A Little Life update #16
What am I reading/watching/listening to/wearing/going?
Reading
Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps
I can recognise that my recreational reading sometimes comes in waves, fits and bursts. I increasingly rely on audiobooks to fit in more reading when I’d otherwise be in a stress-induced (state of the planet) slump. And sometimes I can reach for commercial-heavy reading, that can sometimes leave me feeling … meh. Just; knowing I’m not challenged or really deeply enjoying the act of reading, just doing it to scratch my brain a bit. And that’s fine! Sometimes. But not always for me.
Lately I’ve been craving classics and challenge. And I have been delving into Book Prize lists. I just purchased two from the Booker Prize shortlist (The Witch by Marie NDiaye and The Director by Daniel Kehlmann) and I was particularly moved by a few on the UK Women’s Fiction Prize longlist. One of those was Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps, which Readings kindly ordered in for me - and I am so moved, challenged and enjoying reading it;
Gloria has a learning disability. She’s nineteen, and there’s nothing to do except wander the local parks, look for friendship and keep out of trouble – or go round Jack’s. Jack needs Gloria’s company, but he’s unpredictable and angry at the world.
After an act of violence, their friendship has to end. Now Gloria’s on her own. But when she hears Jack’s out of prison, her whole world is turned upside-down.
Heartbreaking and beautiful, Gloria Don’t Speak is a deeply empathetic portrait of a woman dealing with vulnerability, violence – and the desire for connection.
Watching
Riot Women on SBS
Follows a group of middle-aged women, as they form a punk-rock band to participate in a talent contest.
I am absolutely obsessed with this tender, hilarious, heartbreaking, enraging and phenomenal British series (and yes, it has a confirmed Season 2!)
Written by Sally Wainwright (who gifted us Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack, among many other brilliant British shows!) - and starring some of my favourite actors;
Taj Atwal who was also brilliant in Hullraisers
Tamsin Greig who I have loved since Black Books but especially the series Episodes
This is really a story about how women become increasingly invisible as they age … but also within certain workforces, and even to their families who take them for granted.
Have the tissues ready, and be prepared to scream into a pillow for some of the injustices touched upon. But also; ROCK OUT, because this show will have you fist-pumping too!
Listening
Across one special week in November 2025 musicians, including Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo and many more, came together to create a new record in support of War Child’s work to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict around the world.
Under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford, HELP(2) features an incredible line-up of contributors including Anna Calvi, Arctic Monkeys, Arlo Parks, Arooj Aftab, Bat For Lashes, Beabadoobee, Beck, Beth Gibbons, Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg and Young Fathers.
Such an incredible album;
And star-studded is an understatement! Arctic Monkeys and Olivia Rodrigo were the stand-outs to me, but a whole lot of new-to-me artists also really impress (Fontaines D.C., Damon Albarn, Ezra Collective)
Wearing
Jason and the Argan Oil LUSH shampoo bar
I’ve said before that I love LUSH and all they stand for;
And their products are amazing. I am currently obsessed with this rose-jam smelling shampoo bar that is so gentle on my scalp (especially when I have an eczema flair-up) works so well with all my curly-hair products, and lasts me months and months.
Going
Eddie Izzard performs Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 30 June - 12 July 2026
Eddie Izzard confronts Shakespeare’s most tortured soul. This production comes directly from her critically acclaimed solo performances of Shakespeare’s HAMLET, which were triple-extended in New York, Chicago and London.
I am a Shakespeare tragic; I love the Bard, and given that my new book (Shakespeare in the Orchard) spins around a group of WWI Germanic prisoners performing Hamlet for their own sanity and humanity, I am obviously very keen to see as many productions of it as I can this year!
Riot women was amazing! Loved, loved, loved it. So glad there will be a season 2.