Classics Considered

Another December… another “can’t believe the year’s almost over” post from yours truly.

It is raining outside, and it is cozy inside. I am sipping my black cherry herbal tea and reading Halldór Laxness’s Independent People. I have been wanting to take naps all day, which might mean I’m fighting off something. But I feel very physically well, which is nice because this time last year I had COVID. This year, I have high hopes I won’t miss Christmas Eve service…

Reading

Looking back on my Goodreads challenge, I read more this year than it feels like I did. Granted, some of the books were small, and some of them were readalongs or read-togethers, but nonetheless, read I did. This was a year of quality over quantity. I look warmly back on such books as Augustine’s Confessions, Passing, A Canticle for Leibowitz, and Kokoro. The most memorable novel was Ice, although some vivid memories were made with Piranesi as well. All my reading—including the excellent Sherlock Holmes reread with Cyberkitten—fit into the ups and downs of the year like green apples on a tree, unassuming and sometimes hidden.

Watching

The highlight of the year was Rings of Power season 2. Sadly I don’t have many people to talk to about it, but it is one of my favorite things.

I watched a fair number of films this year, too, but few of them stand out in memory. Conclave was beautiful but underwhelming… and strangely un-Catholic. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was visually stunning, but such a silly plot that we started reading the subtitles dramatically to entertain ourselves. The best movie I saw was The Outrun, a sensitive biopic about addiction starring Saoirse Ronan. Highly recommendable.

Listening

I discovered very little new music this year, so my listening was dominated by Twenty One Pilots, a band I keep going back to over the years. Their new album Clancy really blew me away. It could have been written for me; it brought me such comfort and courage on my hardest days. Revisiting old songs on Vessel and Trench, I came to understand better what TOP is about and connected with their music in a new way.

Living

This has not been an easy year, but it has been a beautiful one, and navigating its challenges has brought me some healing.

I spent five weeks in another country, sang at a Tori Kelly concert with my sister, and forged a new friendship in this gloomy city. I made it out of two escape rooms and tried tapas for the first time (not on the same day :)). I gained new ways to battle my depression, forgave and was forgiven repeatedly, and experienced times of real joy.

More recently, the most wonderful man in the world asked me to marry him, and I said of course, and cried happy tears…

Looking (ahead)

Usually I would make some reading goals for the new year. I plan on keeping up with reading in 2025, but have decided to keep it open ended and relaxed.

I am in the process of downsizing how many books I own. My brother Nigel stopped by recently, and I begged him to take anything he wanted, except for a handful of books I had definitely set aside. He picked out some of my favorites, like Man’s Search for Meaning and The Painted Veil, and I felt very glad he wanted them. 🙂

This blog has seen better days in terms of content, but the book community here and elsewhere continues to be a happy place for me. My friends have been so kind and given me grace when I’ve not kept up with readalongs or been very present in general. I’m grateful for you all!