My Favorite Things: Late Summer Edition

A new series of posts where I will recommend books, movies, TV shows, and any other thing I happen to find worthy of my (very limited) time

BOOK : Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher
Originally a blog, this is a collection of letters from all sorts of people, some famous, some not. It is like the ultimate grab bag of intellectual candy. I never knew what would come next. Letters from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol, Ernest Hemingway to F. Scott Fitzgerald, letters from the President to young children, a boy asking Frank Lloyd Wright to design a dog house.  I could go on. Even if you're not the biggest fan of writing letters yourself, this book is a treasure trove of historical and cultural moments caught on paper. If, like me, you happen to LOVE writing letters, there is no better inspiration to be found. And, just today I found he as a new book coming out soon called Lists of Note. A list of lists! Squee!

TV : Black Mirror and Outlander
Black Mirror has been described as a modern-day Twilight Zone. Each episode is stands alone and makes the viewer question the potential dark side of technology. They are all set in the (not-too-distant) future, but without seeming too space rocket-y. I was gripped through all six episodes of both seasons. It can be hard to find, but worth watching and discussing. The "White Bear" episode caused a minor freak out on my part, and I'm still thinking about it...as I am all the episodes for that matter. Take my advice and know as little about the plots of each story as possible. The way the world and its problems unfold is one of the best parts about watching this show.

Outlander is based on one of my favorite book series EVAR. I thought it was moving a little slow for my taste, but I didn't realize there were going to be sixteen episodes, and they're only on number five. I just can't wait for Claire and Jamie to GET. TOGETHER. So far, I think the series as a whole is very well done. The casting, set design, and production values are all outstanding (Claire's knitted accessories are particularly lust-worthy).

BLOG : Brain Pickings
I know this has been around for a while, but if you've never taken the time to read this blog (and I never did) it is SO worth it. I take a few minutes each day to peruse the articles, and I'm never disappointed. I love how it takes a book and highlights all the best parts. I've found a lot of wonderful things and learned even more. I am currently reading Seneca's book On the Shortness of Life after this outstanding post. This blog is one of those things I am always glad I took the extra time to read.

What delights are worth your time these days?