Andrew Pieterick

#Booktok made me read it

Your guide to the most popular books on TikTok A little over a year ago, the mobile app TikTok gained a significantly larger audience at the start of the pandemic, going from a Gen Z dominated platform to an app that seemingly everyone with a smartphone was on. The app’s impressive algorithm was able toContinue reading “#Booktok made me read it”

April 2021 reading wrap-up

April felt reinvigorating after a so-so reading month in March, and I’m excited to share a few of my favorites from April with you. This month I reread an all-time favorite, read a buzzed-about story collection, and I’m also excited to pump you up for a book that will be coming out later this summer.Continue reading “April 2021 reading wrap-up”

Best of the rest: my favorite films of 2020

Each year, Oscars Sunday is my official cutoff for my favorite films of the previous year list. This year, because of the Academy Awards pushing their ceremony two months, I’ve had extra time to catch up of 2020 films. I’ve already written about some of my favorite documentaries from last year, and each of thoseContinue reading “Best of the rest: my favorite films of 2020”

Watching the Oscar contenders, part 3

The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on April 25th, closing out a most unusual year for the film industry. With this series, I watched each of the nominees for Best Picture to make my own determination of where the “best of the year” land. In Part 1 I watched Nomadland, Minari, and The TrialContinue reading “Watching the Oscar contenders, part 3”

“A blank place on a map is the most valuable part”: my favorite nature writing

I’ve always celebrated the coming of spring by reading books about nature, trying to defrost from long winters and appreciate the warmer months ahead. The best nature writing helps us connect to the natural world, and better understand the active role we play in its survival. Today, I’m giving you nine of my favorite piecesContinue reading ““A blank place on a map is the most valuable part”: my favorite nature writing”

March 2021 reading wrap-up

If you had your doubts about my reading slump, let it be known that I did not finish my first book in the month of March until March 14th, and afterwards I blazed through a number of books, hitting some fantasy, a short story collection, a memoir, and an essay collection. In the end, IContinue reading “March 2021 reading wrap-up”

Watching the Oscar contenders, part 2

On March 15th, the nominations for this very strange year’s Oscars ceremony were announced, with the three movies I profiled in Part 1 each snagging six nominations, including the all-important nomination for Best Picture. In Part 2 of Watching the Oscar Contenders, I will highlight three films that also received multiple nominations this year andContinue reading “Watching the Oscar contenders, part 2”

A Toni Morrison read-through, part 2

Back in February, I kicked off my project to read all of Toni Morrison’s published novels with a reread of The Bluest Eye, which I liked, and Sula, which I loved and ended up being my favorite of the month. I was humming along, and then a slump hit. I don’t blame Song of SolomonContinue reading “A Toni Morrison read-through, part 2”

Watching the Oscar contenders, part 1

No one would call 2020 a banner year for movies, with many major releases being pushed to 2021 with the hope of a theatrical release post-pandemic. Despite this, awards season is barreling ahead, with a strong crop of films to boot. In the lead up to this year’s Oscars, I will be watching as manyContinue reading “Watching the Oscar contenders, part 1”

March reading preview

Today, I’m going to walk you through my reading goal check-in, and then write a little about some of the books on my TBR (to be read) for March! Yearly reading goal report card At the start of each year, I create some reading goals to challenge myself and help me broaden my reading. Here’sContinue reading “March reading preview”