Before I start this, I’m hearing from a few people that their comments are being posted as “anonymous” instead of under their names so could you check and see if everything works for you? WordPress is weird sometimes and I don’t know if it was just a glitch last week that’s been fixed.
Secondly…welcome to December! I’m currently into day 4 of a depression and not enjoying it at all but reminding myself that the dark months can bring some dark moods and that this will not last. If you are in this same spot I’m sending you love. Keep breathing and remember that depression lies.
Third…this recommendation from Charlie’s Queer Books is so far my favorite of the season, and as a chaotic bisexual myself, I support this message:
Fourth, want to see what we’re reading for our book clubs this month?
If you’re in the Fantastic Strangelings Bookclub we’re reading The Wildest Sun by Asha Lemmie. (You might know Asha as the author of Fifty Words for Rain, which was amazing.)
This sweeping and evocative novel follows a young woman escaping her past in postwar Paris as she searches for Ernest Hemingway, the larger-than-life man she believes to be her father.
It’s an unexpected and transporting story about coming into adulthood—from escaping our pasts, to the stories we tell ourselves, to the ambition that drives us – as we seek to find out who we are. Loved it.
Seen here with Ferris Mewler, who fittingly, is a Hemingway cat. (Do you know about Hemingway cats? Basically Hemingway loved a bunch of cats with extra toes and after he died his house in Florida became a museum and home for his cats. It currently houses 50 descendants of his cats and the majority have thumbs like Ferris and I can only assume they constantly turn on all the faucets and wreak havoc as well.)
And if you’re in the Nightmares from Nowhere book club we’re reading Where the Dead Wait by Ally Wilkes, an eerie, atmospheric Polar Gothic following a Victorian explorer in search of his lost shipmate and his own redemption. Also, cannibalism. Obvs.
Seen here without any pets because I read the advanced copy online. (Dear horror publishers: SEND MORE ARCS.)
Fifth, if you want a last minute, easy Hanukkah/Christmas gift try a subscription to one of our book clubs? You can buy a subscription here and we can give you a little certificate you can print out to hide under the tree telling them all about what they’ll be getting in the mail. It’s the gift that lasts the year! (Unless you want to do it for less than a year, which is totally fine.)
We have Fantastic Strangelings (where I pick a new hardcover book each month that is strange and delicious and something you might not find any other way. You can see our past picks here.)
We have Nightmares from Nowhere (where we send you a new horror book each month and MY GOD this is the time to read if you’re a horror freak because the horror genre is on fire right now.)
We have The Happy Endings Book Club (where we send you a new paperback romance in a club that celebrates love in all its forms.)
The Little Bitty Book Club (where we send your favorite little one a brand new hardcover picture book each month.)
*****
Need more than one book to get you through the month? I haven’t read as many as normal (sorry) because my depression has gotten on top of me a little, but two new December books I really liked were:
The Lost Tomb: And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder by Douglas Preston – A fascinating collection of true stories of Egyptian burial chambers, prehistoric ruins, pirate treasure, bizarre crimes and more. So good.
Dazzling by Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ – Magical realism and Nigerian mythology combine in this strange and surreal debut novel. Weird as hell, but in a good way.
I’m not on insta but sending hugs and light for the dark. Love you!! (Been there!)
I’m reading only books, and language learning type stuff. But I need a break from it. 💙🌱🤘
Well, most of the time I can’t post at all. I try over and over and nothing ever shows up. If this one appears I will be amazed, but I have been trying for months to post comments and they never show up. This is depressing.
(IT WORKED! But it showed up anonymous. Will it let you add a name? ~ Jenny)
You would really like Stephen Graham Jones. He writes Native American horror and they are amazing.
(I LOVE him. My Heart is a Chainsaw is a fave of mine. ~ Jenny)
when I am down/depressed/anxious new books feel like too much so I end up re-reading my comfort books over and over… definitely no horror for me, that is nightmare-inducing! adventure + humor + light romance + fantasy/sci-fi + mysteries are all good and if they are part of a nice long series, even better 🙂
Question- Fo you have a 2024 Bloggess calendar for sale? I’ve been in and out of the hospital and missed the announcement, if there was one.
(I do! Sorry…I think I forgot to mention it. It’s here and it’s based on the drawings I’ve done this year: https://www.zazzle.com/jenny_lawson_art_calendar-256458671551252769
I also made an astrology one with my quotes: https://www.zazzle.com/2024_jenny_lawson_zodiac_quote_calendar-256316761607931509
~ Jenny)
I have been in the darkness too for the last week. Not sure what brings this on, but I am hanging on so far.
Fun fact, December 21st is the shortest and darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, so after that the days will be getting longer and we will have more daylight. So take heart my fellow seasonal affective disorder sufferers, only a few more weeks to go before things start to improve for the number of minutes of daylight we get.
It’s always darkest before the dawn, and then we have glorious sunrise to look forward to!
(I needed to read this. ~ Jenny)
I’ve been really depressed too, and it SUCKS, so I understand what you’re going through. The darkness can seem pretty overwhelming at times, so thank you for the reminder that depression lies. I just try to remember that I’ve been here before many times, and it always gets better.
Sending you and everyone else who’s depressed here love and Light, which will return to all of us.
I just tried to post and it didn’t show up, so I’m trying again.
I’ve been really depressed lately too, and the darkness can be really overwhelming, so thank you for reminding me that depression lies. I just try to remember that I have been here many times before, and things always get better.
Sending you and everybody else who is depressed here love and Light, which will return to all of us.
For the third time in 2023, I am getting a new therapist. I can’t handle this. My anxiety is off the charts because my brothers are visiting over the holidays and I’m not used to cooking. It may be a blessing in disguise, however, because the second therapist was a real b*tch. She had a PhD and insisted I call her Dr. Lastname. She talked too much (because she was so highly intelligent, you know), and I had to interrupt her to have my say. So anyway, I had no idea you are a “chaotic bisexual,” Jenny. Thanks for opening up about this. Are your pronouns her/she?
(They are. 🙂 And I’m sending you love and permission to not cook at all. Get sandwich stuff and make a competition to see who can make the best sandwich each night. For real. ~ Jenny)
What a handsome boy Ferris Mewler is. LOVE his eyes! Happy Holidays to you all.
I don’t know how to reply to individual comments, but to Heather Feather, my mom and I call December 21st “Woot Woot Day”. As in “Woot Woot, the Darkness is receding!!”
So happy upcoming Woot Woot to all 😊
When I feel myself starting to sink, I listen to your books. Maybe this is why although I always thought I was more of a neutral bisexual.
These sound amazing!
Also, testing to see if I post as me or anonymous.
Hi! I’m not anonymous. I’m Janet Coburn.
I try to get outside to get some sunshine, even if it’s just a little to try and stave off the darkness blues. My daughter got her meds upped to manage the darkness and it helped. I’m afraid my TMS therapy isn’t helping but maybe it’s just that time of year.
My post didn’t go through, but I’m trying again.
I used to be able to comment on here but after losing access to my old Gmail address after having to change phone numbers several times, I’ve gotten disconnected from this little community and it made me so sad and depressed. I used to be a book club member too but now I’m divorced, flat broke, and in between jobs so… happy holidays all 💙❤️💚🩷💖
I used to be able to comment on here but after losing access to my old Gmail address after having to change phone numbers several times, I’ve gotten disconnected from this little community and it made me so sad and depressed. I used to be a book club member too but now I’m divorced, flat broke, and in between jobs so… happy holidays all 💙❤️💚🩷💖
Hi Jenny,
Is there a way to delete a duplicate comment? My comment posted a second time as Anonymous.
It’s broke92210. Thank you.
xoxo
Hi Jenny,
Is there a way to delete a duplicate comment? My comment posted a second time as Anonymous.
It’s broke92210. Thank you.
xoxo
I’ve only been allowed to post as anonymous for a couple months now, you mean it’s not just me?
I didn’t even realize I was in a depression until I realized that everything from Halloween to December 1 was a crazy blur, even Thanksgiving. But girl, yes… if one does not bathe for so long that one cannot actually remember when exactly was the last time one bathed? Yeah, that’s a depression. Ick.
Today is officially 25 years that my Vulcan and I have been together, so that’s cool. 25 years ago tonight, my Pushy Power-Bottom ass showed up on his Stoic-Top/Dom doorstep and said “So… where’s all this leather gear you’re supposed to have? I think it’s bullshit.” Children, it was NOT. So I says to him I says, “Well, I’m a pervy nerd, you’re a pervy nerd… let’s pervy nerd together, see how it goes?” He agreed that it was only logical, and he hasn’t been able to get rid of me since.
Your Pal,
Storm the Klingon
The holiday season & increasing hours of darkness always ramp up my depression too. And I just had to go to a wake last night for a former kindergarten student (now 27 with an 8 year old daughter) who overdosed after years of using illegal drugs/alcohol to numb his mental pain & demons. It was heartbreaking. Jenny, you WILL get through this! You’ve never let it beat you before & you continue to be such a source of light & love to so many of us who battle mental issues. Take the time to take care of you & please don’t feel pressured to post for us. Your tribe is here no matter what & we aren’t going anywhere! You are loved!
PS… options to reply have changed. Used to have boxes for us to put info. Now it’s just icons & not all work. Maybe that’s why the anonymous posts?
I was previous poster. It showed my name & email when I logged into WordPress but didn’t post it. Very weird!
I’m not anonymous…I am Sharon Pierce & I struggle with MDD & anxiety!
What a great way to increase engagement and getting people to comment by having a broken issue you need to test 😀
Have you considered working in marketing? Oh I’m sorry, you have a soul? Never mind then 😉
It seems I’m not anonymous, yet my profile pic very much is. Swings and roundabouts, eh?…
Same as post #24, it’s been posting me as ANONYMOUS for a couple months…used to give an option to add name or email or website, but not now. BUT…I see an option as I am typing now that says “Leave a reply (log in optional) and it has a button for WordPress, FB, and email(?). Alternately, there is a regular “reply” button on the bottom and that one will make me ANONYMOUS.
About to click on the WordPress icon and see if it lets me put my name in…here we go… Ok, that took me a place where I have to have a log-in, so that’s no good. BUT, I tried the “email” button next and THAT took me to the old option of leaving my name! YAY!!!
I recently read a book that would fit right into your Nightmares from Nowhere genre: Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig. Creepy as hell.
Just ordered calendars. I think I need at shirt that says ‘chaotic bisexual’ though.
Bless you, Jenny, for letting the demons out of the closet….. For me the depression. When I went to Behavioral Health at 56 with a Suicide attempt (my first was when i was 14, after my stepfather molested me) my now ex was very unhelpful. I knew then and there that my marriage was over. But I needed his insurance to pay for behaviour health, psychiatry, and counseling sessions. I was gifted with your name and have been your faithful reader ever since. I am able to keep my depression in check with daily medicine. But your phrase “DEPRESSION LIES” & the paper bracelet you gave out then have helped me immensely. I own all your books on audible and listen to them yearly. I am now happier than I have ever been. I divorced my ex (and took my half of the $$$) in 2013, two months shy of our 33rd anniversary. You CAN get over obstacles at any age. You showed me how to not give up, and how to laugh again! Love You💖💖💖💖
Little darlin’, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darlin’, it seems like years since it’s been clear
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s alright
https://youtu.be/7lxHJDONwhQ?si=380kuU6Hek5g619G
I’m so sorry that depression is your unwelcome visitor for the holidays Jenny. Same here, along with the ever unhelpful agent of chaos-anxiety.
I have surgery coming up on December 21st and my anxiety about the procedure in general (and the prep for that), the holidays, and trying to avoid illness like a ghost dodging pac-man is overwhelming.
You should know though, that your words have helped me so much. One of your last posts brilliantly pointed out how we can be our own safe spaces within ourselves. It reminded me that I have the right to say no and assert healthy boundaries as well as also protect myself mentally, emotionally, and physically. Thank you for that.
I hope that the darkness recedes for you very soon, and I wish you and everyone here a peaceful and healthy holiday season.
That instagram reel tho? I’ve never felt more seen as a chaotic bisexual.
That audiobook stays on repeat for “dreary days” or when I just can’t decide what to listen to in the car, so thanks for that.
We had a gorgeous Hemingway style kitten once, who could literally climb the walls. He had SIX toes on each foot. Now for you non-cat people out there to fully appreciate that you need to know that cats normally have five front toes and four back toes for a total of only 18. Flash had 24!
Hi, I just finished this book and you’ve probably heard of it or read it already but I just can’t stop thinking of you every time I see it so here goes. The New And Improved Romie Dutch by Julia Elliott is a contemporary sci-fi-ish story set in the South told with dark humor and lots of cuss words where taxidermy has a much more prominent role than I’ve ever experienced with a book. If you do try it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
#37 is mine, I didn’t mean to be anonymous but the login was confusing. I’m Doranna.
checking for anonymity – looks like I can do the name thing!
(Yay! ~Jenny)
In my blog, I talk about the story of Raya and Sakina, the two most famous serial killers in Egypt. In my blog, I discuss different aspects of the sisters’ story, from their personal lives to their crimes and the method of their arrest. Through my blog, I seek to shed light on this important historical issue and provide accurate and comprehensive information about it.
Khalid elarbi
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RayaaandSkina
مسلسل ريا وسكينة
I’m reading only books, and internet marketing type stuff. But I need a break from it.
khalidelarbi
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Online Marketing Analysis
business for sale
This is such a thoughtful and informative post. I’m really sorry to hear that you’re struggling with depression, but it’s inspiring to see how you’re staying positive and using your creativity to cope. I love the book club recommendations and I’ll definitely be checking out The Lost Tomb and Dazzling. Thanks for sharing!
khalidelarbi
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