Well, I suppose it was going to be pretty hard to beat
the month I had in May, but I guess June was good too, all things considered. June was more laid back for me compared to May, but that's not a bad thing. Socially, I got to celebrate the successful PhD defense of one of my cohorts, visit with my in-laws-to-be for a weekend and celebrate my engagement, and hang out with
Zahida for some long-overdue catch-up time, all before saying goodbye to my boyfriend (fiancé sounds way too weird to me) as he is off for two months of field work, digging up dinosaurs. And the rest of June? I was on my own with my ferrets, my books, and a few new obsessions that I thought I would share here:
First obsession of the month:
Mad Max! Or maybe more accurately:
Furiosa!
I had never seen the original Mad Max movies so I watched those first before
Mad Max: Fury Road and - no disrespect to the originals, which are clearly very influential, but - this new movie took the franchise to a WHOLE new level of crazy and awesome. I swear it was the best movie I've seen in YEARS, I just loved it so much! And Tom Hardy was pretty amazing as Max, but Charlize Theron was a REVELATION to me as Furiosa, feminist hero. Damn, I loved her! If you've seen the movie, then you know what I mean. And if you haven't yet, it's an absolute must!
Next up,
Jurassic World:
If you've been following me for a while, you may have gathered that I have a SLIGHT obsession with palaeontology. So of course I needed to go see Jurassic World. And here's the part where I could rant on and on about all the things this movie got wrong about dinosaurs (and other Mesozoic reptiles), but I guess I will spare you. Why? Well, primarily I don't want to bore anyone, but also because I have decided to view the movie exactly as it was intended to be: a fun action-adventure monster movie. Yes, the science was pretty wacky. But what can I say? I enjoyed it. And how much do I wish I were able to get up close to dinosaurs and train them? I would be lying if I said I hadn't daydreamed about that very thing for much of my life. SO COOL.
And last, but certainly not least, my third obsession of the month:
Serial Podcast.
Alright, I know I'm late to the party on this one because I remember everyone talking about this podcast when it was released last year, but I just listened to it this month. And then promptly listened to the entire series a SECOND time because it was so damn good! I never would have thought I could become so gripped by a murder case from 1999 and all the inconsistencies surrounding it, but the podcast is just so well edited and put together. And it really gave me a lot to think about regarding supposedly solved mysteries, interrogation methods, the justice system, etc. It's a fantastic production and it's FREE. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't yet!
Blog Posts in June
Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR (Help Me Prioritize!)
Waiting On Wednesday: HarperCollins Summer 2015 Catalog
Waiting On Wednesday: Macmillan Fall 2015 Catalog
Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth - 4 Stars
Review: The Grisha Novellas by Leigh Bardugo - 4 Stars
Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - 5 Stars
My Life in May: London and Edinburgh and Paris, Oh My!
Best Book Read in June
Eleanor & Park received the most votes in my
Summer TBR Poll. Figures that it would be the only contemporary on the list that ended up winning. I'm glad it was chosen as my first read of my summer though. Even though I didn't like it
as much as I loved Fangirl, it was still a definite winner and I can see why this book is so special to so many people. Reading
Eleanor & Park also really solidified my love for Rainbow Rowell, though I still haven't read her adult books yet - I have a feeling I'm going to love
Attachments and
Landline a whole lot, too!
I JUST posted about the Serial podcast today over at my blog! It's fantastic!! http://www.thereadingaddict.com/2015/06/junes-random-favorites.html
ReplyDeleteOh awesome, what a coincidence!!
DeleteIt sounds like you had an amazing month Aylee :D YAY for doing a bunch of awesome things. <3 Ugh, Mad Max. I also loved it SO MUCH :D I just want to see it again. Waiting for blu-ray is torture, hmph. I really loved Jurassic World, hih :) Because dinosaurs. I adore them. Glad you mostly loved it too :) Thank you for sharing about your awesome month. <3 Hope July will be even more amazing for you :)
ReplyDeleteI KNOW, I want to see Mad Max again so bad as well. I think I'll just preorder the dvd now. Thanks, Carina!
DeleteI thought Jurassic World was a lot of fun too. I haven't seen Mad Max but that's good you loved it. It has some awesome actors in it. :) I've heard a lot about Serial but I haven't listened to it It sounds really fascinating though. Yay for it being free - I don't know if I knew that before. haha
ReplyDelete-Lauren
Yesss Lauren you should def watch Mad Max and listen to Serial!!
DeleteI'm so out of the whole movie thing - I'm not really interested in seeing Mad Max or Jurassic World! I have been hearing good things so I'll have to look into them more. I've heard awesome things about the SERIAL podcasts; they're sort of like audiobooks, eh? That's insane that you listened to them twice! YAY for Eleanor & Park! I voted for that one :) I hope July is fantastic for you as well!!
ReplyDeleteOhh, well I guess they're not going to be the movies for everyone, but I would def give them both a chance if I were you! I think you might find something to like in them :)
DeleteAttachments is really sweet and very clearverly told, and I usually don't like unusual narratives but I liked the way Attachments was structured.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT!!
I'm so happy you loved Mad Max: Fury Road, I never really care for the originals, they showed them on tv now and again and they seemed kinda boring to be honest, so I almost didn't go see Fury Road, but it blew me away, it was SOOOO good. I loved all the different characters because they told such a complete story. i loved how violent it was but that it didn't feel the need to show explicit sexual violence for us to feel for the wives or Furiosa - I HATE when shows and movies 'rape' women to give them 'depth' rather than just write awesome characters from the start. I loved that Mad Max didn't fall in that game. And if it doesn't win at least some oscars for effects and cinematography I'm going to be majorly pissed (though I hope the actors and script also get recognition).
Jurassic World was awesome as an action movie, I checked out on the science. Plus, I went to see it with my friend who is a chemist so we both agreed we where going to leave our scientific training at the door and just enjoy the raptors.
Also, you made me want to check out SERIAL, :P I love podcasts.
Oh, that intrigues me to hear that about Attachments! I think I'll like it, as well.
DeleteThank you!! <3
Ahem, Alex - you've said it way better than I ever could and I completely 100% agree with you. Mad Max definitely broke the mould for common, unpleasant tropes in action thriller movies.
Heh, exactly. All about the raptors ^_^ And yayy, I hope you love Serial!!
Oh I freaking LOVE that you watched all the original Mad Max movies before seeing the new one too! The bf is a HUGE fan of the old ones so he insisted haha. I'm glad I saw them because they're clearly classics and it gives a great context for Fury Road but you are totally right that the new one took things to a WHOLE OTHER level! Even the bf agreed. Seriously it was one of THE BEST movies we've both seen in a LONG time. ♥ We might see Jurassic World soon too. Sadly though, I think our book soul mate streak might have a loss in it's corner now with E&P :( I don't hate it but I'm just not feeling it either. I know that the narration on audio is partly responsible but some other stuff is bugging me too. I won't say more until I finish it up but I'm still a bit bummed out. But YAY Mad Max XD
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, that's cool that your bf is an old school fan of Mad Max. Total respect for the originals, for sure! But yes, I cannot wait to rematch Fury Road because that has got to be one of my favourite movies ever, I swear! Ah, and too bad about Eleanor & Park - you can't win em all!
DeleteCongrats on your engagement! I also loved the new Mad Max. And, speaking of books with awesome heroines, I just watched Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters last night and it was surprisingly fantastic. I'd recommend it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I must be pretty out of the loop with movies though because I've never heard of that one before - I'll check it out!
DeleteYeah...I'm still not really comfortable with calling my fiance that either. Boyfriend still sounds better haha.
ReplyDeleteI've heard SUCH good things about Mad Max. I need to see it for myself at some point! That's awesome you were still able to enjoy Jurassic World despite all the inaccuracies. I'm not sure I would be able to in your position. And I totally agree - Serial was addictive. I need season 2 now!
ha, yeah I don't know, it just sounds so pretentious to me.
DeleteSerial Season 2: YESS!!!! Everyone behind that podcast did such an amazing job with the first season, I can't wait to see what new case they bring to the table.
When I saw the trailer for Jurassic World, I knew I wanted to watch it because it would be full of action. I kind of figured it wouldn't be at all realistic in terms of the science, but I don't know that much about dinosaurs so it's good to know that you still enjoyed it. I still need to watch this one; I'll probably have to do it once I come back.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a fun flick so I def recommend it. You'll have to rent it on dvd I guess!
DeleteIt seems like everyone is loving Mad Max (and I...still need to watch it)! Also need to check out Serial podcast (I'm so behind all things awesome, apparently).
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the engagement!!!! :D
Thanks, Lea!!
Deletegreat movie, i wanna watch again and again. what you think guys?
ReplyDeleteWatch Jurassic World Movie Online Free
Mad max fury is everywhere and I haven't still watched it same goes for Jurassic World!! :D
ReplyDeleteHaniya
booknauthors.blogspot.com
!!! You’re engaged! Congrats! :) Wait till you get to the husband stage - that’s even weirder :) I would be really interested in your so called long, boring analyzation of the inaccurate science in Jurassic World. Just sayin. I’ve heard great things about Serial. Are they going to do a new one?
ReplyDeleteThank you :):) That does sound even weirder! Heh, I thought you hated dinosaurs anyway? And they are going to do a season 2 for Serial, a different crime presumably.
DeleteI am so apprehensive about watching Jurrasic Park because, well... dinasaurs! Ugh. Anyway, even though you were alone, you made the most of the month and that's admirable. Nice post, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
Thanks, Sarika :)
DeleteI have to admit that I liked Mad Max, but I wasn't really super duper in love with it like everyone else seems to be. I did really like Furiosa though!! She was AMAZING! I hadn't seen the original films before watching it though, so that could of been why I was a little underwhelmed. My mom and I did watch the first one...and it was pretty disappointing, and we started the second one, but we did it late at night and we both fell asleep. I'll have to give it another shot, and watch Thunderdome, too. I'm sure I'd appreciate it more then! The effects were really amazing though!!
ReplyDeleteI did absolutely love Jurassic World though!!! I thought of you when I watched it. :) If only those dinosaurs had feathers. :P I did appreciate that the one scientist creating the dinosaurs mentioned they changed their DNA so they suited what people expected...it made me think that they chose to make them look like the dinosaurs we're familiar with in popular culture, which was kind of neat! :D Plus...Chris Pratt was awesome, and I loved the raptors in this one. They were so fascinating...and that noise they make still gives me chills from watching the early films. Now, I'm rambling...but I totally LOVED it! I already want to see it again. ;D haha
I'm not sure about SERIAL...but maybe I'll have to look into it. I'm not sure if I'd like to listen to a podcast about a murder. It might creep me out! haha
And I loved Fangirl more than Eleanor & Park, too. I did love E&P, but Fangirl is still one of my ULTIMATE favourites!!! :D And I still have to read her adult books, too. One day. :P
The original Mad Max movies are good, but nothing special so I honestly don't think watching them will give you a special appreciation for the new one.
DeleteAnd yay for a mostly good reboot to the Jurassic Park series! I noticed they mentioned that comment to explain away why the Dinos did not have feathers :p ah well, I'm mostly okay with it.
And I really wasn't sold on the murder aspect originally either. So I was surprised by how much I got into it...
I've never heard of Serial Podcast but now I'm terrifieddddddd. I also want to look it up, but I think I'll only freak myself out. I'll stick with Night Vale, methinks.
ReplyDeleteI totally get knowing about something and then getting frustrated when you watch/read something that features it (Jurassic World, in this case) and picking out all the faults with much annoyance. Generally that stops me from enjoying it nearly as much as I otherwise might, I'm just too frustrated and can't look past the things that weren't done accurately, but I'm glad you were able to enjoy JW for it's lightness and as a fun film.
I'm all for awesome females. Furiosa sounds fantastic. x
Heh, too bad, it is definitely very serious in tone, but it's handled so well that I wasn't often disturbed... at least not for the reason you may think you would be disturbed.
DeleteI'm glad I was able to shut off my brain a bit and enjoy JW too :)