june – The Fictional Reader

June in the life, a personal wrap up

July 4, 2019July 2, 2019by Jolien8 Comments

As you may know, every month I write a post on all the movies and TV shows I watched, the music I listened to, and the things I did in the past month. Let’s see what my life in June looked like!

what i watched 19

One of the shows I watched in June was Jinn, the new Arabic Netflix Original. I binge-watched the whole thing, which isn’t that much of a feat since there are only 5 episodes or so. It was a fun time, but I’ve heard quite a lot of criticism on it already. Obviously, it was very dramatic and over the top at times, since it’s a TV show about teenagers. However, I’ve heard people say that the dialogue is really off, and that no one actually talks like that (which is something I would have never noticed, as I cannot speak the language).

I also finished watching La Casa de Papel, in preparation for the new season coming in July. I adore this show. It has become one of my absolute favorites, and I find myself glued to the screen whenever I’m watching it. I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store for us next.

I also watched Always Be My Maybe, a new Netflix movie everyone has been loving. It was so cute! I loved Ali Wong in this film, she did such an incredible job at portraying her character. One of my favorite parts of this movie is how important her career is to her, and how she isn’t willing to give that up because of love. It’s such an important message! The only thing that prevented me from giving this 5 stars is Randall Park. I didn’t love his acting, to be honest. At times, it felt like he wasn’t taking this movie seriously? I’m not sure whether that was the point of the character or not, but it made me feel odd.

what i did 19

Buckle up, because June was a wild ride.

The first weekend of June, I traveled to London to see BTS perform at Wembley Stadium. It was one of the best concerts I have ever seen, if not the best. I can’t even describe it properly. Here’s a little video I took of the crowd!

View this post on Instagram

So blessed to have been able to witness this 💜 Thank you, BTS, for the incredible performance I will never forget. See you next year! #btsatwembley

A post shared by Jolien (@joliendl) on Jun 3, 2019 at 2:03am PDT

A week or two later, I also saw Eric Nam in concert in Brussels! He was a fantastic performer. His voice is out of this world, and he’s way funnier than I ever realized.

Lastly, I bought tickets to see Stray Kids in Berlin in August! I can’t wait, as they’re one of my top 3 groups.

In June, I rediscovered my love for dance workouts and pilates. I had to stop doing them for the past two weeks because it’s been more than 30°C in Belgium and my apartment is an oven, but I’m excited to start a workout routine again.

A few days ago, I also watched my little cousin graduate high school. I’m so proud of her!

what i listened to 19

A.C.E – Under Cover
I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t I talk about this song in last month’s wrap up? Yes, I did! However, I still can’t stop listening to it and thus it deserved another mention.

ONE OK ROCK – Stand Out Fit In
Last month, Lindsey talked about ONE OK ROCK in her monthly wrap up. Since we usually love similar music, I decided to give them a try. I then continued to fall in love with them and have listened to their latest album on repeat.

Stray Kids – Side Effects
For the first time since falling in love with Stray Kids, I’ve had to listen to one of their songs on repeat before I could really get into it. It’s so different, yet so Stray Kids at the same time. I’m enjoying the song, but have to admit it’s not my favorite comeback so far.

ONE OK ROCK – Eye of the Storm
Like I mentioned before, I’ve been listening to this album on repeat.

Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
I can’t stop singing along to this song! Someone help me!!

JK – Euphoria
I adore this song, but this new version of memories of JK made by the members just kills me.

What did you do in June?

Wrap Up

June wrap up, or the month in which I barely read anything

July 3, 2019July 1, 2019by Jolien11 Comments

I’ve had such a good reading year so far but June truly broke that lucky streak. I didn’t read much, and the only reason I have more than one book to share with you all today is manga. I’m making July into a no-pressure month when it comes to reading, in the hopes it will make me want to read more. So, what did I actually manage to finish in June?

Walk on Earth a Stranger (Gold Seer #1) by Rae Carson – ★★★.₅ – liked it
This book had been on my shelf for years already. I bought it soon after its release date because I adored the author’s previous series, Girl of Fire and Thorns. Gold Seer follows Lee (or Leah) Westfall, who has always been able to sense gold around her – a welcome talent during the Gold Rush. Tragic circumstances force her to flee her home in the South and travel west.

I listened to the audiobook of Walk on Earth, which I would highly recommend. The narrator has a slight Southern accent, which adds to the story and Lee’s character. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the comments this book made on slavery and the horrible and disgusting treatment of Native Americans. However, I felt like this book lacked something to work towards. We know that Lee is fleeing, but it never feels like she’s running towards something, if that makes sense. I didn’t know what she was trying to achieve, which made me less invested in the story overall. I will still continue the series, probably on audio as well.

Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 5 by Hiromu Arakawa – ★★★★ – really liked it
Like I mentioned before, Fullmetal Alchemist is the only reason I managed to finish more than one book this past month. I am so in love with this manga already, and I honestly can’t believe I’ve lived for almost 25 years without this story.

Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 6 by Hiromu Arakawa – ★★★★★ – a new favorite
Volume 6 is my favorite by far at the moment. It delves into the background of the Elric brothers. Instead of just hearing about what happened to them, we get to see them grown up, their relationship with their parents, their reaction to the death of their mother, their alchemist training… It’s devastating, and made me want to roll them up in a blanket to protect them from the world.

Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 7 by Hiromu Arakawa – ★★★★ – really liked it
While it wasn’t as fantastic as the previous volume, I stilled adored volume 7. I’ve become so attached to Ed and Al! Their teacher has also quickly become one of my favorite characters in the manga.

That’s really all I managed to read in June. I know it’s not that much, but I’m happy I enjoyed all the books I finished. A few months of no-pressure reading is exactly what I need before diving into the NEWTs in August. I need to find my reading mojo again before August starts. Wish me luck!

What did you read in June?

TBR

June reading prompts | monthly random TBR

June 1, 2019May 30, 2019by Jolien4 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog for a few months, you’re probably familiar with these posts already. If you’re not, no worries! Here’s what the monthly prompts entail. Every month, I choose 3 or 4 prompts from the Popsugar 2019 reading challenge with a random number generator. This guides my to-read list for the month somewhat, but doesn’t set anything in stone. As a mood reader, this is the perfect way of creating a TBR.

I started off really well with this challenge. The first few months, I always completed my prompts. April was a bit more challenging with the O.W.Ls readathon happening, so I cut myself some slack there. Then came May… I didn’t read all that much in May, and only managed to tick off 1 prompt. I’m not punishing myself for this, however, since there are quite a lot of months left.

Let’s see what June has in store for me!

a book you think should be turned into a movie

Isn’t this quite hard to pick if I haven’t read the book yet? I guess I’ll have to go with first impressions of the cover and synopsis here.

I’ve had a copy of There’s Someone Inside Your House on my shelf for about 2 years now, so it’s high time for me to read it. In my opinion, it fits for this prompt because it’s marketed as similar to Scream Queens, which is already a TV show. I could also pick up Blood for Blood for this challenge, because it’s about a motorcycle race in a world in which the Axis powers won WWII. Perfect movie material! Speaking of WWII, another option I have is The Girl With the Red Balloon. While this is not set during WWII, it does take place in East Berlin in 1988. It’s about a girl who is on a school trip to Berlin, sees a red balloon, takes it, and is transported to East Berlin during the Cold War. I can already envision this scene in a movie.

a book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

This is such a fun prompt!

I still have a copy of The Priory of the Orange Tree from the library, which I’d like to read soon. It’s an epic fantasy standalone with dragons, so perfect for this challenge. However, I have a lot to read in June already, and Priory is a huge book. I might go for Jurassic Park instead, which I still have never read or watched. A third possibility is Throne of Jade, the second book in the Temeraire series. I started this series a little while ago, and then found the sequel in a used bookshop. It’s a historical fiction series with dragons!

a book with an item of clothing or an accessory on the cover

Honestly, there are so many options on my shelf for this prompt. Having people on the cover is still a very popular thing in cover design, and (luckily) these people happen to be dressed in clothes. Here are just a few options already. I could pick up The School for Good and Evil, which is a middle grade fantasy. Longbourn is also an option. It’s a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of a servant. A manga possibility is We Were There, a contemporary romance. Lastly, I could also go for Changeling, a historical fiction with fantasy elements.

I’ve only picked 3 for June since I managed to complete so little last month, and don’t want to put extra pressure on myself. I’m really happy with the challenges the random number generator picked. They seem like so much fun, and I hope I’ll be able to finish a book for each of them.

Have you read any of these? Which ones should I pick up first?

Wrap Up

June Wrap Up | What I Watched, Did and Listened to

July 4, 2018July 4, 2018by Jolien19 Comments

I didn’t read anything during June. That’s right! No books for me. That’s also why I didn’t include “what I read” in the title of this post. I just haven’t been in a reading mood (although it might be coming back while writing this). But I still wanted to let you know what happened in my life in the past month. So let’s get into the other stuff!

what i watched 80c8b0

I did it. I finished watching season 2 of Sense8 days before the series finale came out. And then I watched the finale, and became incredibly emotional. This is the best show ever and it shouldn’t have been cancelled. I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner. My favorite character? So hard to choose… I do love Wolfgang. And Sun. Honestly, if you haven’t watched this show, please do. It’s so good.

I also watched a few episodes of the new Korean remake of Suits. I didn’t really know what to expect of this remake, and how they would adapt the American show to Korean culture. To be honest, I started watching this because of Park Hyung-sik… I’ve only seen a few episodes but I’m enjoying it so far! I keep trying to compare new characters that pop up through the episodes with their American counterparts.

what i listened to 80c8b0

BLACKPINK – DDU-DU DDU-DU

I can’t tell you how happy I was to see Blackpink come back with another song! They look like badass queens in this MV, and I will support them forever.

DAY6 – Shoot Me

DAY6 COMEBACK TIME! DAY6 has become one of my absolute favorite groups, which is really saying something. I think they’re top 3 for me. This song is quite different than all their previous works but it’s so so so good.

Monsta X – Tropical Night

Monsta X might be another top 3 group for me. Care to find out the third one? I’ve been obsessed with Monsta X this month but more on that later. I don’t know why this song specifically has been stuck in my head for ages but that’s just the way it is. It was a song I never really used to pay attention too, and now it’s always stuck in my head. I just enjoy the chill vibe and playfulness it has.

Monsta X – Destroyer

I don’t think there’s a MV for this song so I’ve included a lyric video. Another Monsta X song that has been stuck in my head for weeks.

in real life 80c8b0

So what happened in real life?

In the beginning of the month I visited my grandparents at the seaside. I’m not usually a fan of the Belgian seaside, to be honest. But my grandparents usually spend about 2 months a year there so I went for a visit with my mom. As always, ate a lot of great food with some wonderful company.

Probably the most exciting thing to happen this month was a concert. I went to Amsterdam to see Monsta X in concert. I was so excited to see one of my favorite groups live. The waiting in line was a nightmare (seriously) but it was so worth it. The concert was absolutely amazing and they blew my expectations out of the water.

IMG_20180620_185042

Took this picture right before the concert started. During the concert I was way too busy having fun, shouting along with the songs and cheering them on. The crowd was so pumped and full of energy and the guys were incredible. The songs were perfect, the choreography amazing and their special stages… wow. I was not ready for Hyungwon’s and I.M’s dance stage to Charlie Puth’s How Long.

Obviously, June marked the start of the football craze in Belgium. Football is one of the biggest sports here, so the world championship is inescapable. I’m really enjoying watching the games, even though some of them are not good for my nerves and heard (looking at you, Belgium vs. Japan).

That was it, really. That was my month of June! How was yours?

Wrap Up

June Wrap Up #4

July 2, 2017by Jolien9 Comments

what i read 80c8b0

ship of magic

Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders #1) by Robin Hobb // ★★★★★ // I am continuing with Robin Hobb’s Realm of Elderlings! I absolutely adored this book. It’s multiple POV with quite a lot of main characters. Yet each one is so unique and distinctive that you never have trouble distinguishing them. Short feelings on the people? I am in love with Brashen. I like Althea and Wintrow. I want to hug Paragon. I want to kick Kyle in the nuts, and Malta in the face.

what i watched 80c8b0

Fargo (1996) // ★★★ // To be honest, this movie left me underwhelmed. It certainly wasn’t bad! But it didn’t truly grip me either.

Lion (2016) // ★★★★★ // This movie on the other hand nearly broke me. It is such a beautiful movie, and knowing that this is a true story only made it more emotional. Sunny Pawar must be one of the best child actors I have ever seen, and Dev Patel just has my heart.

Piper (2016) // ★★★★ // THIS IS THE CUTEST THING. It’s only 6 minutes long, so you have no excuse not to watch it!

Wrap Up

Wrap Up | June Week 3

June 25, 2017June 25, 2017by Jolien9 Comments

what i read 80c8b0

Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf #2) by Ryan Graudin // ★★★★ // I FINALLY READ THIS! I clearly needed #YALC to pressure me into reading this one. I did enjoy it, and thought it was a great alternate history book. I do wish there was more of the actual Axis Tour in this one? For example, I wanted more of her experiences riding the bike, instead of just seeing the stop points, fights and racing time.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones // ★★★★ // Another one I should have read ages ago. I felt like one of the only people on this planet who hadn’t read this or watched the movie. I thought it was a cute story, and it made me laugh several times. The plot is somewhat convenient, but it is a middle grade book so I don’t mind really.

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1) by Alwyn Hamilton // ★★★★ // Yup, another one I read way after the hype. And another one I really liked! I do think the ending was quite abrupt, and I want to read the sequel. I might wait with buying it until I’m at YALC though.

what i watched 80c8b0

Wonder Woman // ★★★★★ // If I could rate this a 11 out of 5, I would. I absolutely loved this movie. I adored Gal Gadot, who did an incredible job portraying Diana Prince. I loved Chris Pine, who played the supporting character called Steve. I loved the story, the humor, the awkward bits, the side characters, the 3 minutes in which people suddenly spoke Dutch… I loved everything. I think Patty Jenkins did an amazing job as a director. I’m not a film critic at all, yet I found myself really admiring the cinematography and coloring of the shots? Anyway, go watch it.

Howl’s Moving Castle // ★★★★ // I couldn’t just read the book, and not watch the movie. This movie is SO DIFFERENT from the book! The only things that are the same are the character names and the title. But I still really enjoyed it? Calcifer was sooooo cute in this. Completely different than how I’d pictured him, but adorable nonetheless.

Skam // ★★★★★ // It’s over. I can’t believe the series has ended. If you haven’t watched this Norwegian TV show, please do. I don’t speak Norwegian either, but there are some lovely fans who have taken the time to translate the clips. This is now one of my favorite shows ever. It’s the first teenager-in-high-school series I have actually found to be relateable.

So that was everything I read and watched this week! Have you read any of these books? What did you read and/or watch this week? If you’ve watched SKAM, let me know so we can ramble together!

Wrap Up

Reading Wrap Up | June Week 2

June 18, 2017by Jolien2 Comments

what i read 80c8b0

harry potter and the order of the phoenix

The Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling // ★★★★★ // Yes, I continued my re-read this week and read The Order of the Phoenix again! I actually enjoy this one more as an adult than I did as a teenager.

The Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling // ★★★★★ // Still on the re-read train.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë // ★★★★★ // SURPRISE! I read another classic, and actually loved it this time. Jane Eyre took me completely by surprise because I didn’t expect to love it at all. I flew through it, and actually couldn’t put it down.

what i watched 80c8b0

skam

I am so in love with this series. Skam is a Norwegian TV show about the lives of a group of teenagers in high school. It’s so realistic and well done, I’ve never been this invested in a show about teenagers. It addresses friendship, feminism, religion, sexuality, refugees and immigration, etc. It’s just incredible. Currently, season 4 is being released and it’s all about Sana. Each show focuses on a different character from the group. The clips are also not released per episode. Instead, if a scene happens on 15:14 on Thursday, it gets posted on 15:14 on Thursday. You never know when the next clip will be released!

All the Yousana feels though. All of them.

Also, tonight I’m going to see Wonder Woman! I’m so excited, you can’t even imagine.

That’s everything I read and watched this week! What did you read and/or watch? Have you seen Skam? Or Wonder Woman?