My 2025 media favorites

Published:
I would recommend each of these to at least someone, and in many cases, I have. Each list is arranged in the order I encountered the works in that category.

Books

I read a lot more nonfiction this year, which I found to be enriching and educational. For 2026 though, I think I want to read more literature to “nourish my soul” a bit more.

Nonfiction

  • Mood Machine (2025) by Liz Pelly
  • Empire of AI (2025) by Karen Hao
  • Are Prisons Obsolete? (2003) by Angela Y. Davis
  • Copaganda (2025) by Alec Karakatsanis

Fiction

  • The Sympathizer (2016) by Viet Thanh Nguyen
  • Perfection (2025) by Vincenzo Latronico, tr. Sophie Hughes

Comics

  • The Nice House on the Lake (2021-2024) and The Nice House by the Sea (2024-ongoing) by writer James Tynion IV and artist Álvaro Martínez Bueno
  • Tongues, Vol. 1 (2025) by Anders Nilsen
  • Why Art? (2018) by Eleanor Davis

    I reread this one after a few years, and it still hits.

  • Chainsaw Man (2018-ongoing) by Tatsuki Fujimoto

    Like many, I got interested in Chainsaw Man after the recent movie was released in U.S. theaters, and last year, I really enjoyed the Look Back movie adapted from the work by the same mangaka.

  • Fire Punch (2016-2018) by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Movies

  • 13 Going on 30 (2004), dir. Gary Winick
  • Boys Go to Jupiter (2024), dir. Julian Glander
  • Happyend (2024), dir. Neo Sora

    My favorite movie this year—it touched on many themes that I find personally meaningful.

  • Blue Moon (2025), dir. Richard Linklater
  • Angel’s Egg (1985), dir. Mamoru Oshii
  • Hamnet (2025), dir. Chloé Zhao
  • After Life (1998), dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
  • Marriage Italian Style (1964) dir. Vittorio De Sica
  • Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963) dir. Vittorio De Sica

    My parents are fans of the Italian actress Sophia Loren. I wasn’t familiar with her work, but we watched a couple of movies where she stars opposite Marcello Mastroianni, both directed by Vittorio De Sica. We found these to be so fun. I was struck by how well these movies represented a lively and connected community, something I wish I saw portrayed in movies more often.

Music

I am planning to write a more thorough blog on my music-listening. Will update here when I do~

Reflections

When I read back these lists, I can’t help but think that I enjoyed a lot of great art this year. And especially with movies, I very often got to experience them with people I really love. The world is so big, and people can be so awesome.