January, Logged
What I read, watched, played, ate, listened to and thought about this month.
Folks, I was so close to posting a January recap on time! But then, alas, my husband and I thought it’d be a great idea to reorganize our utility closets and deep clean the apartment since we’ll be on our honeymoon when we normally do spring cleaning.
A photograph, to give you an idea of what ensued in our tiny Brooklyn home.
Can you spot our dog Ginny?
Needless to say, the recap post didn’t happen on time, but now it’s here!
January 2026…
It was tough.
The beginning of January is usually hopeful for me. There’s the clean-slate mindset of New Year’s, and my husband’s birthday is on the ninth, which gives us a built-in reason to celebrate. This year we kept it simple and went bowling on Long Island with friends who also had winter birthdays to celebrate.
But, it’s been a lot of downhill since then.
I deal with seasonal depression every year; that’s nothing new for me. But when the news is filled with fatal ICE shootings and constant civil unrest, that familiar winter heaviness fucks with me even harder.
I’m sure it fucks with everyone.
It (whatever this “it” may be: despair? nihilism? impotence?) also makes me question the value of this space, of me posting culture round-ups about books and movies and music when those things can feel like distractions, or even indulgences, in the face of real people suffering.
And that’s not untrue. There is a welcome ease and natural relief and comfort that occurs when I engage with worlds that are not this one.
It feels impossible to not acknowledge the devastation ICE and the federal government are inflicting on families and communities right now. But it also feels impossible to write anything about it. Ignoring it feels dishonest. Writing about it feels inadequate: I’m neither a reporter nor an activist, so it feels performative or futile, even when performance and futility are the furthest things from my intention.
But what are my intentions then? Why decide to include this in my recap? Because it’s a national story? Because silence feels conspicuous and I want to present myself as self-aware? Because it’s needed more than ever? Or because I’m uncomfortable proceeding “as usual”?
I don’t feel bad admitting I don’t know. I don’t think most of us do. What I do want to avoid is the writerly trap of making this about my own moral anxiety, because it’s not. So instead, here are a few things I believe, clearly and without hedging:
Helplessness and inaction are privileges.
Cynicism is the least useful response available to us.
I know I’m not doing as much as I could, or should, be doing. Still, there are concrete ways to support immigrant communities and push back against violent enforcement:
You can donate to legal aid funds and mutual‑aid groups that help families with food, rent, and legal support (giving even a small amount auto-charged monthly can make a difference, and it’s the financial equivalent of buying a latte in the city), share reliable local “know your rights” info, and contact your elected officials to demand humane immigration reform and accountability for enforcement abuses.
I’m not going to pretend I “have a platform.” But I do believe that if even one human life is impacted, if even one person feels less alone, more seen, or more connected because of this acknowledgment, then it isn’t nothing.
And finally, cheesy but true, art heals because it reminds us we’re not alone.
Books, movies, music, video games. What I’m doing here by writing these Calvin Culture posts. These aren’t solutions. They don’t fix systems or stop violence. But they can help us feel with and for one another. They do for me anyway.
They help me imagine other lives, other possibilities, and give me enough relief to keep going, to keep fighting.
So below is my January recap: what I watched, read, and listened to this month. I hope that somewhere in it, you find something you may enjoy or connect with, especially when the world feels like it’s coming apart at the seams.
I read 1 book in January.
Okay, a slow start. But! Reminder it was a distressing month (see above) and I’m 300+ pages into Babel, the second book I was reading this Jan, but it’s a chonker!
The book I did finish this month was Endling by Maria Reva.
I read this for Deedi’s Booker of the Month Club and absolutely loved it!
Endling is a sly yet angry and ambitious novel about extinction: of species, of countries, of people who don’t quite survive the systems meant to contain them.
The story follows three women taking part in a “romance tour” in Ukraine. One woman, the odd, morose malacologist Yeva, is there to fund her research to save endangered snail species. The two other women, sisters Nastia and Sol, are searching for their missing mother. In a funny, brave, and perhaps misguided act of activism, the trio kidnap a clueless group of bachelors from the tour, posing Yeva’s research RV as a fun escape-room experience. What begins as a romp and a social commentary on Ukraine’s marriage industry darkly transforms as the reality of time and place sets in: 2022, when Russia begins its invasion of Ukraine.
Reva’s writing is surprisingly funny for a novel that goes to quite dark places. It also uses metafictional intrusion to explore what it means to write about world-shaping events as they are happening. I’d highly recommend this one!
Also, a lot of snail content. And I LOVE snails. Even keep this little guy on my desk:
I watched 23 films in January.
Splitsville (2025), dir. Michael Angelo Covino — 3/5 — messy romcom with slapstick vibes, good date night material — would recommend
The Monkey (2025), dir. Osgood Perkins — 1.5/5 — bizarre Stephen King adaptation with cool splatter kills and that’s about it — would not recommend
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025), dirs. Maïlys Vallade & Liane‑Cho Han — 3.5/5 — cute story, wonderful animation style, thematically a little all over for me — would recommend
The Phoenician Scheme (2025), dir. Wes Anderson — 3.5/5 — exploration of family, religion and capitalism, but very very Wes Anderson — would recommend if you like Wes Anderson
Together (2025), dir. Michael Shanks — 3/5 — fun body horror, metaphor so literal it leaves little to the imagination — also good date night material? — would recommend if you’re okay with body horror
The Alabama Solution (2025), dirs. Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman — 4/5 — incredibly revealing expose on the American prison system — just watch it
F1 (2025), dir. Joseph Kosinski — 3/5 — dad car movie nonsense — would not personally recommend, but know many who enjoyed
Weapons (2025), dir. Zach Cregger — 5/5 — the must-see horror film of the year for me — would 1000% recommend! — I’d even encourage horror haters to check this out, there are minimal jump-scares.
Cover-Up (2025), dirs. Laura Poitras & Mark Obenhaus — 4/5 — proof that good journalism is critical — would recommend
The Rip (2026), dir. Joe Carnahan — 3/5 — Matt Damon and Ben Affleck nostalgia — would recommend if you love a good cop thriller
Marty Supreme (2025), dir. Josh Safdie — 4/5 — long review here
Marcello Hernández: American Boy (2026), dir. Nicholaus Goossen — 4/5 — Marcello is so charming and so hot — would recommend, especially if you grew up in a Latino family or community
Into the Forest (2015), dir. Patricia Rozema — 2.5/5 — apocalypse film, script and ideas are super messy — but light recommend if you’re a sister/close to your siblings, which I think the film does get right
The Threesome (2025), dir. Chad Hartigan — 3.5/5 — modern romantic comedy, this one is super charming and Zoey Deutch is wonderful — would recommend
Black Phone 2 (2025), dir. Scott Derrickson — 2/5 — horror sequel, tries to be something but does not get there — soft recommend only if you enjoyed the original and are curious
Eden (2024), dir. Ron Howard — 3/5 — long historical drama with good performances but is quite forgettable — would recommend if you like learning about niche settings/moments in history
Equals (2015), dir. Drake Doremus — 2.5/5 — dreary dystopian sci-fi — would not recommend unless you’re a Kristin Stewart completionist
Casualties of War (1989), dir. Brian De Palma — 3.5/5 — war drama (or horror really?) that was good but I will never be watching again — would recommend if you’re interested in De Palma or in the mood to be depressed/disturbed by how vile men are. Personally, didn’t need the reminder, but it’s well executed. Does pair surprisingly well with the recent Cover-Up doc in terms of material
Robby Hoffman: Wake Up (2025), dir. John Mulaney — 3.5/5 — pretty daring piece of stand-up — would recommend
Die My Love (2025), dir. Lynne Ramsay — 4/5 — animalistic descent into chaos about motherhood and postpartum depression, fearless performance and fearless direction, definitely not catering to the audience, but I loved it — would recommend if you’re okay with abstract filmmaking
The Smashing Machine (2025), dir. Benny Safdie — 3.5/5 — drama about a UFC fighter, well-directed, kind of a Raging Bull-lite — would recommend
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), dir. James Cameron — 2.5/5 — installment in the Avatar franchise, a repeat of the last film, but cool VFX — would not recommend unless you’re invested in the franchise
Blue Moon (2025), dir. Richard Linklater — 4/5 — portrait of a sad gay man confronting his legacy — would recommend, naturally
As always, follow me on Letterboxd for more reviews and real-time recos!
I beat 1 video game in January.
I finally finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! If you read my 2025 Recap you’ll know this one has been ongoing, but it is a fantastic fantasy game that I’d highly recommend to all but especially those who play video games for the storytelling.
It’s set up in a three-act structure with rich character development and a big moral question at its center that’s classic philosophy but still deeply compelling. The story, writing, cinematics, and that score make every minute of gameplay worth it.
If you’re a bit of a video game newbie (like me), it can be a little challenging in the beginning. It’s turned-based and there’s a lot of parrying/timing involved, but you learn quickly and there’s a story-mode setting for an easier play-through.
Even if you don’t play it, I highly recommend listening to the soundtrack!
I ate at 4 new restaurants in January.
ARIARI — cozy Korean spot known for its DIY Gimbap. We got the scallop version which was so delicately sliced and came with apple kimchi, which I’d never tried before but makes perfect gastronomical sense!
Afternoon Tea at La Maisonette — a little treat yourself moment, my husband and I both love The Gilded Age so having tea and luncheon where Mrs. Astor used to gossip with high society was a delight!
Cafe Zaffri — went to this new restaurant in Union Square for Kevin’s birthday dinner. The “Breads & Spreads” was our favorite part of the menu, perfectly paired little bits of everything. The grilled octopus and lamb Wellington we ordered were also good, but the interiors outshine the food. You’re kind of going for the vibe.
Za-Ya — when the weather is giving single digits, you go get ramen. This ramen spot is near our apartment but we haven’t had the chance to check it out until this month and we WILL be going back. We’re graced with several great ramen spots by us, but the Gyukotsu on the menu with its bone marrow broth and sweet onions is a must-have if you’re in the mood for something rich and warming!
I listened to 12 complete albums this month.
Music is the toughest category to put stats to because it’s pretty much always on, and listing every song I listened to each month would be masochistic to both me and anybody reading this. But I am an “album > playlist” listener, so here are the albums played multiple times this month:
LUX — Rosalia (still my most played, multiples times a week)
Tether — Annahstasia (probably second most-played)
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny (this better win Best Album at the Grammys!!!!)
Wild and Clear and Blue — I’m With Her
close enough — Oklou
Glory — Perfume Genius
Helplessness Blues — Fleet Foxes (because, winter)
Kid A — Radiohead (because, again, winter)
Addison — Addison Rae
Premonitions — Miya Folick
Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
GNX — Kendrick Lamar
Here’s to hoping the new Lana album actually comes out soon! And I’m also stoked for new Hillary Duff coming Feb 20. Closeted Calvin is screaming!
As always, thanks for following along! If you connected to anything in my recap let me know in the comments! Always looking for recommendations :)
Omg honored! Also I feel like reading 1.5 books while ALSO watching 23 films and beating a video game feels pretty respectable!