The Collection: April 2024
My take on A Little Life, Dune: Part Two, The Iron Claw, and Challengers; a deep dive into my obsession with unboxing experiences; plus some life and career updates.
Welcome to 'The Collection' – your curated end-of-month digest of all things I found noteworthy, from the realms of literature, entertainment, advertising, and more.
I spent the first half of this month reading A Little Life and celebrating my 25th birthday. The second half, though, felt like I hit a slump—my motivation dipped, and everything just seemed to slow down. Each day, I found a new reason to explain it: a quarter-life crisis, the solar eclipse, the pink full moon, or mercury in retrograde. Whatever the cause, I’ve embraced this slower pace and taken comfort in watching plenty of movies. Next week, I have a big change coming (I’ll share more on that below), so I’m giving myself time to rest and relax before it arrives.
What I Read
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
This book is intense in every way. It’s heavy, not just in the number of pages, but also in its content. Hanya Yanagihara wanted to write a story where the main character's journey never improves—and she delivered on that promise. "A Little Life" is a heartbreaking exploration of sadness and trauma.
Here's what I wrote in my Goodreads review:
the saddest yet most beautiful book I have ever read.
Yanagihara has a beautiful way with words. She can break your heart with just a few sentences but also finds beauty in the most ordinary moments. If you're unfamiliar with the book, it follows the lives of four college friends who move to New York, tracing their friendships and personal journeys over several decades. The main character, Jude, struggles with a heavy burden from his traumatic childhood, affecting both his daily life and the relationships he has with those closest to him.
It's amazing how a book can be so sad and so beautiful at the same time. It's the kind of book that makes you appreciate writing—how it can make you feel so much. I would recommend it to people who can handle its heavy emotions, but it's not for everyone.
Here are some thoughts I jotted down while reading, without giving away too much:
31%: It's heartbreaking to see how Jude's past haunts him. He feels guilty for his very existence, unable to break free from his dark memories, even though those around him want the best for him.
53%: I told my sister Ani that I could never watch the play version of this book because I’d likely get violent. The emotional impact is that intense. After a sea of tears, I had a migraine from crying.
80%: There's a chapter called "The Happy Days," but it's hard to find happiness because there's so much sadness. (Though as you read on, there’s a glimmer of something positive.)
That's all I'll share for now—I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who wants to read it. It's a journey that's both beautiful and tough. If you decide to read it, here's the playlist I listened to while reading. It added to the rollercoaster of emotions:
What I Watched
Dune: Part Two directed by Denis Villeneuve
I watched it last month and somehow completely forgot to add it to last month's collection! This movie easily made it to my favorites list. Despite being quite long, I was completely captivated from start to finish.
Here's what I wrote in my Letterboxd review:
I had a thousand thoughts while watching the movie, and now I am speechless. I fell in love with it; it was so well done. Timothée and Rebecca Ferguson are eating that shit UP, and omg I had no clue Léa Seydoux was in it - I am obsessed with that woman. I will say I found Austin Butler's role a little odd for him. I still think he did great, but it was weird for me.
The film is packed with stunning visuals, intricate storytelling, and brilliant performances. Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson shine in their roles. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the soundtrack adds to the whole experience. Although the movie is lengthy, the engaging storyline kept my attention.
Austin Butler's role took me by surprise—I didn't expect him to play that part, but he did a fantastic job nonetheless.
Overall, the movie is a cinematic journey worth taking, with impressive visual effects, engaging story, and amazing performances. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.
The Iron Claw directed by Sean Durkin
I originally wanted to watch this movie because of the plot... if you know what I mean (hello, Calvin Klein ad). But I was surprised to find myself crying during the film. Although it’s relatively short, The Iron Claw is powerful, telling the tragic true story of the Von Erich brothers, who were famous in the world of wrestling in the 80s.
My main critique is that everything seemed to happen too quickly. It could have used a bit more depth to really flesh out the characters and their relationships. However, despite the pacing issues, I still think it’s a good movie. The actors delivered solid performances, and the styling and set design were on point, capturing the 80s vibe perfectly.
Challengers directed by Luca Guadagnino
This movie definitely exceeded my expectations. The soundtrack alone is playing in my head rent-free. The film's constant interplay of pressure and tension, whether from the tennis matches or the love triangle, keeps you very engaged. In the last 20-30 minutes, I was on the edge of my seat, feeling just as anxious as Zendaya’s character. The camera angles and editing were extraordinary. 100% recommend watching it, and I'd gladly see it again. Guadagnino (director of Call Me By Your Name) has done it once more.
The actors were equally impressive. Mike Faist I thought I hadn't seen him before, but after a quick IMDB search, I realized he was in West Side Story and immediately remembered him. He did an amazing job, with his younger self resembling my very first crush, I was in love. Josh O’Connor, whom I recognized and also loved from The Crown where he portrayed young Prince (now King) Charles, also delivered a fantastic performance.
The film was produced by Zendaya, and she nailed it. As I mentioned earlier, the movie exceeded my expectations—even though Zendaya herself had admitted to being nervous about it, which made me a bit hesitant. Despite that, she brought the same intensity to her role as she does in Euphoria and Dune. I am noticing a pattern in the types of characters she plays, but she does it incredibly well.
I also enjoyed reading all the reviews on Letterboxd after watching the movie. One of my favorite ones:
Arts/Design/Ads
I am a sucker for great unboxing experiences.
Gentle Monster x Jennie Collab
I'd heard about Gentle Monster, but never really paid much attention to it—until I saw their recent collaboration with Jennie from Blackpink. The algorithm was quick to show me a TikTok by Adnan Sidani that explained the story behind the brand, and I was hooked. What blew my mind was the packaging for their collab with Jennie. It’s not just about the sunglasses—the unboxing experience is an event in itself.
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The massive pink bow, the way the box opens to reveal a plush unicorn that lights up when you pet it, and the entire collection, which is SO COOL? It's hard not to fall in love with it. Not to mention, you can customize the sunglasses to fit your style, which adds another layer of personal touch.
Seeing this collaboration made me realize I need to upgrade my sunglasses collection. Currently, I only have three pairs, so it's not much of a collection at all! But after seeing the Gentle Monster x Jennie collab, I’m inspired to level up my game. It’s clear that Gentle Monster's approach to design is anything but ordinary, and I can't wait to explore more of their products and collaborations.
Werner Bronkhorst
I stumbled upon Werner Bronkhorst's TikTok, where he shares his artwork and the unboxing experience, and I'm obsessed. The little briefcase he uses to package the credit card that serves as the artwork certificate? So clever! It's touches like these that make me willing to spend more on certain products—the attention to detail, the creativity, and the entire customer experience.
After seeing his TikTok, I had to dig deeper. The more I explored, the more I appreciated his artistry. From the textured canvas to the thoughtfully designed packaging, everything speaks to his creativity and attention to detail. You can tell he puts thought into every step of the process, from the art itself to how it’s delivered to your doorstep.
It's those small, thoughtful touches that make a product feel unique and special. If you haven't seen his work yet, I highly recommend checking it out—you might find yourself just as fascinated as I was.
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What I’m Working On
Trece is about to launch!
I’ve been busy getting Trece’s website up and running, and by the end of this week, it should be officially live. Earlier in the newsletter, I mentioned that I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so things have moved slower than I’d hoped, but that's okay. The important thing is that it's almost ready, and I’m excited to finally share it with you.
The launch of the website means I’m ready to start taking on new projects. So if you need branding, website, or graphic design services, I’d love to help. I’ll also be sharing some of my past work on Trece’s Instagram, so be sure to follow! And even if you don’t need design services, following for support would mean a lot to me.
Random Stuff
I ran a 5K!
Fitness has never been something I talk much about. But over the past couple of months, I've been getting into running. Running in Panama is a whole different challenge compared to New York—the humidity and heat are unbearable. A few weeks ago, I impulsively signed up for a 5K with my friend Ana Paola, and we took it at our own pace. The course was hilly, so we walked uphill and ran downhill. My dad came to cheer us on, and Juni, my puppy, even joined in for a bit.
The best part? I didn't feel like I was dying by the end of it! It was a fun and rewarding experience. Now I'm thinking about signing up for more 5K runs and improve my pace and build up my VO2 strength. Eventually, I’d love to tackle a 10K or even a half-marathon. Full marathons still seem a bit daunting, but who knows? Maybe one day.
I’m moving to Madrid…
Yep, I'm taking advantage of an opportunity and spending the summer in Madrid. I don't have everything figured out yet—I’m not even sure if I’ll stay there long-term—but that’s part of the adventure, right? I'm excited to explore new places, spend time with my brother who's currently in Madrid, and just experience something different for a bit.
The downside is that Juni won’t be joining me, as he’ll be staying in Panama with my parents. We’ve never been apart for this long, and I think I’ll miss him more than he’ll miss me. I haven’t even left yet, and I’m already feeling the sadness. I keep reminding myself that it’s only three months out of his entire life and that I’m doing this for both of us—in the sense that I need to figure out my next steps and where I want to settle, so he can join me later. Let me have my moment of delusion.
Con muchísimo amor,
Isabella
Amo con muchísimo amor! (Bye best regards)