Things I'm Digging | May 2014.

Oh my god. It's nearly halfway through 2014. I feel like I've been utterly useless. This is ridiculous.

TV

Admittedly, this one isn't actually out yet. But. It looks pretty wicked. Yes, I'm talking about How to Get Away with Murder. It just looks like it has the potential to fascinating. Viola Davis is in it. A+. Alfie Enoch is in it. A++.

MOVIE

This is a bit of a cheat, but I'm going to say The Fault in Our Stars. I know, I know. It isn't out in cinemas yet. But I've seen it. So. The Fault in Our Stars has always very finely tread the line of cheesy and good, so I was a little hesitant. I shouldn't have been. There's something so authentic about it. It isn't trying to be anything but itself. I love it. You need to watch it. Ok. Done.

MUSIC

Lily Allen's new Album, Sheezus. I still don't like the album name. I don't think I ever will. But it's a good album. She's matured, and her songs have along with her. There's still the special Lily Allen Snark and Cheek, but it's good. Really digging it. Some of her songs just make me smile (I'm looking at you, L8 Cmmr).

BOOK/S

Unsurprisingly, I have two book recommendations this month. Unlike last month, I read a whole bag of goodies. I tried to keep it to a non-fiction and a fiction book though. My non-fiction choice for this month is Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. This is a bit of a feminist manifesto. It's about women in the workplace and taking on leadership roles. When I was talking to the Mother about it, all I kept saying was, 'It's like all these things I'd been taking in subconsciously were being voiced.' If I had to critique anything, it'd be that as the book progressed, it became clear that it was aimed at women older than myself (it discussed having children, balancing motherhood and work, etc. etc. as an 18-year old, you can understand why it was a bit out of my depth). Not to worry, however! If you, like me, are on the younger scale of womanhood, Ms Sandberg released a new edition! Lean In: For Graduates! Needless to say, I'm definitely picking it up soon.

The fiction book I absolutely adored this May was The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. I'm only mildly obsessed. I can honestly not wait till the next book. I kind of want to say that if you're a fan of Throne of Glass, you'll like this, but I'm not sure if I should. Where Celaena is a badass killing machine, Kestrel is much more of a strategiser. Where Celaena is very sure of herself from the get-go, Kestral takes a little time to develop. And I'm still not sure where I stand on Arin. What I am, however, is absolutely fascinated to see where the story will go next. Basically, it's already on my list of top reads of 2014.

MAKEUP/FASHION

I'm going to have to go with the L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim (in Intense Black) for this month. It just makes applying liquid liner so easy (and coming from someone with little to no hand-eye coordination, that's the highest compliment you can get). I've tried a couple of liquid liners in my life, and this is the best, by far.

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What about you guys? Any books that are new favourites? Movies you're forcing everyone to watch?

The Fault In Our Stars: Movie Edition.

So, I've seen The Fault In Our Stars movie. One of the cousins and I entered a Bookworld competition and somehow we won. This all happened last week. The actual viewing of the movie happened last night. So, I'm sorry if I'm not entirely coherent but it's been a whirlwind of a week (and I only just woke up). I thought I should share my thoughts.

I'll admit I was a bit of a naive little fool coming into the cinema. I was going in with the same expectations I had with the book: it was going to be good, and I might cry but maybe not.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

I don't want to hype it up too much because there's nothing worse than when you think something's going to be really good and you come away disappointed. But guys, it's really good. I haven't read the book  since it was first released (and I regret that a little bit. I wish I'd re-read it so it was a little fresher in my mind), but I think they did an A+ job. Fantastic direction, fantastic script, fantastic cast.

If I had to choose one thing you guys should take from this, it really is the strength of the cast. They were insane. I won't lie, I had some reservations about Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. They totally owned their roles though. I was blown away. Truly. So much for trying to downplay it.

Ok. So. The crying. Like I mentioned above, I was a little naive. I'd hoped I wouldn't cry. I was lying to myself the entire time. It really was like when I was reading the book.

Beginning: This isn't sad? Why are people saying it's so sad? Pfft, I'm not going to cry.

Then they got to Amsterdam. You know the scene where Hazel and Gus go to Oranjee and Gus is just looking at her in her blue dress and everything? Well, at that point I knew I was screwed. I knew I was going to cry at least once in this movie. I was tearing up over that because I'm a useless cry baby.

Then it got to the eulogy part. I don't want to spoil things in case some of you readers haven't read the book but that part where Isaac and Gus and Hazel are in the church. I lost it. Nat Wolff (who plays Isaac) totally broke me in that scene. He just delivered it all so perfectly and I couldn't stop crying. Can I marry you Nat Wolff?

I kept crying for a little bit longer. I think I probably would've kept crying, but then the hysterical cryers of the cinema emerged. It's amazing how off-putting loud crying is? It just kind of detracted from the movie and my personal devastation. The art of silent crying is something you young ones must learn.

And it was so (not exactly) frustrating (but a little bit frustrating) because I'd be in tears and then one of the characters would say something funny, and my brain was not taking these extreme emotions well.

But yes. Basically (obviously) this was towards the end of the movie. The hysterical cryers came out louder and prouder. You know the rest. I just. I'm so emotionally devastated. And drained.

And I don't know if I'm going to see the film when it properly comes out in cinemas because hysterical cryers. (Won't lie, I feel like I'm being harsh but it was just so distracting). Maybe if it's the middle of the day. In the middle of the week.

So, yep. I don't know what else to say. Any questions? Anyone have a way I can meet Nat Wolff and then charm him with my wiles so he thinks I'm cool? Did anyone else see this movie in Australia last night? Thoughts?



There was also a little high from John Green which surprised me, but then there was a little hi from Ed Sheeran and I verbally gasped at that. Was not expecting it at all. I think that might just be a pre-screening thing. Bloody Ed Sheeran. I love you so much.