Greetings from the end of 2023,
I worried that being a new parent would mean less personal time. This deficit of hours would translate to fewer books, reduced hours of TV, and listening to less of the music I love, and more of the music Sid enjoys. I have found this to be mostly untrue, largely in part, to the extensive touring and travel schedule we embarked upon this spring and summer. On countless flights, and bus rides I fell down a deep rabbit hole of (re) viewing my all-time favourite TV shows.
While at home, my daily commute to the office carves out at least an hour for podcasts, music, or audio books. While I previously held little interest in round table discussions or “talk radio,” I have increasingly found comfort engaging with political content that fits this exact description. Listening to people I consider smarter, and more informed, engaging in real-time discussions across a range of topics, has been an enriching experience.
Despite noticing a significant decrease in my personal reading, I’ve spent a considerable amount of the last six months reading to and with Sid. He is a parrot, and repeats everything we say. Some words spill from his mouth, flawlessly, while others, like “strawberry,” confidently morph into shorter, adorable renditions, like “straw-be.”
Overall, it has been a fantastic year of consuming, and being consumed by art! EVEN WITH A CHILD.
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Beginning in 2020, my insatiable appetite for audio has meant a full embracing of audiobooks. I specifically enjoy listening to non-fiction and memoir and find it even better if the author reads it themselves.
Directions to Myself by Heidi Julavits
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein -Hands down my favourite book of the year
Conundrum by Jan Morris -A complicated read, written a very long time ago, but gorgeous writing none the less. Here is a strong review that captures the “conundrum of conundrum”
Podcasts
Bone Valley- Stunningly good reporting, and writing.
Hard Fork- I love this show, but this episode especially.
The Daily- I can’t live without it.
Matter of Opinion- Are you a real adult if you don’t listen to talk radio?
The Ezra Klein Show- Ezra’s searching, nuanced conversations about the war have been profound. Also, this episode about gender narratives has stuck with me for months.
The Kids of Rutherford County
The Run-Up -A must for this political season
Too Far- These two have made me cry-laugh, cringe, and feel strangely comforted during a strange season of life.
The Coldest Case in Laramie- Soundtrack in Palm Springs, Sid on my chest, and cold early morning walks last February.
This American Life - Do you like to cry?
Deserving of mention for all time: S-Town
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I am re-watching my all time favourites, but a few new seasons stuck in my brain.
Sopranos- Each time I re-watch this series, i’m reminded of how truly magnificent James Gandolfini was as Tony Soprano. I think it is truly my favourite show of all time.
The Leftovers
The Wire
Mad Men- Re-watching this series again I find myself thinking about Sid, and if one day, he will watch shows and feel nostalgia for the decades before he was born.
Succession- Brilliant writing.
Mind Hunter- What does it say about me that I take comfort it rewatching this series?
Band of Brothers- Ditto, above.
Better Call Saul
Girls- So much funnier than I remembered it
The Bear
Stacy and I have a tradition of watching a movie a night during the holidays, so this list is a bit light as of publication.
Oppenheimer
Barbie
In the Mood for Love at VIFF- If you’ve never seen it, you should! Chungking Express is also gorgeous. When I first moved to Montreal I lived near walking distance to Cinema Du Parc, and I saw In the Mood For Love there twice. In my 20s I rented Wong Kar Wai’s other films over and over, before finally buying them for myself.
Killers of the Flower Moon- Lily Gladstone, wow-wee.
May December
Maestro- I wept throughout this film. Maybe my favourite of the year.
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