Laura-Jane Adventures

A Few Things I’ve Been Loving in Lockdown

As lockdown appears to be slowly coming to an end in Scotland I have reflected on the things I have been loving over the time cooped-up inside. Here are the books, tv programmes, podcasts, and YouTube I’ve enjoyed recently.

Books

‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama: Before, during, and after her time as First Lady Michelle Obama has been an inspiration. I was so excited to read this book and kick myself for how long it took me to get around to it. She is an advocate for women around the world. If you are planning to read this I suggest also getting the journal to go alongside the book.

‘Losing Earth; A Recent History’ by Nathaniel Rich: I purchased this book from The Strand in New York when I was finishing my gap year and I am very glad I did. This was a super easy read for a brief history on climate change and how America has attempted to take action for decades. Unfortunately, despite having known about the effects of climate change for over fifty years nothing has really changed. I recommend this book to anyone who wants some clarity on the issue and its history.

‘Meat Market’ by Laurie Penny: This little book is split into four parts and will for sure get you thinking. I discovered Laurie Penny when I was in my final years of high school and thoroughly enjoy her work. She pushes me to think critically about the social issues faced by women and become aware of areas where I have been complicit or need to educate myself more on.

‘The Last Empire’ by Serhii Ploky: Passed on to me by an old geography teacher, this book follows the final days of the Soviet Union. I was intrigued to read this after watching the Chernobyl documentary available on Sky Atlantic. I would say that the book itself was quite hard to read at times and requires a lot of attention, this is because there are so many different people the reader is introduced to who played a part politically. However, if you are interested in the USSR and its history, then give this book a read.

‘Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge: Following the death of George Floyd in America there has once again been a huge discussion and political movement regarding the issue of racism. This should not stop when the media is no longer reporting on it. It is vitally important that white people stay informed and recognise our privilege. This book will educate you, push you to think about prejudice and injustice, and recognise how systematically people of colour are disadvantaged. Changes need to happen. This book is a must read for white people living in the United Kingdom!

TV Programmes/Documentaries

During lockdown there have been times when I just wanted to switch off and watch something that didn’t involve a lot of thinking. A couple of programmes that allowed me, personally, to do that were; ‘Toy Boy’, ’13 Reasons Why’, ‘Dare Me’ and ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. All of these are pretty good but my favourite is How to Get Away with Murder. The show is now in its sixth and final season. It is a thriller about a group of law students and their professor. Full of twists and turns, this show will keep you guessing.

For a bit of romance and if you want to cry your eyes out, then watch ‘Normal People’. Originally a novel by Sally Rooney, ‘Normal People’ is a story of two young people in love, Marianne and Connell, who have a very complicated relationship and find it difficult expressing their emotions to one another. This programme resonated a lot with me in so many different ways. I think it is a fantastic watch for my generation and relates to many young people today. It is also very sex positive and that’s something we need more of!

Finally for something educational, Netflix has an endless selection of good documentaries right now. I have recently watched ‘The Final Year’, ‘Becoming’, ‘Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich’, ‘The 13th’, and ‘Hello Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea’. If you have a Netflix subscription then also use it to inform yourself on issues, do not just watch movies and tv programmes that will take up your time, but not allow you to become more knowledgeable.

Podcasts

I love a good podcast and unfortunately I have not been listening to many of them during lockdown. However, I have really enjoyed the few that I’ve been listening to recently.

‘BeWear’ by Chloe Kian: This is a podcast by YouTuber and Blogger Chloe Kian and focused on living sustainably and personal growth.

‘The Daily’ by The New York Times: A podcast to stay informed on world issues told by some of the best journalists in the world.

‘The Receipts Podcast’: Three girls who will make you laugh with their girl talk. This podcast is honest and great for a light-hearted look at life’s experiences.

Youtube

My flatmates want me to start a YouTube channel and I have been thinking about it more and more, but until then I will continue to enjoy my favourite YouTubers. The girls I’ve been loving recently are; Nayna Florence, an Edinburgh University student with an interest in veganism and sustainability. Moya Mawhinney, a Trinity University student who loves to paint and travel. And Lauren Bullen, a fitness and travel influencer, who has been posting videos about her journey to Australia during the pandemic so that she can meet her pregnant twin-sister Ellie Bullen (also one of my favourite Youtubers).

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Those are just a few of things that have been occupying my time in lockdown. I have loved the time to enjoy these books, tv, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Although, I am definitely looking forward to a drink in the pub and brunch with some friends in the coming weeks.

Lots of love,

Laura Jane.