I still can’t believe that January is over already, where has the time gone?
It’s entirely cliche and cheesy but it’s also true – time speeds up as you get older. There has to be some kind of science behind it, but as child time seemed to drag. Now I’m in my 30s, a year passes in a flash.
The first month of the year has gone already but for me, it was a fairly good one.
One of my goals for 2024 was to get back in to blogging, a hobby that I used to love. And one of those commitments is to review certain aspects of my month on the last day of each.
To that end, I am writing first post of that kind as today, I’m sure the books, podcasts, movies, shows, competitions and favourites that occupied my month.
This year I have once again set myself a reading challenge, having chosen NOT to do so in 2023. There are a few reasons for this, but in a nutshell, I fell back in love with reading in 2023. To that end, I also decided that I wanted to utilise my website for that purpose and so, I’ve decided to delve back in to blogging with book reviews not to be a prominent part of this website.
Each book will be linked on my bookshelf, but also on my blog via a book review. Finally, each month I will be tracking my books here, linking the reviews and share some very brief thoughts.
One: A Winter Grave, Peter May
Book one of 2024 and it was a fairly good one. This is not the kind of book that I would usually choose but it surprised me. I received this in a blind book parcel that was gifted to me for Christmas and I knew I needed to read it. It’s a murder mystery, set in the 2050s and it definitely kept me entertained. Not my favourite, but a good, quick read to start the year.
You can read my full review right here.
Two: You Could be So Pretty, Holly Bourne
This book was a good ‘un, a really, really good ‘un and it came very close to hitting a 5-star rating. This book is set a dystopian, but it shines the spotlight on issues that affect young and old woman in our present reality. The characters were likely, the story flowed easily and it was well-paced.
You can read my full review right here.
Three: Released: Conversations on the eve of freedom, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard
Deep breath. Where yo seven start. Unfortunately I did not think this was a good book and to be honest, it felt kind of pointless. This book is mostly made up of transcripts of calls between Gypsy and the author, and it lightly touches on some of the broader issues in her case. That said, it felt as if this was nothing more than a teaser for her eventual memoir, which I assume will be more interesting. But, I would not suggest wasting your money on this book to be honest, as it feels very much like a money grab.
You can read my full review right here.
Four: Fair Rosaline, Natasha Solomons
Another deep breath – this time for a different reason because I LOVED this book. Loved, loved, loved and to be honest, I can’t understand why it’s not garnering more traction.
You can read my full review right here.
Five: Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe, Emma Törzs
Another five-star review – can you believe it. I put off reading this book for a long time but I am so glad that I decided to pick it up. This book is brilliant and I really enjoyed it. I loved the plot, the characters and it’s one of the most believable forms of magic I’ve ever encountered. It’s brilliant.
You can read my full review right here.
I go through phases with watching TV and to be honest, most of the shows included here were watched on streaming services. In fact, only one was really the exception and 90% where watched on demand.
Anywhoo, here are the TV shows that I watched in January 2024.
Mr Bates Vs the post office
I’m not sure there’s much to say about this drama really, as I’m sure most of you have already seen it. It sickens me that it took a drama for the Horizon scandal to be fully brought to the attention of the public, but I am pleased that there seems to be significant attention being given to it. It’s an excellent drama, exceptionally well done and a huge amount of credit should be given to the entire team behind it.
Fool me once
Don’t hate me, here me out first, because I didn’t LOVE this drama. Look, I get it. It’s a thriller, it’s gripping and it’s highly addictive. I watched it as quickly as you probably did and for the most part I did enjoy it. That said, I found parts of it to be incredibly far-fetched. I hated the ending and it’s not something I can say I fully enjoyed.
Murder at the end of the world
This on the other hand – wowser. This one I DID love. Set in a beautiful setting with AI, true crime and a fast-paced story, this was perfection. I binged this over the New Year weekend and am recommending it to everyone. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Give it a watch.
The last thing he told me
I’ve had this on my watchlist for months, so when I was offered a free pace for Apple TV it was top of my list. I loved this one, and it’s another one that I’ve been recommending to anyone who’ll listen. It’s twisty and turny and I had no idea how it was going to end. Brilliant.
Big Boys
Something a bit more light hearted and I watched this in a very short space of time. I LOVED this show so much. It gives Inbetweeners vibes but with a more modern twist. It’s naughty, hilarious, and warm, while also addressing some huge issues.
American Nightmare
I don’t even know how to describe this one. Brilliant documentary, awful story. Go give it a which.
God’s favourite idiot
I have no idea how this sprung onto my suggested, but I decided to give it a go. It’s very cheesy and very Mellisa McCarthy, but it’s funny and fun. It’s not my favourite but it was something fun to have on in the background.
Beef
This was a personal favourite for me this month and I cannot believe that I’ve waited this long to watch it. Firstly, it’s lush seeing Glen from the Walking Dead playing such a different role and my god did he play the part well. This dark comedy has left me in a tailspin, I wish I could watch it for the first time again. It’s so very good.
The Traitors
It’s been a flipping journey hasn’t it?? I didn’t think that series 2 could be better than series 1 but in many ways, it was. I think I probably felt every single emotion over the course of the series but I’m still adamant it’s the based show to have ever existed. Amazing.
The Traitors Australia
I watched this with a Uk Traitors hang over and I was left wanting. I don’t know what it is, but this version didn’t hit the same way as the UK version. It lacks the drama, the finesse, and I just didn’t find the game as interesting.
The Trust
I watched this to plug the gap in between the weekly batch of Traitors episodes, because it’s a loosely similar concept. I thought that it was pretty good, and I LOVED three of the male contestants. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such lovely people on anything. Amazing.
Fresh Cop
This offering BBC is refreshingly honest and insightful. I sincerely wish all police officers were like those featured there because they truly are the best of people. There have, quite rightly, been a plethora of horror stories regarding the police in recent years, but this show goes some way towards restoring trust. These officers are ambitious, kind and compassionate. This is brilliant and it’s well worth a watch.
I watched a fair few movies in January 2024, and for some unknown reason, it’s a hobby that I have really fallen back in love with.
Let’s get into it!
One Life
I went to see this in the cinema with my grandad and mother in early January. This film tells the story of Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, one of the key organisers in the Kindertransport programme. In total, Winston saved 669 Jewish children from what was then Czechoslovakia. This film is beautiful, telling the story with heart and subtlety. It’s incredibly human and at times it felt like documentary. This story is incredible and disproves the suggestion that individuals can’t change the world.
The pod generation
Dystopian movies are my favourite, they’re my go to when I need something to watch, so when I saw this one on Amazon, I decided to give it a try. It’s a weird one, but kinda curious and something to watch if you’re out of options.
Dumb money
Still not sure what I think of this movie, weeks after I’ve watched it. It’s very forgettable and while I do remember that it was related to the Gamestop debacle, I couldn’t actually tell you much more than that.
Promising young women
This is probably going to be one of my favourites of the year, because alongside One Life, it’s undoubtedly in the top two. I appreciate that I’m a bit late to the party on this one, but this film is everything. It’s compelling, powerful, and much like the book I mentioned earlier (You could be so pretty) it raises a number of huge societal issues. Everything about this film was a huge tick for me, and is well worth a watch.
Reality
Another one that I’m probably going to have forgotten by the end of the year, because it took me a second to remember while writing this. That said, this film was ok, I’d say average.
Society of Snow
I felt traumatised after watching this and if you’ve already seen it – or the other film about this incident – you’ll know why. A film that isn’t for the faint-hearted about an incredibly true story of survival against the odds.
Leave the world behind
I have been in an ‘apocalyptic’ mood this month and this was the first of three ‘end of the world’ movies that I watched. I kinda enjoyed this one for the most part, it kept me guessing and I loved the entire concept. I’m a huge fan of survivalist type narratives and this hit the spot. That said, I didn’t LOVE the ending, I’m not a fan of anti-climatic, open ended endings and that part left me wanting.
Bitconned
An interesting one. Nothing special.
How it ends
Much like ‘Leave the world behind’ I enjoyed the story and concept of this movie, but the ending was disappointing – once again.
Making the time and space to see more stage productions is a HUGE goal for me in 2024 and so, this is the space for me to record those. These are the productions that I managed to see this month.
Fantastically Great Women who changed the world (*)
I was asked to review this show for Theatre and Tonic and to be honest, I was really excited about it. I am usually reluctant to see shows that I’m not very familiar with, but pushing myself out of my comfort zone is a huge part of my 2024 goals.
This musical was brilliant and a really powerful show for young woman to see. Make sure you check out my full review which is on Theatre & Tonic’s website.
*These tickets were gifted to Theatre & Tonic in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a collector of all things and that includes podcast, many of which are downloaded on my phone. In fact, it takes up a huge chunk of my phone storage and so, I am desperate to clear it. But I don’t want to just delete them and so, I have decided to catch-up as much as I can.
These are the series podcasts that I listened to in January 2024.
Ghost story
This podcast is EVERYTHING and I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to listen to it. Despite what it says on the tin, this podcast is much more than a ghost story. It’s a murder mystery, with historical research and family drama all sprinkled into a ghost story. It’s incredible, enthralling and gripping.
As I outlined in the blog post that I wrote a few weeks regarding my 2023 side hustles, comping is something I really wanted to experiment with comping this year. Specifically, I want to try and implement some of the experienced compers suggested tips and tricks. So, each month I am to share any and all competitions that I win.
Tickets to a Roxie Nafousi workshop
For a long time I thought this was going to be a blank space in this blog post, but last weekend I won two tickets to see Roxie Nafousi live. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend but I was the initial winner.
Throwing it back to the vlogging and blogging of old, each month I am going to share some of those miscellaneous favourites. Let’s go…
M&S Jalapeno nachos
Bought these on a whim, could have gone either way but landed on the right side. These are so good.
Cadbury caramel flapjack snacks
Not a huge fan of flapjacks in general, but these are delicious.
