‘The Last Devil to Die’, a Swiftie surprise, and a new Bridget Jones movie

The giveaway this week is ‘Never Ever Forever’ by Karina May.

Hey all,

How’s your December shaping up so far?

If you’re anything like me, your mind is torn between wanting to finish strong on whatever projects you’re working on, but also is already half in holiday mode. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to dredge up care factor.

I’ve been making good progress on closing tabs in my brain by completing projects. I relax a notch as I tick each one off my list.

I didn’t get that editor position I applied for, but I was on the shortlist. Close, but no cigar! Oh well, now I have a good template I can re-use for something similar I apply for in the future.

I finished one of the health articles I was writing and the other one is due today, so I’ll be able to tick that off at the end of the day. I also wrote a new flash fiction piece this week and have sent it off to a literary journal. My website is still due for an update, but hopefully I’ll get to that later in the week.

I’m also working on a big project application and I’m hoping to get that sent off this week, but if not, it can wait until next year. I’d dearly like to get it out the door before the close of 2023, though. We’ll see how we go.

Have a wonderful week and see you for the next one!

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News

1.     I know there has been a diminishing rate of return from the subsequent Bridget Jones movies, but I’m absolutely on board if they want to release a new one. Helen Fielding is reportedly working on it, and given the popularity of the story, I feel chances are good it’ll end up happening and we’ll find out what happened to post-baby Bridget. (Fingers crossed for more of both Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in this next one.) Hooray!

2.     It’s a pity this isn’t out in time for Christmas, but if you have a Swiftie in your life, particularly one with an early-in-the-year birthday, you might like to consider picking them up a copy of Blank Spaces: An Unofficial Taylor Swift Fan Journal. Apparently, it’s a mindfulness journal for expressing creativity, testing your Taylor knowledge, and fueling your personal growth. Cute.

3.     You’ll be able to see how this one struck my fancy – a former police detective who’s now a teacher is using pretend crime scenes as an educational tool. How cool would it be to be learning in that classroom! The teacher, Luke Taylor, is also now spreading this learning method to other schools across New South Wales, ensuring regional kids have something accessible to them that’s exciting and effective. How good.

Reviews

1.     Regular readers will know how much I admire Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club novels about a group of four older people solving murders from their retirement village. The fourth in the series The Last Devil to Die came out in September and I finished it this week. Osman has said that this won’t be the last book in the series, but he will be taking a break from it to launch a new detective series run by a daughter-in-law/father-in-law duo (brilliant – can’t wait!). I think this is smart both in terms of future-proofing his writing career for the time when the Thursday Murder Club eventually runs out of steam, but also for breathing new life into the series once he returns to it. The Last Devil to Die provides an ending of sorts and is sadder than the previous novels (but still plenty of fun). Once I reached the conclusion of the tale, it was clear that the characters need time away to regroup as much as Osman does. As with the previous novels, I felt that the mystery part of the plot was almost incidental to what the story was about. It’s enjoyable in its own way but being wowed by plot twists isn’t really what it’s about here. It’s more about Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim attacking any puzzles that come their way with humour, vigour, kindness, and intelligence. And that is more than enough.

2.     I wish I could remember who recently encouraged me to watch Jasper Jones. It’s a 2017 movie set in outback Western Australia in the 1960s. My partner coincidentally selected it from his Netflix list on the weekend and set it going for us to watch on the weekend. The internet tells me it’s also available on Stan and a bunch of other streaming options. The story tells of local white kid, Charlie Bucklin, whose friend Jasper Jones, an Aboriginal kid, knocks on his window one night and begs him for help. Jasper has stumbled upon a murder scene and is (rightfully) scared that he will be the prime suspect if Charlie doesn’t help him cover it up. They then set about trying to uncover the real killer. Aside from Jasper’s predicament, Charlie’s friends with a Vietnamese kid, Jeffrey Lu, and we see the taunts and outright violence Jeffrey’s family is subjected to in the town. The movie deftly weaves these elements of racism and mystery together in the plot without veering towards scenes that are too gory or disturbing. The subplots also add to the main storyline and provide some twists in the mystery. Well worth a watch.

What I’m Feelin’ Right Now

• Researching magicians’ tricks for a possible story idea

• Cracking out my sparkliest earrings I haven’t worn in yonks

• Blue and green together (screw that old saying!)

• Mint and mango in salads

• Going for a stroll where there are plenty of dog-walkers

• A middle-parted bob and a bold red lip

• Finding a shop selling crumbed eggplant banh mis

• Maximalism in Christmas fashion and décor (as if we should celebrate any other way!)

Giveaway

This week’s giveaway is Never Ever Forever by Karina May. Fill your name and email address in here to enter.

Playlist of the Week

Like Melbourne bar-hopping at home: