intertextu[allie]ties | issue 6

what I read, watched, and listened to in december 2024 (plus an excerpt from a new project!)

hello, dear reader.

Already the sixth issue of this humble little newsletter! 🥹 Since my heart is extra sentimental at the end of another calendar year, I wanted to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to you, my cherished subscribers. Thank you for taking the time every month to open the intertextu[allie]ties email in your inbox and read what I’ve written. It means everything to me to share my words with you.

Although classically associated with the month of January, the Roman god Janus always reminds me more of December. The god with two faces, Janus looks both backward and forward, and is known as the Roman deity of endings, beginnings, and transitions. He represents the meeting of opposites, the bittersweet middle point between yesterday and tomorrow. I often spend much of December reflecting on the year past while gazing ahead at the one to come, holding space for the old while embracing the ✨sparkle✨ of the new.

So, as we stand here on the bridge between 2024 and 2025, I wish you all peace of heart and mind as you think back on the last twelve months and prepare to start afresh. If you’re looking for something to read, watch, or listen to during this transitional time, read on for my December recommendations!

✍️ Allie

Some of the books, movies, and music that kept me company this month!

All reviews are out of five stars.  

This month, I read 2 books:

1. The Wedding People by Alison Espach | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | As luck would have it, my favourite book of 2024 found me just before the end of the year. It’s been a while since a story has moved me this much and I find myself thinking about it almost every day since I turned the last page. The Wedding People opens with Phoebe checking into the historic Cornwall Inn, a long-time dream destination for her. She arrives wearing a beautiful gown and without a suitcase: here for one last night on Earth before ending it all. To her surprise, Phoebe is the only guest at the Cornwall who is not here for a week of wedding celebrations. Soon, her plans are derailed as she forms an unexpected connection with the bride. What ensues is a poignant celebration of life, a darkly funny reflection on the absurdity of existence, and a powerful reminder of the small yet meaningful ways we can touch each other’s lives. (Content warnings: Suicidal ideation, depression, infertility, and death of a partner.)
   

2. Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London |⭐️⭐️| This one had a promising premise, but the execution turned out to be a disappointment. After a traumatic incident that leads to the abandonment of her PhD dreams, Tess Rosenbloom seeks refuge in her favourite books: the popular Blood Feud series. She loves all the familiar beats in this epic saga of lovelorn and power-hungry vampires – so much so that she wishes she could live in its universe. Tess is shocked to discover that she does when an actual vampire from the Blood Feud books comes knocking on her door for help. What should have been a fun exploration of the idea “What if your favourite fictional characters were real?” never manifested into anything more than a listless collection of tropes with lacklustre world building and little chemistry between the romantic pairings. (Content warning: Sexual assault.)

All reviews are out of five stars. Rewatches are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Movie-watching is a core part of the holiday season for me. As such, I watched 15 movies this month:

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)* | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

2. Nosferatu (2024) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

3. Decision to Leave (2022) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

4. Die Hard (1988)* | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

5. Beatles ‘64 (2024) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

6. Gremlins (1984)* | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

7. Maria (2024) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

8. Hot Frosty (2024) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

9. A Complete Unknown (2024) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

10. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

11. A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter (2024) | ⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

12. Carry-On (2024) | ⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

13. Rent (2005)* | ⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

14. The Invisible Raptor (2023) | ⭐️⭐️.5 | Full review.

15. Die Another Day (2002) | ⭐️⭐️ | Full review.

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I also had the opportunity to finish three seasons of television this month! The eighth season of the ever-delightful Great Canadian Baking Show (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) was like a hug from an old friend, every episode sugar sweet and unfailingly kind-hearted. The seventh season of Love is Blind (⭐️⭐️), unfortunately, was a disappointment. You know things are dire when a show with such a gonzo premise commits the sin of being boring. The next season will really have to bring the drama if my husband and I are to keep watching! The third season of Industry (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5) on the other hand was riveting television. The writer’s room was clearly unafraid to blow things up in its junior season, allowing its central characters to make increasingly unhinged decisions that had us glued to the screen.

December brings with it one of my favourite mini holidays: Spotify Wrapped! This year, I learned that I spent 43,802 minutes listening to music – with 1,825 of those dedicated to the one and only Beyoncé, my top artist of 2024. 🥇

I always love getting my curated “Top 100 Songs of the Year” playlist and am pleased to share it with you here:

I may be biased… but this playlist is pretty great, if I do say so myself. 😎

This month, I continued to chip away at my novel-in-progress, but I also collaborated with my husband on a children’s book manuscript centred around a sassy seagull named Gertie.

We were inspired by a seagull who made her nest in a flower planter near the condo building we lived in a few years ago. She had a big attitude, pitching a fit whenever anyone walked too close to her, and her iron-winged rule over this planter absolutely delighted us. We started calling her Gertie the Gull and were recently reminiscing about her when we had the idea that she would make for a great children’s book character.

So, without further ado, here is the opening excerpt from Gertie the Gull Needs a Nest (working title):

Gertie is a seagull, or “gull” for short. She loves to fly and yell, “SQUAAAWK!”

Her wings are trim and white with black feathers at the tips.

Gertie’s favourite meals are the food humans drop on the ground.

(But, if she had to pick a favourite, it would be fries.)

The real-life Gertie.

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Here’s to a bright and beautiful 2025! May this new year bring you an abundance of love, happy surprises, and time to devote to the things that make you feel most like you. Any special events or occasions you’re looking forward to in 2025? 🎉 Please share in the comments!

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comfort and joy.