What are you up to this weekend? I’m planning to cheer on my kid in his first marathon and treat my Audrey ficus for what I think are spider mites. (Any and all suggestions for both endeavors are welcome!) Luckily the latter will pair great with audiobook listening.
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.
Newsletter incoming!
I’m planning an off-the-blog newsletter for the next few days with a behind the scenes look into our Summer Reading Guide photo shoot plus a little bit of life lately. If you’re not sure if you get these but want to, please visit our subscribe page and check the top box.
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.
A treasury of book dedications, part II. (The Life and Errors of Molly Young) Just what it sounds like: a round-up of noteworthy book dedications. I couldn’t click on this fast enough!
Favorite indie bookstores around the world. (MMD) I haven’t been to a single one of Holly’s favorites yet but now I want to visit them all!
The 82-Year-Old Jump Rope Queen of Beverly Hills. (New York Times gift link) “As she has defended her record over the years, she’s added more theatrics to her performances. In one memorable act, she walked onstage hunched over and dressed like a caricature of an old woman, cane in hand. Then she dropped the costume, the song “Sexy and I Know It” came on over a loud speaker and she whipped out her jump rope, to whoops and hollers from the crowd.”
This is a lovely, easy-to-wear blouse from Quince; I have the black and white but I wish they made it in more colors or patterns. XS–XL)
Speaking of wardrobe staples: Anthro’s cult favorite Colette wide-legged cropped pants are 30% off right in a handful of cute colors as part of their spring picks promo.
What Should I Read Next #522: Keeping things light in my reading life. Angela Frith has found herself avoiding heavier topics in her reading life lately, and she’d love my help to find books that align with her word of the year: LIGHT. As she considers her reading life this year, she would love her book picks to feel light, warm, and stimulating—but not stressful.
The trailer is here for The Dog Stars movie, coming to theaters August 28. (YouTube) I loved the Peter Heller book this Ridley Scott movie is based on.
We Tested 5 Methods for Poaching Eggs — Our Favorite Included One Simple Trick. (Food & Wine) “If you can nail the technique, a poached egg is simply divine.”
15 Must-Read Small Press Books of Spring 2026. (Electric Lit) A lot of these were new to me—and maybe to you, too?
Our Horizon of Possibilities: How Algorithms Contract Our World. (Card Catalog) “Understanding our horizon of possibilities means recognizing that what we can imagine depends on what we know exists in the first place. We can’t consider a career we’ve never heard of, read a book we don’t know was published, or explore an idea that never reaches us. The boundary of our awareness shapes the boundary of our choices.” I wanted to quote you every line of this!
‘The Pitt’ Star Noah Wyle on Surviving Another Shift. (GQ) Great interview. Will and I have really enjoyed watching the show with our 16-year-old this year.
To see or not to see? Every single Shakespeare play – ranked! (The Guardian) “Antony and Cleopatra? Exhausting. Lear? Magnificent but flawed. Hamlet? Limitless. For Shakespeare’s birthday, the Guardian’s former theatre critic ranks all the plays.”
I’m very happy with the newish Daily Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 from Trader Joe’s. I’ve been using it under makeup in the mornings like I would have done with the Elta MD sunscreen so many of you love.
Our Longing for Inconvenience. (The New Yorker) From Hanif Abdurraqib: “I learned early lessons in patience and precision using a hand-me-down dual tape deck that I kept in my childhood bedroom. I would wait, sometimes for hours, to hear a song on the radio that I wanted to record onto cassette.”
The author of the MMD Book Club May 2026 selection Ordinary Time is likely a familiar name to many of you. Annie B. Jones owns The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. Her debut essay collection includes details on the bookselling life, as well as a range of topics related to community and the benefits of staying put. Annie will join us for a live discussion on May 28.
Don’t miss these posts:
17 recommended reads for those traveling to Hawai’i. It’s a good time for literary tourism.
8 calming nonfiction books to read when you’re stressed. These titles will help you slow down, breathe deep, and take a well-deserved reading break.
Books I’m glad I came back to. Some books are worth revisiting.
Have a great weekend!
8 comments
Grapes were so good towards the end of my first marathon. Just enough water and sugar to satisfy without much effort to eat. And post-marathon, days 1-3 after running, focus on getting him to move around as much as he can. Walk down the street for 5-10 minutes. Those muscles will be TIGHT.
I never would have thought of grapes. And thank you for the advice for the next few days!
I’m running a marathon tomorrow too! I feel so supported when my friends and families have signs to cheer me on—the best is when there are multiple so I get a new laugh from them when I see I new sign pop up. It’s also nice if they always have water available just in case (but just a small amount in a Dixie cup or the bottom of a water bottle because it’s hard to drink from a full bottle). It’s also a good idea to have Vaseline, ibuprofen and sunscreen available. Chocolate milk at the finish line is my favorite.
All the best luck!
Good luck in your race, Jennifer! And thanks so much for the hot tips!
I have read Fannie Flagg’s A Redbird Christmas multiple times. The story never gets old.
Omg yes the tapes! Waiting for the song, finally being able to record a fraction of it because they would always cut off the beginning and end…still remember calling in to the radio station to ask for the name of a band, then going out to buy the CD with my pocket money and being able to hear the whole song finally. The appreciation we had for every song was quite something!!
Oh and “Happy Happy Houseplant” has amazing plant products—including products for spider mites and fungus gnats. My plants and I love her products. 5 stars.
My ficus and I thank you!