Authorstrator Listy List

A round up of reads, watches and art stuff for December

Hoooooooooo boy. The holidays have come on hard and fast this year and I can hardly catch my breath. Between the present shopping, the food shopping, the hosting, the cooking, the decorating, the visits, the pageants......and the kids’ hockey.....I've barely had a second to take a minute to think. I haven’t even gotten to watch all the holiday hallmark movies as I wanted! How are you holding up? I hope you're managing to take some time to yourself, to breathe, to relax whenever you get the chance and are treating yourself when you can.

December’s Listy List is a grab bag of disparate things - I think it reflects the all-over-the-place nature of my brain this month, but still I hope you find things here to enjoy over the holidays!

If you’re new here, the Authorstrator Listy List is a roundup of what I think are the most interesting bits and bobs I collect for all the lists I keep in my notebooks over the course of the month! My TBR, my watch list, my list of arty things I want to try out. And I’m always on the lookout for more, so if you’ve got a great recommendation for a read, a watch, or arty stuff, I invite you to share your latest finds in the comments!

Here we go!

The Reading List

Articles

THIS newsletter, oh my goodness. Closely Reading by

haley larsen, phd

is everything I never knew I wanted in a newsletter. Maybe its because I’ve been out of school for a while now, but there’s something delicious about diving into close reading, marking up my books with notes and this newsletter offers a competent hand to guide you. For an afternoon where I have nothing on the go, this is the newsletter I want to dig into!

Austin Kleon

‘s Grattitude Zine was a nice reminder about being grateful over the holidays and really warms the soul.

Because I can’t escape AI, this read from 404 Media about AI movies really got my blood boiling - if it has the same effect on you, sorry. But if this is how much credit the enterainment business grants its audience….oh help.

Books

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter - I dunno why, but all I want on cold winter nights is to ready fairytale types of stories. This one’s a celebrated oldie and the description sounds like everything I’m looking for - a collection of subversive fairytale retellings, including favourites like Little Red Riding Hood and Bluebeard.

The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami - Magical libraries are kind of irresistible to me. I also have been meaning to read something by Murakami for a while now so no time like the present!

Hiddensee by Gregory Macguire - if you’re still hyped on the Wicked-mania sweeping theatres, here’s a holiday read for you from the book’s author! I read The Nutcracker every year because its such a weird, wonderful, magic little book, so Hiddensee was kind of a no-brainer for me when I learned about it years ago. Its a re-telling of the Nutcracker with great fairy tale vibes, perfect for the holidays.

The Watch List

We’re still on the holiday romance train and here come some gems - do you notice a theme?

Christmas in the Spotlight from Lifetime - she’s a popstar, he’s a pro football player. Its the holidays and love is in the air. Sound familiar? he he he

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs love story from Hallmark - not to be outdone, Hallmark has their own offering to bring in those Swifty eyeballs.

The Art List

I keep seeing artists online playing with acrylic paint pens and I’m not sure how I feel about them! I gave posca markers a go, and didn’t love them, but all these new ones seem to be juicier and have brush tips. I’m curious how I’d use them given how opaque they are - so I’m very much hoping to get my hands on a set. I’ve added them to my Christmas wishlist.

If you’re taking the holidays to brush up that illustration portfolio, this was a very helpful read from another newsletter I really enjoy,

The Illustration Department

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And that’s it from me! What’s on your reading list over the holidays?