Dragons and Weirdos and Murder, Oh My!
Weekly vlog, joy list, book & film recommendations
Welcome to another end-of-the-week check in where I share the things that brought me joy this week.
A Week in My Life Vlog:
Joy List:
Currently Watching: Presumed Innocent and House of the Dragon
Jake and I are watching these shows together - usually we like to wait until the whole series is out so we can binge but we’ve been so busy that we’re watching a lot less TV so haven’t been watching these as quickly!
Presumed Innocent:
A horrific murder upends the Chicago prosecuting attorney's office when one of its own is suspected of the crime-leaving the accused fighting to keep his family together.
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, this legal thriller mini-series is based on the 1987 novel of the same name and it is twisty! Rusty (Gyllenhaal) a prosecutor is charged with the murder of his mistress and each episode unfolds further dark secrets as the killer is tracked down. Did he do it? Is he innocent? We don’t know yet(!) because we haven’t finished the series BUT we’re really enjoying it so far.
House of the Dragon:
After the death of their father, two siblings fight for the throne, thereby causing a civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
If you’re a Game of Thrones or fantasy fan then you’re likely also watching this series too. The second season is currently being drip fed to us with 5 of a total 8 episodes out so far. Jake and I have only watched 3 episodes of season 2 so far and enjoying it but I struggle with all the characters and remembering their names. It also hasn’t pulled me in quite as much as the first season. Will keep you updated!
Currently reading: Weirdo by Sara Pascoe
I haven’t read much of this book yet but it’s been on my TBR pile (a literal pile of books on the floor) for ages and now I’m buddy reading it with a friend.
Deep in Essex and her own thoughts, Sophie had a feeling something was going to happen and then it did. Chris has entered the pub and re-entered her life after Sophie had finally stopped thinking about him and regretting what she'd done.
Sophie has a chance at creating a new ending and paying off her emotional debts (if not her financial ones). All she has to do is act exactly like a normal, well-adjusted person and not say any of her inner monologue out loud. If she can suppress her light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying maybe she'll even end up getting the guy she wants? Then she could dump her boyfriend Ian and try to enjoy Christmas.
I’m really intrigued to read this and predict it will be awkward in an endearing (if slightly uncomfortable) way and likely hilarious as the author is a comedian.
Currently listening to: When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando and Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
When Our Worlds Collided:
I have just finished listening to this on audiobook and I *binged* it.
Three young Black teens are brought together after a tragic event and become close friends as a result. The story is told through the 3 perspectives of the main characters: Chantelle, Jackson and Mark.
As the story develops we are shown the level of injustice, discrimination and blatant racism each of them experience despite their different backgrounds and we are left rooting for each of them.
A timely and forever relevant novel about racism in the UK and how insidious racism can be and how deeply it is woven into the very systems of society. When Our Worlds Collided had me crying, raging with anger and smiling at parts too.
This was an absolutely brilliant book and I encourage everyone to read it.
Representation: Black protagonists, gay & Black MMC
Themes: racism | police brutality | class | friendship | the care system | class | injustice & discrimination.
Fake Accounts:
Ok first of all, can we take a moment for the cover of this book…it is glorious. Pink and red are one of the best colour combos in my humble opinion.I only started listening to this today but already 3 hours in (thanks to x2 speed) and it’s interesting so far.
On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, a young woman snoops through her boyfriend’s phone and makes a startling discovery: he’s an anonymous Internet conspiracy theorist, and a popular one at that. Already fluent in Internet fakery, irony, and outrage, she’s not exactly shocked by the revelation. But this is only the first in a series of bizarre twists that expose a world whose truths are shaped by online lies.
Suddenly left with no reason to stay in New York – or be anywhere in particular – she flees to Berlin, and embarks on her own cycles of manipulation in the deceptive spaces of her daily life, from dating apps to expat social events, open-plan offices to bureaucratic waiting rooms.
I will keep you updated on this one too!
Currently Loving:
Making new friends through my book club.
Still obsessing over audiobooks - I get them via my library for free through BorrowBox
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Outfit of the week:
