Recent cultural impressions, March 2025

Andy Weir — Project Hail Mary

I grew up reading Asimov, Lem, and Heinlein but hadn't read science fiction for a while. Project Hail Mary brought back those same feelings and emotions. A very solid book, and an incredibly optimistic one.

Jesse Eisenberg — A Real Pain

A delicate film about young Americans exploring Poland, their grandmother's homeland. I appreciated its perspective on the Holocaust and European history, very special. I find myself returning to thoughts about this movie from time to time.

Andrzej Sapkowski — Ravens' Crossroad

The Witcher has been a love of mine since my teenage years. I've read all the books, played all the games, and enjoyed the atmosphere and controversies of this universe. Ravens' Crossroad is a new entry, but I think it will only appeal to Witcher fans. If you've never heard of The Witcher, you can probably skip it. I enjoyed the new lore details—it's an easy, low-intensity read.

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris — Little Miss Sunshine

A classic tragicomic film. So well-directed and beautifully shot!