JOURNEY / June 2018

Curiously Cultural

3% on Netflix is a Brazilian TV series that depicts a dark dystopian future. It is (a little) reminiscent of The Hunger Games wherein 20 year olds go through the Process to earn their place as part of the heralded 3% who are allowed to live on the Offshore. The show is originally in Portuguese, though there are versions with other languages dubbed on top. Watch in it Portuguese with English subtitles if you can; it feels a little more authentic. There are 3 seasons available at present with a fourth in the pipeline. A great show with complex characters (with switching allegiances so you're never sure who to trust).

Literary Life

The books this month have both been excellent reads. There is something so comforting about delving into a book when you're travelling alone. Whether that's on a train, a plane or wherever you may find yourself, that familiar feel of gripping the two edges of a book and anticipating turning page after page can work wonders when you're feeling alone. How to Make a Friend by Fleur Smithwick was a truly thrilling read. It's a relatable read because the characters feel very authentic. Its protagonist, Alice, has an extremely eventful life, made all the more difficult by her accompanying invisible friend Sam. The blurb intrigued me immediately and the book kept me turning the pages for hours on end. It#s an intelligent read, both emotionally and conceptually, and I highly recommend.

On a somewhat softer note, The Summer Theatre by the Sea by Tracy Corbett tells the story of Charlotte, who loses her job, her flat and her boyfriend in (more or less) one fell swoop. Deciding to go and stay with her sister in Cornwall while she figures out what to do next, Charlotte finds herself working with the local amateur dramatics society. It's a fun read, nothing too serious, which makes it great escapism. There's romance, Shakespeare, the building of familial relationships and standing up to bullies. A quick, easy all-round read.