Inspired by Barack Obama’s end-of-year lists, I would like to share my end-of-year “not lists.”
It’s my selection of books I didn’t read, movies I didn’t watch, and songs I didn’t listen to.
While, in theory, it’s as interesting as President Obama’s lists, something tells me it will be less popular.
Here we go.
Books I (still) didn’t read this year
Ulysses by James Joyce
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Vision in White by Nora Roberts
I always appreciate having more time for my family, friends, and subscribers. Not watching movies is a great way to have more time. Here are the best ones I didn’t watch.
Movies I didn’t watch in 2023
2001: A Space Odyssey
Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
In the Mood for Love
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Secretary
Humanity created so many amazing songs and symphonies. Here are the best ones I didn’t listen to.
Music I didn’t hear in 2023
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Santa Claus
4'33'’ by John Cage
Symphony №41 “Jupiter” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen
Master of Puppets by Metallica
You know how much I enjoy buying art. Paintings are almost as interesting as mirrors. These are my favorites.
Paintings I didn’t buy this year
Nude in Black Stockings by Egon Schiele
Garden at Sainte-Adresse by Claude Monet
Tilla Durieux (Ottilie Godeffroy, 1880–1971) by Auguste Renoir
Two Studies for a Crouching Woman by Gustav Klimt
The Adoration of the Magi by Hieronymus Bosch
Young Woman with a Water Pitcher by Johannes Vermeer
This year I didn’t eat some fantastic dishes. Here are the ones that come to mind.
Recipes I didn’t try in 2023
The traditional chocolate cake of Christmas
Garlic Egg Fried Rice
Coconut Balls
Kashmiri Paneer
Finally, a year without staying at home instead of traveling wouldn’t be satisfying. Here are my favorite places I didn’t travel to this year.
Places I didn’t visit in 2023
Martha’s Vineyard — USA
The Colosseum — Italy
Taj Mahal — India
Petra — Jordan
Great Wall of China — China
Machu Picchu — Peru
Osaka — Japan
Thank you to all my subscribers. You’re my top People of 2023.
(If you want to be one of my top people of 2024 next year, you know what to do.)
I should have added the list of Substacks I didn’t subscribe to!!
Next year 😁
Excellent. I also did not read Brothers Karamasov, thank you very much.