Dear Fellow,
Welcome to December 2023!
It came too quickly, right? Well, time is no people-pleaser at all; it continues to move on regardless. As it moves on, I always wish it didn’t leave me wallowing in fantasy. May the rest of the year be filled with wonders never imagined. I pray the same for you, good Fellow.
Last week’s despatch was titled “Writing to See”, and the piece was an explanation of the title. “Writing,” I wrote, “is not always about communicating to someone else; it is also an adventure into uncharted territories, a journey the mind embarks on to the discovery of ideas it has never known before. Writing is reaching for clarity in our thinking.”
This despatch is a reach for clarity in my thinking. Journey with me as I uncover this seed of an idea beneath my consciousness, looking into unknown territories. I hope you have fun.
You will receive two more despatches from me—on the next two Saturdays, on the 9th and 16th of this month—and that will be a wrap for this year. I usually take a break from this newsletter after the third Saturday in December. You will not hear from me via this newsletter until the first Saturday of February the new year. Ideas are born and nurtured during the break period, and energy is obtained for the new year.
Planning for a new year for this newsletter usually begins in the first week of December. My mind begins to think of new ideas for this space. I agree that you should leave here with something new regularly. That is why I have allowed myself to the possibilities suggested to my mind.
So, I am thinking of exploring this idea. Next year, the last book review I will publish here will be a review of My Book of the Year. This book will be selected based on some set of criteria. The book will be the one that stands out from the rest I have read in the same year. At the end of the piece, I will invite you to share your book of the year.
I am a slow reader; which means I do not read much in a year. This year, I read only 32 books from cover to cover. My book of the year may not be so attractive, given that my selection will be from a shortlist. However, my book of the year review may be that one place where you discover a book you never knew existed.
As this idea is still in formation, I’d like to think through whatever suggestion you have for me. What criteria do you think should guide the selection of my book of the year? Should I limit my selection to just books by Nigerians? Should it just be one book from the tens I read in a year? Whatever suggestion you have, you can share it in the comments. Or better still, you can write it in a private mail. I will receive with gratitude whatever you have to share with me, good Fellow.
I pray you end this year well, good Fellow.
Your LetterMan,
Tongjal, W. N.
Firstly Letterman, Amen to all your prayers! And I pray the same for you too. As for the criteria for choosing your book of the year, I think it should be the book that impacted you the most and the book you implemented most. Or Maybe simply the book that was most practical to you. Either way, the criteria for me should be a book that significantly changed something in your life. Thank you for your letters Sir. I'd definitely miss your letters during the festive season. Enjoy your December Letterman!