#december 2025

[harveyguillensource]

Harvey's playing Moonface Martin in the Pasadena Playhouse's production of Anything Goes in Concert on January 24-25, 2025!

[peach-sea]

let's take testosterone, together

[manuscripts-dontburn]

The Wise Man's Fear

Author: Patrick Rothfuss

First published: 2011

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Good, good, but I am going to take the risk and simply say that this did could have easily been at least 200-300 pages shorter. In fact, I would have welcomed it. The first part taking place at the university gets repetitive, especially since it is pretty much the same people, the same conflicts, the same reasoning, the same everything as in the first book. The latter adventures felt oddly disjointed. Here´s hoping that one day the mythical third installment appears and ties everything up with a nice little bow.

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice

Author: Carolyn McVickar Edwards

First published: 2000

Rating:  ★★★★☆

A short little gem of a book. 12 folk stories that centre around the importance of light, divided into four sections according to how the Sun is treated (really!). All of the chapters are quite short and easy to read, tastefully understated, and for some reason, I found the shared human love for the Light extremely touching. Great book for just this time of the year.

Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

Author: Amanda Foreman

First published: 1998

Rating: ★★★★☆

What a fascinating and messy life Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, lived! What a good job Amanda Foreman did with putting together the pieces and creating this portrait, which may not be 100% accurate, given how much material had been deliberately destroyed by Georgiana´s descendants (and a special friend), but compelling and seemingly truthful given everything that IS known. I also found it interesting how much agency a woman of means could have in the 18th century, compared to the relative helplessness experienced by women of the 19th century. What I learned was also that this period in England was truly dissipated, everyone was doing everyone and the male ego has always been too fragile.

The Custom of the Country

Author: Edith Wharton

First published: 1913

Rating: ★★★★★

Never ever have I hated a fictional character more than Undine. Not even Scarlett O'Hara made me this mad. But this is a brilliant novel. Brilliant. Or at least.... until the very end, when the reckoning failed to come. Realistic and expected given the characters and their motivations, but not satisfactory to this reader!!! Then again, perhaps the greatest punishment for some is... to be themselves.

Small Things Like These

Author: Claire Keegan

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★★★☆

Not the genre I typically read and I am always a bit wary of novellas since there is not always enough meat on the bones. Here I did have something to chew on, I just wished that we actually spent less time on the mundane and the ordinary and rather plunged a bit deeper into other, more interesting parts of the book. But in the end the short journey through the soul of the main character was rewarding.

Kirsten's Surprise: A Christmas Story

Author: Janet Beeler Shaw

First published: 1986

Rating: ★★★★★

Storytime: As a little girl in a newly born Czech Republic I had no idea of the "American Girls". But my mum started to teach English and once among the promotional materials, there was a package and inside three paper dolls with lots of dresses and other things to be cut out and to play with. They were Kirsten, Samantha and Molly. And I spent literal hours playing with those paper dolls. Kirsten was my favourite. Only as an adult, I found out what a phenomenon the "American Girls" was and that there was a whole merchandise around them. And I have managed to snag a few of the books. This is the first one I read. And I loved it. It is going straight to my nostalgia drawer, to be with my paper dolls.

The Interior Castle

Author: Saint Teresa of Avila

First published: 1588

Rating: ★★★★☆

I was surprised at how easy it was to read the voice of Saint Teresa as it came to us after all of the centuries. Her likening of the human soul to a castle within ourselves was explained neatly and I found many of her thoughts and opinions quite modern and encouraging. But throughout I really wanted to go and shake her while screaming: "Stop saying you are not clever, sister mine, and stop saying women have lesser intelligence because they are women. You yourself are a proof of the opposite.".

The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights

Author: Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Natasha Pulley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton, Catriona Ward

First published: 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆

Not all of the stories are equally good, but on the whole, this book was very enjoyable in these dark December days! My favourites were probably the stories by Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes-Chapman and Natasha Pulley, while I found the one by Catriona Ward the weakest. The rest had their merits and some drawbacks, but still, enjoyable.

Shields of Pride

Author: Elizabeth Chadwick

First published: 1994

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I wouldn´t say this was a bad book but everything about it felt either insufficient or too much. Characters are too one-dimensional and flat. Not enough of a plot. Whatever story there was too predictable. Spoilt by many other, truly great historical novels, I cannot rate this any higher than 2 stars.

A Renaissance Christmas

Author: National Gallery of Art

First published: 1991

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A slim collection of lesser-known Renaissance paintings accompanied by verses from the Bible that would make a good companion to meditate upon the meaning of Christmas with. However, if, like me, you would like to know more about the paintings themselves or the symbolism included in them, you will be disappointed.

The Clockwork Girl

Author: Anna Mazzola

First published: 2022

Rating:  ★★★☆☆

Good premise but unfortunately I found the execution rather lacklustre. 300 pages of constantly repeating we don´t know what I going on, futile and half-hearted attempts to find out, unchanging characters and motivations... I finished it so that stands for something, but I had much higher hopes for this.

Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

Author: BJuliet Grames

First published: 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Sometimes you read a book that is really, really good but you also know it is too heartbreaking or disturbing or (as in this case) both to read it again. Or maybe I will, but only after literal years will pass.

Procitají andělé

Author: Tomáš Halík

First published: 2022

Rating: ★★★★★

I když s Tomášem Halíkem nesouzním v každém detailu, jeho myšlenky a jeho cíl ukázat křesťanství jako živou víru jsou mi nesmírně blízké. Jeho kázání nejsou jen formulkami umně zabalenými to velkých slov, jsou hlavně prosbami k našemu svědomí a výzvami k dialogu a obnově. Je jedním z těch, kteří stojí jako důkaz, že katolická církev (a popravdě řečeno nejen ta), mají smysl a úkol i v dnešní době.

Sanditon, Lady Susan, & The History of England

Author: Jane Austen

First published: 2011 (but much older, obviously)

Rating:  ★★★★☆

If you want "another" Jane Austen, be satisfied with reading Lady Susan. You do not need the other short, unseasoned or unfinished works included in this volume. But if you are curious about how Miss Austen managed to sharpen her mettle, there is apt material here to study. Not to mention her "History of England" was actually Tumblr-post-worthy hilarious.

The Last Duel

Author: Eric Jager

First published: 2004

Rating: ★★★★☆

A truly interesting probe into medieval France, some of its customs and mentality. Disregarding the fact some of the facts are repeated multiple times in pretty much always the exact same words, this was extremely readable (I finished it in a day), to the point when I felt like I was holding a novel in my hands.

Shy Creatures

Author: Clare Chambers

First published: 2024

Rating: ★★★★★

I bought this book in a "choose a book you know nothing about" challenge and started reading it knowing, indeed, absolutely nothing. And I must admit that the beginning almost put me off, because there is cheating involved. But as the story progressed I was more and more intrigued, because that was not the focal point at all. It is a book, I think, about everything that makes us brittle and closed-off. Loosely based on a true event, it blooms into something memorable and beautiful.

The City in Glass

Author: Nghi Vo

First published: 2024

Rating: ★★★★☆

Nghi Vo and her gorgeous writing and imagination strike again. I adored the first half of the book, in which the anguish and desperate hope were so well presented. But then came the second half and everything seemed to come to a standstill full of vibes which no longer engaged me as much, which is rather sad for such a short book. The main relationship never felt completely right to me, and neither did I understand why the tragedy of the very start ever happened (perhaps I missed it?). I loathe to give the author anything less than 4 stars and this is one of those (many) times I wish Goodreads had a different, more refined way of rating books. This would be about 65% then.

The Wood at Midwinter

Author: Susanna Clarke

First published: 2024

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I love me some Susanna Clarke, her books are among the best I have read in the past decade and I will always read whatever offering she decides to give us. The Woos at Midwinter is a VERY short story that seems to be both for children and yet with an element only for adult understanding. Unfortunately, it would have more impact if surrounded by other such stories, instead of shivering in the cold on its own as it is.

The Romanov Legacy: The Palaces of St. Petersburg

Author: Zoya Belyakova

First published: 1995

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Gorgeous large photographs are the best feature of this book and to be completely honest it still holds its own, in spite of being outdated by now (when it was originally published many of the palaces in question were only partly reconstructed) and a rather impersonal tone of the text.

Mrs England

Author: Stacey Halls

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Norland nurse gets a position in a Yorkshire manor house where not everything seems to be as it should. That is a plot starter I will probably never get tired of. Unfortunately for this reader, the story here turns out to be a rather lukewarm family drama instead of something thrilling and mysterious. Not a bad book, but I would not read it again.

[bluedesignwall]

We had to run an errand across town this afternoon. We drove past the new Te Kaha stadium. So excited for this to be finished it looks amazing.

[elminx]

This is a reminder that we are coming up on our second Capricorn new moon of the year on 12/30 at 5:27pm EST, which is also a black moon (meaning it is the second new moon in December).

This is a doubly auspicious moon for any intention setting or alignment designed to propel you forward in the year ahead.

2025 will be very Saturnian; set those goals but keep them practical, achievable, and down to earth.

Did you know that in 2024 we are going to have two Capricorn new moons (in January and in December) and two Capricorn full moons (in June and in July, as true astrological "Blue Moon")?

So...that's neat.

If there was ever a sign that 2024 is a year to work for it and put in your very best, most consistent effort, this is it.

[shadowboxerinc]

80s Music Weekend: Rob's 80s Spotify Playlist

12.28.24 Hello some more! Rob here.What is next for our 80s Music Weekend? You already heard what Shelley’s playlist sounds like, now it is time for my list. Mine is called Mixed Metal; this is one of my favorites from the 80s. I also likes alternative, some rap, and a bit of pop. Listening to metal is my therapy. If I feel stressed or anxious, any negative feeling, heavy metal sucks it all…

[amandaroos]

Almost-full moon reflection December 2024

[schuylerpeck]

2025

REMAIN BRAVE.

skate flat stones across the river.

make my home a sanctuary, a shelter, a welcome resting place.

learn the first names and favorite foods of neighbors.

keep the windows open as long as warmth allows.

ask myself: will it make a good memory?

earlier mornings, longer walks.

remember I am not without my own seasons.

write recipes on paper. print photos out for framing. seek the tangible, the homemade.

speak out about harm when I see it done. leave room for learning, but never complacency.

one long summer drive to myself. an overnight somewhere new if possible.

let the candles burn through winter.

joy is not made to be a crumb, but a feast. arrive fork and knife in hand.

BE HOPEFUL, BUT ALSO IN ACTION.

[bebx]

[isharaneith]

Update for 2025

December 2023

Like, reblog or comment if you save, please

No calendar versions under the cut

[linolinoing]

HOLIDAY SEASON WITH SKZ ▸ 1/❆ ↳ Hyunjin for Versace Holiday

[quinloki]

FuckNoWriMo

Here's my official Writing Challenge Post for anyone who wants to play along.

FuckNoWriMo will be held December 2024 for this year only, and will be held in March from 2025 on. Due to the terminology being used, this is probably an 18+ event, but I swore like a sailor at 12, and it's not like I can stop you from participating.

How to Participate:

Decide you want to write during the month of the event.

Write.

Bonus!

3. Post and share that you're writing, and what you're writing if you want \o/ 4. Tag your posts with #fnowrimo or #fucknowrimo

Want more structure? Certainly, allow me.

Pick one of the categories to run with and set that as your goal for the month:

A Word, if I May?: Write at least 31 words for the month.

Get That Shit Outlined: Write at least 1,000 words for the month. (33 words a day)

Give it the Gusto!: Write at least 5,000 words for the month. (162 words a day)

Hell Yeah, Write!: Write at least 10,000 words for the month. (323 words a day)

Words At Work: Write at least 20,000 words for the month. (646 words a day)

Punctuated: Write at least 35,000 words for the month. (1,130 words a day.)

Fuck It: Write at least 50,000 words for the month. (1,613 words a day)

Crazy 88 (it's a Kill Bill reference): Write at least 100,000 words for the month. (3,225 words a day)

Please note you may write anything:

An outline, several outlines, rough draft(s), poetry, journaling, lyrics, role-play with your friends, a campaign idea for a table top game, the script for a movie, show, visual novel, etc., notes to defend your dissertation, recipes, to-do lists - you get the point.

If you want to breakdown the granular concepts of an old historic text on index cards for shits and giggles, that counts too!

The event is less about the quality of the end result, and more about creating a habit to write daily. If you don't want to spend a lot of time fixing and editing a harried rough draft, then don't worry about the word count at all.

0 is a valid word count for the day. So is 1, or 10, or 100 or all those little numbers we often get discouraged seeing.

But set aside some time during the month, and write some fucking words, hell, write some words fucking. A real alphabet orgy. Be silly, weird, cringe, strange, gross, problematic, thematic - whatever \o/

Just write it yourself. I don't care if you dictate it, use the hunt and peck method, a pen, pencil, quill, or chisel.

But for the love of all that's holy -

No Generative AI

That's the only rule.

[assassin1513]

⚜️💚⚜️Green Stars⚜️💚⚜️

[sweetdeedra]

mine and my babies house

[shadowboxerinc]

Wknd Update: Coachella 2025

12.28.24 Afternoon everyone! It’s the last weekend of 2024. We are inching closer to the new year, and we still have a bit more things to cover. Like Coachella 2025. If you noticed on the blog site, there is an image of Lady Gaga, Post Malone on the right-hand side, you can click on that image, and it will take you to the Coachella site. Today we are going to post a bit more information about…