Links I love

Interesting reads and favorite things for your weekend

What are you up to this weekend? Around here we’re focused on getting our college kids back to school (sniff). I won’t deny this is a coping strategy, but I’m also doing some serious rearranging of our library bookshelves and hope to make visible progress this weekend.

I hope you have something to look forward to these next few days, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.

My favorite finds from around the web:

Taffy Brodesser-Akner Put Celebrity Profiles Behind Her, and Faced the Impact of Long Island Compromise. (Elle) Fantastic interview. “I think the headline of everybody’s life right now is: What happened to the opportunity I was promised?”

8 U.S. City Libraries Bookworms Shouldn’t Miss. (Daily Passport) Not the usual suspects.

To Save the World, My Mother Abandoned Me. (Atlantic gift link) Arresting piece from Olga Dies Dreaming author Xochitl Gonzalez. “I asked my mother if she had felt overwhelmed by motherhood, and she admitted that she had. Changing the world, for some of us, feels easier than raising a child. They are both, I suppose, expressions of love.”

I’m late to the party but I finally caved and tried the DHC Cleansing Oil my friends have been raving about and now it’s a staple of my nighttime routine.

How Suni Lee Bounced Back. (Bustle) Talk about an inspiration.

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Sheet Pan Pancakes. (Skinnytaste) I’m not sure I would have tried this unconventional technique had a friend not strongly recommended this recipe, but I cannot overstate what an enormous hit these were with my whole family.

What I’ve been reading lately: the new and the notable. (MMD) August Quick Lit includes both the brand new and very old, in a variety of genres.

I Wasn’t Sure How To Celebrate Turning 70. Then I Sent An Email That Changed My Entire Year. (HuffPost) I love this so much! “A list maker, I landed a plan. I would log 70 experiences during the year with the people I love. Their job: to propose. My job: to say yes.” (Please note: bookstores are involved!) This piece makes a wonderful companion to our new What Should I Read Next episode about celebrating a 50th birthday with friends, books, and beignets.

Louisville City Guide. (MMD) A Louisville native’s guide on where you should eat, drink, stay, and explore.

How a Boston Physician Conquered the Thriller Genre. (New York Times gift link) “As ubiquitous as her books have become, the woman who writes them remains a bit of an enigma. McFadden is a pen name; she is careful not to reveal her identity, mainly because years as a practicing physician, she worries her patients might feel weird about being treated by a best-selling thriller writer.”

The Unbranding of Abercrombie. (The Cut) Fascinating! I love a good behind-the-scenes.

It’s almost jean jacket weather! I bought this Paige Aveline Jacket on a stylist’s recommendation and it’s been a staple of my fall and spring wardrobe for years now.

The Man Who Created the Trade Paperback. (Literary Hub) And publishing has never been the same.

Sitcoms Led Me to Believe I’d Be Eating a Lot of Takeout Pizza When I Grew Up. (Food & Wine) “Pizza is the opposite of a fancy or elaborate meal. A pizza isn’t special at all, but that’s what makes it special.”

Don’t miss these posts:

Historical fiction that isn’t set during WWII. Go beyond World War II with these terrific historical fiction offerings.

A to-do list trick. A seriously simple tip that might change your life—or at least the way you approach your to-do lists.

12 narrative nonfiction books to satisfy your sense of adventure. Anyone looking for unputdownable nonfiction?

Have a great weekend!

7 comments

  1. Nichole says:

    These are always some of my favorite posts, but particularly the recipes! I almost always add that week’s recipe to our menu for the week and so many of them have become family favorites. Can’t wait to try these pancakes!

    • Anne Bogel says:

      I’m happy to hear you’ve found new favorites here! I hope you enjoy the pancakes. Everyone here wants to know how soon we can have them again.

      • Nichole says:

        These were a huge hit at my house! I’ve already made them twice and now I’m searching for other sheet pan pancake varieties as well…tonight it’s a pumpkin version from NYTimes. My kids all think these reheat better than traditional pancakes too, so they are thrilled to have leftovers for breakfast the next day.

  2. Martha says:

    I’ve been using the DHC oil for literally decades….and have found nothing better. The mild soap is awesome too.

  3. Lois Williams says:

    Great stuff! Putting those US City Libraries on my “places to go” list, and copying the pancake recipe to try this weekend. Fascinating backstory on the trade paperback concept. Thanks, Anne

  4. Kate says:

    Just got back yesterday from visiting my in-laws in Louisville and forgot to revisit your guide before I left. We did, however, hit up several of your mentions. I can’t imagine going to Louisville and not going to Graeter’s multiple times. We had lunch at Wild Eggs and bought a little pile of happiness at Carmichael’s. I also stumbled upon a lovely antique market called Consignments Plus. It’s a misleading name, but had quite a few lovely booths.

  5. sarah says:

    The Frieda McFadden article made me laugh – NYT saying “she is careful to keep her identity a secret” – right underneath a photo of her! Regardless I didn’t know her story so this was a fun read. She sounds like a very cool, down to earth person, and I LOVE reading stories about authors who have other “day jobs” – living out two dreams!

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