READING
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. Blue Sisters follows three sisters, Avery, Bonnie and Lucky a year after the death of their sister, Nicky. The novel centres around sibling dynamics and the guilt the sisters feel for being able to continue their lives, which manifests itself in either self-sabotage or self-isolation for all three of them. The challenge with novels of this nature — ones that attempt to evenly distribute the reader’s attention across three characters — is that it rarely works. And Blue Sisters is no exception. Similar to Mellors’ debut novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, Blue Sisters explores themes of addiction, complex mother-daughter relationships and toxic co-dependent romantic love. There’s no subtle way to say that I did not enjoy this book. I found myself rolling my eyes against my will and frequently cringing in response to the dialogue and predictability of the characters, both main and supporting. Throughout, I remained mostly in anticipation of reaching the final pages which, coincidentally, is where my stoicism crumbled. I’m a sucker for a sentimental ending and I got got.
EATING
Delicious Greek food at the most magical wedding in Corfu, this weekend. Fresh bread and focaccia, warm sesame-seed breadsticks, a perfect aubergine spread, grilled mushrooms, stuffed peppers, almond panna cotta. Despite being the most full I’ve ever been — so full that I considered lying facedown on the cobbled village streets — I couldn’t stop myself. Much like the food, the alcohol was free-flowing which only made matters better (for yesterday) and worse (for today).
PLAYING
Justin Timberlake’s greatest hits. Whenever some PR person is cooking up a new campaign, I might just be the target audience they have in mind. Some millennial woman who is chronically-online with no mind of her own. If Justin Timberlake’s recent arrest was a PR stunt, then let it be known that it worked… on me. As soon as I saw JT’s mugshot, my mind instantly hummed the tune of Sexy Back, Señorita and Mirrors. When I heard that the police officer making the arrest didn’t recognise JT, nor understand why said arrest might ruin the tour, I whispered to myself: please JT prove these Gen Z kids wrong, please don’t cancel the world tour, please.1
OBSESSING over
The return of The Bear. I’m only a few episodes into Season 3 and already can’t wait to rewatch it as soon I make it to the final scene. Carmy is spirally, Syd is trying — and failing — to reel him back in, Sugar is losing control of the purse strings and Richie is being Richie. No spoilers I promise: I get the sense that this season will dig deeper into Carmy’s past as well as the lives of the lesser known characters — the likes of Tina and Marcus, perhaps — while Syd and Carmy’s relationship continues to evolve. No matter what happens, though, I’m here for it.
RECOMMENDING
A digital camera. I’m not talking about one of those professional big-ass digital cameras with all the lenses, I’m talking about one of those 15-year-old digital cameras with one setting and the inability to turn off the blinding flash. Trust me on this.
TREATING myself to
A pair of all-black Nike Air Rifts. While my year of slow shopping continues to be a delight, there’s something to be said about the effectiveness of retail therapy. I had a bad day at work on Wednesday, one that made me want to run into the bathroom and scream until my voice was no more, but I didn’t do that, no. Instead, I went for a walk in the Great British sunshine, bought an overpriced coffee from WatchHouse and executed on a purchase I’ve been mulling over since April 2023. The Nike Air Rift isn’t for everybody but it’s certainly for me. You’ll find me wearing these shoes all summer (said threateningly, with a tinge of menace).
Happy new month!
Tola xo
I do not condone drink driving.