september media
Oct. 10th, 2022 10:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
latespringAfter the initial shine of graduation wore off, I feel kind of adrift. I don't want to get a masters but sometimes it feels like the promise of stability is tempting enough to apply. I want things I can't articulate!!!
ANYWAY, here's september, which honestly was spent a lot being sad, and a little watching new things. I'm trying to be happier!!
Marcel the Shell with Shoes (2022)
DO YOU WANT TO CRY ABOUT A SHELL WITH SHOES… Saw this with a friend and I was really touched. It's shot like a documentary, and the protagonists are the person shooting it, and a little shell with shoes who talks.
The documentary format was super charming, and I also liked the protagonist a lot. It's just kinda timeless.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (part 1 and part 2) (2014, 2015)
My dad wanted to watch these (we saw the first two movies in the series in theaters, and then he got mad that they split Mockingjay into two parts and refused to see it lmao) and I was curious, so we borrowed them from the library. They're like, fine? Exactly what you'd expect basically.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
This is a really short book about a monk who has several midlife crises and who eventually makes friends with a wild robot! It's kinda philosophical, especially at the end, which is cool if you like that sort of thing. I liked it enough to read the next one, which is on hold from the library right now. It's a really easy read, and good if you've ever had a moment where you're like "oh my god what am I doing with my life."
Great British Baking Show
Been watching this with some friends, so that's fun!
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
I watched about an episode and a half of this because it seemed fun--and it is, but maybe not in the way I was looking for. The show looks incredibly cool, but I'm struggling a little to connect to the characters. I'll keep giving it a shot though, since I do like the main character a little.
Sakura Quest
I watched like one episode of this because someone said it was similar to "Shirobako" which is one of my favorite anime. It's fine! I think I'll need a few episodes to really get into it. As I've noted before, my attention span kinda sucks when I'm watching things alone, so who knows when I'll get to this.
Thursday (band) Primer
Part of the "need to know things about the music of the 2000s" thing that has possessed me. This was fun! I keep bouncing off of Thursday's music, but I also keep coming back, so maybe that says something.
YOU, ME, HER, YOU, HER, I by Isabel J Kim
It's not a surprise I'm reccing some of Kim's writing (she co-hosts a podcast I like, and also writes some incredible short fiction), but this one is up there with my favorites from her.
This short story tackles some of my favorite themes--what makes art art?, AI, bodyswap (kinda), discovering yourself, memory. I think it's really worth a shot if you have time, it's only like 5k.
(cw for temporary character death, but in a kind of clinical way? dm me if you want specifics, this one is kind of hard to articulate)
I started a Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland--not sure if I'm in love with it so far, but it's cute? Had to return it to the library before I could finish it. It's a romance mystery centering on a magical kingdom that seems to be based on the Ottoman Empire. It gets pretty into character dynamics immediately, and I think it's definitely the book for someone out here. I'll see if I like it more later, but being in the main character's head makes me So Anxious, I need to figure out how to separate myself out from that more.
Been reading Sellout by Dan Ozzi also! Really enjoying this a lot--I'm still on my "need to know everything about pop punk in the 2000s" kick and so it's fun to get to know more information about bands from then. Each chapter centers on a different band, and Ozzi's writing is engaging, especially when you're already interested in the topic like I am. Spoilers from next month--I've started Laura Jane Grace's memoir also written with help from Ozzi, so I think it'll be interesting to hear her story in this as well, since the "Against Me!" chapter in this book will probably focus a little more on the band itself.
Tasting the Last of the Ice Age by Susan McCabe
Chickens by Kate Gale
Wild Horses Drink from the River of History by Lois Roma-Deeley
Little Richard by Peter Balakian
Fête Gallante by Marcantonio Flaminio trans. by Richard Aldington
I think I was very caught by the promise this poem offers. "Dear, there I shall be alone, and if you love me, there you will come alone also."
On Reading Allen Ginsberg’s “Homework” by Andrea Carter Brown
I really liked this one.
Last Privacy by Scott Hightower
Fatherland by Liana Sakelliou trans. by Aliki Barnstone
Pathogenesis by Aliah Lavonne Tigh
In each of us:
possibility, a knife wedged
under the mattress, a new strangeness, an undiscovered way
we could touch each other, a bird never heard before
singing, an untaken path,
Men Who Think I Am One of Them Speak by Stacey Waite
Near the Shrine of Saint Naum by Najwan Darwish trans. from the Arabic by Kareem James Abu-Zeid
But I was no tourist,
and the saint left the room with me,
and the church the builders wrote in his memory
was nothing more
than a passing dream in his eternal sleep.
How To Forgive by Susan Nguyen
Thoughts that hurt: I think my mother needed this poem.
Between Fulmination and Adoration by Lois P. Jones
I actually didn't like this one that much, but I'm linking it because I think I want to pin down why, later. It's very... it feels like a lot of pretty language that doesn't say what it thinks it does.
SCROBBLES: 2,511
SCROBBLES PER DAY: 83
RINA SAWAYAMA !!!!!!!! Her new album floored me, I love it so much. Potential essay to come. I saw Sunmi this month, so I listened to a fair bit of her music in preparation for that.
Mitski's album has really kept me company this month, Stay Soft really does hit home. I listened to "Dear Percocet, I Don't Think We Should See Each Other Anymore." on loop while writing ficmix, so that does account for some vibes. The other thing I listened to while writing was the Halsey album, which has really grown on me since I saw her live. Rico Nasty is just very good!!!
If anyone still hasn't listened to Young K's album, I'd give it a shot, the music is really really solid, and his voice is gorgeous.
I still think ODDINARY was one of the best kpop albums released last year, and so MANIAC is here. The MCR, well, at this point it's a surprise to no one reading this.
Artists:
Albums:
Songs:
ANYWAY, here's september, which honestly was spent a lot being sad, and a little watching new things. I'm trying to be happier!!
Movies
Marcel the Shell with Shoes (2022)
DO YOU WANT TO CRY ABOUT A SHELL WITH SHOES… Saw this with a friend and I was really touched. It's shot like a documentary, and the protagonists are the person shooting it, and a little shell with shoes who talks.
The documentary format was super charming, and I also liked the protagonist a lot. It's just kinda timeless.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (part 1 and part 2) (2014, 2015)
My dad wanted to watch these (we saw the first two movies in the series in theaters, and then he got mad that they split Mockingjay into two parts and refused to see it lmao) and I was curious, so we borrowed them from the library. They're like, fine? Exactly what you'd expect basically.
Books
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
This is a really short book about a monk who has several midlife crises and who eventually makes friends with a wild robot! It's kinda philosophical, especially at the end, which is cool if you like that sort of thing. I liked it enough to read the next one, which is on hold from the library right now. It's a really easy read, and good if you've ever had a moment where you're like "oh my god what am I doing with my life."
TV
Great British Baking Show
Been watching this with some friends, so that's fun!
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
I watched about an episode and a half of this because it seemed fun--and it is, but maybe not in the way I was looking for. The show looks incredibly cool, but I'm struggling a little to connect to the characters. I'll keep giving it a shot though, since I do like the main character a little.
Sakura Quest
I watched like one episode of this because someone said it was similar to "Shirobako" which is one of my favorite anime. It's fine! I think I'll need a few episodes to really get into it. As I've noted before, my attention span kinda sucks when I'm watching things alone, so who knows when I'll get to this.
MISC
Thursday (band) Primer
Part of the "need to know things about the music of the 2000s" thing that has possessed me. This was fun! I keep bouncing off of Thursday's music, but I also keep coming back, so maybe that says something.
YOU, ME, HER, YOU, HER, I by Isabel J Kim
It's not a surprise I'm reccing some of Kim's writing (she co-hosts a podcast I like, and also writes some incredible short fiction), but this one is up there with my favorites from her.
This short story tackles some of my favorite themes--what makes art art?, AI, bodyswap (kinda), discovering yourself, memory. I think it's really worth a shot if you have time, it's only like 5k.
(cw for temporary character death, but in a kind of clinical way? dm me if you want specifics, this one is kind of hard to articulate)
In Progress
I started a Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland--not sure if I'm in love with it so far, but it's cute? Had to return it to the library before I could finish it. It's a romance mystery centering on a magical kingdom that seems to be based on the Ottoman Empire. It gets pretty into character dynamics immediately, and I think it's definitely the book for someone out here. I'll see if I like it more later, but being in the main character's head makes me So Anxious, I need to figure out how to separate myself out from that more.
Been reading Sellout by Dan Ozzi also! Really enjoying this a lot--I'm still on my "need to know everything about pop punk in the 2000s" kick and so it's fun to get to know more information about bands from then. Each chapter centers on a different band, and Ozzi's writing is engaging, especially when you're already interested in the topic like I am. Spoilers from next month--I've started Laura Jane Grace's memoir also written with help from Ozzi, so I think it'll be interesting to hear her story in this as well, since the "Against Me!" chapter in this book will probably focus a little more on the band itself.
Poetry
Tasting the Last of the Ice Age by Susan McCabe
Chickens by Kate Gale
Wild Horses Drink from the River of History by Lois Roma-Deeley
Little Richard by Peter Balakian
Fête Gallante by Marcantonio Flaminio trans. by Richard Aldington
I think I was very caught by the promise this poem offers. "Dear, there I shall be alone, and if you love me, there you will come alone also."
On Reading Allen Ginsberg’s “Homework” by Andrea Carter Brown
I really liked this one.
Last Privacy by Scott Hightower
Fatherland by Liana Sakelliou trans. by Aliki Barnstone
Pathogenesis by Aliah Lavonne Tigh
In each of us:
possibility, a knife wedged
under the mattress, a new strangeness, an undiscovered way
we could touch each other, a bird never heard before
singing, an untaken path,
Men Who Think I Am One of Them Speak by Stacey Waite
Near the Shrine of Saint Naum by Najwan Darwish trans. from the Arabic by Kareem James Abu-Zeid
But I was no tourist,
and the saint left the room with me,
and the church the builders wrote in his memory
was nothing more
than a passing dream in his eternal sleep.
How To Forgive by Susan Nguyen
Thoughts that hurt: I think my mother needed this poem.
Between Fulmination and Adoration by Lois P. Jones
I actually didn't like this one that much, but I'm linking it because I think I want to pin down why, later. It's very... it feels like a lot of pretty language that doesn't say what it thinks it does.
Music
SCROBBLES: 2,511
SCROBBLES PER DAY: 83
RINA SAWAYAMA !!!!!!!! Her new album floored me, I love it so much. Potential essay to come. I saw Sunmi this month, so I listened to a fair bit of her music in preparation for that.
Mitski's album has really kept me company this month, Stay Soft really does hit home. I listened to "Dear Percocet, I Don't Think We Should See Each Other Anymore." on loop while writing ficmix, so that does account for some vibes. The other thing I listened to while writing was the Halsey album, which has really grown on me since I saw her live. Rico Nasty is just very good!!!
If anyone still hasn't listened to Young K's album, I'd give it a shot, the music is really really solid, and his voice is gorgeous.
I still think ODDINARY was one of the best kpop albums released last year, and so MANIAC is here. The MCR, well, at this point it's a surprise to no one reading this.
Artists:
- My Chemical Romance - 271
- Rina Sawayama - 191
- Stray Kids - 166
- SUNMI - 122
- Halsey - 77
- Mitski - 72
- Fall Out Boy - 61
- Frank Iero - 57
- Vienna Teng - 52
- Rico Nasty - 50
Albums:
- Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance - 127
- Hold the Girl by Rina Sawayama - 122
- If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey - 73
- Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance - 71
- SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama - 68
- Laurel Hell by Mitski - 62
- ODDINARY by Stray Kids - 60
- parachutes by Frank Iero - 55
- Eternal by Young K - 49
- NOEASY by Stray Kids - 45
Songs:
- You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison by My Chemical Romance - 45
- Dear Percocet, I Don't Think We Should See Each Other Anymore. by Frank Iero - 41
- Hang 'Em High by My Chemical Romance - 34
- Snakeskin by Rina Sawayama - 34
- Leah by Seeing Double - 34
- MANIAC by Stray Kids - 33
- DESTROYA by My Chemical Romance - 32
- Thank You for the Venom by My Chemical Romance - 31
- GET OUT by Pinkshift - 31
- Stay Soft by Mitski - 27
no subject
Date: 2022-10-11 06:52 am (UTC)Oddinary is a BLAST and i still find myself listening frequently! maxident just arrived for me and immediately went into my cd player - i might like it even more than oddinary. we'll see how it holds up after a few weeks.
i'm very excited to check out this isabel kim story!! your recs for short fiction have always ruled and i'm looking forward to poking through more of this poetry as well. the rowland book is one i want to read but i have such complicated feelings about the author after the be the serpent debacle (tl;dr i think the hosts did a terrible job of addressing fan concerns about the pod promoting a racist work and then backpedaling to the high heavens without any material action). so who knows if i'll pick it up... the premise is so up my alley but i haven't been able to get past my messy feelings about the author lol. can't win em all i suppose!!
no subject
Date: 2022-10-11 11:52 am (UTC)I LOVE Thursday. I think Geoff's vocals take a little getting used to, but I hope some of their songs hit for you. They're amazing live, some of the best shows I went to in that era.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-11 08:53 pm (UTC)and i'm sad that i never got around to watching marcel while it was still in theaters because it's definitely one that i'll feel bad pirating. still happy to hear the rec tho!
no subject
Date: 2022-10-27 06:12 am (UTC)for the workforce, drowning, has definitely been a favorite of mine, I think with more time I'll get more into them
no subject
Date: 2022-10-27 06:16 am (UTC)oooooh it's been a week or two since you said this, would love to hear your maxident thoughts now!
I didn't know rowland even had a podcast, thank you for letting me know! like I said above, that mc's pov made me sooo anxious so I'm not sure I'll pick it back up. truly can't win them all!
no subject
Date: 2022-10-27 06:19 am (UTC)for short fiction, if you haven't read "HOMECOMING IS JUST ANOTHER WORD
FOR THE SUBLIMATION OF THE SELF" also by kim, that's my next rec https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_03_21/
and then after that, maybe exhalation: stories by ted chiang? I've read a couple of short stories out of that that I've really enjoyed. browsing the nominations for short fiction awards (like the hugos) is usually pretty good for finding stuff. to be honest I don't tend to read a lot of short fiction, so I don't have a ton of recs!
no subject
Date: 2022-10-27 06:48 am (UTC)