I will be turning 40.
My mum asked me how I felt about that. About the 4-0. I'm absolutely a-ok with it. As I said to her, there is nothing in my youth that makes me regret that it has passed, or makes me feel that getting older is such a bad thing. My life has improved with age. In fact, I'm rather glad of the distancing of youth and all if its woes, insecurities, uncertainties and general shittiness.
I shake my head when people say that being young is the best time of your life. It's not. Not for all of us. Not by a long shot. For some of us, growing older is salvation. For some of us it's not until we are well into adulthood that life really begins and actually becomes enjoyable.
So I'll be glad to be 40. I don't mind the wrinkles. I'm glad to be a grown lady, wearing tiaras on a Sunday, building fairy things in my garden, finding magic and shaping my world into something worthwhile and good.
ANYWAY, I've decided my gift to myself is a challenge for the coming year. I used to read daily and I miss it. I thought that I'd set myself a list of books that every person probably aught to read that I have not. I'm a pretty slow reader (I like to savour every word) so I think a goal of 20 books over the next year would be reasonable. I also thought while I was as it, I might make a list of 20 films that I've shamefully never seen that are considered essential viewing (I've never seen any of the Godfather movies!).
I'll check in once a week or so to let you how it's going, what I'm reading, what I watched.
I'm open to suggestions so please don't be shy about suggesting something that you feel I absolutely MUST read or see. What are some of your favourite books and films of all time that I should be certain to include?
pretty tiara and happy birthday to come
ReplyDeleteauthors of novels? to laugh, Terry Pratchett "the Discworld" or Donald Westlake (series Dormunter), more serious books by Umberto Eco
good read
I couldn't agree more about aging and how much better life gets as you get older. I wouldn't go back for a second, and I'm 50 this year! You look fabulous and you're an amazing talent. How can life not be amazing? Happy soon birthday!
ReplyDeleteYou always talk about these "wrinkles" of yours, but they seem to be very good at hiding. ;) Happy upcoming Birthday! I'm with you on being older being grand, I'm a hell of a lot less insecure and don't give much of a toss anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for reading, I want to jump up and down and yell "read Discworld!!!" but there are more than 20 books in the series. ;) So I'll go with some of my favorites. Not sure they fall under the "everyone should read these" category, but I love 'em!
"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
"Fool" by Christopher Moore
"Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
"The Abhorsen Trilogy" by Garth Nix
"A Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
I actually found 40 hard. Maybe it was the realisation that I had to finally think of myself as an adult. There was a lot of introspection and I changed gears to really focus on my life goals. So not a bad thing, but as with any change it wasn't always fun. But 42? Forty-two is a hell of a lot of fun. It's the year of the nerd (and the meaning of life) and I am having the best time ever. And yes, I do have my towel with me. ha ha ha. Happy pre-birthday!
ReplyDeleteAnd for movies, again, these probably aren't the "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THESE" types, but whatevs. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Matador
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Death to Smoochie
And a whole lot of 80's & 90's movies I'm sure you've seen like Empire Records, Tank Girl, Goonies, etc, etc. ;)
Happy 4-0 to another june baby. It's my 5-0 this year. Couldn't be happier. I have really enjoyed One Thousand Gifts" by Ann voskamp as well as the Ransom Riggs books, "Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children" and the sequel. I also enjoyed the tale of "The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared." Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteOne of my faves was The Eight by Katherine Neville. Also The Red Tent is a goodie.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about growing older. Thank you for adding words to how I feel too.. :)
ReplyDeleteReading is a great challenge to have picked Nichola!! Keeps the brain steady! Congrats on your up coming Bday- You look fabulous and think like an ageless girl- keep doing what you are doing and you will never grow old! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Birthday! As someone a tad bit older than 40, I too relish my older years and do not miss those younger days one iota! Here's to reading and movies, crafting and creating! (and I really love the Godfather series):-)
ReplyDeleteForty seems young to me now. :) I loved my forties. Happy Birthday to you, and many many more!
ReplyDeleteHappy forthcoming birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteI adore every decade more and more. I know it is supposed to be a different story for men and women but 40 is 40. Just a number and never does a number, in reference to age, have a meaning in my world. I've no use or room for it. :)
I've carried all of my childhoods best into today and work/dwell there daily in my creative hours, which are most and many, and I do not crave a return to any time other than here and now.
ENJOY!!!
As for a few book suggestions. . . The last three I could not put down that might just be up your alley:
"Hyde" (as in Jekyll and) by Daniel Levine
"Chestnut Street" by Maeve Binchy
"Shada" - Gareth Roberts
a Fourth Doctor novelization of the never filmed tv story of the same name written by Douglas Adams. Intended to conclude Season 17 but never did.
Ok One more. . .an ALL time favorite.
ReplyDelete"The Mapmakers War" by Ronlyn
Domingue (Another world created as well as any I have read. :)
Happy Belated Birthday! Love your blog and artwork.
ReplyDeleteBook Suggestions:
1. "Tradd Street" series by Karen White (all of her books are great)
2. Author, J.D. Robb, which is a pen name for Nora Roberts. Series with a lot of books. Awesome!
Happy Reading! Linda