July recap
- Cheyenne Slowensky
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
All the books I read, movies I watched, and thoughts I had in July 2025.
Books - 3
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico - ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante - ★ ★ ★ ★
Jane by Maggie Nelson - ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Films - 8
F1 (2025) - ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Oh, Hi! (2025) - ★ ★ ★
28 Days Later (2002) - ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
28 Years Later (2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
sex, lies, and videotape (1989) - ★ ★ ★ ★
Paris, Texas* (1984) - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) - ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Saint Omer (2022) - ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Thoughts
Starting over
The first year of law school, it is universally agreed, is the most difficult. People say you learn how to read differently, think differently, approach conflict differently. It is a time to lock in, dedicate yourself to schooling and studying, and to leave everything else behind. So, in the spirit of starting the next chapter in my life, I had to wipe my slate clean. I put in my two weeks at the bookstore where I've been working (and milking that employee discount) for three years, and I told my mentor at the film production company that I'm leaving almost as quickly as I had arrived.
I never like to be the bearer of bad news, so to tell two major cornerstones of my life that I have to leave was a bit heartbreaking. The bookstore has been my home for half of my undergrad life, and I was sad to say goodbye to such a lovely and passionate bookselling family. At the production company, I read voraciously for the executives, summarizing novels and giving development notes on screenplays, and my mentor insinuated that had I stayed, I might have worked my way up through the company's ranks. There was, of course, a moment of reconsidering the path I had chosen, whether it would lead me to the same success. But I was working part time in a role they told me was temporary, and I had been warned there was no upward mobility in such a small and steady team. I couldn't give up the scholarship and opportunity I had to go to law school to sit around and wait for something to happen at the production company. Few things have felt more empowering than dedicating myself to a career that I believe myself capable of succeeding in. Starting over is scary, but freeing, and I highly recommend. Off to bigger and better things!
My home library
I bought so many books this month! The optimistic goal is to purchase a wide variety of books that I have ever been interested in reading while I can still make use of my absurd employee discount, then put myself on a book buying ban for the forseeable future. I have let myself run wild! I couldn't even estimate how many books I've bought this month alone, but there is a small snippet of the haul in the photos below. No limit to genre or time period, I've bought everything from Plato's Symposium to Françoise Gilot's Life with Picasso to Rachel Gillig's The Knight and the Moth (which I adore so far). My tastes are all over the place and I wanted to pick up a few books in each genre to keep me satiated (for now). Full pre-quitting bookstore job haul coming very soon!
I blame Jack Edwards, for I have become very interested in keeping up with the Booker Prize long and shortlists, especially for the International Booker Prize. I also blame Emmie for inspiring me to read a book from every country in the world, and I blame Lauren Louise for showing me the world of translated literary fiction. What a wonderful landscape of books to explore! I am excited to travel the world with my reading.
Favorites
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno
Jack in the Books
the Rose Bowl Flea Market
"Twin Size Mattress" by The Front Bottoms karaoke
puppies in the workplace
spontaneous and substantial book hauls
thrifting for business casual attire
Thanks for reading! I would love to hear some of your July reads, watches, and favorites in the comments. In August, I am looking forward to starting law school, adjusting to a new practice and pace of life, and leaving my book buying habits behind.
-Cheyenne
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