June Recap

What I read this month

I have found myself in a reading slump and I’m doing my best to read more. This month I finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. I have only read the first Hunger Games book, and I have only seen the first film. That was about 1 million years ago so I don’t remember the details of the lore, but I think most of us know the gist. I enjoyed this book as a standalone novel.

Coriolanus (President Snow, the central villain in the Hunger Games) is an interesting character to give a narrating voice to. Being inside of his head was disturbing, but there were times when I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I wondered why Collins felt compelled to write a story from his point of view. Collins said she wanted to explore the seeds that would bloom into the creation of such a ruthless tyrant. She mentions a quote from Henry Wordsworth: “The Child is father of the Man.” Reading this book made me ponder how many people, when put in the same situations as Coriolanus, would act just as horribly? Is it inevitable for one’s character to be produced by his or her experiences?

The other central character, Lucy Gray is just lovely. She is kind and compassionate in a world that is constantly cruel to her. Her enduring belief that humanity is good is inspiring– especially considering her belief in inherent human goodness persists even after her world is turned upside down and she is forced to murder for sport in the Hunger Games. I’m a sucker for characters who hold on to compassion and hope amidst devastating times. I believe that for a heart to remain soft even in such a ruthless world is a beautiful thing. Also, she's simply a cool girl.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it. What drew me in was the characterization. The characters are complex and the circumstances they are placed inevitably lead me to ponder how any of us would act in these situations. These thoughts lead to greater questions about human nature and the struggle between goodness and evil in each person.

“I think there’s a natural goodness built into human beings. You know when you’ve stepped across the line into evil, and it’s your life’s challenge to try and stay on the right side of that line.”
― Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

June is a half-way point. There are only 17 Saturdays until Halloween, and only 25 Saturdays until Christmas! To be honest, the last 6 months have been a bit of a blur for me. So, I am writing this to reflect on what happened in the month of June.

The strawberry full moon graced our night skies on June 21st, marking the first full moon of the summer. Watching such a beautiful celestial display on a warm summer night can’t help but make you feel like there is magic afoot.

📸 Photo curtesy my sister

📸Photo curtesy of my mama

Media

I’m very excited to return to my Sunday ritual of watching House of the Dragon. The CGI dragons are simply amazing and the costume design is breathtaking. I especially like watching the after-episode behind the scenes. It is so interesting to listen to the writers discuss their thought processes and to learn where the costume designers draw their inspiration from. It’s amazing how so many working puzzle pieces fit together to make such a feat of a show. I am enjoying this series much more than Game of Thrones. I find it to be more thoughtful than its predecessor. There is more tact to it. A woman’s perspective is much more prevalent in this series, which I appreciate. Plus, I just love to watch the dragons. They are visually stunning.

I’m obsessed with Rhaenyra's Byzantine-inspired name-day outfit. The embroidery! It is so beautiful.

Music

Parting monthly reflection

This June I have been thinking a lot about my daily life; how the days, and how I spend them shape up into who I am. I have been thinking a lot about myself in the future and looking back on my life now through her eyes. I want to consume less. Be less materialistic. I’m embracing as much minimalism in my home as I can. My last trip to Japan showed me how little one truly needs to get by. I only took a carry-on and I still felt like I packed too much. I’m going to challenge myself to pack less on my next journey. Also, I’ll challenge myself to have fewer materialistic things in general.

As they say, the best things in life are free.

One of my most listened-to playlists this month. It is completely instrumental, and the vibes are immaculate. I've been listening to alot of ambient music lately. I find it calming. It has been my background music as I work, take part in hobbies or do things about the house. I find this playlist particularly calming.

Food

This month I finally tried the viral feta tomato pasta dish, which was delicious! If you need an easy dinner dish, this is a good go-to!