As always, I’m behind in my schedule. I have baked and made sauces and a salad all morning, and I still have to shower, pack up my things and then finally I will hopefully have time to take a nap, before I have to leave for the New Year’s dinner at about five. Busy busy. But, traditions are traditions. Here is my list of 2013’s best.
Best and most listened to song was, without question, Cabin down below by The Royal Concept. In October, I could go for walks, listening to it on repeat, over and over and over. Those light piano chords and heavy percussion, I can’t seem to get enough of them. And the saxophone solo, it just grows and grows and grows.
The best book I read is a trickier question. To be honest, I haven’t really read anything that sticks out. Plenty of good books, but not really any uniquely amazing ones (even though the total of 30 read books this year is the lowest ever since I started keeping lists in 2004). And I can’t keep on nagging about the greatness of Catherynne M. Valente. So, in lack of anything else, I say The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan. It was really sweet.
Movie isn’t easy, either. I can’t honestly remember seeing a single good movie this year – but maybe I just have a short memory. So, I only have my saved cinema tickets to go on, and from them, Iron Man 3 was the best. Just because I adore Robert Downey Jr.
Times have changed, though. Now, maybe the more accurate thing to list would be the best, most enjoyed TV show of the year. I watch so much shit, but there are a couple of real high quality shows I follow too. The highlight of this Christmas was the Christmas special of Call the Midwife, a BBC costume drama set in the 1950’s East End of London, following a group of young midwives and the families that they help. It is a great show, sweet and sincere, and my favorite of all the shows I’ve watched this year.
Finally, the best photo wasn’t hard to choose. It might not be the one with the highest artistic qualities, and since it was taken by self-timer, one could even question if I took it myself. But, still, it’s the photograph that sticks to my mind, the one I think will be most remembered in years to come. That sunny day at the Belgrade fort, after Hanna and Kirke had just made nice after an entire morning of them fighting. Such a lovely memento of the high point, my stay in Belgrade (with Hanna and Kirke, Ana’s wedding, the incredible hospitality), of my all through awesome trip across Europe.
Katja Malmborg 