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Crime drama has always been my favorite genre to watch or read about. Not sure what that says about me but it is my truth. The first book series that immediately engulfed me from the first page of the first book to the last page of the last book was the story of Tom Ripley. Written by the talented Patricia Highsmith. This 5 book series follows the story of Tom Ripley, a sleek con artist and serial killer who seems to always find trouble and run towards it, while in the end always escaping consequence. Side bar: We all remember the 1999 film starring Matt Damon “The Talented Mr Ripley” named after the first book, but also another must watch adaptation, and much better is the 1977 film by Wim Wenders “The American Friend” which follow the third book in the series “Ripley’s Game”.
Dec 17, 2020
Related Recs
One I've always wanted to rant about is the I Hunt Killers trilogy by Barry Lyga. Probably one of the only series where I've never met anyone who has read or even heard of the books. I specifically want to rant about the second book, Game. INCREDIBLE. I read it almost six years ago but I can still remember almost every detail. The plot is phenomenal and I have no idea how Barry Lyga was able to think of something so different and interesting??? I can't think of any words to describe it but it's so unique to the point where, six years later, you're still thinking about the book!!! Super gruesome series though, but if you're okay with that I 100000% recommend. Might reread it.
Jan 2, 2025
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game of thrones is RIVETING like just so good, i’m motoring through those books! i also cannot suggest more highly Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe and Killers of the Flower Moon (which was way way way better than movie, i think the movie did a disservice to the original story!!)
Feb 21, 2025
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looking for a thriller? Read sharp object by Gillian Flynn- love love this book southern gothic story. trying to find out who killed a little girl and finding out the killer is actually closer than you think!
Looking for a relatable read? Read Everyone in this room will someday be dead by Emily Austin - just finished this book about a woman who finds herself fixated on dying and death of those around her and herself. She also find herself an Atheist in a Catholic church being offered a job which she accepts. This book might not be relatable with you but it was with me. I know when I was younger I would think about death all the time and just being terrified by the unknown and not knowing when something could happen to someone you love.
Looking for a great series and get better by each and every book? Read the shadow and bone series with six of crows by Leigh Bardugo. I won’t lie I read this series WAY out of order. I read six of crows then crooked kingdom following up with king of scars and rule of wolves. then reading the first trilogy. But I just loved the duopoly of king of scars and rule of wolves it was so magical falling back in with characters I knew from the past books.
Jun 19, 2024
Top Recs from @josh-itiola
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One of my favorite rituals is burning incense. Filling my space with aromas that take me places. Founded and created by Junior Adesanya, Cremate is a London based incense company. They specialize in all-natural hand dipped charcoal incense cones. Honestly it eff’d me up the first burn because I wasn't ready for how natural the scent would feel, like I FELT IT! I burnt my first cone from them from a collaboration Cremate had done with Affix and it took me places, while equally grounding me with Mother Earth.
Dec 17, 2020
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Set in the south London neighborhood of Brixton in 1980. The film follows Blue, a young Jamaican man and his friends as he pursues his music career while dealing with the realness of racism and xenophobia. When released in theaters the movie Originally deemed “too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension” and was given a “X” rating. Funny enough it was finally released in the US in 2019 right in the midst of our own racial reckoning. Right now more than ever Babylon feels very close to home. I highly recommend the watch, Plus the music in the film is sooo damn good!!
Dec 17, 2020
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One of my favorite activities to do is cooking. I rarely eat out, maybe because I grew up in a African household where the question of eating out would be met with “What about the food you have in your fridge?” This year specifically where all of us were forced to stay inside, has pushed me to explore my love for cooking even more. Never with a set menu (unless my cravings were elevated), I would leave the task of creating a meal as I opened the fridge. Wonderfully guided along by weekly food boxes from my local community garden, I would just try and combine new and old flavors to create a wonderful lunch or dinner. Paired with a nice glass of natty wine (Gamay Gang). Enjoy the process!
Dec 17, 2020