We’re well and truly in winter-mode, so it’s the perfect time to ditch that pesky social life and curl up with a good book or unhealthily addictive TV series. After all, Netflix isn’t a hobby—it’s a lifestyle choice.
Here’s everything you should be reading and watching this month.
Films
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
An Inconvenient Truth was released over a decade ago…yes, it’s been THAT long (and we’ve done precisely nothing in that time except generate fat cells). In between eating doughnuts, swiping right and juggling a legitimate social life, we bet there hasn’t been much time to think about old climate mate, has there? Former Vice President Al Gore to not-so-gently back to make us uncomfortably aware of just how important climate policy is in the present and future.
Baby Driver
The whooping 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is enough to get you booking Hoyts tickets, regardless of the premise. Dubbed an orchestra of driving, a ballet for automotives and the best car movie you’ll see all year, pile in with popcorn to watch this babe roll out.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson. In a hilarious action movie. Together.
Television
The Bachelor
It’s almost (ALMOST) as if an ad went out pre-Bachie with the words “the sane need not apply”. If for nothing else, grit through each episode so you can enjoy gems like this.
Check out our Power Rankings for week 1 here.
Survivor Australia
Channel Ten’s slightly (slightly) more sophisticated cousin to Bachie Paradise, jump in now or forever watch in peaceful, utter confusion.
The Defenders
Don’t underestimate Marvel’s The Defenders. Much like the characters themselves, the Marvel Netflix show is faring much better as a whole, rather than it’s individual parts. Expect signature Marvel banter which rivals it’s screen sibling The Avengers.
Books
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
A novel which toes the line between historical fact and fiction, Alias Grace will be released on Netflix later this year. You’d better read the book now, or you and I both know it’ll never happen.
Not Afraid of the Fall by Kyle James
An adorable story by an adorable couple who dropped everything (read: jobbos) to travel the world. Read it, feel sorry for yourself and book a flight to Europe.
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
Author of The Girl On The Train and Into The Water has thoroughly endorsed Sarah Schmidt’s debut novel. Retelling one of the most strange and fascinating murder case of all time, Schmidt intimately explores the story of a family.
The Colour Project by Sierra Abrams
An excellent name for an excellent book, read and be taken on a journey through loss, life, family, friendship and romance.
Beard In Mind by Penny Reid
Just like every other love story, but good.
Run out of cash already this month? Here are 18 free things to do in Melbourne this August.
Image credit: Marvel