WORDS: EMILY SHAW IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK & GOOGLE
Never has there been a time when a great book or a captivating movie has been more important.
If you want a binge-worthy series… If you have Netflix and you’re a fan of the real-life bizarre, Tiger King is probably the strangest true-life documentary series to ever have been produced. A roadside zoo of exotic animals is run by a despotic, often half-naked, gun-toting American whom, among many, many other startling things, blows up mannequins, practices polygamy and plots to kill an animal rights activist. Mind-bendingly, that’s only the beginning of this shocking, often unbelievable tale. A caution to sensitive viewers – especially animal lovers.
If the above is a bit too much for you to stomach, a great British crime series is now available on Acorn, the streaming service you can sign up for on your smart TV or laptop. Above Suspicion is an excellent programme, well shot and acted and most importantly, pacey. The storyline follows young Detective Constable Travis and her first few cases in gritty England. Again, very graphic images and content, so give it a miss if you know this is not your genre.
Real-life circus and gory Brits leaving you a little uncomfortable? If it’s light, charming and funny you’re after, look no further than Atypical. A drama-comedy about a teen with Asperger’s and his refreshingly realistic family dynamic, Atypical is fresh, fun and strangely compelling. Find season 1 and 2 on Netflix.
If you want a page-turner for chilly evenings… When the remote is commandeered by the rest of the family, it’s time to retire to your bed with a cup of tea and an excellent read. With the impending chilly weather and seasonal turn, a thriller is just the ticket to while away an hour or two beneath the blankets. South African born author Alex van Tonder’s latest offering, A Walk at Midnight is chilling – and not for skop, skiet en donder reasons. Delicately written, the novel covers various toxic elements we face in this decade – from negligent parenting, to sexual assault, identity crisis and the ever-present internet. The book probes at the idea of being “acceptable” and the ongoing war women find themselves in – the war for presence and value in a man’s world as well as the war they face with themselves.
Lisa Jewell’s The House We Grew Up In is a gift for quarantine. As the name suggests, much of the story centres around four children and their familial home and carefully peels away the layers of a very complicated family dynamic. Excellent craft and addictive plot developments will keep you engrossed until the wee hours. And in the morning, might well fuel your desire to declutter your house…
