What’s in store for your weekend? I’m in Nashville, because I played conversation for Laurie Frankel’s Parnassus Books event last night for her new release Enormous Wings. It was such a good conversation, and it was so lovely to meet some of you readers there! (I snapped that top photo at the store yesterday.) And then I’m heading out again to move my daughter out of her freshman dorm.
It’s feeling like a full weekend, and that’s before we get into the mothers and the grads—congrats if you’re celebrating this weekend. All this adds up to lots of audiobook listening time, as you can imagine.
I hope YOU have something good 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.
Less than a week to go!
The FIFTEENTH annual Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Guide is coming your way on Thursday May 14. I’m so excited about this year’s Guide: our theme is reading retreat, the 8 categories are offbeat and whimsical, the photography is gorgeous, the new books superb, and the backlist recommendations plentiful.
In addition to releasing the guide, we’ll host our fabulous Unboxing party that day at 1:00pm and 8:00pm Eastern time. In these 90+ minute live sessions, I share every title in the guide, why I chose it, and what kind of reader is likely to find it worth their reading time. Choose the time that best fits your schedule (or come twice, we won’t stop you!). If you’re not able to attend live, no big deal, we’ll share the recorded session with ticket holders.
If you’d like to experience the Guide for yourself, thank you: it’s my biggest annual project and labor of love. Based on fourteen prior editions of reader experience, I genuinely believe it’s a gateway to readerly satisfaction this summer.
Here’s how to get the Summer Reading Guide (digital magazine PDF) and Unboxing experience.
- The Summer Reading Guide (digital magazine PDF) and Unboxing experience are included perks for members of our paid communities: Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and What Should I Read Next Patreon. If you’re already a member, you’re all set. If you’re not, join to gain access. Easy peasy.
- For those who don’t have the time or inclination to join a community, purchase your a la carte ticket to receive the Summer Reading Guide (digital magazine PDF) and Unboxing experience.
- Please note this option is digital only and does not include a print magazine delivered to your mailbox, which is available separately for order.
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.
Please Use AI. (The Courage to Live It) Love this from Shawn Smucker: “Definitely do not call/ your friend who loves to cook and ask her/ for her favorite recipes or tips or ways/ to save time making meals,/ because you will end/ up talking for longer than you had hoped.”
15 backlist favorites from 15 years of the Summer Reading Guide. (MMD) When the library waitlist is too long, these backlist gems have you covered.
I Bought a Vintage Dress With Recipes Printed on It. Then I Tried Them. (Today) “Like all the best hobbies, why I do this isn’t entirely clear even to me. On one level, it doesn’t really matter why; it’s enough that it’s fun. But, on another level, they bring all my loves together: good food, dark humor and my grandmother.”
‘Small, but mighty’ Library pugs continue to enhance library experience in Dorset. (Manchester Journal) “As a regular part of their job, the pugs fully participate in all of the children’s activities and programming. They even have a celebration in their honor.”
I used the basic method underpinning Martha Rose Shulman’s chilaquiles recipe for the first time this week and the results were outstanding. (NYT Cooking gift link) And I didn’t even make her delicious-sounding salsa; I subbed in Cholula salsa verde as a shortcut.
Notes of Cheer: Eight Mid-20th Century Novels To Read In Springtime. (Notes of Cheer by AJ Pearce) “I love a list. This one consists of eight novels written in the mid-C20th that I reckon are the right sort of thing for this time of year. And also when it feels as if the world has gone nuts. Some are set in the spring, some of them start in the spring, and some are purely cheerful and feel right for the spring.”
Check out this teeny tiny gallery wedged into the space of a single missing brick somewhere in London. (Instagram)
Who Killed the Florida Orange? (Slate) “In 2003, the mighty Florida orange industry produced 242 million boxes of fruit, with 90 pounds of oranges per box, most of which went on to become orange juice. Now, not even 25 years later, the United States Department of Agriculture was forecasting a pitiful 12 million boxes of oranges, the least in more than 100 years, the worst year since last. A decline of more than 95 percent.” I couldn’t read this without thinking of John McPhee’s Oranges.
We’re All Talking to Each Other Less Than We Did a Decade Ago. (Wall Street Journal gift link) Whoa! “Texting, online ordering and tuning out with AirPods means fewer chances to talk to loved ones and strangers alike.”
It’s that time of year … to replenish tees and tanks. I consistently wear and re-buy these J.Crew Factory sweater shells and these girlfriend crewneck tees. (Both XXS–3X.)
What Should I Read Next #524: Short books that still feel substantial. Are you more of a big book or short book reader? This week’s guest Lee Weick is feeling stuck when it comes to finding those shorter reads, especially those right around 200 pages that feel substantial, thought-provoking, and interesting, to balance out the tomes on her TBR.
27 Best Museums in the World for Art, History, and Cultural Wonders. (Travel + Leisure) “Whether you’re interested in art, history, science, or a bit of everything, the best museums inspire, educate, and entertain.” A fun variety of ones you’ve definitely heard of and others likely unfamiliar to you (until now!).
The Secret to Success Is ‘Monotasking’ (The Atlantic gift link) “Sustained focus is highly unnatural for human beings. Our brains evolved to be extremely distractible, to attend to any novel sights and sounds in our vicinity. Unsurprisingly, research has found that people instantly become more creative when distractions are removed.” (I can’t be the only one who wants to borrow Maya Angelou’s crossword puzzle practice.)
Winners of the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2026. (The Atlantic gift link) Seriously awe-inspiring.
Don’t miss these posts:
Take a vicarious trip with these novels set on planes, trains, and automobiles. Was this book list inspired by a movie title? Yes.
How owning multiple e-readers changed my reading life. The benefits of having more than one way to read books electronically.
16 page-turning mysteries that aren’t too dark and gloomy. A list of favorite mysteries that fall squarely within the confines of the genre, yet maintain a hopeful tone throughout.
Have a great weekend!
