The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | May & June 2019
Oh hi there, and welcome back! Here we are with another bumper edition of the Monthly Media Catch Up due to another very busy period. Starting a new job during my busiest university exam period ever was perhaps not one of my best decisions because it certainly made May and most of June nonstop months, ending with a trip to New York City.
Just as my lack of frequent posting on the blog is not going to become a habit, neither are these bumper editions of the MMC, but, for now, here’s everything I read, watched and listened to during these very busy months…
Books
Most of the words I consumed during May were for revision purposes but I have squeezed a couple of books for fun in during the month of June.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton | ★★★★
I needed a comfort read to get me through the last couple of weeks of exams and the exhaustion that came after them and I knew that this was exactly the book to turn to. I listened to Everything I Know About Love on Audible last year because I love Dolly’s podcasts and knew I would love the audio version of her memoir, which I did. I loved it so much that I wanted to read it for real, especially because the paperback version has an extra chapter that wasn’t available in the audio edition. Dolly’s words in her memoir are endlessly funny, reassuring, heartbreaking and honest and this is a book that I know I could read over and over again and take something new from it depending on where I am at in my life and the emotions I am feeling, laughing at the same jokes over no matter how many times I read them.
Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig | ★★★★
Another comfort-read for the post-exam trauma. Matt Haig’s first book Reasons To Stay Alive provided me with so much solace during a period of my life when I was really struggling with my mental health, so I was eager to read his second book, Notes On A Nervous Planet, as soon as I finished the first. I found this book to be really helpful as someone who primarily suffers with anxiety more than anything else, as it really made me think about the modern world and how the ways in which it is changing are at the centre of the mental health crisis. However it managed to do so in a way that, thankfully, didn’t make me panic but helped me to think about how I can combat the feelings of anxiousness caused by a world of uncertainty.
What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons | ★★★★
A moving novel about losing someone close to you and the grief that comes with that. The style of the book felt reminiscent of Claudia Rankine’s Citizen and I am very interested in this fragmented style of writing. I’d definitely like to read more by Zinzi Clemmons.
TV
The Bold Type | ★★★★★
This was one of those TV shows in which I absolutely could not wait to watch the next episode, but I always forced myself to wait because I didn’t want the series to be over. The trailer does this Amazon Prime series no justice and neither will any of my descriptions but, in short, it’s The Devil Wears Prada meets woke millennial and it’s so watchable without being trashy, in fact, it’s genuinely educational. Please give it a go and see what you think and if anyone who produces The Bold Type happens to be reading this (highly unlikely), please hurry up with Season 4!
Killing Eve | ★★★★★
I was late to the party with this, as I am with most TV and film, and I’ve still only watched Season 1 but I loved Killing Eve. It’s so different to anything I’ve ever watched, namely because both of the principal characters are female and are neither outright likeable or unlikeable. It would pass the Bechdel Test with flying colours and it’s absolutely hilarious. It follows the life of an M15 officer who becomes obsessed with catching a female assassin who is acting all around Europe and has an impeccable wardrobe, need I say more?
Doctor Foster |★★★★
Another BBC drama I was late to but binge-watched just as quickly. I had multiple nightmares about this show and if that doesn’t show just how enthralling it was I don’t know what does. It’s about a woman, Doctor Foster, who finds out her husband has been cheating on her and drives herself insane by not telling him about it. It’s very intense but that’s what makes it such a gripping watch.
Love Island | ★★★★★
I don’t know if you will have heard of this one, I mean… it’s pretty niche. Love Island provides me with all the escapism I could ever need and there’s nothing more de-stressing for me than sitting on my couch at 9pm every night and focussing on the lives of others for an hour, forgetting my own. I wrote a blog post in defence of Love Island last year, if you’re still a sceptic.
Films
Late Night | ★★★
Sam and I watched this film in NYC and this is where it is aptly set. Emma Thompson is a late night talkshow host who is out of touch with the world around her and who is about to have her talk show cancelled, that’s until her new ‘diversity hire’, Molly, comes in and, when she is finally allowed to talk by the all white male staff, revitalises the show. I found this film to be laugh out loud funny but I also kind of forgot about it the day after- worth watching if you fancy a trip to the cinema, but not life-changing.
The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I've Read, Watched & Listened To | March & April 2019
Some links used are affiliate links which means I earn a very small amount of commission if you purchase an item.
Top: Shrimps X Warehouse Collection
Jeans: Vintage (similar here)
Necklace: Missoma
Hello! May has arrived and I’m bringing you a bumper edition of the Monthly Media Catchup. I spent most of March writing essays and crying about them so I didn’t get a chance to consume very much interesting media, hence why I’m combining the two months. However April was mostly spent reading, watching and listening to lots of wonderful things, so here’s all of the books, films, TV and podcasts I spent my time with during the months of March and April. There are some seriously good recommendations in this one, if I do say so myself (especially in the TV category)…
BOOKS
(all of these books were read as part of my English Literature degree)
The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer | ★★★★
This is a play about the outbreak of the AIDS crisis in New York City, how the world ignored it and how many gay men suffered as a result. It was heartbreaking and emotionally overwhelming to read and I can see why it was able to affect so much changed when it premiered. I’d really recommend reading this as a form of education and to understand how detrimental the AIDS crisis was and is, but also because it’s a fantastically gripping play.
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin | ★★★
In this memoir, a white man tells the story of how he disguised himself as a black man and made his way through the American south in the 1950s in order to expose the discrimination black people faced. It was uncomfortable to read and it doesn’t feel politically correct anymore, despite the amount of change it affected when it was published in the mid-late 20th century, which is why I’ve given it 3 stars.
A Day Off by Storm Jameson | ★★★★
I read this book as part of my Modernism module, which I haven’t been enjoying that much as I struggle to find anything too interesting in plots surrounding the day to day lives of middle/upper class white people. This one was different though and not only because the protagonist is working-class. I loved how Jameson used clothes as symbolism and there were so many other aspects like this that made it an interesting and gripping novel.
The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon | ★★★
This book about the Windrush Generation is a timely reading but its casual misogyny really did date it. I enjoyed it in many ways but I feel quite indifferent towards it, the epitome of a 3 star review.
Gifted by Nikita Lalwani | ★★★
Another book that kind of epitomises a 3 star review! This is definitely a 3.5 where The Lonely Londoners was a solid 3 but again, there’s nothing that hugely stands out to me when thinking about this book apart from the fact that it was enjoyable and interesting, but just not enough.
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf | ★★
Now for a book that I didn’t like, but I am ironically holding in all of these images! This is one of the aforementioned modernist texts that is about the daily life of an upper-class woman. If you’re really interested in modernist form you’ll love it but I am, frankly, not and found it draining in all the worst ways.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel | ★★★
This is the first graphic novel I’ve ever read! As far as graphic novels go, I think this one was brilliant, but I still prefer books without pictures, sorry!
Exit West by Mosin Hamid | ★★★★
The concept of this novel is super interesting: a couple in a country on the midst of civil war find doors in which, if they step through, they are transported to some other random place in the world. My main criticism of this book is that it was too short and the characters and their storylines weren’t fleshed out enough for me. But otherwise, it was great!
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie | ★★★★★
Talk about saving the best to last! Home Fire is one of my favourite novels ever and this is the second time I’ve read it. It follows the life of 3 Muslim siblings living in London before, during and after, Parvaiz, the only male sibling, leaves the UK to join ISIS.In the mean time, Isma, the oldest sibling, and Aneeka, Parvaiz’s twin, become involved with Eamonn, the son of the Home Secretary. Intrigued? You should be! I first read this book just before Trump became the President of the USA and I thought it couldn’t it be any more relevant. Reading it for a second time shortly after Shamima Begum took over the news and mid-Brexit, I’ve realised I was wrong. A must-read!
TV
This Is Us | ★★★★
It took me a while to get into this programme but I am well and truly hooked now. It’s very emotional and, at times, painfully cringeworthy but it’s feel good TV at its best. It follows the lives of three 30-something triplets, with frequent flashbacks to their upbringing, who all have very different lives. Honestly, Randall is the only sibling I like. But still, it deserves 4 stars and maybe even 5 but I’ve removed one because of the aforementioned cringe. It’s available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | ★★★★★
Don’t even get me started on this show. A musical TV show dealing with the concept of the ‘pyscho girlfriend’ from its feminist implications to its simplification of mental health issues? I’m in. It’s much more of an easy watch then that sentence suggests but please just watch the first episode and see for yourself. It ended this month after a wonderful few years of it being my comfort show whenever I felt down but I’m honestly just excited to rewatch it and continue to listen to all the absolute hits that came out of it such as ‘Let’s Generalize About Men’, ‘Friendtopia’ (a fantastic Spice Girls parody) and ‘The Sexy Getting Ready Song’. It’s available on Netflix.
Fleabag | ★★★★★
I feel like everyone and their mum has watched Fleabag by now but if not, please do so! Created and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was also the mind behind Killing Eve, it follows the life of a young woman navigating grief, friendship, romantic relationships and so much more. It’s renowned for breaking the fourth wall and I have to say, it is one of the most intelligent and interesting TV programmes I’ve watched in a while (maybe ever?). It’s available on BBC iPlayer on Amazon Prime.
Game of Thrones | ★★★★★
OMG I discovered this new thing called Game of Thrones? It’s like, so niche, you probably won’t like it. Lol. Game of Thrones is back and I feel silly even sharing this here as I think more people watch it than they did Fleabag, but I am loving Season 8 so far (even if I was concerned about the slightly slow start) and I have spent the best part of the past 2 weeks reading theories and searching for memes about GoT. Did the final season really have to be released during my exams?
FILM
Green Book | ★★★
This film has been criticised because of its white saviour-y elements and I do agree with this criticism. However it does have some very redeemable qualities and the white saviour-y bits definitely weren’t as all-encompassing as I feared they would be. The ending was very annoying but it was an interesting film that did bring attention to some important events, facts and issues. It was also v. funny.
On Chesil Beach | ★★★★
I love a cringeworthy literary film (and book for that matter)- it’s one of my many guilty pleasures. This one, based on the Ian McEwan novel of the same name that I haven’t read, appalled to all my ‘literary film’ needs, plus Saoirse Ronan starred in it, so that bumps any film up by at least a star.
The Sense of an Ending | ★★
Another literary film! I actually watched these on the same night when I was feeling ill and a little bit sorry for myself. The main character was played by the same actor in both - seemingly because he embodies the literary 1960s 20 year old boy - but On Chesil Beach was much better. The novel in which the film is based on with the same name is one of my all-time favourite books and this film absolutely does not do it justice. I only gave it an extra star because I like the book and therefore I enjoyed the storyline of the film.
Someone Great | ★★★
A ‘chick flick’ like this one creeps into my life every couple of months when I need something totally stress-free to watch and this one did the trick very well. Staring Gina Rodriguez (aka Jane The Virgin, but don’t get me started on that), it depicts the 24 hours she spends with her friends after being dumped by her boyfriend. Mildly crap but everything I needed whilst watching it. It’s available on Netflix.
PODCASTS
Mate Podcast | ★★★★★
I am so happy I discovered this podcast! 2 Liverpudlian girls having a good old chat about everything they’ve been reading and enjoying, as well as a heart to heart during their ‘Mate to Mate’ section. I binge listened to series one in the space of a few days and am now keeping up with their fortnightly uploads.
Always Take Notes | ★★★★
A career podcast that is super useful for anyone who would like a career that has anything to do with writing, but particularly journalism. My favourite episode was with Pandora Sykes (obvs) but I also enjoyed the episode with Rebecca Mead, who is a staff writer at The New Yorker.
Wardrobe Crisis with Clare Press | ★★★★
I’ve decided that I want to become more educated than I already am on sustainable fashion and this podcast was a great place to start. The episode interviewing the Creative Director of Mother of Pearl, Amy Powney, was enlightening, as was the episode with Stella Mccartney’s Sustainability and Innovation Director, Clare Bergkamp. I also really enjoyed the interview with Fanny Moizant, who founded Vestaire Collective and has a wonderful French accent.
Honourable Mention: Feminists Don’t Wear Pink with Saoirse Ronan
This is the only episode of this podcast that I’ve listened to because of my aforementioned love of Saoirse Ronan, but it was great! Would definitely recommend it if you’re also a fan of Saoirse.
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My Top 3s of 2018 | Books, Podcasts, Bloggers, Fashion, Beauty & More!
2018 has been a weird one. I’m honestly not sure whether I enjoyed it or not. But what I do know is that I have enjoyed so many things. Reading things, listening to things, wearing things, watching things, seeing things. I’ve consumed so much stuff that I have truly enjoyed and so I thought I would share it in one big post. I’m going to try and restrict myself to a sentence or two on each thing to avoid this being the longest post on my blog, but I love every single thing I’m recommending it so excuse me if I do ramble a little.
I hope you enjoy this blog post and I hope you go and consume all of the things I’m recommending during 2019 because they are SO worth your time.
Books
Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (This book is equal-parts gripping and moving. I recommend it to everyone I know. In fact, on Friday I recommended it to 3 people in one day and bought it as a gift. Please read this book!)
Normal People by Sally Rooney (Another extremely gripping and moving novel. It’s beautifully written and easy to read- what more can you ask for?)
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (I actually listened to this book on audible but it still counts doesn’t it? I love Dolly and everything she creates and this book is no exception.)
Blogs
Shot From The Street (So much creative content. I especially love Lizzy’s use of 35mm film photography.)
The Anna Edit (Anna uploads blog posts so frequently and all of her content is useful and interesting. I honestly don’t know how she keeps coming up with ideas.)
Ropes of Holland (I don’t read Lindsey’s blog as much as the other two I’ve mentioned, but Lindsey has created some amazing content this year, including her post on heartbreak.)
Instagram Accounts
@lucywilliams02 (Lucy’s Instagram will probably always be my favourite. Her wardrobe is to die for, as is her travelling schedule and she documents these things in a really authentic but beautiful way.)
@livpurvis (Liv’s feed is also beautiful, providing me with lots of fashion and travel inspo. But I also love her stories! She’s always chatting away on them and, just like her podcast, they make me feel like I’m talking to a friend.)
@alicecatherine (Alice uploads so much high quality, beautiful style inspiration. I love everything she uploads and I would kill for her vintage collection.)
Podcasts
The High Low (As I have mentioned, I love Dolly Alderton and I probably love and admire Pandora Sykes even more- my boyfriend often pulls me up on how much I mention her. This podcast is reliably insightful and interesting and it keeps me informed as much as it makes me laugh.)
The Fringe Of It (Listening to this podcast comprising Charlotte, of Betty Magazine, and Liv Purvis, of what Olivia Did, feels like a catch up with your best friends. It’s so easy to listen to and always brightens my day, plus the subject matter is usually really interesting.)
Nobody Panic (I would actually go as far to say that Stevie and Tessa, the hosts of this podcasts, have got me through some difficult times. This podcast never fails to make me laugh out loud and reassure me that I’m not failing at life as badly as I sometimes think I am!)
Youtubers
Sunbeamsjess (Jess is forever my favourite YouTuber because the content she creates is based around fashion and books, which are my two favourite things. I can always count on her vlogs, especially her Uni based ones, to cheer me up and she generally just always makes amazing content.)
Samantha Maria (Sammi is another Youtuber whose videos I always watch. I love her vlogs as much as her styling videos and she’s another one who I’ve followed for years so will always feel a little bit of a connection to.)
Emma Hill (I’ve discovered Emma’s YouTube channel, unlike the others, this year and since then, have watched pretty much all of her videos. Her content is so consistent- uploading 3 times a week- and her fashion and styling videos are always genuinely informative.)
Fashion/Styling Pieces
Charles & Keith Ankle Boots (This pair of boots only came into my life in the last month of 2018 but they’re still my number one item because I have found a pair of vegan leather boots that actually feel and look like real leather and don’t rub my feet. Plus they look amazing and are probably now the comfiest shows I own.)
THAT Topshop Satin Midi Skirt (This skirt has actually made me enjoy autumn/winter styling so much more. I have it in the red and the brown which are sadly sold out but there are lots of other colours available.)
ASOS Satchel Bag (This one is a little bit random. But my croc burgundy satchel bag from ASOS has been such a good styling tool for me during the last couple of summer months and during autumn/winter. I love it and it was a bargain.)
Beauty/Skincare
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser (I love this cleanser so much. It has not improved my skin by any great leaps and bounds but I love how it feels and smells and it’s the perfect non-offensive, easy cleanser for my morning routine. I’m on at least my third bottle and have a backup bottle waiting to go.)
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid (This is another one that I have backups for but, unlike the cleanser, this seriously has transformed my skin. A drop of this on any spots overnight reduces their appearance by at least 80% by the next morning and since putting it all over my face every night, any acne has been reduced so much.)
Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette (I have loved wearing eyeshadow this year and this has been my go-to palette for everyday and more formal occasions. My favourite shades are Bellini, Puree and Luscious.)
Films
Call Me By Your Name (This film is everything I could ask for. It’s a little bit pretentious but in all the best ways and it never fails to make me feel emotional and inspired.)
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (I couldn’t include a post on 2018 without this film because I just adored it. It’s jam-packed with ABBA songs and without a doubt makes me feel good every time I watch it.)
Ladybird (I’ve watched this film upwards of 5 times this year- for someone who doesn't usually like watching a film more than once, this is A LOT. It’s relatable, hilarious and as easy to watch as much as it is thought-provoking. Plus it has Saoirse Ronan AND Timothee Chalamet starring in it, both of whom I love.)
Music
Rex Orange County (The music of Rex Orange County has soundtracked my year- as my Spotify Wrapped will tell you- and I could never get bored of his wonderful voice and lyrics. From the feel good songs to the ones that make me cry, I love them all.)
Mahalia (Spotify Wrapped will also assure you of my love for Mahalia. Her music always makes me feel like I can take on the world and I can’t wait to hear more from her in 2019.)
Jorja Smith (I’m late to the bandwagon with this one but I’ve fallen in love with Jorja Smith’s lyrics as much as I have with her voice this year.)
I could go on with more and more categories but I’ll stick with these for now. It was so difficult to limit each category to my top 3 but I can assure you that these really are the best of the best. Please do go out and consume some of this stuff, whatever it is you enjoy, because I can’t recommend all of it enough and I know I’ll be enjoying it all in 2019 just as much as I have in 2018.
I’d love to hear about your favourite stuff of 2018! Let me know in the comments or on social media, or link me to your posts/videos discussing your favourite things of 2018 as I’d love to read/watch them.
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