I’ve been busy and unwilling to record another podcast episode. I already talk enough during the day. Also, for efficiency’s sake, I am changin’ up the usual form to deliver you the latest updates re: what I am reading, watching, and listening to this month.
on social media…
I am GEARING UP for the Love Island USA Reunion on Monday. I’ve seen all the outfits. Plus, Kaylor’s phone screen background of her and Aaron; UGH, Aaron!. Suspicious since she publicly announced she was stepping back from the relationship after watching the Casa Amor episodes.
I am SO excited. I have so many thoughts and notes from watching this season, but I’ll save them for my post covering the reunion.
Speaking of Love Island, but across the pond, Molly Mae suddenly announced her split from Tommy Fury in an Instagram story. The likely theory is that he has cheated and perhaps even now has another baby with another woman. Tommy! Does an engagement and baby mean nothing!? Ugh, Tommy
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars and co-producers of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us,” are beefing. “It Ends With Us” is a romance novel centered around a story of domestic abuse. Justin Baldoni, also the director of the film, is rightfully utilizing the press tour to advocate for survivors and victims of domestic violence. Blake Lively, on the other hand, seems to be actively avoiding answering questions about the main theme of the film and told everyone to “grab your friends and your florals” to watch a movie that needs a trigger warning. UGH, Blake!
Colleen Hoover seems to be siding with Blake…
Blake is also promoting her new haircare brand.
Important note: I have never read the book and do not plan to, I actively dislike Colleen Hoover as an author, and I also won’t be watching this movie.
what I’m reading…
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, translated by Ken Liu is a science fiction novel recently made into a Netflix limited series. Set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution at a secret military project and in the present-day when a physicist discovers the purpose of said secret military project after entering a virtual reality video game called The Three-Body Problem.
I’m loving it and can’t wait to see it in TV form.
Up next: Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna-Marie Tenler. I first followed artist and writer AMT when she was married to John Mulaney. She’s awesome. The book is a memoir that starts as she checks herself into a psychiatric hospital in 2021 and looks back at past unfortunate encounters with the patriarchy.
2021 is also the year AMT and JM announced their divorce.
4 months later JM and Olivia Munn announced her pregnancy.
This book is most certainly not about that, but it must be noted to contextualize this in popular culture.
UGH, Men!
what I’m watching…
Game of Thrones (Max) - A rewatch, but after the end of the House of the Dragon I was hankering for George R.R. Martin’s world. Next up, maybe I’ll tackle the books. I’m understanding so much more this time around.
Great timing to see and hear old, blind, Maestar Aemon Targaryen tell Jon Snow about his past because he’s about to be one of the main characters in the newest GOT spinoff: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He was known as “egg” as a little boy.
A list of the other GOT spinoffs coming out. I’ll be watching every single one and I hope to God none of them flop. Haters back off!
UGH, production! hurry up!
Girls (Max) - I finally started this coming-of-age in your 20s classic. Lena Dunham wrote, directed, and starred in this series and I hear she’s making another movie soon too.
Up next: Inside the Mind of a Dog (Netflix) a documentary featuring Duke Puppy Kindergarten, which is where I volunteered sophomore and junior year of college!
what I’m listening to…
Maude Latour and Fletcher because I’m seeing them in concert next month!!
Childish Gambino’s latest album Bando Stone and the New World. This is up there with Charli XCX’s brat, Chapell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and Camila Cabello’s C, XOXO for best album of the year, in my opinion.
Artists whose name starts with C are killing it.
While editing this I realized this is his last album under the name Childish Gambino. And it is the soundtrack to CG’s upcoming directorial debut in his original motion picture by the same name (trailer). It’s a mystery sci-fi, which makes the album even better in my eyes now.
That’s all for now.
See you next month!