The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | August 2020

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T-Shirt: Reformation

Shorts: H&M

Necklace: Missoma*

Shoes: Veja

The end of August is always a bittersweet time for me because summer is my favourite time of the year and there are very few things, in practice, that I like about winter. But I also love the start of a new school year, and although this year is the first one I’ve spent out of education, I still have that ‘back-to-school’ feeling and I appreciate the order and structure that comes with it. So whilst I’m sad to be saying goodbye to what was actually one of my most social summers ever, despite coronavirus, I am looking forward to a few more nights in and longer days at my desk (give me 3 weeks - maximum - and I’ll be over it).

Usually, August is a month of relaxation for me, as I go on holiday to escape the world and relax. But this year I’ve been going on UK holidays and visiting friends, in order to re-enter the world and catch up on all the socialising I missed out on during the months we spent in lockdown. With that, I’ve consumed far less culture than normal and I actually have no TV shows or films to report on. I’ve spent barely any time sitting down in front of the TV this month and when I have, I’ve been watching, to my shame, Glee. This started as something I’d watch when I was hungover but I spent so much of my time hungover in July and August compared to normal, that I just decided to start watching it full-time. I still have a couple of seasons to go, though, so I’ll report on that next month, probably.

This month, it’s just books, podcasts, articles and music then. I’ve read less books than usual, but the ones I have read have all been phenomenal. I’ve also become kind of obsessed with Ali Smith’s seasonal quartet… despite never having read any of the books. I’ve ordered Autumn* though and it’s at the top of my to be read list for Autumn, as I’ve been fascinated by all the long reads on Smith’s seasonal quartet coming to a close. I started subscribing to Guardian Weekly this month, so the article section is a little bit Guardian heavy and there are some articles I’m recommending that are print only, but I’d really recommend subscribing as the magazine is great.

I’ve also discovered a podcast which I would easily describe as my favourite podcast ever. Much like July though, I’ve been listening to less podcasts, generally, and more music, although my playlist is a weird one this month. A strange thing happens every August where I start listening to pop music I never normally listen to and that’s been intensified this year by the release of WAP. As well as that, I’ve been loving Mahalia’s album, which is very in-character for me. Rambling introduction aside, here’s the small amount of things I read, watched and listened to this month…

books

Small island by andrea levy | ★★★★*

Small Island was this months’ book club pick (if you didn’t read last month’s MMC, my book club is collaborating with the Women’s Prize to read three past winners of the prize) and it’s one I’ve wanted to read for a while. The novel is concerned with the Windrush Generation and explores the lives of four characters: Hortense who arrives in London from Jamaica in 1948, Gilbert Joseph, a black man who fights for Britain in the war but is treated as a second-class citizen in post-WW2 Britain, Queenie, his white female landlord, and Bernard, Queenie’s husband who she assumes has died in the war.

Levy’s constructions of voice are so impressive. Polyphonic novels like this one rarely create four equally endearing characters, usually one stands out as superior. But I enjoyed every single narrative in this novel and appreciated the depth created around each of the characters. A beautiful novel that could be the definitive lesson, in my opinion, in pacing plot. 4.5 stars.

intimations by zadie smith | ★★★★★*

When I found out Zadie Smith had been writing a collection of essays during lockdown, it felt like the months I spent not being able to leave the house might have been worth it. I’m joking, obviously, but I can’t tell you how much ease Zadie Smith’s non-fiction writing brings me. It’s so comforting to know someone is thinking about the world we’re living in so intelligently and her writing style is everything I aspire to. Although if I could achieve 1/100th of what Zadie Smith achieves when she writes an email, even, I’d be happy. Here’s an excerpt from the book I loved:

But the young man in his twenties is still in peak dreaming season: a thrilling time, an insecure time, even at the best of times. It should be a season of possibility. Economic, romantic, technological, political, existential possibility. Yes, among all the various relativities to be considered, age is the one that can’t be parsed. The style of Cy - the style of all young people - now radically interrupted.

weather by jenny offill | ★★★★*

Jenny Offill is another author I admire. Literature that experiments with form isn’t something I always enjoy, but Offill strikes a balance that it is difficult to strike, that is challenging the reader, whilst also allowing the book to flow in a way that makes it easy to read. Weather, shortlisted for the 2020 Women’s Prize for fiction, explores what it means to live through crisis, namely, an environmental crisis. Lizzie, the protagonist, is a librarian and is navigating a world which we might assume is our current world, but also could be any world in crisis, which makes it a disconcerting read. She’s also navigating her family life, looking after her alcoholic brother, her unsure marriage, her mother and her son.

Like Offill’s novel Dept. of Speculation, Weather’s prose is fragmented and it’s not always completely clear what is taking place. But I think this is an intentional stylistic choice and one that allows you to experience the world of the novel in the same way her characters do: floating through it, acknowledging that things are unsure, but inevitably continuing forwards, soaking up all it offers you. One of my favourite moments from the novel was this:

Young person worry: What if nothing I do matters?

Old person worry: What if everything I do does?

podcasts

Brown girls do it too | ★★★★★

This podcast is everything I could ever want from a podcast and more. The concept is: three brown women who have never met before meet weekly to discuss every single detail of their sex lives, from masturbation, to ‘losing their virginity’ to the appearance of their vaginas. Their aim is to break down taboos around brown women talking about sex. But Poppy, Rubina and Roya are potentially three of the funniest people I’ve ever encountered, so I spent almost the entirety of the 4 hours it took me to listen to Brown Girls Do it Too belly laughing. It’s refreshing how candid they all are in talking about sex and I think everyone could learn so much from listening to it. I would pay so much money for a second season.

individual episodes:

• EP.130 - Zadie Smith | The Adam Buxton Podcast

• Camilla Thurlow | You’re Booked

• Ep 11: James Acaster | Might Delete Later

articles

• Intimations by Zadie Smith review – a wonderful essayist on the lockdown | The Guardian

• Cast Adrift | Guardian Weekly (Print only)

• If you’re not terrified about Facebook, you haven’t been paying attention | The Guardian

• A Very Long Year: Ali Smith’s Seasons | Guardian Weekly (Print only)

• College is Everywhere Now | The New York Times

• Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet: an oral history | Penguin

• The September Issue Gets an Overdue Makeover | BoF

music

The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | July 2020

Affiliate links are marked with a *

I think every year when it gets to July, half of my conversations with any given people begin with the statement something along the lines with, “I just can’t believe it’s July already! Where does the time go?” But this year, almost all of my conversations feel like they begin with that and not just because it’s an easy form of small talk but because we’ve spent most of 2020 at home, living the same day over and over again. With the opening of bars and restaurants this month, I seem to have temporarily become an extrovert, as the idea of getting out the house is more appealing than it ever has been to me. I’ve been soaking up all the social contact I can get but, with that, have been consuming less culture than usual.

The culture I have consumed, however, has been great, including some easily binge-able TV series that total less than 10 episodes each (ideal for commitment-phobes like me) and some really interesting books. As seems to be a theme since cinemas have closed, I haven’t watched many films. In fact, I haven’t watched any this month, just a documentary that I enjoyed so much I’ve been thinking ever since I need to watch documentaries more, although that’s yet to happen. I’ve been moving away from podcasts and have started to listening to music more often, so there’s a playlist this month. But I’ve largely been listening to albums that were released during my teenage years (as everything else about my life is reflecting them at the moment): Drake’s Take Care, Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE and Beyonce’s BEYONCE, which I think I’ve decided is my favourite Beyonce album, although that’s an almost impossible decision.

Preamble over, here is everything I read, watched and listened to during the month of July this year…

BOOKS

When I lived in modern times by linda grant | ★★★*

At the beginning of lockdown, I started a book club with some friends from uni, as well as some people who I know call friends who I had connected with on social media. We met on zoom weekly to discuss what we’d been reading individually as well as a discussion topic that varied each week. As lockdown came to an end, I saw an opportunity for reading groups to get involved with the Women’s Prize initiative #ReadingWomen, a project to encourage people to read previous winners of the Women’s Prize. We were sent three books, Small Islands by Andrea Levy, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver and this one, When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant.

The idea of this book really appealed to me, so much so that I actually bought it myself earlier in the year (it was actually on my last shopping trip before lockdown began). It follows a young Jewish woman from London who emigrates to the future Israel in 1946. I am shamefully uneducated on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and this book certainly helped to provide some more context on the issues surrounding it, as well as the extra reading I was encouraged to do as a result of reading it. The protagonist is young and self-centred and, as a result, the novel presents the conflict very much from the perspective of a Jewish person. Whilst this was valuable in some ways, as her character certainly both encouraged and discouraged empathy towards the Israeli experience in very nuanced ways, I do think I would have preferred if the novel would have offered a more balanced outlook on the conflict, as there was a noticeable lack of Palestinian voices. Perhaps this is down to my own lack of education, as if I was educated on the subject I could have considered the book and its slightly biased point of view objectively but I do also think that, with it being such a complicated and sensitive issue that so many people lack education on for whatever reason, it’s important to always depict differing experiences when writing about this conflict, fictionally or otherwise.

how do we know we’re doing it right? by pandora Sykes | ★★★★

Pandora Sykes is one of my favourite cultural critics and I read every article she writes, as well as obsessively listening to her podcast, The High Low. So, obviously, I was very excited about her book (I’ve had it on pre-order for over a year). How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? is a book of essays that tackle subjects that are distinct to the 21st century, perhaps even exclusively the 2010s. From wellness, to fast fashion, to the epidemic of business, the book is wide in its scope but does a great job at picking up on topics that are all somewhat relevant to each other.

What I love about Pandora’s voice, especially in this book, is that she is unconcerned with offering authoritative perspectives on subjects. Whilst I write and read opinion pieces regularly, I often find myself feeling exhausted by them and their mission to offer answers on subjects in 500 words or less, even if what they are writing about requires far more exploration than that. Pandora’s ethos in this book seems to be focussing on asking questions, rather than answering them and in doing so she pokes holes in phenomenons of daily life that have become normalised for most of us, offering nuanced and unique thoughts on topics that are written about regularly. It’s research heavy, which I appreciated, but also manages to be very easy-to-read and I flew through this book in a few days.

lote by shola von reinhold | ★★★★

I think the concept of this novel will either immediately appeal to you or it won’t, but its plot is almost entirely up my street. It follows present-day narrator Mathilda’s fixation with the forgotten black Scottish modernist poet, Hermia Druitt. I wrote my dissertation on an author who was marginalised from the modernist movement and the thing that I find most interesting about the modernist movement is the marginal spaces within it. In academic spaces, I feel like there are constantly discussions about rediscovering the archive and this is largely achieved in these spaces by reading books that were otherwise forgotten. But I think LOTE offers a way to rediscover artists and writers who have otherwise been neglected in a way that feels really modern.

The form of the novel is really interesting, with excerpts from various texts including a book called Black Modernisms that details the lives of various black people who were involved with the modernist movement, which was really educational. Alongside that, it follows Mathilda, who is fixated by the historical group The Bright Young Things and is involved in archival research concerning them in a London museum, when she comes across a photo of Hermia. The rest of the novel takes place in Dun, as Mathilda applies for a residency there as a means of finding somewhere to live and also discovering more about Hermia, who spent a great deal of time in Dun. The residency she is a part of is made up of highly pretentious academic-type people, which made for some hilarious moments in their extremely niche accuracy, but her investigation of Hermia offers fascinating insights about beauty and luxury, particularly how these things can exist and can hold power when we consider them outside of their usual boundaries, that is, within a system of capitalism (this was also something my dissertation was concerned with and something I am fascinated by).

This book is so intensely literary in a way that usually annoys me (e.g. Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway or Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist) but I really enjoyed it here. I think it’s because Von Reinhold writes with so much self-awareness and they are also interested in amplifying marginalised voices rather than the voices of those who already hold power in many ways, as the Woolf and Joyce novels do, in my opinion.

I’d highly recommend this book if it sounds like something that would appeal to you. It was published this year as part of Jacaranda’s Twenty in 2020 initiative, as they become the first publisher to publish 20 titles by 20 Black British writers in one year and there are some other books on the list that I am keen to read, so I’d recommend taking a look at that!

TV

hollywood (Netflix) | ★★★★

Set in post-World War II, you guessed it, Hollywood, this series follows aspiring actors and filmmakers who are trying to make it in the world of show business. It’s a Ryan Murphy series and it received really bad reviews, but I loved every episode and I’m coming to realise that I am a big fan of Ryan Murphy’s work (see also: my next recommendation). Hollywood presents a somewhat utopian vision of the American filmmaking industry, as producers and filmmakers put themselves on the line to create diverse film. It’s not historically accurate but I found it to be very moving, to see what could have come out of self-sacrifice and to see just how powerful diverse representation is in film (I sobbed throughout the entirety of the final episode).

the politician season two (netflix) | ★★★★

This is another Ryan Murphy show with fairly bad reviews but, again, I enjoyed it. I think I might have enjoyed Season Two of The Politician more than season one which is not the general consensus. But I loved the New York setting and its satirised depiction of how American politics and, in particular, American elections work. I loved episode five, which profiled a mother and daughter; the latter was voting for Peyton, the protagonist, and the former, his opponent. This episode does what the show does best, represent current issues in a humorous but reflective way.

the morning show (apple tv) | ★★★★

I saw this show promoted so much at the start of the year but, as I often do, waited a few months to watch it. It tackles issues surrounding the #MeToo movement as the host of America’s most popular morning show is fired as a result of predatory behaviour. It stars Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon who were really convincing in their roles. I was skeptical about having two such high-profile actors playing alongside each other (especially because I see them, first and foremost when they’re together, as Rachel and her sister) but The Morning Show is really a credit to their acting ability. I thought the series did a great job at exploring the nuances around the #MeToo movement, particularly cancel culture, and how high-profile figures claim to have had everything taken away from them whilst still having, ahem, a mansion in upstate New York and a 10 bedroom apartment in Manhattan.

FILM

everything is copy (Sky) | ★★★★

Nora Ephron is a writer who I turn to when I’m looking for something easy to read, wise words and a good old belly laugh. This documentary tracks her entire life, particularly her career and I found it totally fascinating.

PODCASTS

prose before hoes | ★★★★

If you’ve read one of my Monthly Media Catchups before, you’ll know I love a book podcast. This is a new one that combines alcohol and books, as the hosts, Camilla and Elle, discuss everything they’ve been reading whilst having a drink. As someone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy the taste of alcohol, and largely drinks, like a teenager, to get drunk, I enjoy the books part of the podcast more than the alcohol part. But I have similar reading tastes to the hosts and often am reading the same books they are, which makes for great listening. Also, I love the title of this podcast.

doing it right with pandora sykes | ★★★★

Alongside her book, Pandora started this podcast to explore some of the topics her essays are interested in, interviewing experts in their fields and pop culture figures. I’d highly recommend the episode with Sinéad Burke in particular. She’s an incredible speaker and this episode was so educational on issues surrounding disability.

individual episodes:

• Happiness at work with Pandora Sykes | Is This Working?

• Louis Theroux | Off Menu

• Luxury with Shola Von Reinhold | Literary Friction

• Bernadine Evaristo | How To Fail

• Wiley’s Anti-Semitism, Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age & An Author Special w/ Nesrine Malik | The High Low

• Pandora Sykes | You’re Booked

• Lisa Taddeo | You’re Booked

ARTICLES

• Do All Men Just Like Having the Option of Sex - Then Flaking At The Last Minute? (and Annie Lord’s entire dating column) | British Vogue

• How to make peace with your phone while reading | Penguin

• How to Report on Internet Culture and the Teens Who Rule It | NY Times

• Bernadine Evaristo on her sexuality and how her lesbian era shaped who she is today | Sunday Times Style

• Eliza Clark: ‘I’m from Newcastle and working class. To publishers, I’m diverse.’ | The Guardian

MuSic

The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | June 2020

June 2020 is a month that will go down in history as a time when the Black Lives Matter movement gained huge traction after the tragic death of George Floyd on 25th May 2020. I hope it is the start of an even bigger movement that changes the way we think about race and makes real difference to the lives of black people. I have been making more effort than normal this month to read books by black authors, including books that educate me on the black experience in the U.K and the U.S and this is something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life, not just this month, although it feels particularly pressing right now. I shared some books that I have found to be extremely educational on my Instagram page including Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, Citizen by Claudia Rankine and Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde, but I thought I’d share some works here by black authors that were not written on the basis of educating their readers on race (although many of them are educational regardless):

• Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo (my favourite book)

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

• What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons

• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

• White Teeth by Zadie Smith

• Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith

• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker

• White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

There are more recommendations of books by black authors in the books section of this months Monthly Media Catch Up, as well as the usual TV, film, article and music recommendations.

books

brit(ish) by Afua hirsch | ★★★★★

I went to a talk with Afua Hirsch at Manchester Literature Festival in 2018, where she discussed with Nikesh Shukla some of the experiences and topics featured in this book. Afua’s experiences of what it means to be black in Britain really stuck with me, specifically the story of her name, as she spoke about how throughout her life, she resented people mispronouncing it but when she visited her mother’s home, Ghana, realised she too had been mispronouncing it her whole life. In Brit(ish), Afua explores details of her personal life in this way and relates them to the historical experience of black people in Britain. It’s a unique form that is so engaging, moving and it makes the research and history she recounts accessible in a way history books often aren’t.

The fact that it’s taken me so long to read this book makes me stare at piles and piles of my unread books and wonder what other gems are lying there that I’ve been putting off, because this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Afua is such a beautiful writer and is so generous with her personal experiences, stories and family history. I am so thankful to her for writing this book.

It’s a must-read for every British person but especially white British people because it is so educational on Britain’s colonial history. If you’re from Liverpool, I urge you, in particular, to read this book as there are so many shocking details about the city’s black history, from its relationship to the slave trade to the death of Mzee Mohammed and so much more. I think often, and I’m guilty of this myself, Liverpudlians think Liverpool is a city that is totally progressive and innocent because it is so left-wing, but, whether we like it or not, it’s part of a country with a dark colonial past and is by no means exempt from the implications of that.

girl, woman, other by bernadine evaristo | ★★★★★

Some books are ruined by the hype surrounding them, as they inevitably fail to live up to the impossible standards set by booksellers, reviews and their impact on society. But some books are so unique, well-written and timely, that nothing could ever ruin them, not least that everyone is in agreement with regards to their brilliance. Girl, Woman, Other sits in the latter category.

Girl, Woman, Other tells the lives of 12 women who are mostly British and mostly black but vary in their ages, professions and life experiences. For a book that is separated into 12 distinct stories, it flows effortlessly and is absorbing in a way I didn’t think possible for a novel that doesn’t necessarily have a plot. I loved how the stories became interconnected at various points in the book and I also adored the writing style; there are few full stops in the book and too often, stylistic choices like this frustrate me. But this one made sense, as some stories read like poetry and was also made meaningful by the novel’s depiction of how people’s lives and stories inevitably weave together.

i am not your baby mother by candice brathwaite | ★★★★

I am very fussy when it comes to audiobooks, meaning I listen to very few. Generally, they have to be: non-fiction, personal, read by the author and, ideally, I can put a face to the voice or can at least recognise the voice. This one was ideal as I’d followed Candice on Instagram and heard her on a few podcasts. Plus, this is an incredible book and Candice is a brilliant storyteller.

In a similar style to Brit(ish), I Am Not Your Baby Mother is part memoir, part education. Candice recounts her experience as a black mother, as well as providing facts and figures on black motherhood more generally in Britain. The stories Candice tells are moving and shocking, from not being believed by doctors whilst she was life-threateningly ill after giving birth to her first child to making the difficult choice to move out of the city where she was born, London, when she had a son, for fears about knife crime and how it affects black boys and men in the capital.

I’d highly recommend this book, specifically as an audiobook, as well as following Candice on Instagram.

the vanishing half by brit bennett | ★★★

This new release was receiving all the hype on Instagram this month and I totally fell for it. Unfortunately, I think the high expectations I had of this book did tarnish it a little bit, but, nevertheless, I completely understand why so many people love it.

Set between the 1950s-1990s, it follows the lives of Desiree and Stella, mixed race twins who are born in the town of Mallard. Mallard is a town that almost exclusively houses mixed race people and its residents shun dark-skin black people. Desiree and Stella move away from the town when they are young but are separated for the rest of their lives when Stella tries to pass as white, succeeds and starts a new life as such, whilst Desiree continues to identify as black. This part of the novel was the strongest for me, as it explored the intricacies of colourism and allowed the reader insight into Desiree and Stella’s lives and thoughts.

The second part of the novel follows Desiree and Stella’s daughters, which I enjoyed less. The writing was still beautiful and the ideas fascinating, but, for me, the plot became slightly overcomplicated and I yearned for deeper insight into almost all of the characters.

I’d definitely still recommend reading this book as I enjoyed the reading experience on the whole, I just wish it was double the length it is so I could have stayed in its world for longer and got to know the characters better.

the new jim crow by michelle alexander | ★★★★

The final book I read in June is the most academic of them all. The New Jim Crow puts forward the argument that the war on drugs and the system of mass incarceration in America is an intentionally formed new caste system, a reincarnation of Jim Crow. I find it difficult to believe that anyone could read this book and not be convinced by its argument, as it is so well-researched and expansive, covering all elements of the criminal justice system in America and how it affects black people, from stop and search, to the court of law to how rights are drastically restricted for felons.

It also provides fascinating insights on how colourblindness came to be considered as a positive thing and why it is, in fact, a regressive way of considering race. It is research-heavy, which is useful, as I was constantly folding pages to come back to and I feel much more armed with facts and explanations to have discussions about systematic racism in America, especially with those who are skeptical that racism still exists. If you’re looking for the same kind of education, this book is a brilliant place to start. It was by no means and easy read and it took me a while to get through but it was so worthwhile.

tv

Dynasty (Netflix) | ★★★★

I asked for recommendations of TV shows on Instagram at the beginning of the month, tailored to my very specific taste in TV (keywords: women, camp, great clothes, basic). A friend recommended Dynasty, describing the main character as ‘Blair Waldorf on steroids’ which completely sold me on it and is also completely accurate. It follows Fallon Carrington, a young woman who is from an extremely rich family that lives in Atlanta, as she tries to become a successful businesswomen and tackle the kind of problems that crop up in soap operas like this one: sudden deaths, kidnapping and marital affairs. It’s the ultimate easy watching and there’s also a musical episode so, yeah, right up my street.

film

The Social Network (Netflix) | ★★★★

This is one of those films I’ve been meaning to watch for years and have only just got round to now. I am fascinated by the creation of social media and the corruption of Facebook in particular, so I was bound to enjoy this film. It made me want to delete social media more than ever but, alas, I’m still here but hopefully, with a more skeptical lens on the digital world. Also, Jesse Eisenberg was so great as Mark Zuckerberg and I’m kind of glad that I waited so long to watch this film because it means I got to see Zuckerberg fumble in front of AOC before watching it, which made Eisenberg’s portrayal of him as an awkward college student all the more convincing.

Easy A (Netflix) | ★★

I think I’ve definitely watched this film in the past, although I obviously wasn’t particularly impressed with it then either as I have no recollection of the plot. The idea for this film is ok, I guess, but it was ruined for me by the amount of insensitive jokes and remarks. I understand that films are a product of their time but the undertones of racism and misogyny in this film were unnecessarily frequent, to the point where I couldn’t enjoy it at all. Plus, 2010 wasn’t that long ago. The extra star is for Stanley Tucci- he was great.

Fleabag (Amazon Prime) | ★★★★

I managed to watch the original play version of Fleabag on Amazon Prime before it was taken down at the end of June and it was just as brilliant as the show. It’s so impressive that Phoebe Waller-Bridge manages to cultivate the same humour and pathos as she does in a full-scale TV production, whilst sitting alone on stage on a chair and I felt like it gave me even more insight into the character of Fleabag and the show. I’ve only knocked off a star because it just isn’t the same watching theatre online for me. If the conservative government allow for theatres to go under, it’s over for them bitches.

podcasts

Freelancing for journalists | ★★★★

I have been trying to navigate the world of freelance journalism this month with varying levels of success and this podcast has been a great guide. It covers finances, networking and pitching and is being made during the pandemic, so is relevant for the current moment too.

At home with Lily And anna | ★★★★

This podcast is the ultimate easy listening as bloggers Lily and Anna chat about their weeks as well as different discussion topics every week including body image, university and ageing.

individual episodes I enjoyed:

• Afua Hirsch | Love Stories

• Stigg Abell: Why don’t I have any friends? | Stories of Our Times

articles

I became a member at Gal-dem this month and have been really enjoying their content, including their newsletter. Some of my favourite articles from Gal-dem and other publications I’ve read this month are included here:

The Life of a Song: ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free’ | Financial Times

Falling Out of Love With Modernist Literature | LitHub

I didn’t think 2020 would have me crying tears of joy at the death of a statue, but here we are are | Gal-dem

What does self-care look like when you’re black, in the media and can’t switch off? | Gal-dem

How Iceland Beat the Coronavirus | The New Yorker

How to love well, according to Daniel Jones, the editor of Modern Love | Sunday Times Style

Paths of desire: lockdown has lent a new twist to the trails we leave behind | The Guardian

Afua Hirsch On The Crucial Black History Lessons All Schools Should Be Teaching | British Vogue

Haim: ‘Men were like, “Get her off the stage, why is she making those faces?”’ | Independent

The Story Behind the Photograph of Protesters Outside of Trump Tower That Resonated Around the World | Time

‘The waste and excess is more visible’: how coronavirus is shaking up fashion | The Guardian

I fell into the emotional labour trap, then my wife divorced me | Sunday Times Style

music

I didn’t make a playlist this month but I’ve been listening to Pip Millett’s entire discography, Rex Orange County’s latest album, Pony, lots of Destiny’s Child and Beyonce (anyone else become obsessed after rewatching her Glastonbury performance?). Since it Haim’s new album Women in Music, pt.III came out, I’ve been listening to that on repeat too. Oh, and this Spotify playlist:

The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | April 2020 (BUMPER LOCKDOWN EDITION)

My coping mechanism during lockdown has been to escape into the lives and worlds of others and it’s provided me with so much solace and much-needed escapism. To celebrate how great all forms of media can be for this purpose, I’m offering up a bumper lockdown edition of the Monthly Media Catch Up with all the usual categories as well as a General Entertainment section, with all the random things that have been keeping me entertained as well as the usuals.

This month, I think I’ve balanced uni reading and reading for pleasure pretty well and have managed to watch a fair few TV series, alongside Sex & The City - although I won’t be chatting about it this month because, somehow, I still haven’t completed it - and re-watching The Bold Type for the umpteenth time. I’ve also watched a lot of films (for me), maybe more than ever?! Netflix Parties have been something that I’ve been really enjoying and I’ve watched (mostly re-watched) some brilliant films with my friends via this medium.

Feel free to skip through categories depending on what you’re looking for, although there are some real gems in each of them so I’d, obviously, recommended reading them all, especially now the ‘I don’t have time’ excuse is a phrase of the past.

Books

Animal’s People by Indra sinha | ★★★★*

This novel, that I read for my Humans & Other Animals module at uni, follows Animal, who survived the 1984 Bhopal disaster but sustained serious spinal injuries as a result of it which means he can only walk on all fours. Because of this, he rejects his humanness and, in this novel, he tells the story of his friends who are fighting for justice after the disaster and an American doctor who claims she wants to help, particularly, how these events affect him. The novel is written in dialect that is specific to Animal and his tone is often humorous, which I really enjoyed. The story is also gripping and moving at times, and highlights lots of issues including white/western privilege and, of course, the boundaries between human and animal.

None Turn Back by storm jameson | ★★★*

The final Storm Jameson book I read for my dissertation! This one is also the final book in the Mirror in Darkness series and is set during the 1926 General Strike. I enjoyed it and I liked how the trilogy ended, but if you’re interested in reading Storm Jameson, I would start with A Day Off and if you like that, Company Parade. If you loved both of these, I would say the rest of the Mirror in Darkness trilogy, but if you only liked them, I think Company Parade is the best in the series and the next two are slightly disappointing.

my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh | ★★★★*

This novel is about a young woman living in New York who decides to try and sleep for a year, after her both of her parents die and she inherits a great deal of money, so is able to do so. I really enjoyed this novel. It was witty and hilarious and the protagonist was horribly unlikeable which added to the humour even more. Her friendship with her closest friend Reva was fascinating and her therapist’s rants had me laughing out loud. At times, I did find it very depressing, especially as it slowed down and became repetitive in the middle. But the novel was so unique that some of the slower parts really didn’t bother me as much and I loved the ending, which was so cliched that it was somehow innovative. 4.5 stars.

We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler | ★★★★*

Another book I read for the Humans & Other Animals module! I loved this one. It’s difficult to explain as something is revealed on p.77, that I would hate to spoil for you, as the tension built up before this point is really necessary and pays off completely. But it follows Rosemary who, when we meet her, is a college student, but has clearly been deeply affected by her childhood with a sister who was taken away from her at a very young age. The novel tracks Rosemary’s life as she tries to deal with this, exploring the human/non-human animal boundary and the ethics of science. Like Animal’s People, though, it managed to find the perfect boundary between a fast-paced plot and confronting important issues. Although I think I enjoyed this one even more than Animal’s People because the concept is fascinating to me.

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro | ★★★★*

Again, I read this for Humans & Other Animals, although I have read it before a few years ago. This one is a bit like We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, in that information is revealed to you throughout the novel that, if I told you what it was now, it wouldn’t have the same effect. What I will say is that it’s semi-dystopian and tracks the lives of three students, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, who are brought up at a boarding school called Hailsham, who know less about the trajectory of their lives than they think. It’s a really novel and thought-provoking idea for a book and I also really enjoy the characters, as they’re all extremely complicated and, at times, unlikeable, which I think makes the book an even more interesting read.

The Interestings by meg wolitzer | ★★★★*

I read this book after hearing Dolly and Pandora rave about it on The High Low, which is how lots of books make it on to my shelves. I’ve heard a lot of people say they loved this book, which I think gave me very high expectations. This is never a good way to come to a book, or anything, in my opinion, because it means I’m constantly looking for flaws. I don’t know if this says more about me than expectations as a concept generally. Nevertheless, although I enjoyed reading this book and was excited to get back to it once I had put it down, I didn’t love it by any means. The only character who I found really endearing was Jonah and he probably had the least time dedicated to him out of all the characters, which is a shame. I had the same problem with it that I had with the The Secret History by Donna Tartt which is that, for me, there were too many people and we saw too much of their lives, so anytime I became interested in a particular incident, we’d soon moved on from it, and the plot lines that Wolitzer did hold on to and thread throughout the novel just weren’t interesting to me (read: Goodman as a character). It’s for sure worth a read if you’re looking for an easy read and I did enjoy Wolitzer’s writing, it just wasn’t my favourite. 3.5 stars.

TV

Quiz (ITV) | ★★★★

I saw this show advertised a lot and, like the basic Fleabag-loving bitch I am, I was drawn to it mostly by Sian Clifford. It’s a drama/comedy that’s only three episodes long (which is perfect for me, as I have serious commitment issues when it comes to TV series) and is based on Charles and Diana Ingram who supposedly cheated on Who Want’s To Be a Millionaire. It was really funny and I was honestly on the edge of my seat throughout (this is the level of drama I can just about deal with on TV.)

Unorthodox (Netflix) | ★★★★

My nan recommended this show to me and I decided to watch it, despite usually avoiding “serious” TV, as she assured me that it wouldn’t be too much for my fragile self. And I loved it! It’s based on the story of a 19 year old woman who fled her home and her Orthodox Jewish family in New York to move to Berlin. Like most of the things I clearly enjoy, it was equal-parts educational and gripping and has made me desperate to visit Berlin again. Plus, all the characters were really complicated, which was interesting (apart from Moishe, what a dick.)

normal people (BBC) | ★★★★★

I am truly lost for words when it comes to this series. Having read Sally Rooney’s novel, Normal People, a couple of years ago, I was really looking forward to the BBC adaptation, but it was better than I could have ever accepted. I usually can’t sit still long enough to watch more than two episodes of anything at a time, but I was so enthralled by Normal People, that I watched the entire series in a day. One week later and I still feel so moved by it. I can’t watch a clip from the series online without bursting into tears. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re craving any kind of escapism, although, do be warned, that if you watch it in a day like I did, you may be unable to talk to anyone in the days following.

film

Mistress America | ★★★

If you’ve read my blog before, you probably know that I’m a big Greta Gerwig fan. Netflix clearly knows this too as they have been constantly recommending this film to me for the past couple of months. It’s nothing revolutionary but I really enjoyed it. It stars Gerwig, who is in her mid-late twenties and presents as the “cool girl”, and Lola Kirke, a college student who greatly admires Gerwig’s character. If you track what I’ve consumed in this (or any) blog post, you’ll notice a lot of it is in New York, as this immediately gives any piece of media an added charm for me, and it certainly did here. It was an easy watch that I enjoyed but it’s not neccesarily something I’ll remember.

Erin Brokovich | ★★★★

I’d somehow never seen this film and was really excited to watch it, having loved all of Julia Robert’s other films. This one really exceeded my expectations, with the added socio-political layer, as well as Robert’s classic charm (and great looks). Erin Brokovich is a struggling mother who gets a job doing admin at a lawyer firm, but she soon becomes invested in a case that is looking at how the water in a town has been poisoned by a gas and electric company. 4.5 stars.

you’ve got mail | ★★★

As well as Julia Robert’s films, I’m trying to make my way through the Meg Ryan classics, and this one, which also stars Tom Hanks was perfect for a relaxed Saturday night whilst I was also filling in scrapbooks. Ryan and Hanks meet anonymously in an online chat room, unaware that in the real world they are rivals, professionally, as Ryan owns an independent book store and Hanks works for the family business, a corporate book store business who are trying to shut down independents. It felt nostalgic in so many ways, obviously in that online dating is a novelty rather than the norm here, but also in that any book store is a good book store nowadays, given how few and far in between they are. The film is definitely dated which I enjoyed but I don’t think it’s one I’ll go back to again and again.

clueless | ★★★★

I re-watched this classic via Netflix Party and loved it so much. I mainly enjoyed Cher’s iconic outfits and quotes.

legally blonde | ★★★★

I’ve watched this before but I forgot how great the story actually is. It’s genuinely feminist and the script is hilarious. Also, I’ll watch Selma Blair in anything.

podcasts

sugar calling | ★★★★

In this New York Times Podcast, created specifically for lockdown, Cheryl Strayed calls up older writers, to get their words of wisdom on how to deal with these “unprecedented times.” It’s the perfect listening for your daily walk and I can highly recommend starting at the very beginning, with the episode calling up George Saunders, whose words feel like a warm hug, which, I’m sure, we’re all craving more than ever.

honourable mentions:

• Minisode 12 | Literary Friction

• The Woman Defending Harvey Weinstein | NY Times The Daily

• The One With Greta Gerwig | Scriptnotes

• Heathcliff vs. Darcy: Who’s the Bigger Sh*t? | Cheltenham Festivals

• How To Understand Art with Annie McGrath | Nobody Panic

• Obligatory Note of Hope with Jenny Offill | Literary Friction

articles

• Commuting by Colin Jost| The New Yorker

• The Book of Reese by Ann Pratchett | Vanity Fair

• How Does Infidelity Work During Lockdown? by Lisa Taddeo | Sunday Times Style

• Drew Barrymore on the Importance of Letting Go | Sunday Times Style

• What are You Really Wearing to Stay Home? | Man Repeller

• When Did I Become Rich? | Man Repeller

• David Sedaris: I sneak outside to a New York in which I am the only person | The Times

• Love Letter by George Saunders | The New Yorker

general entertainment

• NY Times Daily Mini Crossword (I do this every day)

• New Yorker Digital Jigsaw (perfect for when you’re bored during an online class)

• Maybe Baby Newsletter by Haley Nahman

• PhotoBox personalised jigsaw (I had one made of my cat, which is so much fun)

• Vogue Colouring Book*

• The humble Nintendo Wii (switches are expensive and nothing beats playing Mario Kart on a Wii)

• Barre Balance Online (such a lovely community and Natalie is the best instructor)

• Healthy With Hannah Workouts (Hannah is the only person who actually motivates me to do burpees, but don’t tell her that)

• The Anna Edit Cookies (the tastiest thing I’ve ever baked, I’m partial to the white chocolate ones)

• Paperchase Scrapbook (scrapbooking is a lovely way to fill the time and this scrapbook is the best I’ve found)

• Understanding Fashion: From Business to Culture course on FutureLearn (I’ve been doing this course on a free trial on FutureLearn and it’s really comprehensive)

music

My April playlist amassed a total of three songs because I’ve mostly been listening to album’s and other people’s playlists this month. So, here are said playlists I’ve been listening to. The first is by the wonderful Liv Playlist and the second is the best workout playlist I’ve ever come across (it’s also great for dancing around your room and pretending it’s 2015). Happy listening!

The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | March 2020

Anything marked with a * is an affiliate links.

The world might be ending, but I’m still consuming as much “stuff”, if not more, during this very weird period. I imagine April’s MMC is going to be a mammoth one, as I seem to have just settled into being able to relax and watch films/TV and read for pleasure (and for uni - what is “a degree” again?) Whereas March was mostly spent, for the latter part, trying to navigate what’s going on through long walks and video calls, and for the former, actually being quite busy and doing things in the real world- what a concept!

Despite this, I have managed to read, watch and listen to a decent amount during March and I hope you find something you might like in this blog post to keep you entertained in your home for the coming weeks/months, so staying in becomes less of a challenge to your mental health and more of a challenge to yourself of ‘how much great stuff can I consume during this time?’

Books

All Over Creation by Ruth Ozeki* | ★★★★

The first book I finished for uni this month was this novel. It’s books like these ones that make me thankful for my degree, as I never would have picked All Over Creation up otherwise. It follows a family in Idaho, of which the elderly parents are potato farmers, and their attempts to navigate the growing popularity of genetically modified food. It educated me a great deal on this topic but it’s also a brilliantly gripping story, exploring romantic relationships, race, motherhood, among other topics. Ruth Ozeki is definitely an author I want to read more of.

Women Against men by storm jameson* | ★★★★

As I mentioned in last month’s Monthly Media Catch Up, I’m writing my dissertation on the inter-war writer Storm Jameson, so I’ve been reading more of her work this month. This book is made up of three short novels. The final one, A Day Off (which I reviewed when I first read it last year) is my favourite and was the stimulus for my dissertation on the use of clothing in her literature. It’s a day novel that is so rich as it explores the thoughts of a working-class, Northern woman wandering around London. It’s symbolism is rich and the social commentary is so clever and discrete. The other books in the collection didn’t grip me as much but I still enjoyed them, as I do all of Jameson’s writing.

love in winter by storm Jameson* | ★★★

Another Jameson novel! This one is the sequel to Company Parade, that I discussed last month. It’s particularly concerned with the protagonist’s romantic relationships, which I found boring at times, but still generally enjoyed the novel because all of the characters are well-developed and complicated and, not to sound like a broken record, but her social commentary is so uniquely presented and enjoyable.

my friend anna By rachel deloache williams* | ★★★

This is the only book I read outside of uni this month! I’m glad I chose this one, as it provided an experience of total escapism. A true story written by a friend of Anna Delvey’s, who was convicted of fraud in 2019 after moving to NYC and pretending to be a German heiress to scam socialites (and non-socialites, like Rachel), out of lots of money. Hearing the story from Rachel’s perspective is fascinating, and I loved being sucked in to the New York lifestyle that is a million miles away from my life, and seeing how Anna manipulated it.

Whilst Anna is clearly the perpetrator in this situation and Rachel the victim, I did find that Rachel was too concerned with using this book to exonerate herself from any criticism (i.e. that she used Anna for her money) with constant passages about how hard it was on her, mentally and financially, that added nothing to the story apart from justifying herself. Of course, it’s understandable how difficult this situation would have been for her, but I would have enjoyed more self-awareness in the writing. Although, it was, at times, interesting for it to have been written in this way, as it really made it feel more like a fictional story with complicated, fallible characters.

tv

the bold type (Amazon Prime) | ★★★★★

I haven’t managed to watch anything new on TV this month, simply because I was, at first, busy and, later, too overwhelmed by the news to be absorbed into a new world on screen (I have a much worse attention span when it comes to watching as opposed to reading). So, I’ve been re-watching my favourite TV show, The Bold Type. I first encountered it last summer and it has since become my favourite show. Following the lives of three twenty-somethings working at a Cosmopolitan-esq magazine, it has that easy-to-watch aspirational quality, whilst also being very up-to-date when it comes to socio-political conversations about sex, race, gender, politics and so much more.

film

emma | ★★★★

My final trip to the cinema pre-quarantine was to watch this simply lovely film. I love how many period films based on classic literature with great costuming are being made at the moment, not least because it has made me realise that this niche is my favourite kind of film. Whilst it did not live up to my beloved Little Women, it had the same ‘figgy pudding film’ (i.e. twinkly and cozy) quality that I can easily get lost in. The casting was great (I’ll watch anything that involves Johnny Flynn) and the costumes were inspired!! I’m truly obsessed with the silhouettes of those dresses and I couldn’t care less if they are historically accurate or not.

Four Weddings and a Funeral | ★★★★

One goal of mine during lockdown is to watch all of the film and TV that I should have already watched. I’m not talking The Godfather and The Matrix (I have and will never watch either or any other films of that kind) but films I have never seen but will undoubtedly love. I started with this one that has been on my list for so long and I’m embarrassed to say it took me 21 years to watch. Watching this whilst doing a jigsaw was the best Sunday I’ve had in a while and it definitely lived up to what I expect from a 90s Richard Curtis film.

podcasts

Off Menu | ★★★★

I’d listened to a few episodes of this podcast in the past with guests I already liked but this month I’ve dived into the deep end and have become completely obsessed with it. Comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble interview guests about their dream meals and whilst this is kind of interesting, it’s the humour that goes with it that makes the podcast so great and such a tonic at the moment. I recently listened to the episode with Catherine Cohen, who I hadn’t heard of beforehand but is absolutely hilarious. So I’d say start with that one, unless there’s another guest who you know of and particularly like.

honourable mentions:

• Zadie Smith: How to Be Free - Toure Show

• Episode #19 - Anderson vs. Anderson - Film & Friends

• #76: Giles Hattersley, features director, British Vogue - Always Take Notes

articles

I thought I’d introduce a specific section in the MMC for articles, rather than clumping them together with podcast episodes. But I won’t be doing an individual review for each of them because I’m only mentioning the ones I enjoyed, as I can’t remember the ones I disliked (unless I really hated them, in which case, I might mention it.)

This will reveal that I read the Sunday Times Style in disproportionate amounts, as well as Man Repeller - sometimes The New Yorker, although, apparently, not during the beginning of a global pandemic. Here’s hoping I can get through the big pile of New Yorkers next to my bed during the middle of a global pandemic.

Anyhow, here are the articles I read during March, some of them are related to the C-word (how sad that this no longer means Christmas!), most of them aren’t:

• Love is Blind’s Jessica and the gendered history of the ‘Hot Mess’ | The Sunday Times Style (Charlotte Edwards)

• This meditation mania makes me anxious | The Times (Laura Freeman)

• Who’s Still Swiping on the Dating Apps? | Man Repeller (Edith Young)

• Should We Still Be Shopping? Leandra and Harling Discuss | Man Repeller (Leandra Medine and Harling Ross)

• Verified Strangers | Vogue (Lena Dunham)

• Bougie London Literary' Woman’s Lockdown Diary | Vice (Imogen West-Knights)

• I’m 27 & Was Hospitalised with Coronavirus | Refinery29 (Jessica Morgan)

• The death of Shukri Abdi: ‘She was failed when she was alive and she’s still being failed now’ | Gal-dem (Nimo Omer)

• The Best Dressed of 2020 Awards Season, Illustrated | The Mancunion (Alex Bikard)

• Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day | Medium (Asaf Bitton)

music

This month’s playlist is mostly feel-good songs, old favourites and those I have recently discovered. It includes what would have been Iceland’s Eurovision entry (I now hate it as I’ve listened to it, and learned the dance, 100 times too many), a bop from Dua Lipa’s new album and the best David Bowie song for dancing around your room when you feel like you’re going to implode due to over-exposure to your family/partner/child/self.

you might also like…

The Monthly Media Catch Up: Everything I Read, Watched & Listened To | January 2020

(affiliate links are marked with a *)

T-shirt: Roberta Einer SS20

Cardigan: & Other Stories*

Trousers: Mango (old, similar here*)

Necklace: Missoma*

Hair clips: ASOS*

Oh hi! So the Monthly Media Catchup has disappeared from my blog over the past few months. This was not intentional but a side-effect of an overwhelming amount of university work (final year really is difficult, who would have thought?)

But no one wants to hear about the amount of work I or anyone else has, so let’s just get straight into everything I read, watched and listened to during January.

My birthday and Christmas fall within 30 days of each other and most of my presents for both of these occasions consist of books. Every year, I look forward to compiling a list of books to ask for for Christmas and my birthday and this years list was particularly long. I started a couple of the books over the Christmas period (amongst them,Find Me by Andre Aciman, the sequel to Call Me By Your Name which I really disappointingly disliked) but have been digging deeper into the huge pile during the first month of 2020, before my university reading really kicks in.

I’ve also been watching A LOT of TV. I’m not sure if I watched more than one single TV show in its entirety from September-December. Partly because of the aforementioned busyness but also because I just couldn’t find anything that I liked enough to commit to. But January has brought lots of new releases and, to be honest, I’ve more or less been watching the same thing as the rest of my Instagram feed, but I thought I’d touch on them anyway, in case you’ve somehow missed them.

I found that I was consuming a lot of media recommended to me via social media this month, meaning I’ve been watching TV shows and reading books I might not have otherwise. In some ways, this has really paid off (see the TV category) but in others, specifically when it comes to books, I think I’d like to trust my own taste more in the future. Not that I disliked any of the books I read, but that there are other books on my shelves I might have enjoyed more, even if they’re not currently as popular/trendy.

Anyway, now the obligatory preamble is over, onto the reviews…

Books

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo | ★★★★★

How nice to start the year off with a 5 star review! Three Women has been on my to-read list since its release and it was one of the most difficult books to resist in my attempt to buy fewer books over the past year. Luckily, this anticipation paid off. Taddeo’s book follows the lives of three women, Maggie, Sloane and Lina. Specifically, it follows their sex lives, exploring their desires, emotions, and instincts in depth. Taddeo spent around 8 years looking for and spending time with these women in order to write such a book and the fact that the book reads like a novel is a huge credit to her as a journalist and a writer. It’s beautifully written and I found every detail fascinating. What I think is so special about this book is that Taddeo dedicates so much importance to female desire as its own entity, a privilege, unlike male desire which is often explored in fiction and non-fiction through the male gaze, it is rarely given.

I’ve seen this book criticised because firstly, “not much happens”, but this is baffling to me, because I thought so much happened! No, there isn’t much of a plotline but it’s non-fiction and real-life doesn’t have a plotline, and authentic female desire is not programmed the way we’ve seen it in books and other forms of media, which is perhaps why people are uncomfortable or bored with the book. Secondly, because it isn’t representative. However I think it’s important to remember that Taddeo is not trying to represent all women, just three women. But I do hope that many writers take inspiration from this book and write texts of this kind about different kinds of women. I hope to read many, many stories like these ones about thousands of diverse women in my lifetime, and I can only hope that, as a society, we begin to value them enough to allow this to hapen.

Calypso by David Sedaris | ★★★★

David Sedaris’ essay collections have been doing the rounds on social media, having been plauded for their humour and wit. I decided to read his most recent collection of essays and I enjoyed them a great deal. I didn’t find them laugh-out-loud funny but they largely put a smile on my face, especially the stories set in the UK. I’m currently taking a Non-Fiction Creative Writing Class and I definitely found them useful in that respect, although I can’t see myself being desperate to pick up more of his writing in the near future. 3.5 stars.

Educated by Tara Westover | ★★★

Another book I was influenced by social media to read, specifically by Sunbeamsjess, who is one of my favourite bloggers and chose it for her January book club. Westover’s memoir follows her life from her unorthodox Mormon childhood to leaving her family to study at Cambridge University and Harvard. I love the concept of this book and the parts in which the book was true to its title and Westover explored receiving an education for the first time in her late teens were fascinating. But I found that it focussed slightly too much on her childhood and it was particularly gratuitous in describing the violence she experienced, which, although I’m sure was traumatizing and I am not trying to diminish it, lost its impact after so much repetition, for me, especially because specific acts of violence were described over and over again. At times, I was gripped to the book’s storyline but at others, I wanted to put it down. It’s definitely worth a read if you’re willing to sit through the frequent scenes of violence because Westover’s story and her writing generally is great.

TV

Unreal (Amazon Prime) | ★★★★

I found this series in Pandora Sykes’ essay The Authentic Lie and I was so glad I did because it brought to an end the excruciating few months in which I had nothing to watch on TV. It’s a fictional series that looks at the production of a reality show that is similar to The Bachelor and Love Island. It’s a fascinating look at how real reality TV is and how producers manipulate contestants but it’s also an exciting and gripping watch, full of cliffhangers and great characters, whose emotional lives you become invested in. The first series was by far the best but I think it’s worth watching them all.

You, Season 2 (Netflix) | ★★★

I binge-watched the first season of You this time last year so I was looking forward, as was the rest of social media, to the second season. I enjoyed it a lot although I wasn’t able to watch it as quickly as I did the first season. Whilst it is bingeable and an easy watch, it’s also a great exploration of white male privilege. I’ve only given it three stars because I didn’t mourn it being over and I often forgot that I had even been watching it when I was doing other things.

Sex Education, Season 2 (Netflix) | ★★★★

I think I might have liked Season 2 of Sex Education even more than the first one. It’s genuinely educational as well as heartbreaking, engaging and funny. I loved Aimee’s plotline as well as Jackson and Viv’s and especially Maureens <3

Cheer (Netflix) | ★★★★★

I’d seen people raving about this on social media and I was tempted to watch it, but I’m not a huge fan of documentaries and I know nothing about cheerleading so I put off doing so. However, when my friend recommended it to me and I’d finished all the other series I’d been watching, I finally caved in. Thank god I did because it is incredible! The stories it tells about the people it depicts are unbelievable and it warmed my heart to see how their team sport brought them altogether despite (and because) of their backgrounds. I also love how it showed the stamina and fitness cheerleading requires. Having grown up dancing, people were quick to dismiss it and declare that it ‘wasn’t a real sport’, but this series proves that to be undoubtedly incorrect.

I actually adore Jerry, he’s probably the best person I’ve ever encountered and Morgan’s admiration of Monica was beautiful (I feel you though, Morgan, Monica is incredible). Also, the scene when La’Darius’ brother cries watching them compete. I CAN’T. I’m already rewatching the series.

Films

Little Women | ★★★★★

Okay, so I first watched Little Women in December but I went to see it again in January, which is convenient because it means I get to talk about it here, even though I’ve already discussed it on every other platform, online and offline.

Little Women is one of my favourite novels ever because it has so much sentimental value and also, it’s a genuinely brilliant story of sisterhood (you can read my full review in this blog post). I watched the 90s film so much growing up with my Nan so when I heared that Greta Gerwig was directing a new adaptation for 2020, and with a cast of some of my favourite actors, I was hysterical.

Now some may say I was biased going into the movie, and that I would have loved it even if it was terrible. But actually, my expectations were very high. Being such a big Little Women fan means that I know all the details and I think about the characters a lot and so I’m very pedantic. But Gerwig did such an incredible job at depicting them and making a story that has been told so many times refreshing and new. I can’t think of a film that I like more than this one and I hope the fact that it’s about women and is by women doesn’t deter people from going to watch it. If it does, it’s their loss.

Podcasts

The PanDolly Podcast | ★★★★

If you, like me, are missing The High Low whilst it’s on maternity leave, I’d definitely reccomend The PanDolly Podcast. This podcast preceded The High Low, and it’s a lot more of the low than the high, but it gave me my fix of Dolly and Pandora (I actually listened to every episode in the space of about 2 weeks so really, it gave me even more than my fix.) I’m now re-listening to The High Low and I’m really enjoying doing so. It’s interesting to hear them discuss past events as it gives you a reminder of the what has been going on in the world (always useful) and it’s also entertaining to hear them discuss, for example ‘Prince Harry’s new girlfriend, Meghan Markle’, when we are so used to this being the case now and so much has changed.

Literary Friction | ★★★★

I’ve been a long time Literary Friction fan but I’d got out of the habit of listening to the podcast. But discovering their ‘minisodes’ has got me right back onto it. I particularly enjoyed Minisode One on the books they hated (what does this say about me?) and Minisode Eight on the books they read because they were assigned them, but they actually loved.

Honourable mentions:

Sometimes, I listen to a podcast episode because there’s a guest on it who I admire or they’re discussing a topic I’m interested in, but I don’t necesarilly listen to any of the other episodes or subscribe to the podcast. Here are some of those:

• Soundtracking with Edith Bowman - Episode 174: Greta Gerwig on the Music of Little Women

• Awards Chatter - 314. Florence Pugh - ‘Little Women,’ ‘Midsommar’ & ‘Fighting with My Family’

• Awards Chatter - 299. Renee Zelweger - ‘Judy’

• Ctrl Alt Delete - #68 with Lena Dunham: Dealing with Life Online and Offline

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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The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I've Read, Watched & Listened To | February 2019

Affiliate links are used in this post which means I earn a small amount of commission if you purchase an item.

February is the shortest month of the year but I’ve still managed to pack a fair amount of reading, watching and listening into it. February has been a pretty intense month, throwing myself back into to semester two of my second year of university and I think that definitely shows in this blog post, as I’ve been reading more than watching or listening. But some really great books have come out of this month, two five star reviews even, which are very rare for me! Despite it being Oscar season, I haven’t watched a single film this month! Shameful! I haven’t had the time (or the money) to go to the cinema and I’m not a big fan of watching films at home/by myself, I’m more of a series typa’ gal.

So anyway here we have everything I’ve read, watched and listened to this month…

Books

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine | ★★★★

I read this hybrid of poetry and criticism for my American Literature course. It’s form is so unique and its content, about what it is to be a person of colour in America, is at once confronting and informative. A must-read for everyone!

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney | ★★★★★

Everyone and their dog is a Sally Rooney fan these days but I am unashamedly part of her fan club. She writes like no one else about relationships and her writing is easy to read whilst also dealing with important issues, such as mental health and being a woman in the 21st century. I devoured this novel, her debut, and I like it equally as much as Normal People, and perhaps maybe even more but I’m not fully decided, so don’t hold me to that!

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston | ★★★★

Another great book I read for my American Literature course. This is a classic novel written in the 1930s about an African American woman navigating love and life. It’s moving and heartbreaking and a book I am glad to have read. It’s written very similarly to The Colour Purple by Alice Walker, a novel I also love, so if you liked that, I’d recommend picking this one up.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce | ★

Oh it was all going so well! A one star review is pretty harsh but I couldn’t think of many redeeming qualities about this novel. I read it for my Modernism course at university and although I understand that Joyce is doing innovative things with form and language, I’m just not that interested. I’ve read countless coming-of-age stories about privileged white boys and so perhaps my standards are high for these kinds of narratives as I just think there’s so much more interesting stuff out there that I could be reading. But the pretentiousness of this book in itself was enough in itself to knock a few stars off anyway. Not for me.

Focus by Arthur Miller | ★★★★★

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Another one I read for my American Literature course (there’s a lot of reading but it’s ok because, as you can tell, it’s all great). It’s set during WW2 in America and follows the life of an American man who is constantly mistaken for as Jewish when he starts to wear glasses. Miller creates the most vivid imagery and I haven’t been as emotionally engaged with a book as much as I was with this one for a long time!

The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence | ★★

We have another potentially harsh review here! I was supposed to read this for university in the space of 2 weeks but it took me about a month. It’s very slow and repetitive and there are A LOT of descriptions of the countryside. Despite the fact that its not very readable, it is very interesting to analyse, especially when considering identity and gender, so I’ve bumped it up a star for that!

TV

American Crime Story: The People VS. OJ Simpson | ★★★★★

This is the only TV series I’ve watched this month (other than re-watching Gossip Girl, don’t judge me, ok?) But it is SO good. I didn’t know much about the OJ Simpson trial and this show taught me so much about it. It’s also really entertaining to watch and I was so hooked on it. Sam and I spent our Valentines evening binge watching the last 4 or 5 episodes and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve just started watching the second season about Gianni Versace so hopefully there will be an update on that in next month’s post.

Podcasts

David Tennant Does A Podcast With: Olivia Coleman | ★★★★★

I haven’t listened to this podcast before but after Olivia Coleman’s amazing Oscars speech, I felt compelled to listen/watch more of her and I am so pleased I stumbled upon this episode! I loved Broadchurch so it was exciting to hear these two actors together again. But, aside from that, it was just a lovely, genuine conversation between two friends that honestly restored my faith in humanity a little bit.

Being Human | ★★★★

This is a new podcast in which the host discusses mental health with ‘influencers’. So far she’s interviewed two of my favourite bloggers, Lindsey Holland and Alice Haran, so I really enjoyed those episodes. I also think a podcast like this is great to remind everyone that social media is not real life!

In Good Company with Otegha Uwabga | ★★★★

I’ve only listened to two episodes of this podcast, those with Abigail Bergstrom and Reni Eddo-Lodge, but I am loving it so far. The host invites a different female guest on each episode and discusses their career journey with them. I’m thinking A LOT at the moment about what I’m going to do after university so this podcast is really inspiring and motivational.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog post! Sorry for the lack of TV/film content but hopefully I can make up for it next month (or the month after, when I have some time off university to binge watch as much as I can). Let me know if you’ve read/watched/listened anything I’ve mentioned, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them!

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The Monthly Media Catchup: Everything I've Read, Watched & Listened To | January 2019

As you might have guessed from the title of this post, I’ve decided to start a new series on my blog! It’s called ‘The Monthly Media Catchup’ and, in these blog posts, I’m going to take you through everything I’ve read, watched and listened to each month. It’s kind of similar in format to a monthly favourites but the difference is, I’m going to be talking about everything, not just my favourites. So some things I will 100% recommend, some things I will advise you to stay away from (see: the books category in this post) and others I’ll be fairly ambivalent about.

I’m going to be sharing everything, so that includes things I’ve read and watched for university as well as for fun! The main categories are going to be books, TV, films and podcasts, as if I was to include things I’ve read online the list would be extensive. I’ll only mention new things I’ve consumed, or things I’ve returned to (e.g. if I re-read a book or return to a podcast I haven’t mentioned before). I’m also going to be rating everything so you can easily see the media you should and shouldn’t consume, although obviously my word isn’t law! I’m going to try and keep my reviews short and sweet as some months the sections might pile up, i.e. when I have a lot of reading for university or when I have time off university and watch a lot of Netflix.

Anyway, without further adieu, lets get started!

Books

Heartburn by Nora Ephron | ★★★★

I started reading Heartburn at the end of 2018 and finished it at the beginning of 2019. I read it based on Dolly Alderton’s raving reviews and I did enjoy it, but I didn’t love it. It’s a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the protagonist’s life after finding out that her husband has cheated on her, depicting the ways in which she deals with this life-changing event, much of which is through food, which means the book is dotted with recipes. It’s an easy read and I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it! Four stars is quite generous and 3.5 stars would be more accurate.

The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst | ★

I’m not even slightly joking when I tell you not to get me started on this book. I hated it so much! I had to read it for university (I was supposed to have it finished in November but I couldn’t bring myself to do so until mid-January when I had to for an exam). It’s about a privileged gay man in his mid-20s named Will and the novel follows his life, and that of an older, very similar, man whose biography Will is writing, in 1980s London. The prospect of this novel excited me but its content was truly disappointing. There are many books that are worth your time so much more than this one because honestly no one needs to read this account of an upper-class man discussing his sexual encounters, the descriptions of which are sprinkled (*read drowned) in classism and racism. Hollinghurst's pleasing writing style does almost nothing to counteract how painfully infuriating this book is and I struggle to believe anyone who says otherwise! So yeah, do yourself a favour and avoid this book!

TV

You (Netflix) | ★★★★

I ate up this Netflix series in a matter of days. It’s really addictive and although it didn’t change my life, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something to binge-watch. It’s basically about a man (Gossip Girl’s Dan Humphrey) who stalks a women who he meets in his book-store, learning about her life and managing to get her to fall in love with him. Honestly the premise sounds very strange but to me, it was interesting in the way that Lolita is interesting in that it shows how an audience can accidentally end up rooting for the bad guy if he is given the opportunity to present himself in a positive light.

Sex Education (Netflix) | ★★★★★

This show is just brilliant! It’s addictive as it is empowering as it is educational and I wish it existed when I was 15. It’s based in a British high school (although it’s probably the most Americanized British high school ever) and the plot really starts when the show’s protagonist, Otis, teams up with cool-girl Maeve to provide sex therapy to their fellow students. It’s funny at times and emotional at others but it always presents growing up and feeling clueless about the way your body and relationships work in such an honest way.

Films

Mary Queen of Scots (Cinema) | ★★★★

I went to see this film for my birthday and I had high hopes because it features both Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, who have starred in some of my favourite films of the last couple of years. And it didn’t disappoint! As the title suggests, the film is about the life of Mary Queen of Scots, played by Saoirse Ronan, and her rise and fall from power. If you’re going to this film for historical accuracy, you’re probably not going to be best pleased but I personally wasn’t and I really enjoyed it. It’s great to see two women starring in a historical narrative and, not only was it engaging, but it did teach me a little bit more about a period of history I don’t know much about, so it’s a win-win really!

Bandersnatch (Netflix) | ★★

I was quite excited to watch this film that’s part of the Black Mirror series but it was really disappointing. It’s an interactive film so you get to make decisions on the character’s actions and decisions… but you don’t really. If you make the wrong decision, you watch about 10 minutes of what would happen if the character made this decision, then you are taken back to the point where you make the decision again and have to pick the ‘right’ answer in order to reach the end of the film. It was a loong watch and the storyline wasn’t particularly interesting either so I generally just found it quite boring. It’s an interesting idea but it needs more work.

Private Life (Netflix) | ★★★★

This film made for the perfect lazy Sunday watch. It’s about a middle-aged couple living in New York who are struggling to conceive. I don’t want to say anymore as I don’t want to ruin anything but it’s beautifully filmed and is surprisingly funny considering its subject matter.

Podcasts

Literary Friction with Sally Rooney | ★★★★★

I don’t have too much to mention on the podcast front this month as I’ve kind of just been listening to the same old stuff (take a look at this blog post if you’re interested to know some of my top podcast recommendations). But I loved this episode of the Literary Friction podcast with Sally Rooney, author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends. She talks a lot about her writing process, especially for Normal People, which was super insightful, especially if you’re a fan of her work!

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I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! I know the photo isn’t brilliant but if I’m going to do this monthly I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself to create incredible imagery to go with it- I hope that’s ok. Let me know if you’ve read/watched/listened to anything I’ve mentioned in this post, or if you do based on my recommendation!

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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

1. 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!)

2. 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?)

3. 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

1. Shot From The Street (So much creative content. I especially love Lizzy’s use of 35mm film photography.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. @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.)

2. @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.)

3. @alicecatherine (Alice uploads so much high quality, beautiful style inspiration. I love everything she uploads and I would kill for her vintage collection.)

Podcasts

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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

1. 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.)

2. 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.)

3. 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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