Vox Quick Hits

A listener asked for books that are mysterious, intriguing, and may or may not involve a murder. More specifically, books like The Secret History. Vox book critic Constance Grady gives four recommendations this week, including an entire genre. Plus, hear part of last year’s Vox Book Club Zoom event about The Secret History with writer Nicole Cliffe.

Constance recommends: 

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email [email protected] — and be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” 

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Summer vacation is top of mind here at What to Watch. Grab your flip flops, some popcorn (or perhaps a piña colada?) and pretend you're on holiday with one of these four fantastic films. 

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Writer Deepa Lakshmin explains how spending $29 on a concert ticket – for a show she didn’t even attend – taught her to love doing things alone.

Link to essay: https://www.vox.com/2019/12/3/20991951/best-money-concert-ticket-solo-activities 

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A swashbuckling tale of adventure that feels dragged out of the mists of time, the new A24 film stars Dev Patel and is based on one of the most famous and important works of English literature: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a 14th-century Arthurian tale penned in Middle English that has inspired centuries of study, contemplation, and scholarly bickering. 

Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson explains why you should spend time in Gawain’s world this weekend. The Green Knight is in select theaters starting July 30. 

Read more about The Green Knight: 

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A caller asks for books that feel like The Wonder Years. Vox book critic Constance Grady recommends three books that are perfect for summer nostalgia. Plus, Constance discusses the “free narrative” of The Princess Bride in a clip from the Vox Book Club Zoom event.

Constance recommends: 

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email [email protected] — and be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.” 

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This week: Sports! You had to know we were going to talk about sports, right? Yes, the long-overdue 2020 Tokyo Olympics are here. Get in the competitive spirit with these movies, TV shows, and episodes. 

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Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact [email protected]. We read every email! 

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It seems reasonable to assume that food packaging saying the contents are expired indicates inedible food. You can trust the labels on what you buy in the grocery store, can't you? Except America’s food label system isn’t standardized, and it has very little to do with food safety. In other words, you could be tossing eggs and milk and other goods that are perfectly fine to eat. Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson explains.

Learn More: 

Read Alissa’s story here.

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K-pop is hugely popular worldwide, and boy band BTS’s “Dynamite” was virtually inescapable in 2020. And yet, the genre is hard to find on American radio. Despite K-pop’s takeoff online in the US and all over the globe, radio DJs still find most of it too risky to play for a Top 40 audience. Aja Romano, a culture writer at Vox, explains why.

Learn more: 

Read Aja’s story about K-pop and American radio here.

While you’re at it, check out Aja’s BTS explainer. 

And they made a K-pop playlist! Check it out on Spotify.

Also, Explained has a Netflix episode on K-Pop! 

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Just like teen getting famous on TikTok over night, products are now going viral on the platform. Vox’s in-house TikTok expert Rebecca Jennings explain how this phenomenon works, the relationship between influencers and brands, plus the inevitable pitfalls that come with a rapid rise to recognition.

Learn More: 

Read Rebecca’s story here. 

This episode of Tell Me More was made by: 

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Katherine Oung’s mother says “I love you” with plates of cut fruit. Katherine say it with cups of coffee.

The Best Money I Ever Spent is a personal essay series from The Goods about the purchases that changed our lives in ways big and small. This episode was produced by Schuyler Swenson, edited by Alanna Okun and mixed by Paul Mounsey.

You can read Katherine's essay here.

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