2024
A little while ago I retired my first newsletter after challenging myself to post publicly for a year. This was more of a project in confidence building than an attempt to be a Serious Writer. I came up with a million excuses to leave the writing thing behind, and eventually a friend of mine suggested that there was no reason not to start again if it was only doubt holding me back. I was reminded that I am often waiting for permission to do what I want. It was a weird year, and in the midst of everything I found that being able to gab about my favourite things to friends near and far was a consistent reason to keep going.
I also wanted to highlight these artists I was recommending in the manner they deserved, and found unexpected joy in the brief research of every month. I’ve previously referred to Celine Nguyen’s essay “research as a leisure activity”, but it’s one of my favourite pieces on here and bears repeating:
The idea of research as leisure activity has stayed with me because it seems to describe a kind of intellectual inquiry that comes from idiosyncratic passion and interest. It’s not about the formal credentials. It’s fundamentally about play. It seems to describe a life where it’s just fun to be reading, learning, writing, and collaborating on ideas.
In the spirit of emphasizing more play, I’m excited to get this going again.
Best Book: Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
Emily Austin won me over with her 2022 novel Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead. Her writing is sharp and honest, sometimes to the point of discomfort, and her characters are rich with imperfection. Her latest follows Enid, a 20-something with a penchant for true crime, an awkward relationship with her mother, and an overwhelming sense of disconnect while she tries to make sense of her place in the world.
Austin’s stories always capture the complexities of human experience, and the quiet and often painful journey of understanding oneself. Interesting Facts About Space masterfully blends moments of levity with reflection, creating a story that’s as funny as it is poignant.
Honourable mentions: Death by a Thousand Cuts by Shashi Bhat, Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn, The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
Best Movie: Monkey Man by Dev Patel
When I found out that Jordan Peele was going to be producing a film directed by Dev Patel, I was beside myself. These are two creatives I admire, with Peele’s reputation for excellent storytelling and Patel’s ability to inhabit complex characters.
From its first scenes, Monkey Man is an unrelenting story of corruption and systemic oppression; we witness the main character’s pursuit of vengeance in a world that only protects the rich and powerful. Peele’s involvement came only after Netflix, who were initially set to distribute the film, backed away due to their fear that its political nature might alienate audiences. It was a turn that underscored the very essence of the film: a daring narrative unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths.
This is a film that feels like a labour of both heart and body. It is an exhilarating debut — one that promises even greater things from Patel as a director — and an unsettling meditation on the world around us.
Honourable mentions: Challengers by Luca Guadagnino, I Saw the TV Glow by Jane Schoenbrun, Didi by Sean Wang
Best Album: Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat by Charli xcx
Brat is probably the least surprising pick for many year end lists, though I have to specify that my vote is for the remix album that came out in October (just after Brat Summer was declared over — and suddenly I’m feeling very aware of how 2024 these statements sound). I wouldn’t have considered myself the first to jump on a hyperpop album, but I was enamoured with the party girl tracks (“Von Dutch” with Addison Rae, “Guess” with Billie Eilish) just as much as the more sentimental ones (“Girl, so confusing” with Lorde, “Everything is romantic” with Caroline Polachek).
What struck me most was that Charli’s remix album didn’t simply add a guest feature or rearrange the elements of the original songs, but reimagined them entirely. The result felt unpredictable and fresh. Beyond the music itself, Brat's cultural impact cannot be overstated — it has come to define the year for many, leaving an indelible mark on the way we engaged with pop culture this past year.
Honourable mentions: Charm by Clairo, Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii, Chromakopia by Tyler the Creator
Other Favourites:
The Molehill, one of my most consistently read newsletters on here — Viv Chen is an excellent fashion journalist always publishing culturally relevant stories
The New York Times Cooking channel on YouTube, specifically any video from Priya Krishna’s “On the Job” series
Mindful Moments with David Larbi, found as a podcast or on YouTube; David’s insight has brought me a lot of comfort
My Small Nylon Sling in Candy Apple from Baggu, the boldest pop of red
This gold spiral necklace from Nelson-based designer Wild Honey
The New Balance 530s — everyday sneakers of my dreams!
My go-to scents: Bubble Bath for regular life and Jazz Club for special occasions, both from Maison Margiela’s Replica line
Wishing everyone an amazing start to the new year,
Sab