Ohai! I am starting off this post with a sun-infused weekend hello. It’s pretty cloudy and at 31°C. I’m surprised it feels cooler than that. But I’m not complaining. I’ve been in a pretty weird time frame of creative projects. For the most part, I feel like time seems oh-so-slow the past weeks. I’m guessing it’s because while I am thrilled to be working on multiple creative endeavors all at once, personal problems keep resurfacing. I wish I’m in a better headspace but I do what I can and have to do. Otherwise I’m going to spiral down if I don’t watch out for myself.
But enough sad TMI.
I’ve been consuming words a lot lately ó mostly from newsletters and Medium articles. I love learning new things and getting lost in the world of fiction. When I’m not reading, I am catching up on my current favorite kdramas: “Alchemy of Souls” and “Adamas.” I’ve tried watching “Today’s Webtoon” and while it’s funny and even touching, I’m not entirely invested in it. I used to love “Cafe Minamdang” but that one has fallen off my radar of interest, too. This is clearly a case of “It’s not you it’s me.” because both kdramas are pretty good. I guess I’m just not in the mood for them at this point. Who knows? I’ll probably circle back to them soon. I mean, like I (almost) always say: stranger things have happened.
What I’m watching: Kdramas + some horror movies recommendations
My Sunday plans involve watching a Japanese horror movie “Noise.” The plot seems interesting. I’ve watched the first couple of minutes and the setting has captivated me.
Set in a rural hunting town that has been suffering from a steadily shrinking population due to aging and migration over the course of many years. But when the town begins producing a product known as the “black fig”, it begins bringing money and opportunity back to the town. The story begins when Izumi Keita a caretaker of a black fig plantation meets a man with an air that is ill-fitting for the town.
MyDramaList.com
One of my favorite Asian horror are the Japanese ones. “Wishing Stairs” is old but it remains on my top favorites. Same thing for “The Grudge” and “One Missed Call.” I love it when horror unfolds slowly and delivers the plot twist with a punch in the gut. Plus points of it doesn’t rely so much on gore. Other Asian horror movies that are really good, too, are “Coming Soon” (Thai), “The Eye” (Hong Kong-Singaporean), and “Shutter” (Thai). These two horror movies are great, too, but they’re also disturbing (at least for me): “Battle Royale” and “Suicide Club” (both Japanese).
What I’m listening to
Who was it who just said she wasn’t planning on talking so much about horror? HAHA joke’s on me. Because here I am about to share with you the horror podcasts I have been recently listening to while I try to fall asleep. Yes I’m one of those (weird) people who fall asleep listening to those. They’re like my lullabies, together with the tablet of melatonin I take for bedtime.</p>
I love Freaky Folklore and Destination Terror because Carman Carrion’s voice is just so soothing and cool, a total contrast to the horrific things she narrates in both podcasts.
In Freaky Folklore, she talks about wendigos, skinwalkers (which terrify me to no end!), the Haitian zombie, and the infamous Bloody Mary. Speaking of that, fun fact: When I was in college, I tried doing that whole mirror chant at midnight thing, with all the lights in the room turned off. Nope. Nothing. I climbed back to bed and fell asleep disappointed.
Okay so moving on to Destination Terror. Carman talks about the famous and not-so-famous horror spots, including the Stanley Hotel (but of course!). My favorite is the episode where she featured Clown Motel in Nevada. The way she narrated it was deliciously creepy. I swear I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
What I’m reading
My reading has been erratic both in time and my choice of books. I finished one romance and then currently switching between a pleasantly deep yet surreal Haruki Murakami novel and a dark mystery one from Gillian Flynn.
A lost cat. A marriage that’s falling apart. A teen-ager who I’m not sure what to make of yet, except that she comes across as baffling and odd, but also nice. Quite quirky. I just started reading “The Wind-up Bird Chronicle” and was really enjoying it when I was suddenly in the mood for something dark. I was only too happy to re-read a favorite of mine, “Sharp Objects.”
A writer for a Chicago newspaper, Camille Preaker, is back in her hometown in Missouri to find out about the serial killings of young girls. Victims were found with their teeth pulled out. Some think it’s done by some outsider ,but the police haven’t seen anyone in their little town who would fit that description. Her estranged family members, Adora (mother) and Amma (younger sister), are adding to Camille’s unease about returning home. There is a lot to unpack in this story
And I am now off to enjoy what’s remaining of my Sunday and my sanity. I hope you’re all having a fine weekend. If you’re also a horror fan and have some recommendations, be it films or books or series, please let me know in the comments. I’m always up for some horror finds.
