(cover photo-original)
Hi all! September is already coming to a close, even though Florida likes to pretend it’s still the middle of summer, and that means it’s time for the monthly roundup of my favorites. My last post was about my summer solo trip around Europe- I talked about angry cows, bad train rides, the meaning of travel and a bunch of other little bits- and I said I’d include the trip video in this post, so that’ll be here as well (as soon as I figure out some technical difficulties).
Books/Articles
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe ( Benjamin Alire Sáenz) – 
The title is a mouthful to say and so is my praise for this beautiful YA novel (high school and up). I first read it a couple years ago and then revisited it this past month, and was just as in love with it as I was the first time. The writing is concise and pared down but powerfully carries so much weight behind it, dealing with concepts of self identity vs culture, understanding and coming into your sexuality, and the aches that come with growing up. Saenz wrote such an intricate, moving and realistic relationship between two teen boys, one of the best written friendships I’ve ever read in YA literature. This is a must read for anyone, no matter the age.
Dreams of my Russian Summers ( Andreï Makine) – Originally written in French. It’s said that when he first tried to publish the book in Paris, they didn’t believe he wrote it, didn’t think a recently arrived Russian immigrant could write french so well. So he made up a translator to pass the book off as having been translated into french from Russian. It is truly a beautifully written, lyrical and inventive novel, one that immerses you in a vivid sensory experience. Following the semi autobiographical story of his coming of age as both a Russian and Frenchman, Makine conjures up sights, sounds and smells so rich in texture it’s unbelievable. For anyone who loves language or has dealt with the issues that stem from having a multicultural background, belonging to different places at once, this is a particularly powerful read.
Music
Side Effects– I never heard of the artist Shura until Spotify recommended this song to me. It has such a fun and chill vibe, a mix of indie pop, r&b, and electronic. while there isn’t anything special about the songwriting, the sound is just so damn smooth and catchy. I also like Religion (you can put your hands on me) by Shura.
People Need a Melody – I absolutely love the Head and the Heart’s old stuff, and while their newer sound is alright, I never bothered with their album that came out in May. This song however caught my attention when I recently decided to give it a try, and it’s been on repeat since. The lyrics strike an emotional chord, sending a message about keeping our heads up when things seem to be changing and moving fast, when we feel lost and in the dark. A beautiful song.
The Goldfinch Soundtrack – I saw this film a few weeks ago despite the negative reviews and actually enjoyed it. One thing I noticed was a great choice in music throughout- The New Order, Perfume Genius, Radiohead, etc. The classical music selections alone were gorgeous.
other notables: The Great Escape (Patrick Watson), The Greatest (Lana del Rey), Friend of Mine (Whitney).
Film/T.V
Rocketman – See this film on as big of a screen as you can because it has some of the most breathtaking cinematography and set design, and the musical numbers are so immersive. I absolutely loved this film despite its somewhat rushed pacing and at times too glossy depiction of Elton; it did what a film like Bohemian Rhapsody didn’t- it openly dealt with Elton’s sexuality and wasn’t afraid to go to the more gritty side of his life. The inventiveness of the story telling alone makes the film shine. It’s a semi musical, staging his music in a very theatrical way, the songs woven into the story itself and being sung by the various cast members. I cried buckets watching this but would watch it over and over again. Highly recommend, especially if you love his music (prime/vudu/fandango now).
The Goldfinch– 27% Rotten Tomatoes score aside, this is actually a solid film. Sure there’s nothing spectacular about it, it wasn’t awe inspiring or pure art, but it’s beautifully filmed and designed, with some great performances, and a wonderful score and soundtrack. This isn’t for everybody, there’s hardly any major action and nothing moves at a fast pace, but that’s the beauty of it. The film is quiet and reflective, it settles into you over the course of the 2 and a half hours, it allows you to think about the meaning behind this boy’s journey as he copes with tragedy and growing up. 26% is way too harsh. (in theaters)
Unbelievable – This is an incredibly important show and although it’s frustrating and depressing at times to watch, I highly recommend it. In fact, this should be required viewing, especially for law enforcement. If there’s one loud and clear message to come from this show it’s BELIEVE victims of assault. Always always always believe them- those few cases of pretending are outweighed by the countless real ones. Police, family, friends, anyone who is confided in- doubt is harmful and useless. Wonderfully acted and written, with two strong female leads, Unbelievable is a compelling watch (Netflix).
other notables: District 9
Month in a quote:
“You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps. Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping. Even those who limp go not backward.”
~ Kahlil Gibran
What’s next: TBD
Have any comments or recommendations? Feel free to share them with me!
(photo of the month is original, list pictures found online.)
A World Noticed 
i watched rocketman, bohemian rhapsody, and yesterday. though i liked the music in all 3, i guess i liked queen and the beatles more than elton overall. but feel all are worth seeing and i did, several times. 🙂 also worth noting is the older movie across the universe. i felt was better than any of the current movies, at least music wise.
Across the universe is great! As far as filmmaking goes, Rocketman had an edge over BR- its cinematography and the creative use of music and storytelling were better. BR wasn’t bad though. If I was going off of music I like most, it would be Queen and then Elton.