CONSUMED - April '22
Oh April. I wish it were cooler, but I am sure it will be cold soon enough. Anyway, this isn’t a newsletter about the weather.
So, this month contained some seminal moments in my media consumption career. I feel like this was mainly about my paring back of media, which I wrote about here. I also saw one of the best films I’ve ever seen and let go of an old favourite. I would like to do more in the media clearing space because I feel like it’s done a lot for my headspace.
Anyway, I digress. Again!
This month I saw, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which was…INCREDIBLE. This is one of the best films I have ever seen. At one point I was so taken by its beauty I wanted to applaud. The film is set on the premise that there are multiple universes and that we can exist solely in one, or with awareness of the others. I guess you could read this as leading to regret, or not being fully present. I laughed, I sobbed. I wish my brain worked in a way to create such beautiful things. But I am glad that Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s do (aka Daniels) do.
How to Be Well, is a book that encourages you to take a quiz to work out if you are depleted, surviving or thriving, from here you make your way through the chapters of the book, approaching each topic (exercise, sleep etc.) through that lens. Authors, Dr Karen Coates and Sharon Kolkka each have a varied background, so it is explained the book is full of ‘integrative solutions’. It’s been a long time I have felt a book of this genre is helpful as opposed to overwhelming. Easy to read, I have taken a few things from it that feel manageable.
I am having an Anne Hathaway moment, along with the rest of Twitter it would seem (again probably just my algorithm). This month I watched WeCrashed, the Apple series which details the very quick growth of coworking space wework. As someone who watches a lot of procedural police dramas and romcoms, anything that isn’t in one of these genres feels so refreshing. The characters are fascinating and completely insane. I have heard people think the acting is bad, but I am taking it that these characters are larger than life, to the point they almost come across as a caricature. Love and Other Drugs was another Hathway watch this month. I adored it. The romcom features a ragamuffin, no consequences, no purpose in life pharmacy salesman (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) who falls in love with a young, wants no commitment artist (Hathaway). I laughed out loud a lot and then cried at the end. Two things I want to say in response to this. I have been harbouring resentment towards Jake Gyllenhaal because of All Too Well (the Taylor Swift song) and I quite like him as an actor. Also, Gyllenhaal’s brother-in-law, Peter Sarsgaard played a lawyer in Dopesick, another media product which dealt with the pharmaceutical sales industry. I wonder if they swapped notes.
Meet Cute, is the second Helena Hunting book I’ve read, and I almost didn’t because I didn’t love Kiss my Cupcake. Meet Cute was so fun and fizzy and well written. It’s a story of two people who once new each other, had crushes, didn’t do anything about it and then find themselves in each other’s lives again. There’s a reoccurring, weird mention of Victoria’s Secret undies but other than that, highly recommend. Not sure if I will read my Helena Hunting now but am tempted.
Now, let’s talk MasterChef. Before this season started, I said I wasn’t going to watch it. I’ve been a long-time viewer and fan of the reality series. So, after saying I wasn’t going to watch it, people suggested I at least try this season before deciding, so I did. For a brief second, I thought I was back on the bandwagon. But I am well and truly off it now. The production quality seems lower, the ads are so annoying and whilst I love Julie, Sashi and Billie, I have no care factor for the others. This feels like a loss in my life if I’m honest, but it feels like it’s time.
Some things I’m looking forward to consuming over the next month are:
- Twelve Days in May by Niamh Hargan. If you have a recommendation on the front of your book by Mhairi McFarlane I WILL read it. Actually, that’s an interesting search criteria.
- Bosch Legacy, the new Bosch spin off series is on in the States this month so hopefully that means it’s coming to Australia too? Titus Welliver (who plays the lead role) is now my favourite person to follow on Twitter. He’s so engaged.
- Speaking of Bosch, author Michael Connelly’s other series The Lincoln Lawyer has its own adaptation starting this month. Or maybe it’s started. I dunnno! But I wanna watch it.
- Bosch alumni, Jamie Hector, is in a miniseries called We Own This City, from the creator of The Wire.Another one for the list depending on release.
- Slow Horses on Apple TV looks really good, so I’d like to try it.
- Harry Styles’ new album is out this month. Yes please.
- Looking forward to reading The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin E.H Smith after I finish Wordslut by Amanda Montell (I just started this but am enjoying it immensely)
What have you been consuming this month?