Book Recommendations for Tahani Al-Jamil from The Good Place
The Good Place is reaching the end of its run. And while that news makes us genuinely teary eyed, we’re super happy that this team is ending the show on their own terms and giving their fans so much attention and care. (Have you listened to The Good Place: The Podcast? It’s amazing.) And while we could spend all day listing our favorite Good Place moments – um, basically whenever Chidi looks at Eleanor – we want to end the show with our own tribute to the fans, with some book recommendations for Tahani Al-Jamil.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
After a year of torture in The Bad Place – more or less; time is tricky there – we imagine Tahani Al Jamil wants nothing more than some well-deserved rest. What good is a final resting place if it’s going to be a total disaster? Which is why we’re recommending My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. We know that Tahani will see some similarities between her own privilege and that of the protagonist. (How else can you afford to take an entire year off?) Plus, it’s going to read like a dream, despite the obvious downsides of drugging yourself silly for an entire trip around the sun.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
When you think of Tahani Al Jamil, you think of elaborate parties – both on Earth and in The Good Place. Or, err, The Bad Place. Um, The Medium Place? No matter the location, Tahani is always up to host. Which is why we’re recommending The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker, the ultimate guide to finding purpose in meeting and gathering. We can guarantee it will lead to specific and meaningful parties and outings, whether it’s a Team Cockroach only outing, or something for the extended Good Place friend group.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
We know that Such a Fun Age is already on Tahani’s TBR because her dear friend Reese Witherspoon loved it so much, she made it part of her book club! But we’ll entice Tahani with a more specific recommendation than that: it’s an absolute page turner, one that takes the nuances of class, wealth, caregiving, and race into consideration in such a beautiful way that you’ll cry when it’s over. It’s a book that will be loved by voracious readers and once-in-a-blue-moon readers alike – and we suspect Tahani is, as a rule, in the later camp. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to know the author, so you know Tahani’s going to be looking for Kiley Reid’s contact info before she’s even finished reading.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
For Your Consideration: Keanu Reeves by Larissa Zageris and Kitty Curran
Tahani knows everyone who’s anyone, so it may seem a little strange to be recommending a book about her good friend Keanu Reeves. But here’s the thing: we originally contracted Tahani to write this book and then she, um, died. And then she showed up in another Jeremy Bearimy universe where she was alive again, but she had no attachment to this book. And then Keanu Reeves said he’s never met her in his live. So…we have some questions. And in the meantime we think she should read about one of our country’s national treasures.
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