Still looking for a Christmas gift? Why not give your loved one a book that’ll both entertain and expand the mind? Going to have down time during Christmas break? Stop vegging and watch a real masterpiece! Here are some of the books and movies I enjoyed most in 2024.
Books
The Father Christmas Letters by JRR Tolkien (1976)
Let’s start with a Christmas book! This is a super family-friendly piece that’s appropriate for kids and adults alike. The book is composed of years of letters that JRR Tolkien (author of The Lord of the Rings) wrote to his kids while pretending to be Santa. The letters grew more elaborate over the years and developed into a full-blown North Pole world complete with a cast of loveable characters. A must for Tolkien fans of all ages.
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig (2023)
Albert and I did a podcast on this! (https://www.ann-yihyang-kim.com/podcast/) We couldn’t put down this gritty, dark, and moving historical fiction novel that explores the life of Shek Yeung, who’s considered by some historians to be one of the most successful pirates to have ever lived. Travel back to 1800s Asia and explore what it might have been like to be a woman who is both a slave and a conquerer of her tragic circumstances.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
We did a podcast on this one as well! (https://www.ann-yihyang-kim.com/podcast/) (The audio quality gets better in other episodes, I swear.) Revel in Ishiguro's mastery of subtlety, the psychological layers of his protagonists, and much more. Definitely one of the best pieces of literature I’ve ever read. Never Let Me Go, which we also read this year and which we’ll do a podcast on, is extremely well-written too and, I think, more profound. But I included The Remains of the Day on this Christmas list because of its hopeful nature.
Paradise Lost by John Milton (1667)
This was the first book that ever put me to sleep. Freshman year of college. Mandatory reading. I was reading about the angel Gabriel doing something or another and then bam. Out like a light.
As I get older, though, I find that so many things that I used to find boring are now supremely interesting. For example, when I first watched The Godfather in high school, I could not understand why people raved about this boring movie in which nothing seemed to happen for nearly three hours. I gave it another shot in my mid-twenties, and lo and behold, The Godfather transformed into one of the most suspenseful movies I have ever watched. Sometimes, the thing you’re critiquing isn’t stupid. Sometimes, you’re just too stupid to understand genius. And so it was with Paradise Lost, which I now find to be a riveting book. I was, in particular, impressed by the battle scenes, which were so action-packed and cinematic in execution, even though they were written in the 17th century.
I recommend listening as an audio book (libraries let you borrow audio books too! You just need to download the app) if you’re intimidated by the older language. Milton wrote this while he was blind, which means that he didn’t actually write it but dictated the whole thing, so listening is actually a more authentic experience.
White Fang by Jack London (1906)
This is my second (or third?) time reading this book. Jack London doesn’t have the most profound messages, but his execution of imagery is unparalleled. Any time I read White Fang or any of his stories that take place in the Yukon, I feel like I have to wrap myself in a blanket because I can practically feel the cold, blistering air and see my breaths puffing out in clouds. This is another book that reads differently as an adult because I can now clearly see how autobiographical it is. I love this story as it is one of innocence hardened under the harsh realities of survival before being revived once again by love. The ending is one of my favorite endings of all time, but I won’t spoil it by explaining why.
Movies
Sanjuro, directed by Akira Kurosawa (1963)
This was the sequel to the hit samurai movie, Yojimbo. Both star the extremely talented and famed Toshiro Mifune. I enjoyed Sanjuro more than Yojimbo as it was lighter-hearted and faster-paced. It also showed more internal struggles as the character grapples with what it means to kill and whether or not his way of life is truly right. More than anything, though, the laugh-out-loud comedy and blade-glinting action gave it strong anime vibes. If you want to step into the world of classic samurai movies, this is a great place to start. I borrowed my copy from the library.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, directed by George Miller (2024)
I’ve said it so many times before, and I’ll say it again: fiction helps you process reality. Spoiler/kind of not a spoiler: there’s a part where Furiosa is screaming at one of the antagonists to give her her childhood back, and when I first watched it, I suddenly realized that I often do the same. I scream at loved ones, goals, myself, all because I’m searching for something that was taken from me in my youth. But the sad truth is, what was taken can never be returned. That doesn’t mean, though, that there isn’t hope for redemption. There is hope in the future. Furiosa is one of those rare movies that plunges you into a world that’s an explosion of imagination while also delving into the depths of the human soul. Perhaps not as pristine of a movie as Mad Max: Fury Road, but Fury Road is a pretty high (if not insurmountable) standard to begin with.
Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villenueve (2024)
I lean more toward science fantasy rather than hard scifi, and a lot of you know how much fun I’ve poked at Dune in the past. But even I must acknowledge the greatness that is the Dune series. Albert (who loves scifi as much as I love fantasy) was fanboying throughout this entire movie, and I couldn’t blame him. Visually even more spectacular than the first movie, Dune: Part Two is another rare movie that does justice to its genre with intricate world building, a captivating plot, purposeful action, and much more. If you’re into geopolitics and/or scifi, you have to watch this movie in addition to the first.
The Wind Rises, directed by Hayao Miyazaki (2014)
Both Albert and I had tears streaming down our faces while watching this. Not the typical science fantasy movie that Miyazaki is known for, but a wartime romance. We both felt so deeply the love that the characters had for one another, and I couldn’t help but see so much of Albert in the main character, who is also an engineer. The mannerisms and facial expressions that this movie captures are so, so accurate and endearing. Yet another heartfelt masterpiece from Miyazaki, who, I believe, came out of retirement for the umpteenth time to make this movie.
Culinary Class Wars, judged by Paik Jong Won and Anh Sung Jae (2024)
If Squid Game were a reality show that replaced all the killing with cooking, you’d have Culinary Class Wars. I’m including this hit Netflix series not only because of its super addicting, binge-worthy nature but also because I felt so inspired after watching it. Chef Edward Lee was my favorite, as he is for pretty much everyone else who’s watched the show. His dishes made my mouth water, but it was his creativity and drive that were truly inspiring. He never strayed from who he was or what he personally wanted to accomplish throughout this cut-throat competition, even at the risk of losing. Such an example inspired me to do the same when it comes to my writing goals and career.
