Jack 18 History and Politics Student at The University of Edinburgh, shared with me his favourite music and book from the past 102 days.
Soundtrack in Isolation: Some Boys Demo Version ~ Death Cab for Cutie Bad Self Portraits ~ Lake Street Dive It’s all over ~ Broken Family Band
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
As someone who has avoided fiction books like the plague since the traumas of GCSE English Lit, this book was a change in speed from my usual mix of sport, biography and history. But Americanah has reignited an interest in fiction for me. There have been very few books, TV shows or movies in which I have felt the characters to be so real and it is impossible to not become invested in their lives. Following their lives across Nigeria, America and the UK, the story addresses conflicts surrounding identity and relationships between the two main characters across their lives through high school, university and beyond. I cannot stress how much I enjoyed this book and how beautifully it is written, and I throughly recommend it to everyone.
Appreciating the little things
"For me, lock-down was the absence of big events. When the evening dog walk was often the highlight of the day and the biggest variety in my daily routine was which guest was going to be on desert island discs when I made dinner, it has made me appreciate the small things that happen every day. Watching 15 minutes of a replay of Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Man U from 2009 with my dad when we were meant to be painting the front room, eating lunch and doing the crossword with my family in the garden at lunch on Saturdays or later on, kicking a football around in the park are all things that can all too easily be taken for granted. Looking back now makes me realise that those times are just as happy and important as ones that happen before lockdown but the lack of other distractions crystallizes these events as ones that deserve recognition. Despite the unquestionably dire few months, I am determined to remember and appreciate those points in time that deserve to be remembered and appreciated and to continue to do that into the future."
