Monday Miscellany: The sound of us trying

Notes from December 16 - 22

Dec 23, 2024

Merry Christmas Eve Eve to all who celebrate! Today would have been my grandma’s 111th birthday—when I was growing up, we always had a very specific, separate gathering on the 23rd that was fully about her and not at all about Christmas. She passed away back in 2006, but I still think about her on this day every year. I hope wherever she is, she’s being properly celebrated and not feeling overshadowed by the approaching holiday.

As for me (sorry Mee-Maw), I’m currently in full Christmas mode. Since I’ll be at the coffee shop tomorrow Dealing With People all morning, I’m taking advantage of today to fully inhabit my pajamas and my home. After I talk with you about the books and ~~music~~ movies of the week, I plan to get some last-minute gift wrapping done and bake some cookies! Let’s get into it:

Currently reading

Tacky by Rax King was the December pick for The Stacks book club, and I went into it knowing nothing about the author or her work. From the title and cover I expected relatively low-stakes essays about aspects of pop culture, and that’s partially what I got—one of my favorite chapters was about Rax’s genuine love of the band Creed, and her description of the cover art for their Weathered album made me laugh out loud. But there is also a lot of memoir woven throughout, and toward the end it gets a little heavier and sadder than I was prepared for. I did enjoy the collection overall, I just don’t think the packaging gives the full picture of what’s inside. If you’re interested in reading this one, I’d recommend looking up the content warnings first.

Next up this week was The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt, a recent $3 impulse buy from my library’s ongoing book sale section (which is rudely and dangerously positioned just inside the main door, where you have to pass it both entering and exiting). I originally heard about this little book—extended short story? novella?—from Jeff O’Neal on the Book Riot podcast, who talked about it several different times a couple of years ago. He recommended going in cold, so I knew nothing about the actual plot, just that someone I trust had enjoyed it and talked it up. And wow! It’s a compelling story indeed. Just when I thought I had a grasp of what was going on, something happened to really rip the rug out from underneath me and completely change the tone. Jeff was right about experiencing it without knowing too much in advance, though, so I’ll avoid spoilers and simply confirm that it’s worth your time.

Finally, I picked up Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace, one of the final 2024 releases I was hoping to read before the year’s end. I loved listening to Carvell interviewed on The Stacks this past May when the book was coming out, and I knew I needed to get a copy after several of my favorite online book people started calling it one of their favorites of the year. This one is pretty weighty, but that isn’t a surprise; the first sentence of the publisher’s synopsis refers to “the struggles and beauty of growing up Black and queer in America.” And this is kind of how the book is laid out: the first part, “Stories About Loss,” focuses on the struggles and injustices Carvell faced as a young person, and then the second and third, “Stories About God” and “Stories About Reunion,” dig into the beautiful aspects glimmering amidst the hardship. And Carvell’s writing! My god. It’s gorgeous.

Every day someone tries to teach me that we are ugly. Every day I have to remember that we are not. This is why I spend so much time with my eyes closed and my face dappled by the afternoon sun. I am remembering that we are beautiful. (38-39)

Parts of this book gave me Ross Gay vibes, which is maybe the highest compliment I can offer? It’s thoughtful and genuine and meaty, and begs to be pondered and savored—the type of work that will reveal more of itself with repeated readings. I’m happy to have a copy on my shelf to revisit over time.

A legally-required heads-up: if you purchase a book through the bookshop.org affiliate links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. ♥︎

Currently watching

I haven’t been listening to much music, so instead I’ll give you a little rundown of the week’s movie viewing!

Love Actually is a classic, and while I’m well aware of everything that is wrong with it (unbelievably inappropriate work behavior! really uncool fat jokes! men doing creepy things!), I still watch it every year, mainly because of the moments that have aged well and continue to be funny, unexpected, ridiculous, or heartwarming.

The Holiday is also apparently a classic?? Granted, one that I did not see for the first time until the year of our Lord 2024, but my siblings in Christ, I do not get it. You’re telling me that Kate Winslet is tormented almost to the point of considering suicide… over her love for and obsession with… THIS MAN?

I did really love Iris’s storyline with Arthur and Miles, though. This is a sentiment that I fully support and share:

By the end, okay, yes, we’ve all figured our shit out a little and are heartwarmingly partying together for New Year’s. But what an extended eye roll it was to get here (I will spare you my full list of nitpicky questions and reactions, but know that it is long). And what a lack of resolution, with the question of how exactly anyone’s long-distance relationship is going to work just left hanging in the air! Fellow haters, sound off in the comments (good-naturedly)!

Santa Claus (MST3K) is an unhinged fever dream best enjoyed with Mystery Science Theater commentary. There are really so many things to say about this movie that I can’t decide between them. Santa is battling Satan for the souls of children worldwide (though the filmmakers’ understanding of different countries’ and regions’ cultures seems quite, um, limited)! To this end, he uses a really unsettling eyeball telescope to spy on his enemy! He’s neighbors (in space?) with the wizard Merlin! His sleigh is powered by soulless, dead-eyed, wind-up reindeer! Merry Christmas, I got you some nightmares!!

Happiest Season was a tiny bit disappointing the first time I watched it a few years ago, probably because it was SO anticipated and hyped when it came out. Everyone was so excited to get a Gay Holiday Movie, but the storyline, which centers around a character not being out to their family and having to hide their relationship as a result, felt a little dated and basic. Still, I’ve now seen it three times, and it has really grown on me. The cast is incredible (Kristen Stewart! Daniel Levy! Alison Brie! Aubrey Plaza!) and the protagonist’s sister Jane is one of the best characters I’ve ever seen. Maybe we’ve reached the point of adding this one to the yearly Christmastime lineup??

Elf turned 21 this year and it still slaps. So stupid, but so funny. So endlessly quotable. I don’t know what else to say about that.

What are you watching these days? Do you have favorite holiday films that you return to every year? Are there any good new ones that I need to check out? Tell me!

And another thing

This week I baked my first Hershey kiss cookies of the season! This is the recipe I use, but recently I’ve been substituting almond butter and dark chocolate kisses and loving the change. Speaking of cookies, I think I want to try making these ginger cheesecake boys next.
All of the media outlets are putting out their best of the year lists right now and it can be a little overwhelming to wade through, which is why I love LitHub’s ultimate best books list. They’ve compiled the data for us and laid out 2024’s greatest hits in order of how many other lists feature them. Fellow nerds rejoice!
It isn’t releasing for another month or so, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing The Room Next Door, a Pedro Almodóvar film adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through.
Over the course of my holiday shopping I came across this weighted hoodie and now I may or may not be adding it to my wishlist for next year!