The last book I read: Crackpot by John Waters
I do a reading challenge every year and one of my 2018 categories is "a book written by someone you admire" so I chose to read the John Waters essay collection that I've had sitting on my shelf for a while, since I find his movies so entertaining. It's definitely the book I've enjoyed most so far this year - Waters writes about niche obsessions like Baltimore TV shows of the 60s, tabloid journalism, Z-list actresses and criminals hilariously and even though I tried to limit myself to one essay per day I found it hard to put the book down. His references are so obscure that for all I know he could have invented William Castle and Pia Zadora (I had to do a bit of Googling) but it wouldn't have mattered if the whole thing was a work of complete fiction. Immediately after finishing I went online and ordered a copy of his first book, 'Shock Value', and headed to YouTube to watch some clips of him being interviewed on late-night talk shows; I admire him far more now than I did when I picked the book up.
Choice quote (from 'Hatchet Piece: 101 Things I Hate): "I've had it with being nice, understanding, fair and hopeful. I feel like being negative all day. The chip on my shoulder could sink the QE2. I've got an attitude problem and nobody better get in my way."
The last movie I watched: West Side Story (1961)
This one has been a long time coming. I saw parts of West Side Story in high school music classes, I've seen them pay homage to it on Glee and the soundtrack has been welcome on my turntable, but I'd never actually seen West Side Story until last month. As I already knew the story and the songs, it didn't feel like I was sitting down to watch something new but it was interesting to finally see the visuals that go with the iconic musical numbers and the faces behind the voices (or at least, the faces miming those voices). I was a little disappointed to see how white the Puerto Rican characters were, having gotten used to seeing Latinx actors on Jane The Virgin and Orange Is The New Black, but now I'm itching to see a remake that gives those actors a chance to inhabit the roles of Maria and Bernardo and the other Sharks. I see that Spielberg has put out a casting call and I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic.
On my hi-fi: Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion
The album may be the same age as me but it's my favourite of 2018; there's not a single song on it that I don't adore. I was listening to some of my favourite Depeche Mode singles last night and after putting 'I Feel You' onto the turntable I ended up getting this CD out and playing the full album. So right now I have I Feel You on the turntable, Songs Of Faith And Devotion in the CD player, and an old mixtape of my dad's of his favourite songs from 1972-73 in the tape-deck - that's a bit early for Depeche Mode and is instead made up of a lot of glam rock and the like: Children Of The Revolution, Ballroom Blitz, Walk On The Wild Side...
My current playlist:
1. Give Yourself A Try - The 1975
2. Route 66 - Depeche Mode
3. Young & Dumb - Cigarettes After Sex
4. The Dream Synopsis - The Last Shadow Puppets
5. Tammy Faye - Nicole Dollanganger
6. Cherry - Lana Del Rey
7. Black Celebration - Depeche Mode
8. Rose-Colored Boy - Paramore
9. Nothing - Depeche Mode
10. Space & Time - Wolf Alice
The TV shows I'm watching: Orange Is The New Black / My So-Called Life
I finally finished (or at least caught up with) Orange Is The New Black last night, after a couple of years of watching episodes whenever I can get an hour alone with Netflix. I'm glad the next season is due out this month because I need to know what happens next, especially with Flaca and Maritza!
I've been making my way through My So-Called Life as well, even though it was on TV 20 years ago. It's regarded as a classic that was cancelled too soon, and even though I'm enjoying it I don't think it lives up to the hype as much as, say, Freaks & Geeks. I relate to Angela (played by Claire Danes) and I'm especially jealous of her 90s flannel outfits but I can't deal with her parents and how much of an ~after-school teen issues~ vibe it has sometimes.
My journal theme this week: pretty pastels
I'm using this adorable flower collage as my inspiration this coming week. I've stuck it in my bullet journal, where it compliments the pastel highlighter pens I bought, and I've painted my nails in white, lilac and mint with pink and blue holographic sparkle. The pale colours and the super-organised pattern feel so peaceful and I'm hoping I can draw on that if I have a difficult day at the office.
Tell me in the comments what things you're into at the moment!
R x
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