What are you up to this weekend? Around here, the first days of school are drawing uncomfortably close. I’m not ready for summer to end, or for my college kids to go back to (or begin) school! But we have a deliciously lazy family weekend planned, and I’m looking forward to breaking out a new game, eating good food, and mostly just lounging around together.
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:
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 bookmarking service.
Eva Longoria To Direct ‘Anita de Monte‘ Film. (Kirkus) An exciting development! I loved the book.
The many marvels of aloe vera. (MMD) Shannan continues our “raving fans” series with an ode to her favorite childhood—and current—remedy.
How to Organize Your Digital Library. (New York Times gift link) “Is your e-book library a hot mess of random best sellers, audiobooks, ancient sample chapters and abandoned titles?” Surely I can’t be the only one who feels called out by this opening line.
What Your Favorite Grocery Store Says About You. (The Atlantic gift link) “An avocado or a box of cereal is more or less the same at any grocery store, so what is it about some stores that inspire lines-down-the-block fandom?”
12 novels set during weddings. (MMD) When characters go to the chapel (or the woods, or a remote island, or a gorgeous villa) to get married, things get interesting!
The Making of a Liberty Puzzle: A Virtual Tour of Our Boulder Factory. (Liberty Puzzles) This is so cool!
Christmas in July at Craftsy: for the first time ever get a year of access FREE. I don’t understand the math here but it’s definitely a good deal!
Dumb Down Your Phone the Smart Way. (The Internet Feels Broken) Helpful tips.
The One Book Everyone Should Read. (The Atlantic gift link) “The 12 books below have nothing in common except for the fact that their advocates have shared them time after time, and believe in their power to delight or captivate readers who have a variety of tastes and proclivities.” What I’m mostly interested in is your answer to this provocative question. (Should is a big word!)
Setting-driven stories, accidental reading themes, and winning characters. (What Should I Read Next?) Unique ways of picking your next read.
Extra! Extra! Read All About Last Newspaper Hawker in Paris. (New York Times gift link) We gasped when we saw this at the Bogel house—we saw him when we were having lunch in St.-Germain-des-Prés two summers ago!
The Other Side of Now is a 2025 Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick and the August 2025 selection for MMD Book Club! Paige Harbison will join us for discussion on August 26. I hope to see you there!
Millennials Are Changing What 40 Looks Like. (Elle) “As millennials reach so-called middle age, no one seems to be looking or ‘acting’ their age anymore. For this generation, born between 1981 and 1996, the phrase ‘age is just a number’ isn’t a form of self-soothing. It might actually be true.”
I Know What We Need This Summer: Why nostalgic reboots are all the rage right now. (Glamour UK) “The quality of the reboot isn’t what we crave, it’s the return to a previous story or characters that we once loved.”
Why Are Buildings in Iceland So Colorful? (Daily Passport) Perhaps a welcome vicarious respite from the heat dome? And worth reading for the photos alone.
Don’t miss these posts:
Your Louise Penny starter kit. A beginner’s guide to the beloved and long-running Inspector Gamache series.
14 books about nature to inspire your next outdoor adventure. Between the fresh air and beautiful scenery, the outdoors can be vital for mental health.
15 breezy romance series for when you need an escape. Looking for a romance series (or two) that you can devour?
Have a great weekend!
6 comments
How do gift links work? They never work for me. Sad.
Sometimes you need to enter your email for them to work. Hope that helps!
That article about grocery stores was interesting. I have always had excellent independently owned stores near me and have struggled to understand the fandom for chains. I have driven out of my way to try some of the chains people love, but they are never as interesting or as interactive as my local stores, where I can make requests and they are usually honored. I understand not everyone has the option of a great independent store, but I hope those that do make an effort to support them instead of the corporate chains. It’s not that different from supporting an independent bookstore instead of Amazon (especially in the case of Whole Foods, which is actually owned by Amazon)
If you are ever in Boulder, definitely visit Liberty Puzzles for a tour. My kids grew up with the owners’ kids, so we’ve been to the factory many times and have an assortment of Liberty puzzles custom made with the kids’ class photos. And we can tell when we are close to the factory when we ride on the nearby bike path, because it smells like a campfire from the lasers cutting the wood!
Elizabeth, I was going to suggest the same thing. We live in Thornton and have taken the Liberty Puzzles quick tour whenever we have out of state visitors.
I absolutely love Liberty Puzzles!
I felt very discouraged by the article about how millennials are changing what 40 looks like. I am in my mid-40s, and I don’t look like I did when I was 20 or 30. It’s been hard trying to accept the way I look now as my new normal, and I miss seeing my 30 year old self in the mirror. Reading about women close to my age who look 15 years younger is depressing. The article mentions that cosmetic procedures are more widely used and accepted, but doesn’t mention how expensive they are, or how much effort it takes to look like you are 20 when you are 40. I wish that our culture honored aging (and the wisdom that hopefully comes with it) instead of shaming it.
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