April '26 Entertainment

a ella le gusta el peliculon

May 02, 2026

BOOKS

SCRUPLES

by Judith Krantz

SYNPOSIS

A young woman escapes a painful past and reinvents herself in Los Angeles, building a high-end fashion boutique that becomes a world of beauty, ambition, and temptation. As her business grows, so do the emotional and romantic entanglements around her.

WHY I READ/CONNECTED

I have a deep appreciation for the pop(ular) in any medium. I believe we are in an era (post Thriller onwards), where the external success, the business—is as much the art as the actual piece itself. One of my friend’s mom’s recommended this book, said it was a guilty pleasure of her 20s. Wow. I ate up these 600 pages in two days. Spider is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, his love for women made me feel so seen.

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE

RATING

THE WASTELAND & OTHER POEMS

by T.S. Eliot

SYNPOSIS

T.S. Eliot has an unmistakably fragmented & beautiful voice that wanders through a spiritually barren world, searching for meaning amid decay. The poems shift across time & desires, weaving myth, religion, and everyday life into a collage of disconnection. Beneath the ruin, there are faint hints that renewal is still possible—but only through transformation.

WHY I READ/CONNECTED

I came across someone reading T.S. Eliot out in public and we had a short chat about his work. It also reminded me that I had this collection gathering dust in my library, and as soon as I went home—I cracked it open. Poetry is such a distinct reading experience to fiction. I try to read each poem aloud, and also not to read the book straight through. Instead I read a novel alongside it, and only grabbed for the poetry when I felt called. Most of this collection was good, but there are certain segments that are transcendent. That’s the beauty of poetry. You never know what will sing to you. It’s like sifting for gold.

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE

RATING

MACBETH

by William Shakespeare

SYNPOSIS

A decorated warrior is told he will be king—makes it come true. Spurred by a ruthless partner, he murders his way to the throne, only to find that power breeds paranoia faster than it secures control. What begins as ambition curdles into madness, as fear unravels both his rule and his mind.

WHY I READ/CONNECTED

At the tail end of my Shakespeare March I discovered this play hiding in my library. In all honesty, it was my least favorite of the four I read. The pacing felt off and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters strongly.

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE

RATING

WiTHiN A BUDDiNG GROVE

by Marcel Proust

SYNPOSIS

Proust drifts through seaside summers, salons, and first love, discovering that time doesn’t pass—it accumulates. Through fleeting encounters and obsessive reflection, he begins to understand that memory reshapes reality more powerfully than reality itself. What seems like idle youth becomes the quiet formation of a compulsive personality obsessed with capturing life before it disappears.

WHY I READ/CONNECTED

Almost a year ago to the day I read the first volume of In Search Of Lost Time. I left the six book box set in Portugal, so when I made it back to visit my parents—of course I had to pick up where I left off. I enjoyed this much better than Swann’s Way. Like most classic literature, the first 100 pages or so are a slog…but then you find your brain adjusting to the groove of his style. And somehow by the end, 700 pages ends up not being enough. I love how much of a sensitive little boy Proust is, and how he’s unafraid of showing it.

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE

RATING

THE BLUEST EYE

by Toni Morrison

SYNPOSIS

In a world that worships whiteness, a young Black girl prays for blue eyes—believing they will make her lovable. As her family and her community fractures under the weight of internalized hatred, poverty, and violence, her desire becomes a tragic mirror of a society that has taught her to disappear.

WHY iIREAD/CONNECTED

If you know me, you know Toni Morrison is on my Mount Rushmore off of Beloved alone. But I’ve committed to reading all her books, and even though Sula & Jazz are in my possession—I found this copy of her debut in a Lisbon bookstore and got hooked thumbing through it on the spot. Wow. Fucking wow. This book made me cry my eyes out for two reasons: the story itself is so visceral…and her level of craft had me praying to God to give me all the faculties and time and focus to reach even a tenth of her power.

HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE

RATiNG

LOST LAMBS

by Madeline Cash

SYNPOSIS

This book follows the dysfunctional Flynn family as their open marriage unravels, leading their three daughters into their own chaotic lives, including a criminal conspiracy involving a local billionaire.

WHY I READ/CONNECTED

It’s the hottest book out right now and I love to learn from what dominates the conversation. This book felt a little too satisfied with itself at times, which I think held it back. There were sentences, passages, even a few chapters that were breathtaking…but overall the story fell short.

HiGHLiGHTED PASSAGE

RATING

ALBUMS

MAN iN BLACK

by Floyymenor

Another example of suffering from high expectations. Floyy’s 2024 run of singles was untouchable—it reminded of that early Midas Touch from Fetty Wap.

This is enough to set off an entire party anywhere in the globe.

Man in Black was good, but I haven’t found myself replaying any of the songs. I know he intentionally wanted to flex his sound and there are solid tracks, but none of them landed as addictive ear candy. Maybe I gotta hear one outside or in the club.

KiND OF BLUE

by Miles Davis

I stumbled upon a Miles Davis video that led me down a Youtube rabbit hole. Undeniable man. Then it occurred to me that I had never actively listened to him. I can’t say I know anything about jazz but I love this album and I’m still seeking out everything of his.

PiCTURES AT AN EXHiBiTiON

by Modest Mussorgsky

While looking for classical music that is conducive for creative flow states, I came across this recommendation. Mussogorksy composed a piano suite meant to be auditory representations of his friend Viktor Hartmann’s exhibition. It’s like you’re walking through the gallery looking at different paintings and sculptures.