Little Things 24

To think that this month I was meant to be returning from my 2 weeks of work experience with Penguin Random House in London and attending my graduation ceremony. Oh, how plans have changed. Now, besides an orthodontist appointment, I’m not sure what this month will hold. As someone who prefers to have every day meticulously planned, I don’t do well with uncertainty. However, I’m doing my best to use this time to upskill, relax, and focus on the present.

While we can’t control the crazy world, we can control what we consume and how it impacts us. So, with that in mind here are the little things I’ve found comfort in lately.

W A T C H I N G

Last weekend, Netflix graced us with the third and final season of Dark. Time travel, a glitch in the matrix, an apocalypse; Dark is by far the best TV show I have ever seen. Nothing compares to its sheer complexity and quality of writing, not to mention its mesmerising cinematography, soundtrack, and cast of characters. The show’s creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese have sure set the bar high. I urge everyone to stop what they’re doing and watch this mind-boggling masterpiece.

Discover more underrated Netflix shows here.

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Last week my family and I also caved and watched Netflix’s new film, ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.’ Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams star as two small-town Icelandic singers who chase their pop star dreams at the international song competition, with Dan Stevens playing their scheming Russian rival contestant. It’s by no means Oscar-nomination worthy. Rather, it’s a fun film full of heart that guarantees escapism, silly humour, and a reminder to not take everything too seriously. With spontaneous musical mashups, onstage mishaps, and laugh-out-loud cringe-worthy moments, this is exactly the kind of cheesy, carefree content I needed.

R E A D I N G

I hit a reading slump at the end of June and my reading pace stagnated. However, I did manage finish Mexican Gothic, a mesmerising feminist re-imagining of Gothic fantasy, in which a young socialite discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico. Now, I’m coming towards the end of The Cat and the City by Nick Bradley. With Tokyo at its heart, this debut is a love letter to Japan and its literature.

Up next, I plan on diving straight into an early copy of John Boyne’s latest masterpiece, A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom, an epic tale of humanity kindly gifted to me by Doubleday. John Boyne is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, so to say I’m excited to read his newest novel is an understatement.

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And finally, I’m looking forward to tackling Steinbeck’s renowned classic East of Eden. I’ll be buddy-reading this with Audrey ⁠— Brunch at Audrey’s / @brunchofbooks on Instagram ⁠— and Macey ⁠— Brine and Books / @brineofbooks!

B L O G S

At the start of the week, Michelle over at DaisyButter shared a beautifully written creative ode, My Day Begins. With my lack of routine lately, this served as the perfect reminder that you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn for your day to be considered ‘productive’. Those late Friday mornings wrapped up in your dressing gown are just as valid.

Another post I loved this week was this great list of Must-Read Books from the North by Beth. With publishing houses finally setting up shop in the north, I’m so excited to see more regional diversity in the industry. Once I’m done with my extensive summer reading list, I plan on reading more books closer to home. After reading Beth’s post, Boy Parts by Eliza Clark and Exit Management by Naomi Booth have shot straight to the top of my reading list.

L I S T E N I N G

I frequently use Headspace to wind down before sleep and when browsing through past episodes of How I Built This, I stumbled upon an episode featuring the apps’ creators: Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson. Success stories are always fascinating and it’s so inspiring to hear the unconventional steps people have taken to get to where they are today. For instance, Andy was a Buddhist monk before he returned to the UK in 2004 to study Circus Arts in London. Simultaneously, he was building his own private meditation practice, wanting to make “meditation and mindfulness accessible, relevant and beneficial to as many people as possible.”

Finally, I’ve been taking advantage of Luminary’s 7-day free trial to listen to as many episodes of Under the Skin with Russell Brand, as possible. This man’s mind just fascinates me. Standout episodes so far include “Artist’s Way Guru On Creativity & Play” with Julia Cameron and “Vulnerability and Power” with Brené Brown.

What little things have you been loving lately?

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Little Things 23