April is the cruelest month. Make a smoothie.

First, Vanity Fair staff writer Delia Cai and Vulture podcast critic Nick Quah stop by to tell us about some of their favorite things to watch, read and do during these spring doldrums. (Click on the LISTEN link to see a list of their recommendations!)

Then, Emily St. John Mandel tells us about Sea of Tranquility, the latest book in what we agree to call her “Mandelian Cinematic Universe.”

Plus, Buzzfeed tech reporter Caroline O’Donovan tells us about last week’s unionization votes for Amazon employees.

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A NOTE FROM GRETA & ANNA

Hi Nerd! Hope you’re hanging in and taking care. Here’s some stuff I’m enjoying these days, which you might like too!

All week I’ve been having this lovely toast/whipped ricotta/date compote situation for breakfast, and it is truly a glorious start to the day.
Lots and lots and LOTS of books came out on Tuesday. New Emily St. John Mandel! New Jennifer Egan! Another one that I’m super excited to read is Sara Novic’s True Biz.
If you get a chance to see the blissfully chaotic/sci-fi multiverse movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, you absolutely should!

And here are some things Anna, our producer, thought you might want to know about:

Another exciting book that came out this week is Ocean Vuong’s new poetry collection Time Is a Mother!
I just started listening to Cruising— it’s a road trip podcast about the dwindling number of lesbian bars across the U.S. It’s heartwarming and artfully made!
Plus, MARCEL THE SHELL returns?!!

Talk to you next week,

BOOK CLUB CORNER

A copy of 'Notes on an Execution' sits on a colofrul bookshelf

Anna Bauman/WBEZ

Notes on an Execution, discussed!

Join me, The Stacks podcast host Traci Thomas, and The New York Times Book Review editor MJ Franklin as we unpack our latest book club pick.

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