a lifestyle blog for book lovers

This post is sponsored by Prep Dish. 

Happy Friday, readers! Crisp fall days are finally here, so this week I’ve been reacquainting myself with my sweater collection. This weekend I hope to drink a dozen cups of tea and finish three books, wish me luck?

I also need to take an hour to set up my new journal, since I just finished off my last one. The school supply-lover in me can’t wait.

My favorite finds from around the web:

What are we teaching boys when we discourage them from reading books about girls? “What happens to a boy who is taught he should be ashamed of reading a book about a girl?What kind of a man does that boy grow up to be?”

Novel news: World’s biggest bookworms revealed in study. “In fact, adults with university degrees, but who grew up with fewer books, had the same level of literacy as those who left school in year 9, but who had a lot of household books as a teen.”

Growing up in the library. “It wasn’t that time stopped in the library. It was as if it were captured here, collected here, and in all libraries—and not only my time, my life, but all human time as well.” From Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book.

Anna Burns wins Man Booker prize for ‘incredibly original’ Milkman. “Burns revealed in the Guardian last week that Milkman has its origins in ‘a few hundred words that were superfluous in a novel I was currently writing’. She tried to craft a short story from them, and they turned into Milkman.”

Eliminate your meal-planning stress:

For the next two weeks, Modern Mrs. Darcy readers can get two weeks of Prep Dish for FREE to give it a try and see if it works for you.

Prep Dish Sweet Potato Bird's Nests

Every month, Prep Dish founder Allison sends members weekly meal plans (your choice: gluten-free or paleo) with an easy-to-use shopping list and step-by-step directions for how to prep meals for the whole week in just a few hours. Then you start the week with a fridge full of easy-to-finish dinners you can have on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Fall is a great time to get started with Prep Dish. Click here to start your free trial.

On the blog:

One year ago: Our cozy and inviting reading areas for fall. “I’ve been dreaming for months of curling up to read under layers of cozy blankets with a cup of hot tea, with candles burning and maybe a fire going, and that time is finally here.”

Two years ago: My bookstore tour of NYC. “On this trip one of my big extracurricular goals was to visit as many bookstores as possible. Or, as many bookstores as possible without exhausting my family.”

Three years ago: 8 paradoxes of creative people. “If you feel like your mind is messy, have no fear—that’s not a bad thing. It’s characteristic of creative minds, which are untidy and characterized by paradox.”

Four years ago: My new little book page pumpkin. “Fall, as a general rule, is forgiving. And pumpkins are round-ish. And with those two encouraging thoughts, I dove in.”

Five years ago: The MBTI Bible. “Keirsey’s work is based on the premise that certain personalities aren’t right or wrong–they’re just different, and that’s okay.”

Six years ago: One awkward conversation that’s totally worth having. “We all ultimately have to find our own way, but mentors–older and wiser women who have already walked the road we’re on–can help us navigate that road more smoothly.”

On the podcast:

One year ago: Episode 101: What I wish I’d known before starting a books and reading podcast (100 episodes later).

Two years ago: Episode 45: Heartwarming books for dire situations.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. In honor of my starting a new journal this week, we’re running a sale on MMD journals through Sunday night. Buy one journal, get one 50% off (with free shipping) when you use the code TURNTHEPAGE. Click here to shop.

Buy an extra for yourself, or stockpile for holiday and birthday gifts. Give the journal on its own, or pair with a colorful pack of Flairs (for grown-ups) or Gelly Rolls (for kids) for a beautiful presentation. Click here to read about my favorite journaling tools, and click here to read about how I got started with bullet-ish journaling.

5 comments

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  1. Kay says:

    I loved the link, Growing up in the Library. When I was a child it was my second favourite place in the world, the first being my gran’s home. We never had books in our home, they were rarely bought, but instead came from the local library. When I was older any money I received for birthdays or christmas went on books and even now I love the gift of a book. My own children had plenty as they were growing up, books were my gift of choice for them and their friends. We had weekly library visits too. There is something special about a library that these days many children miss out on in their lives, nothing can replace the joy of finding the perfect book to read or discovering an amazing new author.Where I live many local libraries have been closed down by the council due to cost cutting, and sadly my small village library closed a few years ago.The building is about to be knocked down and a house built there instead, it will be a sad day for many in our community as there are so many happy memories in that building. Long live libraries. x
    i rarely comment but when I do I feel like it is almost always an essay!

    • Ann Nemerouf says:

      The library in my hometown was only two blocks from my grandma’s house.Every Saturday I checked out 11 books, the maximum they allowed. I read them, brought them back the next Saturday and checked out 11 more. I loved a series of biographies they had In blue library re-bindings. My favorite was Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

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