First, thank you, Chris, for making me think about this.
Second, while items 3 through 5 are personal, they are indeed things I loved in 2023. And, I think some may resonate with other “So What” subscribers.
1. Following Chris’ on LinkedIn IMMEDIATELY after he announced his layoff from CNN, and then, through his posts on that platform, delighting in finding “So What.” I’m a devoted fan, Chris!
2. “Magpie Murders” on PBS. Great acting, and kept you guessing right up to the last episode.
3. Two hip replacements that have literally allowed me to go from essentially crippled to dancing.
4. Being declared cancer-free following a full-torso PET scan.
5. The ability to adopt two cats that belonged to my friend of 67 years who passed away in August.
This Old House forever! It’s not always easy to find on PBS (like on WETA) because of fundraising campaigns but it’s worth hunting for or paying the $60 or so to watch it on PBS Passport. It’s the best of TV and the OG of home shows.
My faves: 2023 Baltimore Orioles (best record in AL); Ronen Bergman's "Rise and Kill First" (really helps explain Israel-Hamas war); "The Bear" (terrific series)
My favorite discovery this year was "The Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries" by James Benn, recommended to me by one of my subscribers over at That's Another Fine Mess. it's a mystery series - 19 novels so far with #20 in production as I write this for release next September. I liked the series so well I got to know and become friends with the author, who is using something he found reading my book "Clean Sweep" as the MacGuffin of #20 (and he won't tell me what it is!).
Billy Boyle is a junior Boston PD detective, whose family used a remote relationship connection with Mamie Doud Eisenhower to get him on Eisenhower's staff in Washington after Pearl Harbor, when Ike was Director of Plans at the Pentagon, with the expectation he would stay there for the duration. Of course, the boss got picked to go to Europe and put his plan into action, and Billy came along. Ike likes having a relative who is a detective and makes him the Officer in Charge of Special Investigations at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) where his charge is to investigate "low crimes in high places" that cannot go to court because they would threaten the fragile Allied alliance if they did. That gives the series one thing that sets it apart from others: the locations change every story, literally around the world. Billy is exactly the kind of know-it-all "Mick" it's impossible to dislike.
The "supporting cast" is also excellent: "Dr Watson" to Billy's "Sherlock Holmes" is Lieutenant Baron Piotr Kazmierz (known to all as "Kaz") of the Polish Army in England, a bookish intellectual who can turn deadly if you're stupid enough to cross him. The love interest is Lady Diana Seaton, exactly the kind of "English Lord" Billy's IRA-supporting family back in Southie wouldn't like; she's a SOE (Special Operations Executive) spy. And Billy engages in a lot of interaction with skillfully-drawn historically-accurate Real People of the Time, which makes it interesting.
Each of the books is a different genre of mystery. In one, Billy engages with Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie), and we discover we're in a Poirot novel, complete with the denouement of the detective solving the case in the drawing room in front of all the suspects.
For me, as an actual World War II historian, I particularly love that the history is dead-on accurate and uses many little-known events as the cause of action. For me as a mystery fan, I love the fact I have not figured one of them out yet, but when The Moment Comes I say "Of course!" because it was so well set-up. And for me as a screenwriter, I love that the novels are each like a really good Warner Brothers World War II movie.
It helps if you read them in order, since later books reference people and events from previous books.
Thank you for sharing your list, Chris. I totally agree with several, Inspector Gamache especially!
I think of 'year-end' lists as gratitude lists. They remind me of all that is good in the world, and all that I'm grateful to have experienced. Tops on my list this year is my new baby grandson. Sweetness and light. Other wonderful experiences this year were visiting the coast of Maine, watching a red fox have a snack in my back yard, connecting with good folks during my walks around the neighborhood. Life is good.
First, thank you, Chris, for making me think about this.
Second, while items 3 through 5 are personal, they are indeed things I loved in 2023. And, I think some may resonate with other “So What” subscribers.
1. Following Chris’ on LinkedIn IMMEDIATELY after he announced his layoff from CNN, and then, through his posts on that platform, delighting in finding “So What.” I’m a devoted fan, Chris!
2. “Magpie Murders” on PBS. Great acting, and kept you guessing right up to the last episode.
3. Two hip replacements that have literally allowed me to go from essentially crippled to dancing.
4. Being declared cancer-free following a full-torso PET scan.
5. The ability to adopt two cats that belonged to my friend of 67 years who passed away in August.
Paraphrasing Ben Franklin, NFL RedZone is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
U2 at Sphere
I went and saw them a few weeks ago. Incredible.
I'm a big JVL fan myself. I loved The Bear Season 2 (Jamie Lee Curtis should win an Emmy!) and anything by Michael Beschloss is worth reading.
I am surprised to not see “So What” by Chris Cillizza on your list - it certainly is on mine!
I have also enjoyed the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling), with the latest installment, “The Running Grave”
Civil Discourse, Substack by Joyce Vance
Happy List Season ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Add:The World Series between Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
This Old House forever! It’s not always easy to find on PBS (like on WETA) because of fundraising campaigns but it’s worth hunting for or paying the $60 or so to watch it on PBS Passport. It’s the best of TV and the OG of home shows.
1. I second The Bulwark. Must read/watch stuff in this day and age.
2. "Succession"
3. Road trips, especially when visiting battlefields.
I love lamp
Things I especially loved this year:
1 Every morning I wake up next to Diane. 40 years ago we agreed we wanted to grow old together.
We have. I am grateful every day!
2 I get to listen daily to the music of the people I consider the greatest jazz musicians in the world,
past and present. I have a huge CD collection and can hear what I want, when I want it. And I
fly to Los Angeles for LA Jazz Institute events where I spend several days hearing the best of the
west in person. I love the music!
3 I get to worship in the church of my choice every week and to serve on the church council and
multiple committees. It gives lie to those who claim our freedom to worship is being taken
away. That isn't happening in metro Madison, Wisconsin! I love being in church!
4 I get to be alive. I've had two life-saving emergency surgeries 45 years apart. Different issues,
both very, very serious and highly skilled physicians were able to diagnose and do the surgery.
I love being alive!
5 I love being in Palm Springs, CA every January.
6 I love being a prime example (actually, we all are) that our freedoms remain. I love realizing that I
really do have everything I need and, indeed, everything I want. I have spent 2023 mostly with
wonderful people who do very good things on behalf of people who are less fortunate. The
older I become the more I recognize how blessed I have been. I loved that fact in 2023!
Great starting points for me- thanks!
My faves: 2023 Baltimore Orioles (best record in AL); Ronen Bergman's "Rise and Kill First" (really helps explain Israel-Hamas war); "The Bear" (terrific series)
My favorite discovery this year was "The Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries" by James Benn, recommended to me by one of my subscribers over at That's Another Fine Mess. it's a mystery series - 19 novels so far with #20 in production as I write this for release next September. I liked the series so well I got to know and become friends with the author, who is using something he found reading my book "Clean Sweep" as the MacGuffin of #20 (and he won't tell me what it is!).
Billy Boyle is a junior Boston PD detective, whose family used a remote relationship connection with Mamie Doud Eisenhower to get him on Eisenhower's staff in Washington after Pearl Harbor, when Ike was Director of Plans at the Pentagon, with the expectation he would stay there for the duration. Of course, the boss got picked to go to Europe and put his plan into action, and Billy came along. Ike likes having a relative who is a detective and makes him the Officer in Charge of Special Investigations at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) where his charge is to investigate "low crimes in high places" that cannot go to court because they would threaten the fragile Allied alliance if they did. That gives the series one thing that sets it apart from others: the locations change every story, literally around the world. Billy is exactly the kind of know-it-all "Mick" it's impossible to dislike.
The "supporting cast" is also excellent: "Dr Watson" to Billy's "Sherlock Holmes" is Lieutenant Baron Piotr Kazmierz (known to all as "Kaz") of the Polish Army in England, a bookish intellectual who can turn deadly if you're stupid enough to cross him. The love interest is Lady Diana Seaton, exactly the kind of "English Lord" Billy's IRA-supporting family back in Southie wouldn't like; she's a SOE (Special Operations Executive) spy. And Billy engages in a lot of interaction with skillfully-drawn historically-accurate Real People of the Time, which makes it interesting.
Each of the books is a different genre of mystery. In one, Billy engages with Lady Mallowan (Agatha Christie), and we discover we're in a Poirot novel, complete with the denouement of the detective solving the case in the drawing room in front of all the suspects.
For me, as an actual World War II historian, I particularly love that the history is dead-on accurate and uses many little-known events as the cause of action. For me as a mystery fan, I love the fact I have not figured one of them out yet, but when The Moment Comes I say "Of course!" because it was so well set-up. And for me as a screenwriter, I love that the novels are each like a really good Warner Brothers World War II movie.
It helps if you read them in order, since later books reference people and events from previous books.
Thank you for sharing your list, Chris. I totally agree with several, Inspector Gamache especially!
I think of 'year-end' lists as gratitude lists. They remind me of all that is good in the world, and all that I'm grateful to have experienced. Tops on my list this year is my new baby grandson. Sweetness and light. Other wonderful experiences this year were visiting the coast of Maine, watching a red fox have a snack in my back yard, connecting with good folks during my walks around the neighborhood. Life is good.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2023/12/19/five-truths-about-parenting/
The one which resonated with me was teaching children kindness. I did this with my grandsons and they responded with proud!!!
I'm so glad that you read Louise Penny's books! They are so wonderful!
Here's my list
Tired of Winning by Jonathan Karl
Star Trek Strange New Worlds
Season One was very good, but I thought Season Two was some of the best Star Trek I've ever seen (and I've seen it all😄)!
Watergate by Garrett Graff
The Cincinnati Bengals
Heather Cox Richardson
The So What community
Following Lisa Rubin @lawofruby and Jack Smith @7veritas4 on X