I was playing with the idea of writing a blog that would wrap up the end of the year. As I begin to pour water into the silver mirror of review, I see "…things that were… things that are… and some things … that have not yet come to pass." I want to share beautiful things, I want to share music, movies, and artworks, and I want to share quotes, poems, and books. And while the infinity of human wonder cannot be compressed into a fun blog post, I can definitely share things that brought joy to my heart this year. I hope you will find this list entertaining and fun to go through. Maybe you will even discover something that will make your soul happy next year.
Please note that this list of things is not a ranked list by any means. This is not a leaderboard nor a tier list, and the items mentioned here are in no particular order. Of course, I enjoyed thousands of songs and read dozens of books, not to mention going to the cinema a few times. I managed to select only a few just for this post. Enjoy!
Three Books I Read in 2024 That I Really Enjoyed.
Kurt Vonnegut became a personal favorite right after this book. "Slaughterhouse-Five" has everything you could wish for from a book: drama, comedy, philosophy, aliens, wars, guns, disease, self-reflection, love, sex, time travel, the fourth dimension, and let me tell you, you don't waste time. I loved it so much that I also read "Cat’s Cradle" and "If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?" Someone said that Kurt Vonnegut is the type of writer that you either love or hate; there is no in-between, and I can see that. If it happens to delight you, this will become an instant hit in your library. If you don’t like it, too bad, more for me.
Why did I only read this book now, so late? Why didn’t anyone tell me about it? The Count of Monte Cristo is a masterpiece. This book is one of those long and thick books, usually split into 2 volumes or more. There is also a movie adaptation from 2002 and a newer adaptation that came out this year. I saw them both after I read the book, and both movies are great, but I recommend the book. This is a story of revenge, and it is served cold, not with a lesson nor with a side dish of higher morals. If you start this book with the highest expectations as I did, you will be surprised just how good this is.
Liviu Rebreanu is a Romanian author who is part of the high school curriculum. Have I read it before? Sure, but that was because I had to. Years later, with a more developed mind, I decided to give it one more try. And boy, was I in for a surprise! This man is a genius, and just because it was written in my native language, it added to the poetry of the writing. "Adam and Eve" is an original idea in Romanian literature, and I have not read anything like this before. It’s a beautiful love story that transcends time over 7 different timelines. Not everyone likes this book, but I do quite a lot.
Obviously, there are a few honorable mentions that are just as beautiful: Educated by Tara Westover, Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, Bird by Bird Anne Lamott.
What about some movies I saw this year?
For a movie so old, this seemed so fresh and new. The actor lineup is insane; you have Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford, and so many other insanely talented people. It is a must-watch. I’m ashamed of seeing it just now.
Being the last of Tarantino’s movies, I wanted to postpone watching it as much as I could. That was it; I finally watched it. Twice in one week. Yes, it's beautiful. No, not everyone likes it.
Needless to say, I went to the cinema twice to see this beauty, and it was gorgeous both times. The imagery, the play, the costumes, and the epic music—it sends shivers down my spine. Yes, I read the books back in college, but this time, the movie is better.
Two poems I read over and over
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—
if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the
way. this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.
go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the
worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the
gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.
do it, do it, do it.
do it.
all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter,
it’s the only good fight
there is.
If you like poetry, I highly recommend listening to Tom O'Bedlam narrations on YouTube. While most of them have some sort of ambient music, you can always make the listening more delightful by playing some Dirk Maassen.
No matter . . . the music will still be wonderful.
Tudor Gheorghe - Au înnebunit salcâmii
Nena Venetsanou & Kostas Grigoreas: LILITH
Antony and the Johnsons - Cripple And The Starfish
Dato Kenchiashvili , Bichiko Navrozashvili , 'taoba' - ioro / იორო
Quotes? Out of context? Even better.
A good quote is like a magic incantation. It helps people materialize emotions and beliefs and align themselves with a thought. Sure, lots of quotes are out of context, but it is what it is. If superficiality is a human trait, why should we even be ashamed of it? I’d love some good quotes to get me going.
“It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. If you want to feel ten feet tall and as though you could run a hundred miles without stopping, hate beats pure cocaine any day. Hitler resurrected a beaten, bankrupt, half-starved nation with hatred and nothing more. Imagine that.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, If This Isn't Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young
“So this is how a person can come to despise himself-knowing he's doing the wrong thing and not being able to stop.”
― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon
“You get your intuition back when you make space for it, when you stop the chattering of the rational mind. The rational mind doesn't nourish you. You assume that it gives you the truth, because the rational mind is the golden calf that this culture worships, but this is not true. Rationality squeezes out much that is rich and juicy and fascinating.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
“If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience and Other Essays
“those who escape hell
however
never talk about
it
and nothing much
bothers them
after
that.”
I draw, therefore I must post!
And here are a few works that I deem worthy of featuring in a blog post. Most of these pieces found their homes through friends, family, clients, and wonderful people who appreciate my art. I think, as an artist, you are never satisfied with the pieces you create, and that's fine with me because it is not the final piece that brings me joy but the process through which I have the opportunity to create it.
Happy New Year, and thank you for reading my thoughts!
Send me your ideas or start a conversation.
I write on this blog as often as I can, and you can find details about my graphic design work and hire me for freelance work on my website