Shelf Absorbed

Sarah and Ben catch up after many months of separation, due to the spiralling vicissitudes and shifting sands of 2021, to discuss their standout book and film choices, and other coping strategies.From our shelves to your shelves, some fine antidotes to and anecdotes from the year, and potential panaceas for the always hectic festive season.

This episode focuses on James Baldwin's 1974 novel If Beale Street Could Talk and the 2018 film adaptation by Barry Jenkins.We also touch upon the following books: Rainbow Milk (2020) by Paul Mendez, Everything Counts (from the collection No Sweetness Here 1969) by Ama Ata Aidoo.And these films: Good Hair (dir. Jeff Stilson 2009), 13th (dir. Ava DuVernay 2016).We also recommend Giovanni's Room (1956) and Another Country (1962) by James Baldwin, the amazing new biography James Baldwin: Living In Fire by Bill V. Mullen and the documentary film I Am Not Your Negro (dir. Raoul Peck 2016) based on Baldwin's unfinished project Remember This House.We'd also love to hear any suggestions you might have.

This episode focuses on two books and two films: Maybe You Should Talk To Someone (2019) by Lori Gottlieb; Grief Works (2017) by Julia Samuels; Little Miss Sunshine (2006) dir. Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris; and Harvey (1950) dir. Henry Koster.We also mention The Full Catastrophe (2016) by Carol Elizabeth Lee and A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu (1913-27) by Marcel Proust.Two films that almost made it in but were just edged out are Silver Linings Playbook (2012) dir. David O Russell and The Fisher King (1991) dir. Terry Gilliam - highly recommend them for some different takes.We'd also love to hear any suggestions you might have.

This episode focuses on Nick Hornby's forthcoming novel Just Like You (2020) and Tayari Jones' An American Marriage (2018) as well as Andrew Haigh's Weekend and Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Once again Sarah G and I have taken different literary and cinematic roads to arrive in more or less the same destination as we discuss the concept of ENLIGHTENMENT. Join us as we talk spirituality, religion, mindfulness, mortality, the interconnectedness of all things, the importance of the arts during a plague, empathy, perspectivism, self belief, self help and more in one heck of a heady half hour! 😘😘😘Featuring: The Alchemist - Paulo CoelhoThe Power of Now - Eckhart TolleThe Seventh Seal - Ingmar BergmanRashomon - Akira Kurosawaand more...

We're back! A slightly different take for this one, just new stuff!3 books, 4 films:Ben's Picks: Promising Young Woman (dir. Emerald Fennel), Mangrove/Lover's Rock (dir. Steve McQueen), Wrong Turn (dir. Mike P. Nelson)Sarah's Picks: The Midnight Library - Matt Haig, An Ordinary Wonder - Buki Papillon, Luster - Raven LeilaniAnd the film I spectacularly forget the name of about the After Life is called *ahem!* After Life (dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda)ENJOY! :)