Short Stories I Read In May

It’s the twenty-ninth of June. So it’s time to write about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in May.

Yarn Theory by Marie Vibbert (Clarkesworld Magazine; Issue 224—May 2025)

I started the month with Yarn Theory by Marie Vibbert. This was a story about math, first contact, and knitting. At first glance, it seemed like a random assortment of things tossed together, but Vibbert’s story is quiet but interesting —and spent a good chunk of it with the character’s internal monologue. And I found the solution (the decoding/translation) of the alien message a fun take on first contact. I almost wish it had been longer than it was, just because I liked it so much.

Commonplace by Naomi Novik (Buried Deep and Other Stories)

Then I moved on to Buried Deep and Other Stories. This one was called Commonplace, Novik’s take on Irene Adler, a character from Sherlock Holmes. The story takes place when news of the famous detective’s apparent death has reached Irene Adler, and basically follows her complicated emotions and subsequent actions in response to what happened, during a period of her life that I would describe as relatively quiet. While not my favorite story of the collection, Commonplace was still pretty good, and I mostly appreciated it for Novik’s choice to center the narrative on Adler instead of any other character from the Sherlock Holmes canon.

Seven by Naomi Novik (Buried Deep and Other Stories)

I also read a second story from Buried Deep and Other Stories in May. This one was called: Seven. The beginning read like a love letter to a fictional city, explaining part of its history, as well as where, like the place, the story took its name. But, it was mostly about pottery/ceramics; the process of creation, the cost/toll of art, the way a master’s work can influence those who come after them—or someone could (or at least wanted to) carve their own path. I like stories about art. And I like stories that are about artists. And Seven is a little bit of both, with its focus, Kath, even if the story is largely told from Grovin’s perspective. Kath was one of my favorite parts of this one, and I liked how she happened into “clay-shaping” in the wake of a drastic change in not only her life but for her children as well. And though the story was from Grovin’s perspective, it was about Kath in the end, how her artistry and reluctant participation in the city’s longstanding tradition of statue making—with a particular and dangerous clay— disrupted his assumptions and forced him to change his ways (or at least to view the situation from someone else’s perspective). Seven was a great story.

What I've Been Watching (May 2025)

May was a month where I spent most of my viewing time rewatching some of my favorite movies.

Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal

These are two movies I often associate with each other. Not just because they feature puppetry work by The Jim Henson Company, but also because I typically watch them back-to-back whenever I see them on—which has recently been on Roku’s free channels (since that’s the TV I have). Labyrinth is a coming of age narrative, while The Dark Crystal lands more in the chosen one territory with a story centered on resisting and undertaking a quest to reclaim a dying land before it’s too late. I love these movies equally.

Jaws

Jaws is still one of my all-time favorite man vs creature films. It’s a classic, and the cinematography and acting are part of what makes the movie so memorable. I’ve seen it a handful of times, and even during my latest viewing, I found myself dissecting certain scenes (and admiring the way it was shot).

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

This movie has a special place in my heart. For starters, it’s fun and kind of silly. But, because of how much I liked it, it ended up being the whole reason why I read the book and most of the sequels. Also, the opening musical number is still, to this day, incredibly catchy.

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

After reading the novel, I was itching to rewatch the 2005 movie adaptation. I have a new appreciation for this film. It does cut out some of the scenes from the book, which is often true for most adaptations. However, it captures the essence of the book—like the tone, time and place, as well as the personalities of the characters.

Contact (1997)

Whenever first-contact stories are mentioned, I usually think of two films: E.T., and Contact. After a number of years, I finally watched this movie again last month, and it holds up pretty well. I like this one, generally, for the characters and its approach to tried and true staples of the genre, while putting a spin on it. And, like Jaws, I also appreciated Contact for the style of its filming.

 

So, that was just about all the movies that kept me entertained in May. What have you been watching lately?

What I've Been Listening To (May 2025)

I listened to so much good music in May, not to mention how three of my most anticipated albums/EPs for the second quarter of the year were released after long waits. So, with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely.

The first of my anticipated May releases was Kilo Kish’s new EP, Negotiations. The singles were a complete vibe, and I enjoyed the overall style of the visuals—which were this tired office aesthetic. And the rest of the EP lived up to my expectations. It continued with the moody pop and electronic infusion featured on the singles.

Then the second of my most anticipated May releases was Pink Pantheress’ newest release. There are some mixtapes that just feel like albums (like FKA Twigs’ Capri Songs), and that’s pretty much how I view Fancy That. It was a whole lot of fun to engage with. I also wasn’t very familiar with UK Garage before this, but now I want to delve more into that genre.

And finally, there was Lethal. I loved it so much. It was everything I like about Rico Nasty’s past discography but from a slightly different angle. Lethal was a combination of rap and punk rock, and Rico Nasty leans into what she does best here. It just works.

Emotional Oranges is one of the duos I checked out last month, with their album Orenjii. It was solid R&B with influences that called backed to music from the 90s and early 2000s (which is kind of a trend lately)—and if you’ve listened to any of it, some of the songs here might feel familiar (such as That Girl). But, the album had plenty to offer, because its influences weren’t the sum total of what it was. Instead, it used its references effectively, and delivered an album firmly grounded in the group’s style. It was fun.

And last but not least, one of the most unexpected (and surprising) finds from last month was Better Dreaming by Tune-Yards. The duo is new to me, and their new album came up under my recommendations. Some bodies of work are what I would describe as smooth, and Better Dreaming fits that bill perfectly with its indie alternative sound. This was very easy to listen to.

Singles that made it to my playlist: Cali by Clea, No Holding Back by Joya Mooi featuring Joeyturks, The Only Love We Know by Naomi Sharon, Messed Up Ways by Abi Ocia, Toes in the Grass by Adanna Duru, Rozzelle Court by TheBabeGabe and The Human, Spend It by Cydnee with a C, Maybe by HIHEME featuring Yourz, and three songs by Ambar Lucid (Stranger Dressed In White, 6am, and I Feel Everything).

Music Monday (318): Clea, Original Broadway Cast of Boop! The Musical, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Chapel Hart

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I really like this song by Clea, who is new to me. Check out Cali!

Adri: I've been listening to Boop! The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) since it released. I haven't seen the show but it sounds like it's up my alley. So my picks for today are A Little Versatility and Where I Wanna Be by Jasmine Amy Rogers, David Foster, and Original Broadway Cast of Boop! The Musical.

Andrea: Hi all, this week I'm listening to Amen by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll, and Perfect For Me by Chapel Hart. Have an Amazing eek!

What are you listening to this week?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Series: n/a
Author: Jane Austen
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Classics
Publisher/Publication Date: Originally published

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Spirited Elizabeth Bennet is one of a family of five daughters, and with no male heir, the Bennet estate must someday pass to their priggish cousin William Collins. Therefore, the girls must marry well—and thus is launched the story of Elizabeth and the arrogant bachelor Mr. Darcy, in a novel renowned as the epitome of romance and wit. Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s masterwork, an entertaining portrait of matrimonial rites and rivalries, timeless in its hilarity and its honesty.

Although I have no formal goals for this year (as far as the blog is concerned), the backlist and classic titles that I’ve wanted to read for years, have been on my mind lately. So far, I’ve read The Shinning, and now I can cross Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, off my TBR list as well.

I knew of the basics premise of the story, thanks to having seen various adaptations of it (that was years ago, but I’m hoping to rewatch the 2005 one soon), but as is true for most adaptations there was bound to be differences. And I find there is usually value with going back to the source material. All that to say: Pride and Prejudice was a delight to read. Darcy and Elizabeth both, at times, let their preconceived notions, bad impressions, and assumptions about the other guide their actions into misunderstandings. Bingley and Jane had a story of similar circumstances, but from the beginning they had a better impression of each other and were slightly more open about their intentions, but their side of the novel wasn’t without conflict. After all, the relationships and potential marriages—the complicated interpersonal ties between the characters—are what propel the story forward and was a standout when it came to why I found Pride and Prejudice so entertaining.

The story was further supported by a cast of minor characters as well, which made the everyday ordinariness (for the time period) as interesting as the relationships central to the plot. That included (but wasn’t limited to) the other Bennets (Lydia was just messy), Bingley’s sisters, the Collins’, the Lucas’, as well as others.

 
There are a couple more Austen novels that I definitely want to read (Persuasion and Mansfield Park are at the top of my list), regardless, Pride and Prejudice is a new favorite.