Anticipating good stuff in 2024

Yep, that’s a real live dumpster fire in Albuquerque, NM in May 2022.

While I know that we all need to strive to live in the present, I can’t help thinking a bit—well more than a bit—about the future. Are you, like me, already holding your breath and grinding your teeth about just how very likely it is that 2024 is going to be a total shit show? Sorry, but there’s just no better term. “Dumpster fire” just doesn’t seem to be adequate, though I do have an illustration for that one.

I’ve been trying to think of some good things that I can look forward to in the coming year. This is my list. It’s far from comprehensive. It doesn’t even touch on theatre, and it certainly doesn’t represent the breadth of genres within the categories I’ve chosen to highlight here. Take a few minutes to think of your own good stuff to come.

Books

Moonbound
Robin Sloan
A new novel from the author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore. I’m counting down the days to this one.
June 11, 2024 (amazon.com)

The Life Impossible
Matt Haig
I really enjoyed The Midnight Library so I’ll be interested to at least try a sample of this one.
Sept 3, 2024 (amazon.com)

The Book of Love: A Novel
Kelly Link
The is the first novel by a well regarded short story author, and firsts can be really outstanding.
Feb 13, 2024 (amazon.com)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea
T.J. Klune
A sequal to The House in the Cerulean Sea. The first book was amazing.
Sept 10, 2024 (amazon.com)

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
Erik Larson
Promises to be a very timely read as it deals with the deep division in the nation following Lincoln’s election. Gosh. Sound familiar?
April 30, 2024 (amazon.com)

The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir
RuPaul
This one should be an excellent listen. In the same vein, I recommend listening the autobiographies by Billy Porter and Harvey Fierstein.
March 5, 2024 (amazon.com)

You Like it Darker
Stephen King
A new collection of short stories just in time for summer reading
May 21, 2024 (amazon.com)

The Black Bird Oracle
Deborah Harkness
A fifth book in the All Souls Series, which began with A Discovery of Witches (did you see what I did there (“It begins with…”)? I had no idea a fifth book was in the works, so this will definitely make the summer a little brighter/darker.
July 16, 2024 (amazon.com)

Heartstopper #6: A Graphic Novel
Alice Oseman
I realize that I’m over 60 and not exactly the target audience, but don’t even attempt to give me grief about reading this series. It’s adorable and sweet. The author previously said that #5 would be the last, so hooray for #6.
Sometime in 2024 I hope

Music

Bleachers a new album from Bleachers schedule to be released on March 8, 2024. Two singles have already been released. https://www.bleachersmusic.com

The Saviors, Green Day, Jan 2024. https://music.apple.com/us/album/saviors/1711049681

Art

Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
Opening May 31, 2024
https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/fiber-art-by-women

Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, East Building, Concourse Galleries
Opening March 17, 2024
https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2024/woven-histories-textiles-modern-abstraction.html

Multiplicity Blackness in Contemporary American Collage
Phillips Collection, Washington, DC
Opening July 6, 2024
https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2024-07-06-multiplicity

Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing
The Whitney Museum, New York, NY
Opening March 2024
https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2024-biennial