The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) - Rabih Alameddine

Huh, two consecutive books involving adult characters and the relationships with their mothers. This was a coincidence—honestly!—even if it would be reasonable to assume otherwise. Actually, the real reason I picked it up was, of course, following up on awards season. I see why this won the National Book Award. It is a personal journey through multiple eras of Lebanese history, about which I knew nothing. I always appreciate a story set over different time periods, and a personal journey leading through generations is a good way for me, a reader with no prior experience or understanding, to get a better sense of another culture. I really enjoyed the organization of this story. It began in reverse chronological order, centering with a hundred pages detailing situation similar to the film, Room, which was a point of origin for the character, before returning forward in time. This was an effective and comprehensible way of presenting both the character's and the country's history.

Cupid & Psyche 85 – Scritti Politti

The 80s are probably my least-versed decade in music, and I definitely made my share of uneducated comments about the common music styles way back in high school, but I’ve grown since then. I now have an appreciation for and understanding of the broader 80s pop scene, and this week’s listen, courtesy of Pitchfork’s weekly Sunday Review, fits squarely into that sentiment. I feel particularly indebted to the review for highlighting the other musical influences heard in this record. The reggae is immediately obvious, of course, but I had forgotten Scritti Politti was rooted in punk. I read Rip It Up and Start Again, but not since grad school. Going back and checking out some of their earlier punk tracks gave a greater context to this record. At times sounding like Prince (though I would never go that far!), this is a perfect example of highly-produced electro-pop that defined the decade. I likely would have been turned off by this in high school, and I would have been wrong.

Heart Eyes (2025)

What better time of year to settle in with a kitschy horror movie set on Valentine’s Day? The plot was inane, and the acting was cheesy, but the movie was still fun! A mostly predictable sequence of events with transparent villains and one or two jumpy moments. As to be expected, given the setting, there was a healthy dose of romantic comedy. Also, for better or worse, I will never be able to set this apart from the Scream franchise, based on both who was in the living room and who was on the screen. A lovely way to spend an evening, and I envision doing pretty much the same thing for the inevitable sequel.

Halo 2: Anniversary (Xbox One)

My memories of my first time playing through Halo 2 are hazy, as I was a pre-teen, but some moments do slip through. Being able to carry two weapons simultaneously. Playing as the enemy species for the first time. Encountering an entirely new enemy in the brutes. What I also recall, though, is the sense of anticipation to getting a sequel to what, at the time, had to be my favorite-ever video game. I also remember the slight uneasiness when it didn’t capture me the same way the first one did, surely not my first time being let down by a sequel in media, but one of the first I can bring to mind. The fact that it ended in a singular boss fight, without a climactic chase sequence, felt like a letdown then, and the franchise returned to an escape with its follow-up. While I was too young to be following game reviews and criticism, it seems like that was a commonly expressed sentiment around the game. Now, the online multiplayer aspect is recognized as a paradigm shift, and I can attest to that being formative for me as well. 

All of that said, with the 20-year wave of nostalgia cresting right now, I wanted to replay the campaign even if I was basically experiencing it fresh. The Anniversary re-release, as it is presented in the Master Chief Collection, is an excellent product, and the way to play it today. The entire game, including its cutscenes, is redone in a way that feels totally modern. And because I was coming to it nostalgically, I found myself mashing the Select button to alternate between original Xbox and Xbox One graphics multiple times every level. The boss finale does still seem anti-climactic, but not enough to detract from the totality of the game. A wonderfully tight experience, only whetting my appetite for more from the Halo universe, not to mention more romanticizing of the original Xbox.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale and Founders Centennial IPA

I've long maintained Bell's Two Hearted Ale is the finest beer, or at least my favorite. It's full in taste, plenty of hops, but not excessively heavy. The label is beautiful and makes me think of Nick Adams. Plus, it's from Michigan. I've had dozens of them over the course of my adult life, and I will always order it when I see it on a menu and nothing else jumps out at me. Imagine my slow realization as I made the connection that the design shares a curious similarity, at least in color scheme, to Founders Centennial IPA. Also delicious, also hoppy (in fact, using the same exact variety of hops as my beloved Two Hearted, as I later learned), and also from my beloved Michigan. Now, I have not had this beer near as often; their All Day session IPA is more of my go-to option. But when I realized they shared similar characteristics, according to experts who taste such things, I had to do a blind taste test. My conclusion? My taste buds are still non-functional. Sipped from the can, I preferred Bell's. Sipped from a tasting glass, it was Founders. What struck me seeing them side-by-side was how red the Centennial was. I've always thought Two Hearted is a beautiful pour, but it literally pales in comparison. Evidently, this did not affect the taste, however, as I had mixed results, which admittedly detract from my credibility in declaring a favorite. All said, I can't go wrong with either one.