November...

Murder, revenge, romance, spunky gals, and did you know Christmas is around the corner?

Hello! It’s that time again, the time of year when time seems to rush headlong down a hill at an ever-increasing pace, right at the time when you want things to slow down and get cozy. 

Or maybe that’s just me? 

I’m doing my best to take things one day at a time and keep my lists as simple as possible. The Christmas tree is going up this weekend, I’ve got a stack of books to pick from when I have time, and I’m making my mental list of Christmas movies I’d like to watch (While You Were Sleeping and White Christmas, of course. Maybe one of the many versions of A Christmas Carol, and maybe It’s a Wonderful Life, because I haven’t watched that one in years. And I know there’s a high chance of it being a train wreck, but I kinda want to see Violent Night when it comes out in theaters). I’ve got the ingredients for homemade Chex mix and gingerbread, so now it’s just time to find some motivation!

And look, here’s your permission to enjoy December the way you want to enjoy it (to the best of your ability). Do you enjoy all the parties and activities and magic making? Then enjoy it! Do you prefer to take things slower and set hard boundaries and spend December a little more quietly? Go for it! If you’re facing a season of difficulty or pain or grief, then do what you need to do to get through it all. 

But enough about the future (and present)! Let’s look backward, shall we?

In I-love-a-good-series-reading, I’m still leisurely working my way through the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny (did you know there’s a new one out this month? I just found out!), and recently finished A Brutal Telling. Last month I also read The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman, and basically, I just couldn’t love the Thursday Murder Club series more.

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone was a tense, fast-paced thriller about revenge and justice, and one where you’re not sure who to trust. There are some timeline jumps, and various competing groups all trying to figure out what’s going on. The author grounds the story in the descriptive setting and does a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens is a roundabout love story about a woman with a massive case of the “what-ifs” as she prepares to get married. Of course, it’s not just about the romance, but about a woman getting to know herself better, learning to make peace with certain parts of her past. The main character was both annoying and endearing–in other words, very realistic!--and the ending was very satisfying. 

If you’re in the mood for some historical romance, Ashes on the Moor by Sarah M. Eden was a sweet, lovely story about belonging, and identity, and finding strength in adversity. The author surrounded her main characters with a community that was full of surprisingly complex individuals. I thought the inclusion of a character with neurodiversity was well done, and the historical details and setting grounded and enriched the story. 

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is a young adult novel about death and the afterlife, that’s really about the meaning of life and what it means to truly live. Despite the heavy topic, there was a lightness to the story that didn’t in any way diminish its thoughtfulness (a little bit like the t.v. show The Good Place, but with less overt comedy). I also appreciated the realistic, but not too annoying, young teenage protagonist. 

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler is a charming, slice-of-life novel about a quirky middle-aged man who’s pleasant and strictly ordered life gets a little upended. I loved that the reader got a full picture [main character]’s life and personality, the glimpses of his family and younger life. I thought the ending was sweet and appreciated the self-realizations and self-discovery.  

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever As I expected, I really enjoyed this movie. As in the first Black Panther movie, I think they’ve done a good job of really showcasing character motivations. Every action and behavior make sense for the character–even if it’s not great, you still understand why they do what they do. The movie also did a good job of balancing the bigger “action movie” parts with the more personal story of grief and loss. And, of course, it was visually stunning, and I’m never sad to spend some time in Wakanda.

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special I wasn’t sure what to expect at all from this short holiday special, but it was a delight. It was funny and silly, and a nice way to kickstart a Christmas mood without committing to a full movie.

All right, friends, that’s it for this month! I’m going to leave you with a little bit of a benediction from John O’Donohue:

“In the glare of neon times,

Let our eyes not be worn

By surfaces that shine

With hunger made attractive.

That our thoughts may be true light,

Finding their way into words

Which have the weight of shadow

To hold the layers of truth

And when we come to search for God,

Let us first be robed in night,

Put on the mind of morning

To feel the rush of light

Spread slowly inside

The color and stillness

Of a found world.”