it! Hard agree about Wentworth lol. Loved The High Note too.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I really, really worked for it! I may just be adapting how I type. I really do love Dakota Johnson and agree that she was great in Persuasion even if there were other issues with the movie. I still had fun.

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Sarah Chamberlain's avatar

I write about my reading on my Substack, and I tend to read a decent amount of the kind of books you're looking for! In terms of recent stuff I've loved, I'd definitely check out The Fraud by Zadie Smith, How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair, and Anansi's Gold by Yepoka Yeebo. For older books, India Holton recommended Robert K Massie's Nicholas & Alexandra on her Instagram at one point, and I really, really enjoyed it - classic, old-school sweeping biography!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

oooh thank you!! these all sound perfect!

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