Jen V’s October Recs
Happy Halloween! I’m writing this right after a little arts and crafts break to make a sign for my window, just in case any kids happen to wander past. Otherwise I guess I’m eating 20 Freddo Frogs for dinner! Worse things have happened.
I finally managed to get to the cinema this month. I saw Respect (bit slow for me) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (surprisingly good, thoroughly enjoyed it, would recommend). One of the many great indie cinemas we have here in Wellington, The Roxy, often does throwback screenings and so I popped along to watch Clueless this month - still super fun, and holds up pretty well really!
Still on the list is the new James Bond, which I’ll hopefully get out of the way this week. It’s also time for the NZ International Film Festival to kick off so need to get hold of the programme. Love a good cinema trip, me.
I got my act together and started watching Sex Education again - finished season 2, and just on to season 3. I’m sorry but Otis is so the villain of the whole thing, he is infuriating. I’ve also started re-watching Cowboy Bebop in anticipation of the new Netflix series coming out in November. I love Bebop so desperately hoping the show is good but I’m also a bit apprehensive following this skit. It’s kind of remarkable that they managed to get the pacing so wrong. But we’ll find out soon enough I guess!
Speaking of new Netflix shows, in preparation for The Sandman also being released soon, I’ve been rereading the graphic novels. It’s written by Neil Gaiman and there are 10 volumes in the series. I’m currently up to volume 7. It’s a lot more messed up than I remember and I’m very intrigued to see what they choose to adapt, and how they’re going to adapt it.
That’s sort of bubbling away in the background while I read other things. My fave this month was definitely A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab, the final novel in the Shades of Magic trilogy. I loved it so much. I love this series so much. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the way the magic works, I love the writing… honestly, just wrap me up in a blanket burrito, I’m done. I also read Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo, which is the second in the King of Scars duology and follows on the Grishaverse adventures. I’m conflicted about this one. I think it was better than King of Scars, but it just seemed very busy. Still, glad Zoya is finally where she belongs!
(UPDATE: Just had a flurry of trick or treaters. Was super cute. Love Halloween.)
I’ve been busy working on a Ronan Lynch inspired playlist which means my Spotify algorithm is absolutely wrecked at the moment - a lot of electronica, EDM and drum and bass, which is not my natural habitat, but I will not rest until the playlist is complete! I know exactly what kind of sound I want, but do you think I can find it? No. The search continues. Stand by. I have also been listening to Halsey’s latest album a lot as well. Very into ‘I am not a woman, I’m a god’ - really taking the lyric “I am not a martyr, I’m a problem” to heart.
Now I’m just getting ready to settle in for my Halloween tradition of watching What We Do In The Shadows. It never stops being funny. And since it’s not streaming anywhere at the moment, I feel very vindicated in my decision to still hold onto my DVDs. Not just mindless hoarding! Yay!
See you all in November. Birthday month!