Viva and Ella’s summer recommendations

Ella Chen & Viva Wertz

Ella Chen and Viva Wertz|June 4, 2022

Ella

Book: “Daisy Jones and The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

In “Daisy Jones and the Six,” Taylor Jenkins Reid gives you romance, drama and rock music all in one gripping novel. Written as a collection of fictional interviews, the story follows the come-up and eventual unraveling of a 1970s rock group and their beautiful but deeply troubled lead singer, Daisy Jones. The novel explores themes of strength in the midst of fighting addiction and what one will sacrifice for love amidst the chaos. Read on a warm summer night while listening to your favorite nostalgic music or enjoy while laying out on a sunny day at the beach.

Movie: “The French Dispatch” 

If you like Timothée Chalamet, beautifully filmed movies and listening to people speak French because it makes you feel artsy, you will love “The French Dispatch.” Wes Anderson combines charm and drama in a compilation of seemingly random short stories published in the fictional “French Dispatch” newspaper to create a witty and melancholic anthology. Watching this movie is like flipping through a magazine. Sip a drink, relax and enjoy as you unwind and escape into the world of 1960s Paris. 

Music: 

  • Everyday (feat. Rod Stewart x Miguel x Mark Ronson) – A$AP Rocky
  • Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac
  • Vienna – Billy Joel
  • august – Taylor Swift

Place in SF: 16th Ave. tiled steps + Grandview Park 

Break a sweat climbing up a rainbow mosaic of steps while enjoying a stunning view of the ocean and the western half of San Francisco. Then, reward yourself with one of the best uncrowded sunset-watching spots in the city on top of Grandview Park. Bring a blanket, a book (maybe Daisy Jones and the Six) and a sweet treat as you watch the sun disappear over Ocean Beach. 

Viva

Music (3) “Me and Michael” by MGMT

  • This song plucks at the heartstrings, I must say. Last summer it was played a lot at the camp I go to (shout out Camp Tawonga), so when I hear it I think of swimming in lakes with the people I love. Also of the frisbee team I was forced into joining, but at least I had this song. Anything that can get you through a frisbee team is worth looking into.

“Happy Together” by The Turtles

  • “Happy Together” makes me think of the movie “Freaky Friday,” which is a major plus. This summer I want to go out and run around in fields with this song playing in the background.

“Nova Scotia 500” by Boyscott

  • I think of sun-drying my hair in Yosemite when I hear this song. It makes me want to cliff dive, and I would not cliff dive otherwise. So this is a good song.
Movies (2) “Dirty Dancing” directed by Emile Ardolino

  • I hadn’t seen this movie until recently, despite my mom’s strong recommendation. Moms are always right. This movie is a rainy summer romance at a family retreat with, believe it or not, some dirty dancing.

“Midsommar” directed by Ari Aster

  • This movie follows a woman experiencing a twisted version of the Midsommar festival in a secluded Swedish village with her boyfriend and his friends. The longer they stay, the more they get roped in. I can’t say a lot more because I don’t know how not to spoil it, so I’ll leave it at that. 
Books (1) “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens

  • Although this book is not a beach read, it still has some summer-y aspects. We follow the story of a girl, a murder and a blossoming romance, all on a Southern marsh. I would read this in a quiet place, maybe by a creek, with some sweet tea.
Nail color (1) Orange – With all of the adventuring, who knows if nail polish will even be able to hold up! Look at us go! But I do want to paint my nails nonetheless. I plan to wear orange nail polish because it reminds me of the sun; it just feels appropriate for summer. Also beige-ish white. I like those both a lot right now.