Humpday recommendations

Read: “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine,” by Gail Honeyman — Honeyman’s first novel follows the lonely, eccentric Eleanor in her social interactions. Having suffered horrific childhood trauma, Eleanor acts and reacts in surprising ways that are sometimes funny, sometimes tragic. But a loving friendship helps her grow and, ultimately, begin to heal. Too many people are desperately lonely these days — this book offers a bit of hope. — Tracy

Read: “If on a Winter's Night a Traveler,” by Italo Calvino — Never ever have I been less sure while reading a novel, or anything else for that matter, what to expect from the next page. Calvino’s masterwork is mysterious, mischievous, and endlessly surprising. I imagine Calvino laughed a lot while writing it. – Willis

Watch: “Black Bird” – The premise of this new limited series on Apple TV is good: one hubristic convict is offered freedom if he successfully extracts info from another inmate. But the acting is simply superb. In one of his last gigs before his sudden death, the legendary Ray Liotta gives an outstanding supporting performance. The real star, however, is Paul Walter Hauser, who sensationally depicts a deranged serial killer. This series is addictive. – Gabrielle

Read: “The price of inequality” by Joseph E. Stiglitz — This is a great read for those passionate about social justice and economic equality. Stiglitz provides evidence that the US has reached unsustainable levels of inequality since the 2008 financial crisis. While it was written in 2013, it remains highly relevant given today’s growing wealth gap and soaring inflation. – Beatrice

Read: “Merchant of Death” — The Biden administration wants Russia to hand over WNBA star Brittney Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout. Sound familiar? This dude is arguably the most notorious arms dealer of all time, with an insane story of Soviet smuggling, African warlords, and an FBI sting in Bangkok. Interested? Read this book — and don’t watch the film “Lord of War.” — Carlos