What We’re Reading, Listening To, and Savoring Lately

At Prickly Pears, textiles often weave the heart of our conversations. Yet inspiration doesn’t stop at the loom; it flows through stories, melodies, and images that shape how we see the world. Recently, we’ve found ourselves returning to books long resting on the shelf, rediscovering films from decades past, and playing music that feels like a soft backdrop to daily life. Here’s a glimpse into what has been nourishing us lately.

🎬 Movies

There’s no shortage of new content these days, every week seems to bring another movie release or must watch series, both in theatres and on streaming platforms. Lately though, we’ve been taking a step back and revisiting decades old films, and it’s been surprisingly refreshing. Here’s what we’ve been diving into:

Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Our favourite occult classic, one that allows you to appreciate horror as a genre, which is so often disregarded.

Strangers on a Train (1951): A glorious Patricia Highsmith/Alfred Hitchcock combination that still makes you wonder what might have been if Raymond Chandler’s full contribution had made it to the screen.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Gritty, raw, and still terrifying after all these years. Featuring the most iconic “final girl” in cinema history.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993): We’ll suspend disbelief for that plot any day because the atmosphere and cinematography are just that gorgeous.

California Split (1974): Reminded us why we completely stan young Elliott Gould. Funny, melancholic, and stylishly ‘70s.

Boogie Nights (1997): A wild ride that might just send you down a full Paul Thomas Anderson retrospective at home.

📚 Books

When it comes to reading, we’ve been gravitating toward books that have been sitting on our shelves for a while. Here’s what’s been keeping us company lately:

The Magus by John Fowles: Mysterious and manipulative. Leaves you unsure of what’s real. It lingers long after not because it gives answers but because it refuses to.

The Dune Series by Frank Herbert: A trailblazer of the science-fiction genre and a constant fixture on our reading list. The recent Denis Villeneuve films finally pushed us to dive back into this epic work of imagination.

No Time To Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin: Wry, clear-eyed reflections from one of the sharpest voices in literature. Proof that wisdom and humor can share the same sentence without diminishing either.

A Place of My Own: The Architecture of Daydreams by Michael Pollan: What’s striking is how the life Pollan builds with words is bound to the hut he constructs as a space to carry that life forward. The analogy between writing and building runs through the book with quiet, deliberate subtlety.

🎵 Albums

Lately, we’ve been spinning a mix of new releases and rediscovered gems. From indie nostalgia to dreamy jazz-pop, here’s what’s been on repeat.

Wet Leg – Moisturiser: Close your eyes and it’s the indie sound of the ’90s and ’00s all over again, the kind of music that’ll make you nostalgic for your early 20s.

Pulp – More: One of Britpop’s best returns after a 24-year break with Jarvis Cocker’s sly lyrical wit intact and sounding as familiar as ever.

Laufey – A Matter of Time: Dreamy and retro, Laufey blends pop and jazz with a symphonic touch. Her voice is so easy on the ear it almost feels like it flows into your cells.

Life often moves at a dizzying pace. Yet a film from the past, a page from a long-waiting book, or the familiar chords of a song can remind us to pause, breathe, and take joy in small discoveries. These are the threads that have been weaving through our days; we hope they might bring a spark of inspiration into yours, too.

With love,

The Prickly Pears Sisters

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