November '24 Wrap Up
Hey y’all! Hope you’re having a good — or, at the very least, survivable — holiday season. Here’s what I’ve been up to this past month:
Reading: I’ve been on a major Natasha Pulley kick this fall. Reading her books makes me feel like a kid again — which is to say that they make me want to read for 3 straight hours while ignoring all my other earthly responsibilities. They are, in a word, readable. This past month I read The Lost Future of Pepperharrow, the sequel to her debut novel The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (which I read in October, so it doesn’t count in terms of this newsletter). All in all, I had a great time reading this series, and it was a great way to take my mind off of holiday travel stress.
Watching: This month I attended my first Friendsgiving, which was lovely. At said Friendsgiving, I got tipsy on Twisted Tea and proceeded to tell my (very kind, very patient) friend about how much I love Ben Daniels on Fox’s The Exorcist. While I have only seen the first few episodes, I feel like drunk Ari has given it their endorsement — and who am I to contradict them?
Listening: Yes, it came out in October — but Katie Gavin’s What A Relief is easily one of my favorite albums of the year. The debut solo album of MUNA’s lead singer, it’s thoughtful, introspective, and emotional. My personal favorite track is “Inconsolable,” but I also adore “The Baton” and “Sketches.” It’s Katie Gavin’s world, we’re all just living in it — and honestly, it’s an honor.
Doing: As we all know, I hate flying. However, I do have a special place in my heart for Airport Bookstores. I love browsing on my way to the gate, even though I rarely ever buy anything. It’s always fun to see what’s popular and what’s available. I’ll never forget seeing a Sylvia Plath poetry collection for sale at SeaTac. What a world.
Looking Ahead: I’ve got plans to post both a Best Books of 2024 list as well as a Most Anticipated Books of 2025 list, so watch your inboxes for those. And from all of us here at Passage Grave (i.e. me) — Happy Holidays!