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What do you have planned for the weekend? I’m anticipating pizza night, kids’ sports, and the chance to finish a book or two.

My favorite finds from around the web:

• Tayari Jones: How a bit of eavesdropping helped me write An American Marriage. I really enjoyed this book, and found this origin story fascinating.

• Bedtime habits by personality type. I wrote a book about personality, so I can’t resist any post like this. Even though this post fails to grasp that this INFP reads at least one chapter before bed 362 nights a year.

• It’s all in your head: the one-way intimacy of podcast listening. As a podcaster and podcast enthusiast, I couldn’t click on this fast enough. “It’s purely biological, and it’s indistinguishable from intimacy — except for one minor, mundane, trifling detail: It’s unidirectional.”

• What food geniuses eat for lunch. I’m newly grateful to this post for bringing Trader Joe’s smoked trout into my life. I was dubious, but then the cashier raved about it, so I brought it home and put it on water crackers with cream cheese and pickled red cabbage. It was loved by all, and I live with kids so that’s saying something.

• New loves: the unfinished hem on these skinnies, and this impulse buy aka my new addiction.

Blind date with a book—the reveal!

Did you fall in love with this book? You’re in the majority: this was the most popular choice. You’ve chosen Susan Meissner’s new historical novel As Bright as Heaven, set in 1918 Philadelphia during the Spanish flu epidemic. (Words I avoided: Philadelphia, Spanish flu, WWI.)

Did this novel catch your eye? You’ve chosen Kristen Hannah’s new release The Great Alone, set in Alaska in the wake of the Vietnam War.

(Based on the clues, readers thought this book might be: The Snow Child, Twilight, Beartown. Words I avoided: Alaska, Vietnam.)

If this book caught your eye, you fell for Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

(Based on the clues, readers thought this book might be Eleanor & Park, or a memoir. Words I avoided: fine, vodka, fire.)

On the blog:

One year ago: 3 ways to listen to Audible audiobooks without a membership.

Two years ago: When you’re living in the wrong movie.

Three years ago: Every ten years you have to remake everything.

Four years ago: The work that makes more of you.

Have a great weekend!

24 comments

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  1. Kellie says:

    I didn’t put in a request, but i’m happy to find out the two I CONSIDERED asking for, i’ve already gotten from Book of the Month! It’s made me extra excited to read them both. 🙂

  2. Shagun says:

    So happy with the reveal!! My guess for book no. 3 turned out to be ‘completely’ correct. Hurrah!! It’s a lovely read.

  3. liv says:

    Guessed one correctly! This is an aside, but have you ever signed up for those “book box” accounts, that send you monthly packages with a surprise book, and bookish treats? I’m curious about this one, which just started in Canada, and the whole idea looks to be just up your alley!

    https://sweetreadsbox.com/

  4. Pam says:

    Haha. I chose #1, but I’d pre-ordered #2; expecting it today – if our winter weather and the roads cooperate. Funny how knowing the author makes a difference in how you think about a book, eh?

  5. Leanne says:

    I guessed what #1 one was right away. In fact, I have it from the library and am excited to get started. Numbers 2 & 3 have been on my TBR list also. Fun post, Anne!

  6. Betcei Butler says:

    YES! I was correct on #2, and am in the middle of reading it! I chose #3, and am fascinated with your description because as I think back to when I read it last year (and LOVED it), I remember coming away with a positive feeling that your descriptive terms (which really are right on track) didn’t give me as I read your blind date clues! Good job!

  7. Becky says:

    Trying to pick which book to enter the drawing for was tough, because I was pretty sure I owned them all (I was right!). Thanks for a fun giveaway!

  8. Beth B. says:

    I’m cracking up this morning because I chose #3 in the contest yesterday and realized today at the reveal that I am CURRENTLY READING it! But I am only on chapter 6, so maybe my lack of recognition can be forgiven? 🙂

  9. Karen says:

    I was totally wrong about #2 and #3!! I am really looking forward to Kristen Hannah’s new book. I’ve read #3 and loved it. I too loved how my perception of Elinor changed in each chapter!

  10. Shelley says:

    We all got a snow day today so looking forward to catching up on reading. Finishing Sing Unburied Sing. Next up is Bright as Heaven and just got The Great Alone from BOTM. If weather cooperates I host book club tonight (with an epic Trader Joe’s spread ?) to discuss Before We Were Yours. Loved that one.

  11. Laura says:

    I did not guess what #3 was, but based on your descriptions, it was the one I chose. And Eleanor Oliphant is at the top of my want-to-read list! Excellent blind date descriptions!

  12. Brandyn says:

    I haven’t read any of them, but I requested #3 and it turns out it’s the book I just picked up from the library. Considered #1 and I have that on hold at the library. #2 didn’t sound like my kind of book from your clues and about a week ago I considered adding it to my library hold list and decided against it.
    I think your clues were pretty accurate for helping people identify books they might like.

  13. Susan V says:

    I’m fortunate enough to have #1 and #2 sitting on my physical bookshelf right now – from the library!! I need to finish the MMD Feb book first, though! Then the Susan Meissner book is up next!!!

  14. Leanne says:

    Those are my go-to jeans – regular hem AND unfinished hem! Currently wearing them in gray and they fit like a DREAM. Finally, some skinnies that don’t suffocate my knees!
    Beware!! The black ones are EXTRA skinny even though they have the same name as all the other colors. I had to return them because I thought I got the wrong pants and the lady at Madewell told me they just run a lot smaller due to the dyeing process. Very frustrating.

  15. Elisha G. says:

    I had picked #1 and I’m so glad I did. The story of a woman experiencing the influenza outbreak in 1918 hits very close to home. My great-grandmother was living in Philadelphia at that time and wrote about her experiences during the outbreak. I’m so excited to read this book and perhaps encounter what it was like for my great-grandmother. Thanks for suggesting it and giving me a chance to meet my great-grandmother within the pages of a book.

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