I can’t believe May is already over. Time has been flying by lately, and I can’t seem to catch up.
With work, and everything else going on, I’ve felt like I haven’t had a breather in a long time, but this month I could finally have some time to myself. Hopefully the coming months will be less obligations and more hobbies for everyone.
Here is a moodboard for my May.
And here is everything I enjoyed this month.
books
I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-Hee: I thought the concept of this book was great, which was why I picked it up, but unfortunately it doesn’t live up to the expectations. It was such a bore to be honest. I didn’t really feel moved by anything, the writing was so bad that it never felt like these were real conversations. Also, as someone with a psychology degree, it was painful to read some of the psychiatrist’s responses. It was quite disappointing that the whole book was just transcripts of their conversations when it could’ve been much more interesting with self-reflections and societal observations. The only good thing about this book is its title.
All About Love by bell hooks: My first bell hooks! I reached for this book because I find this topic very interesting, and I found myself agreeing with everything hooks pointed out until a certain part of the book. Her writing is very didactic, almost like she doesn’t want to leave any room for debate, even though the subject matter is debatable, which I questioned at certain points. She oversimplifies some of the concepts she tries to handle, like saying you could be happy if you genuinely love what you do, no matter the circumstances. This sounds quite privileged, I mean, it’s just not that simple. She also says, at some point, that she once saw a man in her dream who she was convinced was going to be the love of her life, and then met this man in real life, only to find out he is in a relationship, and while disappointed by the ways of the universe, insinuates that this was ‘real love’. I just kind of couldn’t take this book seriously after that. Still, a lot of gems in here towards the beginning!
films
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026): Okay, what if capitalism, but with good boss? I’m baffled at the amount of good reviews this received, because the more I sit on it, the more I realize how bad it actually was. I just have so many questions. Why is Andy still the most boring and naive character ever? Did she even grow up since the first film? Why is it filmed like a documentary, why is the camera moving so much? How is Anne Hathaway’s acting so awful? All the conflict that’s introduced gets solved within 2 minutes of the audience finding it out. I have so many more complaints but I don’t even care enough about this film to list them all. I would rather just rewatch the original.
Swapped (2026): Very interesting creative choice to have that cute little animal be voiced by Michael B. Jordan, but I respect it. Starts off kind of slow but gets interesting as it progresses. I like the original animals and the worldbuilding, it could’ve even gone deeper into that. It’s a fun time.
Bitter Christmas (2026): Almodóvar does it again! Every time I’ve watched one of his movies I’ve thought to myself that he just gets being a woman, I don’t know how or why. Interestingly, there is a man in this film who steals a woman’s story to try to make it his own. I don’t know if that was supposed to be a nod to himself but I loved it nonetheless! If my life was going to be a film I would want Pedro Almodóvar to direct it, and I would want everyone in Prada at all times.
A Woman Under the Influence (1974): This is a very hard film to sit through, for many reasons. It’s very heartbreaking and intimate. I felt uncomfortable most of the time, like I’m seeing something I shouldn’t be witness to. I like that the film doesn’t choose sides, instead just shows you everything bare and lets you decide. I found it to be very impactful. The camera work is insane. The whole film is built on the performances, and I think Gena Rowlands might be giving like the best performance of all time.
tv shows
I watched both seasons of Beef recently and I really loved them. I think I prefer the first season but they’re both very fun. Oscar Isaac has the most perfect mullet I’ve ever seen. The sound work (and the music especially in the second season) is so so good!
for next month…
Disclosure Day is coming out this month and I couldn’t be more excited about it! Also want to watch Obsession, The Criminals, and The Sheep Detectives.
I have been very disappointed in my book choices this year, which never actually happens. If you have recommendations for me I’m very open to them!
see you next month!
love, asli
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