Larkee Recs for Reading & Streaming

Mar 17, 2020 – Playwrights’ Corner

Illustrations of a blue tv, green books, and yellow headphones overlapping

As public gatherings have become suspended throughout the country, it seems like we all may be spending more time remote in the coming weeks. So, since at-home entertainments may be our primary form of recreation for a while, we've reached out to The Lark's community and asked our playwrights to share their favorite books, television, movie, and music recommendations! Check out the list below, and add your own in the comments!

Dipika Guha

Recently I’ve been reading Audre Lorde’s Sister Outsider, which is a beautiful collection of essays, making my way through the delicious Succession, and yesterday found a kind of wonderful inspiration in re-reading Doug Wright’s Quills, ever a reminder that art cannot be stopped!

Dave Harris

1) One Punch Man

2) Flatbush Cats on Youtube

3) Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Tim J. Lord

The Lord of the Rings (The books or the extended editions of the movies—don't bother with the cinematic releases), because a). you've got the time and b). you get to follow a small group of genuinely good people take on an impossible task and (SPOILER ALERT:) WIN.

Yola, Walk Through Fire: This record came out last year and I completely missed it, so thank you Spotify for playing it at random yesterday. Her voice is stunning and the music just soars.

Killing Eve (available on Hulu): because shit can be dark AND hilarious and because Sandra Oh & Jodie Comer & Fiona Shaw.

Omar Vélez Meléndez

Before The Rooster Crows (Amazon Prime) - Written by Kisha Tikina Burgos, one of my playwriting mentors, this is one of the best films to come out of Puerto Rico in the last few years. It involves the coming of age story of a teenage girl in the Boricua countryside.

Gurren Lagann (Netflix) - A short, electric anime series that amped anime rules to unbelievable levels. Mechas? Check. Mechas that combine with each other? Check. Mechas that combine and fight on top of whole galaxies? Check.

Burning (Netflix) - If you're still fresh off that Parasite high, I suggest Lee Chang-dong's Burning. A pensive, mysterious love triangle that never disappoints with its gorgeous cinematography and nuanced characterization.

Ife Olujobi

The Connection by Shirley Clarke

The Daytrippers by Greg Mottola

Losing Ground by Kathleen Collins

all available on the Criterion Channel!

Christina Quintana (CQ)

Three great books I've read this year so far and highly recommend:

The Regrets by Amy Bonnaffons (top to bottom EXCELLENT)
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (an amazing meditation on friendship between people and animals, and the writing life)
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi (a particularly worthwhile read for a theatre person, or anyone who has attended a performing arts school of any kind; my book club could not stop talking about it)