Pleasures of 2025
by Kristin King
When I write a story, where does it come from? Not my conscious mind, certainly. It comes from the vast reserve of all the art in the world, metamorphosing as it meets my mind. Something flows through me and emerges transformed. My favorite metaphor is the “sea of stories,” from Salaman Rushdie’s book Haroun and the Sea of Stories. In my understanding of our world, there is an otherworld, a land of dreams, the wellspring of art and music and story and soul. When art occurs, it opens up a portal, pulls back a curtain, and gives us a glimpse of magic. We add the final touches when we perceive it, in a wondrous Aha! moment. Even in the worst of times, it is there for us.
And yes, these are terrible times. But they are not the terrible Orwellian times of “a boot stamping on a human face—forever.” Art always brings curiosity, change, wisdom. The books, shows and movies I mention here do connect me to the wellspring of soul. They have been medicine for me in this time.
*
Take a minute and think back to childhood, to the stories and books that shaped your understanding of the world. For many children, the picture book Iván Y Van, by author Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs and illustrator Veronica Eldredge, will be that book. Iván lives in the small town of Hueyapan, Mexico and goes on a grand adventure to the United States. This book brings joy and wonder to the “there and back” story and is a powerful antidote to the colonial travel narrative. Reading it and looking at the illustrations brings me hope. Do you know any kids? Elementary school librarians? Grab a copy and send it to them.
https://www.chatwinbooks.com/shop/p/ivan-y-van
*
I have been playing the music video “No Kings 2.0” by @scaredketchup over and over, belting out the chorus and wishing I knew the verses too. This rousing battle hymn is set to images from the protests. It helps me feel connected to the millions of people who have been cussing out this regime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3o6oKxQHI
*
When family came to town this summer, I hopped on a tour bus that was covered, inside and out, with the fantastical characters of muralist Ryan Henry Ward. The guide took us around to see his murals, most of which are painted on peoples’ houses and fences. It brings me comfort to think of Seattle as being protected by the wise, otherworldly, whimsical beings populating the urban landscape of Seattle.
*
I would love to live in the world of Day and Night Books of Mardou Fox by Nisi Shawl. Mardou Fox is a fictional representation of the Beat Generation poet Alene Lee, and her story is told through the journal entries of her as a young girl just starting to write, along with the entries of her adult self, an artist coming into her own. Dreams link her selves through time, help her know herself, and connect her to her sister.
https://rosariumpublishing.com/novels/novels/the-day-and-night-books-of-mardou-fox.html
*
Her Right Foot by author Dave Eggers and illustrator Shawn Harris caught my eye in the library and was a fast but eye-opening read. I’ve stared at the Statue of Liberty thousands of times but missed the most important detail – not the flame or the book or the broken chains, but something else. This book takes the reader by the hand and asks what the right foot of the Statue of Liberty is doing.
https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/her-right-foot
*
I’ve enjoyed comedian Rowan Atkinson for a long time, first in his role as the unscrupulous Blackadder and then his mishap-prone, neurodivergent Mr. Bean. In the miniseries Man vs Baby, he plays a character like Mr. Bean in some ways--poor decisions and inept task management leading to fine slapstick--but with one big change. He’s actually competent with cooking, cleaning, and the care and feeding of babies. It’s a predictable but fun story: Hapless man gets stuck with a baby who was left in a nativity and must keep him under wraps while house-sitting for an obscenely rich client.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35047134/
*
The Woman Dies by Aoko Matsuda is a series of 52 short stories and flash fictions, each one a new surprise. A dying woman reflects: “I wish I’d had the opportunity to deconstruct the vagina, at least once.” A national anthem develops a crush on the only person who refuses to sing it. This is feminism with hardcore whimsy, with many befuddling moments where she tears aside the fabric of reality to reveal the weird underneath.
https://www.europaeditions.com/book/9798889661344/the-woman-dies
*
The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor read very differently to me in 2025 than it would have in a previous year, because I’ve never before been so furious at the real-world equivalent of the novel’s “Big Eye” men. We are told from the beginning that Phoenix Okore is the “villain” of the story, and yet, I refuse to believe it. I cheered her on the whole way through.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316942/the-book-of-phoenix-by-nnedi-okorafor/
*
I am just starting out with the novel-in-stories Why Stars Burn by Kathleen Alcalá. I love the way she marries the ordinary and the fantastic, seamlessly, the one leading inevitably to the other. I’m already engaged in the story of Sirena Diamond.
https://rosariumpublishing.com/novels/novels/why-stars-burn.html
*
I’m mesmerized by singer, songwriter, word-master, and comedian Elle Cordova, who produced the “fonts hanging out” videos. This year she came out with more Grammarian vs Errorist superhero showdown short videos. I must admit, I’m rooting for the Errorist.
https://www.youtube.com/@ElleCordova
No comments:
Post a Comment