Dispatches from 2024
January appreciation, life updates, films I've watched, and books I've read.
January was a blur. Traditionally the pace of January is slow and comforting but this year it zoomed by with abandon, which makes me quite melancholy as fall and winter are my favorite seasons. The rain and cooler temperatures are a reminder that it’s not necessarily time to be outside in the elements, despite California’s tepid winters. It is a time to reflect on our interior worlds and go inward, and I welcome this pause each year wholeheartedly. This article from The New York Times has only reinforced this for me. But, onwards and unwillingly into February I go.
READS: TOM LAKE & HELLO BEAUTIFUL
My first book of 2024 was Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, and I almost regret making it my first book because it will be an incredibly tough act to follow. The plot felt fresh and original yet comforting, and the prose was beautiful and sentimental without being saccharine. I began this book with the assumption that it would be melodramatic and sensationalized due to its popularity, and it was everything but. You will probably cry, but it’s the kind of crying that is a reaction to witnessing some beautiful and mundane aspect of life; daisies rustling in the breeze, the scent of fruit and leaves carried by the wind, or perfectly-timed kindness from a stranger when you need it the most. It is a reminder that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, and that every decision we make is necessary in the unfolding narrative of our lives. 5/5 stars, no notes whatsoever. It was a masterpiece.
Continuing the beautiful-yet-slightly-devastating theme is Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. This one took a bit of time for me to get into, but after about 100 pages or so it picks up and gets really, really good. I was glued to it for several days, so much so that I opted for public transport over driving to work just so that I could finish the book. It has a similar feeling to Tom Lake and follows the story of a family (the Padavanos) from the 80s to the early aughts. The story loosely follows the same structure as Little Women (and is referenced a handful of times throughout) which adds an extra layer of delight for any fans of the Louisa May Alcott classic. I gave it 4.5/5 stars due to the slowness of the exposition and some occasionally overwrought writing. I also just realized both of these books were written by Anns. Weird.
You can follow me on Goodreads for more book updates throughout the year. I’m challenging myself to read 45 books this year, so we’ll see how that goes. I am currently making my way through Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin and finding it delightful. I’ll let you know what I think when I’m finished.
FILMS: BERGMAN ISLAND
I watched Mia Hansen-Løve’s Bergman Island last week, a film that has been on my to-watch list for the past several years since it came out in 2021. Hansen-Løve directed L’Avenir (or Things to Come in English), one of my favorite films, starring the indelible Isabelle Huppert, one of my favorite actresses. Similar to L’Avenir, this film is centered around a woman (named Chris, portrayed by Krieps) and explores the inner workings of her relationships: with her husband, her daughter, her colleagues and friends, and perhaps most importantly, herself and her creative work. There is a quiet and meditative quality to this film and it takes place on the beautiful, tranquil Swedish island of Fårö, creating a gentle contrast between the setting and Chris’ scattered inner world. She states at the beginning of the film, “all this calm and perfection, I find it oppressive”. And while there is a hint of melancholy, this isn’t a sad film; at least, I didn’t think so. L’Avenir explores the deterioration of a woman’s marriage, but it also explores her relationship with herself. Bergman Island similarly delves into this idea of self-discovery through its protagonist Chris. There is joy and beauty in this process of discovery, and while the mundanity of life continues around these women (heartbreak, grappling with one’s identity, children growing up), they become increasingly more sure of themselves. This in and of itself is a joy – a woman discovering her inherent worth and still managing to find pockets of beauty amid the trials of life. It reminded me a bit of this Nikita Gill tweet:
There may be turmoil, but there is still beauty. The artist is still compelled to create. Every night, we continue fall in love with the moon. Furthermore, there is no art without turmoil, and the film acknowledges and celebrates this.
The film-within-a-film aspect initially made me nervous, but I found it delightful rather than annoying; plus, Mia Wasikowska’s performance was incredible in her portrayal of Kriep’s fictional counterpart. Overall, it is highly worthy of your viewership and I recommend it as a weekend watch to incite some inspiration.
FASHION: SCHIAPARELLI & SIMONE ROCHA x JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
Speaking of inspiration, two things that have occupied at least 50% of my brain space since their debut last month are the Schiaparelli and Simone Rocha x Jean Paul Gaultier presentations. As per usual, Schiaparelli’s fun, avant-garde creations have hit the mark flawlessly (which hasn’t always been the case, but recently they’ve been on fire balancing the out-there with the wearable). Simone Rocha x JPG for obvious reasons: Rocha’s over-the-top romantic flourishes combined with Gaultier’s edge made for a deliciously complimentary dream collab that will be screenshotted and added to Pinterest and mood boards for years to come.
ART: MAGALI CAZO
I have an Instagram folder entitled “feelings” where I save anything that I have an emotional reaction to. The first thing I ever saved was a Wolfgang Tillmans photo of hot pink lilies that still elicits a response whenever I see it, and these paintings by Magali Cazo stirred a similar feeling in me. They have a quality that feels like damaged negatives or expired film, and I love how nothing has defined edges. All the figures and perspectives bleed into one another, melting everything into a singular plane. It reminds me of the works of Etel Adnan, but with a muted palette and a touch of Gaussian blur.