The Terror of Knowing

The last time I put together a favourites post was back in December 2014 – yep you read that correctly. I’ve always been unsure as to whether I really have anything to contribute by way of monthly favourites type posts, essentially because I’m not a lifestyle or beauty blogger.

However, I do like a lot of things in terms of arts and entertainment and I never pass up a chance to gush about them. So I thought I’d give it another shot in case I accidentally share something someone else finds and likes too!

Favourite Books

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

How can I begin to explain this book? Ok, it’s like Buffy the Vampire Slayer still demons and demon slaying meets secret societies meets Jane Austen/Regency society, complete with balls and carriages and paying calls to friends and drinking tea. If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice but think, hey, this would be improved if Lizzie Bennet was a demon hunter (no, not like the and Zombies adaptation) who was introduced to her calling by a brooding Mr Darcy, then The Dark Days Club might have something for you. On a complete separate and more domestic note, the relationship between the main character, Lady Helen, and her maid, Darby, reminds me so much of the relationship between Lady Mary and Anna in Downton Abbey so if you’re here for female friendships, the book is also good for that.

A Storm of Swords/ASOIAF by George R.R. Martin

I am now 3 books into my #readasoiaf readalong attempt and, let me tell you, it’s had its ups and downs but I feel like now, finally, with A Storm of Swords, this is definitely a high. The first half of A Storm of Swords is, not going to lie, something of a slog, but it completely makes up for it in the proverbial shitstorm that is A Storm of Swords Part 2. All my patience thus far was rewarded, I got my Red and Purple Weddings I’d been waiting for, and also read some pretty damn amazing character development. Tyrion’s still on fine witty form too, so obviously this volume would make it into my favourites for August.

(I tried to form more coherent thoughts into a review, if you’re interested.)

Favourite Songs

Cake By The Ocean by DNCE

I should be ashamed by how much I love this song – as in love it enough to listen to it on repeat and chair dance all day. I may only be exaggerating a little. It has taken the ‘chair dance song’ spot from ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ by The Weeknd and, let me tell you, that was a tough contender so bravo ‘Cake By The Ocean’.

Mess Is Mine by Vance Joy

It’s unsurprising I would like this song given that ‘Riptide’ featured heavily on my playlists a couple of years ago. Vance Joy’s indie folky vibe is perfect for summer and ‘Mess Is Mine’ is no exception to this, especially when those summer months are winding down into a pleasantly warm Autumn.

Favourite TV Shows

Gilmore Girls

If you haven’t seen Gilmore Girls yet then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s a heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, show about a mother and daughter (the Gilmores) living in a small town called Stars Hollow, complete with all of the quirks of small town life, namely slightly eccentric locals. My favourite season is probably season 3 or 4, because of its college-related focus, but I adore Gilmore Girls and every single character in it, they’re very dear to my heart. I can’t wait to see what they do with it in the revival but, for now, I’m rewatching it from the start and loving every minute of it.

Great British Bake Off

On the surface, it’s just a baking show – every Autumn (well it’s actually in the height of British summer when they filmed it, hence the rain) 12 amateur bakers enter a white marquee and only 1 makes it out as the victor crowned Britain’s Best Amateur Baker. By which I mean, Great British Bake Off is a cooking show where watching people (of varying skill levels) bake bread and macarons and shortbread is strangely compelling. Seriously, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. It has also become a bizarrely popular phenomenon on social media, probably due to the not-so veiled baking-based innuendos. This clip in particular features such innuendos as “you grab and twist it” and “oh my god it’s so hairy”; the most fantastic sentence ever: “I’m not serving Mary Berry green carpet”; and James the Jumper Wearing Scot (aka love of my life) wearing his lovely jumper.

Favourite Booktubers

Emma Oulton

Simply put, this is Emma Oulton, a booktuber, and she’s hilarious. Her channel is entitled Drinking By My Shelf and it’s exactly as it sounds. Her enthusiasm for books and reading is infectious, as are her recommendations, and this video in particular is a favourite of mine. She’s a newish booktuber but, without a doubt, 10/10, would recommend.

The Book Hoarder

I’ve always loved Dana’s book-related videos and I am compelled by her readathon vlogs. She is such a positive, happy person and she is always so incredibly and visibly excited to share her favourite books – again, like with Emma, it’s infectious. I always watch her videos when they pop up in my subscriptions box.

Favourite Videos

Tom Hiddleston SAG-AFTRA interview

Anyone who knows me knows that the love I have for this man is never-ending. I love Loki and I love him being a dork with Chris Hemsworth or Josh Horowitz (can anyone say loki’d?), but I also love him at his most Serious Actor-ish, when he sits down and talks at length and eloquently about acting and literature and, damn, it’s compelling stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed The Night Manager miniseries but I know I will enjoy a rewatch even more after getting a glimpse behind the curtain, as it were, by watching this extended interview with him where he discusses the adaptation and filming process. I adore watching anything that lets me take a peek behind the curtain – that’s why I love the behind-the-scenes features on the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition DVDs – and it was intriguing to see behind the scenes via such an intelligent and eloquent actor.

Carpool Karaoke ft. Adele

I don’t quite understand the US’ view of James Corden. To anyone from the UK, James Corden is Smithy from Gavin and Stacey fame, he just is. In fact, every time I hear his voice, I hear him saying “Gav-lar!! Pam-la!!” in Smithy’s voice. So, when he took over The Late Late Show in 2015 I was extremely surprised but intrigued to see what he would do with it. And ‘Carpool Karaoke’ is one of the extremely popular segments that him and his team have introduced. Basically bands and singers (and others) sing their songs (/favourite songs) whilst driving around with James Corden. Yep, basic premise, extraordinary success, thanks to the little phenomenon that is viral videos. There have been guests including Red Hot Chili Peppers, One Direction, Gwen Stefani, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez and Michelle freaking Obama… but my favourite guest is still Adele.

So that’s it, folks, those were some of my August Favourites, the things that have kept me entertained this past month. I hope you have found something here that made you smile! 

Did you have any favourite things this past month? Let me know below, I’d love to gather some more recommendations.

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