may media recap
time is an illusion
Aaaand just like that we’re in June. I can’t fully wrap my head around it just yet. I thought after I graduated last year that life would somehow slow down. That I’d finally have time to pull back and appreciate the things that matter. It doesn’t always feel that simple in practice.
Life feels as scary and baffling as ever. In the words of one Timothee Chalamet promoting his cannibal movie, “Societal collapse is in the air – it smells like it.”
Still, as things gets murkier and more confusing I become increasingly appreciative of the role that thoughtful, intentional friendship play in making life feel hopeful. In making us feel supported and connected. I’m eternally grateful for how my friends show up for each other—how despite the increasing demands of growing into adulthood, we still care about making time for each other. To be cared for in a loving, reciprocal constellations of friendships has done more for my self concept than I can ever express in words.
Still, I know life will only get more complex. Inevitably, life will go on and we’ll move to new cities, embark on new adventures and our chances to actually be in the same place will be few and far between. Just like this year, I’ll blink and six months will pass before I even know it. It makes me all the more grateful to be here though. To enjoy the mundane with the people I love is an immense privilege. I don’t take it for granted.
Okay, I’m done waxing poetic about friendship—thanks for indulging me. I never know how to start these things so I just end up writing a little life update to start. Now, let’s get into my media recap for the month of May:
📚Reads
“Everything I Know About Love” by Dolly Alderton
Yeah so I fell victim to BookTok, but this was surprisingly a very lovely read and helped me get out of my reading slump. A funny, introspective collection of essays that really speaks to some of the sappy friendship stuff I was talking about above. I loved that this was a memoir that felt like it was written for someone in my stage of life. Alderton isn’t afraid to examine herself with a critical, but still compassionate lens. She evaluates her relationship with friendship, romance, substances, body image and everything in between through a variety of narrative essays. Taught me to take myself less seriously. Life is long! Live a little!
“All This Could Be Different” by Sarah Thankam Mathews
Started this book at the recommendation of a dear friend (shoutout Anuja), and it was like nothing else I’ve read before. The protagonist is jaded, cynical and at times extremely frustrating. Might be one of my favourite coming-of-age novels I’ve ever read because of how beautiful the prose is, and how compelling the plot becomes once you acclimate to the world created by Mathews. The book has an opinion on the big things—gender, corporate America, labour, immigration—while grounding its commentary in the lives of a confused group of young adults who are learning what community means to them.
🎧Listens
The Polyester Podcast
Not really a podcast person because my attention span is dwindling but this is the first one that I tune into weekly. The Polyester Pod is a feminist pop-culture podcast that breaks down the trends that terrorize my timeline every week. I love the perspectives that the hosts provide and how much research goes into each episode. My favourite episode so far broke down the writer’s strike, its history and the implications for the future of media.
Ungodly Hour by Chloe x Halle
I watched The Little Mermaid and Miss Halle’s vocals made me revisit this album. It’s so clear how the album is a perfect blend of Chloe and Halle’s distinct voices and styles. This project just didn’t get the flowers it deserved, and I think it’ll age into a modern classic. Fav tracks: Forgive Me, Ungodly Hour, Lonely, Don’t Make it Harder on Me.
📺 T.V.
Basically all my weekly watches had their series’ finales in May: Succession (HBO), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video), Barry (HBO) and Ted Lasso (Apple TV+). All of them, except for Ted Lasso stuck the landing if you ask me. If you haven’t already, I’d recommend watching the first three series. June marks the beginning of the tenth season of Love Island UK, and I imagine that will be the only television I’ll have time to consume.
🎥 Movies
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (2023)
Perfection. A great watch with absolutely beautiful animation and a skilled execution of the multiverse. If you haven’t watched the first one yet, it’s time to get on it. You can read my full spoiler ridden review here.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Halle Bailey, you will always be famous. This was my fav Disney princess as a kid, and despite its flaws is probably my favourite live action remake out there. Another link to my full review here.
That’s it from me. I’m going to force myself out of the house for a stroll today. Catch you next month<3
