Hello from flooded Louisville, where my family and I are high and dry (this time in the good way) but our city is very much not. If you’re also in a flooded area, my heart is with you. Here’s hoping the water recedes quickly.
On an altogether different note, did you see we shared Summer Reading Guide details this week? Many of you have reached out to ask about the date for this year’s Guide: it’s May 15, and more info (including this year’s theme!) is right here.
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.
Why a “Reading Retreat” Is the Girls’ Trip Idea You Need to Try This Year. (The Everygirl) Here for this.
Stoop Coffee: How a Simple Idea Transformed My Neighborhood. (Supernuclear) “Every weekend, we would bring our folding chairs out onto the street – we had to make do since our house doesn’t have a stoop – and enjoy our caffeine. As we saw people entering or exiting their homes, we’d enthusiastically wave them down, introduce ourselves, and write down their names in our shared spreadsheet.”
71 Thoughts I Had While Rewatching Pride & Prejudice. (Vogue) So many fun facts!
Fredrik Backman on the Art of Scandinavian Storytelling. (The New Yorker) Backman recommends four Swedish novels that have been translated into English.
Why These 10 Old Movies Are Really Worth Your Time. (New York Times gift link) “Old movies are a useful way for kids to see how the past was different, with humans as intelligent as we are, living life as intensely as we do, and yet doing so under different expectations in terms of violence, the welfare state, racial, gender and class hierarchy and more.” There are so many here I haven’t seen!
This J.Crew classic chambray shirt (00–24) is working so hard for my wardrobe right now! It’s been my go-to spring layer for these in-between early spring days. (I’m 5’9″ and like the 8.) On that layering note, this Evereve camp jacket (XS–XL) was one of my best spring purchases last year and is also fabulous over so many spring tops and sweaters. (I like the Medium, which is roomy without being oversized. I own and love the Sagegreen but that new navy color is also great!)
Reading between the lines: What can we decipher from White Lotus characters’ book choices? (The Guardian) Books as character work.
One moment of honesty at a time. (Thoughts & Prayers) “I also know that you build friendships one moment of honesty at a time. Not ‘let me dump my life story on you.’ Not ‘I’m fine, and you?’ Just one moment of honesty at a time: here is my exquisite mess right now; maybe you can share yours, too, and we can be less alone.”
Is It A Betrayal To Publish Dead Writers’ Books? (Esquire) “Of course, we should consider people’s intentions—it’s why we write wills, as an agreement we make with the people who are left after we die. Now, should we adhere to those agreements when great literature might be lost?”
Villains, Vampires, Spies: The Best Remixes of The Great Gatsby. (Literary Hub) I didn’t realize there were this many Gatsby retellings already. It only entered the public domain in 2021.
Whenever my mom would stumble upon an easy household hack, she’d share it with me too. I got a horrible bloodstain on my favorite reading chair this week—and remembered my mom’s gifted bottle of Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover, which totally works on upholstery and worked great for my chair. Just $7 and worth keeping on hand.
8 Edna Lewis Recipes to Know by Heart, From Tender Biscuits to the Best Deviled Eggs Ever. (Food & Wine) This would make a great project. This piece also reminds me how much I enjoyed Alissa Wilkinson’s Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women, in which Lewis is featured.
The experts have spoken, these are the 8 chicest pedicure shades to wear on your toes this spring. (Marie Claire UK) My current shade is Big Apple Red.
Don’t miss these posts:
Nerdy nonfiction for readers who love to learn. Embrace your inner nerd and find a new niche interest with these nonfiction reads!
Lean into spring cleaning with these favorite home organization tools. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I find great comfort in tidying up.
15 literary novels that will have you compulsively turning the pages. This is one of my favorite (and completely made-up) sub-genres: compulsively readable literary fiction.
15 books to give for graduation that graduates will actually want to read.
Have a great weekend!
8 comments
April 10 2025 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Gatsby. Here in St. Paul, Minnesota, we honored our famous literary icon (yes, he was born here but didn’t stay long) with a 7-hour word for word reading of the entire book. Hosted by the St. Paul Public Library and the Minnesota History Center, the event was pretty well-attended and was a wonderful way to spend a chilly spring day. A similar event was performed here in 1996 for the 100th anniversary of Fitzgerald’s birth. I’m so glad I got to attend both events (and even read a couple pages at yesterday’s event). Thanks to my high school English teacher, Gatsby remains one of my favorite books of all time!
Yes to Folex. My husband and I always comment how magic it is.
Just for your information, club soda works on all fabrics and carpets. It takes out blood and red wine, grape juice etc. Just spray it on let sit for about 15 minutes and go back and wipe with a damp cloth. Nine times out of ten your spot has already disappeared. Occasionally you may have to do a second time but that is only if your blood stain had been there more than a few hours. My husband would get nose bleeds in the middle of the night and never tell me till morning. Even then I usually only had to do once.
I’m no good with club soda—I find it often gets the stain but then leaves terrible water marks. What’s your secret for avoiding those?
I hope you have John Green’s newest nonfiction Everything is Tuberculosis on your radar. I listened to the audiobook because he reads it and his voice is pretty good for that. TB has been curable since 1955 but continues to be among the most deadly diseases on earth is at the books center. Compulsively readable, informative, and compelling.
I loved the comment about the literary books coming out of Iowa since I live in Iowa City where the Writers Workshop is located and a super Indie bookstore Prairie Lights.
I always read and enjoy the Links section. Thank you.
YES! I learned about Folex to get a spot off my favorite chair. Now I always have some in the house because with kids and dogs it’s a must!
Thanks for the NYT link re: old movies. I’ve sen eight of them and will seek out the others. I super highly recommend a book called The Best Old Movies for Families by Thank you Burr. We got so much out of the book as our kids were growing up and continue to find gems now that they have left the nest.
Glad the flooding didn’t reach your home!
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