a lifestyle blog for book lovers

Links I love and what’s on my nightstand.

My favorite finds from around the web: 

How to build the perfect sandcastle. “Be clear about the fact that building a sandcastle is a totally useless operation. Don’t expect too much; it’s going to disappear.”

For couples, time can upend the laws of attraction. “People were asked a version of the famous question in Christopher Marlowe’s 16th-century poem: “Who ever loved, that loved not at first sight?” A great many, it turns out. (A few Jane Austen references don’t hurt this piece.)

Best podcasts for a road trip. “I listen to a variety of podcasts but not all are conducive to long drives. For a road trip, I tend to think longer episodes are better. When else will you have so much uninterrupted time to listen?”

21 secrets about Sephora that every makeup addict should know. As a minimalist makeup user, I still found this informative.

• Have you heard about Book Riot Live? This November, Book Riot is hosting a reader convention in NYC featuring fellow book lovers, a bunch of amazing authors, and the Book Riot team. Get more info about Book Riot Live here (and save $20 with the discount code MMDREADS).

What I’m reading this week:

The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza. It’s pure coincidence that I’m reading this hot on the heels of The September Issue, but the timing is perfect.

The Book Thief. Finally!

• Listening to: Armada by Ernest Cline. I’m enjoying it, even though I’m not loving it as much as Ready Player One. (RP1 is a Summer Reading Guide pick, and hands-down, the book I’ve gotten the most emails about, which usually go something like “I never would have discovered that book on my own but I loved it.” If you need a great summer read, take note.)

On the blog:

• Big, fat books for your summer reading.

• From the trenches of parenting a highly sensitive child.

• How to read ‘Go Set a Watchman.’

• Everything I need to know about planning my life I learned from ‘The September Issue’.

Have a great weekend!

9 comments

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  1. Anne McD says:

    I’m loving the picture of the vintage books. I’ve actually started reading the Bobsey Twins to my kids last week (I never read them before!) and I’m in love with them! Yes, they’re cheesy, but the kids have impeccable manners, the writing isn’t dumbed down, and they have such sweet stories.

  2. Laura says:

    We are going on a 12 hour road trip and wondered if Ready Player One would be appropriate to listen to with a 12 year old and a16 year old? If not di you gave some suggestions?

  3. Leigh Kramer says:

    Thanks for linking to my post, lady! I read the Sephora post last night after you shared it on FB and thought it had a lot of great tips. I haven’t heard much about The Knockoff but it sounds like it could be up my alley so I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.

  4. donna says:

    Happy Friday, Anne! Amazing links as always. I loved the Guardian article. Also, I finished The Knockoff a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it! I appreciated all the fashion references and it was fun trying to guess who was being portrayed. It’s the perfect summer read! Enjoy. Also, I just finished The Rumor last night. I absolutely loved it! Thanks for the recommendation.

    Happy weekend!

  5. Thanks for the picture of the Bobsey twins! Those were such fun books, and I had all but forgotten about them. I am finally reading “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” and am feeling challenged to improve my skills and hone my craft.

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