Here are a few things we loved in September…
The Death Of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
This gothic horror novel tells the story of Jane Shoringfield, a very practical and analytical minded young woman who has found herself in need of arranging for her future in a world reflective of post-war Britain. When she meets Augustine Lawrence, a marriage of convenience changes her life and provides her with everything she has been hoping for, primarily the freedom to do as she pleases.
By doing so, she enters a new role as the wife of a respected doctor and finds herself legally bound to a man she hardly knows, who must return each and every night to a decaying family manor, without her. Once she finds herself stranded at the infamous Lindridge Hall, mysteries and atrocities begin to surface, dragging Jane from the comfort of her analytical and practical world into the murk of insanity. This novel is familiar in its use of well-worn gothic tropes while still managing to surprise and even at times frighten the reader.
The horror in the novel does not just stem from the mystery of Lindridge Hall, the seemingly unforgivable acts of the characters, or even the apparitions that feed upon the sanity of the protagonist, but also from the overarching themes of loss, guilt, and obsessive desire.
Who Hurt You Podcast
Who Hurt You, hosted by writer and comedian Sofie Hagen, delves into the lives and stories of people from all walks of life. On this show, Sofie interviews actors, activists, authors, mental health professionals, and other humans in the public eye who have engaging stories that they are willing to share. The show aims to dissect why we are the way we are.
Who Hurt You encourages the interviewees as well listeners to ask themselves about the roles family, upbringing, society, our role models, and our experiences play in our lives, and what makes us the people that we are today. This show is upbeat, studded with comedic moments, and also manages to hold space for deep reflection, surprising insights, and heartwarming moments of connection.
X-Files on Disney+
There will always be something nostalgic and cozy about the original X-Files series. With nine seasons, which ran from 1993 to 2002, and a massive cult following, there is no doubt that the X-Files has left its mark on pop culture. “I Want To Believe” has entered the general consciousness around conspiracy culture, and the populace’s belief in the secret corners of the American government’s role in every unnatural event in recent years can tip its hat to this show.
The critical Dana Scully and dreamer Fox Mulder are FBI agents who uncover unsolved cases, explore supernatural events, and find themselves embroiled in unexplainable situations, both under and away from the ever watchful eye of the government they both are sworn to uphold and dedicated to exposing.
This show is about belief, faith, and the crossroads in between. It comments heavily on themes of obsession, grief, loss, death, trauma, theology, and the uncertainty of memory in ways that have stuck with viewers for decades.
Moonage Daydream dir. Brett Morgan
Less a documentary and more a sensory experience, Brett Morgan’s Moonage Daydream features previously unreleased footage of David Bowie and traces his evolution behind the scenes. Though the film moves chronologically, the focus is on Bowie as a person rather than on his discography. Footage of performances and interviews are interspersed between clips of classic films, authors, and the individuals that influenced Bowie throughout his lifetime.
Notably, the film was approved by Bowie’s estate, making it the first authorized documentary on the legendary performer.
Autumn by Rainer Maria Rilke
The leaves fall, fall as from far,
Like distant gardens withered in the heavens;
They fall with slow and lingering descent.
And in the nights the heavy Earth, too, falls
From out the stars into the Solitude.
Thus all doth fall. This hand of mine must fall
And lo! the other one:–it is the law.
But there is One who holds this falling
Infinitely softly in His hands.
