What are you up to this weekend? We have a packed schedule around here that really spans the emotional gamut. In between the heavy and light, I hope to try a new holiday cookie recipe and order my final Christmas gift for Will. (Got any great ideas? He won’t read the comments!)
Speaking of Will—he’s busy mailing out orders from our Modern Mrs Darcy/What Should I Read Next shop, and sliding your requests for book personalizations and inscriptions my way so we can get you exactly what your bookish heart desires this season. Check out your options and place your orders now so they arrive when you need them!
I hope you have something to look forward to this weekend, 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:
I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there’s no gift link and you’re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a service like Pocket.
Jodi Picoult, Kennedy Ryan and More Bestselling Authors Share Their Most-Anticipated 2025 Books (Exclusive). (People) Any of these on your TBR?
We made Nigella’s Molten Chocolate Babycakes (NYT Cooking gift link) for Will’s birthday this week: YUM. (I used 4-ounce ramekins and filled them allll the way up, and my cakes took 12-14 minutes to cook instead of the 8-10 specified by the recipe—perhaps because my dishes were taller? Be advised!)
Your 2024 Therapy Wrapped. (McSweeney’s) Way funnier than my actual Spotify Wrapped.
The Comfort (and Discomfort) of Retellings. (Reactor Magazine) “Retelling a story asserts that it is worthy and important of being heard again; transformative retelling asserts that it is powerful not just in its original form but as a story that can go beyond its borders of place, aesthetic, and time.”
Target’s holiday outfits are so good! When fanciness is required or desired, try this darling bow dress (with pockets! Size 4–26) and this stunning sequin dress (especially in that gorgeous burgundy, Size XS–4X). For less formal occasions, I love their Cozy Knit V-Neck Pullover Sweater (the colors are gorgeous; XS–4X) and this beautiful openwork number (XS–4X). This Fair Isle Apres crewneck is versatile and adorable. For a whole other vibe check out their “ugly” Christmas sweaters—so bad they’re good!
Taylor Swift Is a Perfect Example of How Publishing Is Changing. (The Atlantic gift link) “The “Vegas” model of betting on a few big titles each year is receding in favor of a focus on what a company has already published.” (Related: Swift sold 814,000(!!) copies in the first week.)
How Communal Living Makes Cooking Easier, Cheaper, and Better. (Bon Appetit) “Communal eating is the beating heart of coliving.” One of the groups profiled is WOW House, which stands for Wild Older Women. Isn’t that great?
The Goldilocks sling bag that upped my international travel game. (MMD) Our most-traveled team member Holly continues our Raving Fans series with an ode to the perfect travel bag.
Mary Is the Bennet Sister We Need. (New York Times gift link) “She is judgmental of those around her whom we suspect she secretly envies. She desperately wants to say the smart thing but can’t think of it in time. She repeats opinions she’s read as her own. Could it be that we’re obsessed with her because she is all of us?”
Aerial Embroideries by Victoria Rose Richards Teem with Harmonious Detail. (Colossal) WOW. Please enjoy this week’s serotonin hit.
Thinking of writing a letter to an author? Do it. (Boston Globe) “The impulse, the logic to reader mail, is something that took me some time to understand. You told me a story and now I will tell you a story. The reader, in the aftermath of finishing something you wrote, is moved to write to you and tell you their experience of it. I have had no reason not to love them all.”
9 Ways to Embrace Winter—Even if You Think You Hate It. (Time) Helpful tips.
Giftable cookbooks, memoirs and narrative nonfiction. (MMD) Engaging (and conveniently giftable) nonfiction about topics you know you want to read about, plus a few you didn’t know to ask for but will be delighted to discover. (A history of the notebook, anyone?)
Big hair bows are still having a moment: I’d like to officially append our beloved stocking stuffer recommendations with these big tulle bows (the pink berry, swoon!) and these big satin ones. (Though if you’ve been dreaming of a Santa hair bow—you’re in luck!)
Why Are the Ancient Greeks Everywhere Again? (Town & Country) For more on this topic, check out our Let’s Talk About Greek Mythology for Readers class in MMD Book Club.
Don’t miss these posts:
15 recommended reads for those traveling to Michigan. For anyone planning a trip to Michigan or looking for some armchair travel.
Addictive spiced nuts. We devour this stuff.
112 reader recommendations for festive holiday fiction.
Have a great weekend!
11 comments
I know this won’t be a helpful gift idea for Will, but maybe it will delight some other readers. Over the course of 49 years of marriage, we have had 8 dogs (often in groups of 2 or 3 at a time!). Every year each dog (living or sadly deceased) carefully selects a book for my husband for Christmas. They are opened Christmas morning. While their content trends toward Revolutionary and Civil War nonfiction (can there ever be enough of these books???) this year the dogs went out on a limb and also chose Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell books. Obviously, it’s not a surprise that he is receiving 8 new books but my husband enjoys the new titles.
I have some more gems to add to the MI literary tourism suggestions!!!
*Places in the world a woman could walk by Janet Kaufman (short stories)
***Feast of Love***by Charles Baxter (one of my all-time favorite novels!)
Almost anything from **Jim Harrison’s catalog…Brown Dog, True North
*My murder by Katie Williams
This Friday post is always the highlight of my online reading – thank you for always sharing such thought-provoking links (and the shopping links are fun, too!).
Thank you so much for the ‘9 Ways to Embrace Winter’ article! I will share it in publicity for the ‘First Day Hike’ at Farm Island Recreation Area near Pierre, SD that I will lead on January 1.
Thanks for the link to Time’s article on embracing winter. I love the ideas and creative outlets mentioned in that piece. We moved to a brighter, cozier home this spring and it’s our first fall/winter here now. While it’s 1.5 miles from the old place, we committed to dimmable lights, bright walls, green things on the shelves, and entertaining friends. What a difference those make for me when the sun sets at 4:30. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend!
I love all the recs from Target! Those outfits are fantastic! The link for the open-work sweater? sends me to the v-necks, and now I’m doubly curious:-)
Thank you for making my Friday so happy!
Whoopsie! Thanks for letting me know—it’s fixed now. 🙂
In the discussions on Mary Bennet, I haven’t seen any references to the theatrical productions that comprise the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. The first story, Miss Bennet, is all about Mary. It’s a sweet play showing how she finds happiness and love. The second story is The WIckhams and the third is Georgiana & Kitty. These are great holiday plays that i feel lucky to have seen here in Minnesota (2017, 2018, 2022). I’m not sure if they’ve been produced elsewhere.
Check out the Frye Astor Low Lace Sneakers for Will!
I love the list of links every Friday. I thought I’d share another link to a literary (and more) advent calendar. Each day of advent, you click on a square to learn of a new piece of literature, art, or music entering the public domain. https://publicdomainreview.org/features/entering-the-public-domain/2025/?utm_source=BookRiot_TodayInBooks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Week%e2%80%99s%20Biggest%20Bookish%20News%20Stories
After recently reading and resonating so much with the story in The Lager Queen of Minnesota, I sent J. Ryan Stradal an email letting him know how much his story meant to me and why I enjoyed it so much. He wrote back within a couple of days with such a kind response and thank you. I’ve interviewed several authors and it seems most of them love to hear from their readers so definitely, send those emails or messages!
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