Spotlight on farewell to the year and continued reflections into 2024
As the old year ends, Chilling with Books December 2023, reflects on the good and the bad. Firstly however, I would love to begin by wishing everyone a festive and joyful season and a Happy New Year as we enter 2024. Positivity is necessary for survival.
For me, last year is one I can happily forget for so many reason. There were disappointments that I struggled with and though I believe in stoicism I buckled under the weight, and it affected my will to write. Interestingly, as we farewell 2023 and look towards 2024 I also see how much has been accomplished by those around me and yes, even myself and this inspires me to continue.
For instance, my eldest granddaughter has completed a full year at university. My eldest grandson is now driving and thriving in his quest for excellence in his chosen sport whilst their younger sister continues in the maturing process and is becoming quite a promising athlete. My two youngest grandchildren continue to be adorable, and I am confident with parents like theirs, these clever imps will grow to be whatever they decide is right for them. 2023 took my eldest daughter to Spain and hopefully in 2024 will have me with her on the next trip.
Many of my Indie Author friends have had successes in 2023 and are heading into the new year with more books to present to the world. Only recently, one of them C.R. Alam released her latest, Dangerous Rhythms and is already working on a new series. Another, Alyson Walton has just released her first book Black Blood and Stone and is letting fingers fly over keys to create the next volume.
On a personal level, I managed to release my second book Unexpected Passion, Book 2 in my Unexpected Love series and am currently working on the third. My passionate desire to understand behaviours and the role played by acceptance and true understanding in our complicated society grows more intense and hopefully will keep me writing. The act of understanding each other shouldn’t be so difficult but give and take is rarely an equal process. Too often, someone must take the lead and set boundaries for in this dance floor of life, responsible leading may be the only way to prevent a fall.
Last month, when discussing my novel, Unexpected Obsession, I said Nico’s softening, and his growth comes about because Lia does not just accept. She questions and when necessary takes control but with emphasis always on explaining because Lia understands only patience and time encourages growth. Her fearless approach to truth and her ability to set thoughtful boundaries obliterates the fear loving Lia would somehow weaken Nico’s orderly if controlling bent on life. As the series continues I am hoping he will evolve. I hope the same for 2023 as it slides into 2024. I love this song sung by Lara Fabian as it mirrors his growing emotions.
Barb’s News
My books
A little happiness would be a new release in 2024 but a lot of happiness would be a better year in 2024 for everyone.
The world around me
Hopeful. An ending is merely the turning of a page in the book of life. What is written depends on what we do, and I am hoping for a better year by working towards it. Wish me luck because support, real and freely given makes everything so much easier.
Books I’ve read and Films I watched
Films
Maestro: On a whim I took myself to see Maestro and did not enjoy the film at all. I don’t doubt Bradley Cooper will win an award of more than one kind. 2024 will let us know. He is, I fully acknowledge, a brilliant actor just as Sondheim is an absolute genius. The resulting film itself is a tribute to self-indulgent behaviours. It appears selfishness, vanity, the stroking of an ego and the screwed definition of love under the guise of genius is acceptable. I fully admit I may have missed the point of the film. Somehow my fascination with acceptance and boundaries ruled the way I saw the film. Somes scenes mitigate the atmosphere. For instance, we feel the loss of his wife and understand his love, as convoluted as it may have seemed to be true. The rest? None of it was appealing. Instead, I found it appalling to note that you don’t have to change or modify behaviours because in the end, if you’re a genius, you can get away with anything.
Some might argue my strong views prove the strength of the film. I don’t know. Perhaps if Humphrey Bogart might have played the part I would have seen it differently. He knew how to light a cigarette to make a point (and yes smoking is bad, we know this) without making it the focus of the whole film and Bogart’s face knew how to reflect pain without losing half his body weight.
A Few Good Men: An oldie but a goodie. A television repeat that stands the test of time. It had a story to tell then and still does today because it is told in a way that has us listening. The acting is brilliant by Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. That last scene about handling the truth – truly, what can be said, what needs to be said? What an incredible difference in films I’ve had this month.
Books
Truly a mixed bag of genres but all of them were an emotional and satisfying journey.
The Widows Wine Club Julia Jarman
Not my usual read but as I turned the pages it grew on me. The novel had a lot to say about friendships and coincidently what happens when we don’t set behavioural boundaries, both in ourselves and with others. The book is about aging and losing confidence and finding it again if we have the courage. For this alone, it was a lovely, thoughtful read.
The Wishing Game Meg Shaffer
Loved, loved, and loved it. Everyone should read it. This book was a mixture of reality and fantasy and was a joy. I can’t think what else to say.
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont Laura Pearson
I started a little unsure, but the poignancy won me over. It was all about choices. We make them and we have the power to change outcomes. The book was funny in parts, very entertaining in others and on the whole made its point. Nice twist at the end.
The Unmaking of June Farrow Adrienne Young
Wow. Fantasy elements and an unusual story line, wonderful use of language and a wonderful main character and so many unusual periphery characters made this vey difficult to put down. Beautiful reading.
Alla prossima,
Barb
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The Emotions Anthology Box Set
Thank you! Excellent comments re Maestro–and our sentiments exactly. Nice post.
Thank you so much for those words as I am feeling very solo in my comments regarding that movie. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.