Links I love

Happy weekend, readers! Here at MMD HQ, we’re busy putting the finishing touches on the Summer Reading Guide, coming next week!

My favorite finds from around the web:

• Instead of throwing out God or church, Rachel Held Evans demonstrated a robust Christian faith. “I am struck by how generative Rachel’s work was: to think of how many writers would never have started putting pen to paper were it not for her courage, her chutzpah, her eschet chayils! along the way. For many of us, she opened doors we never could have opened ourselves.”

• How to start a successful book club. “You probably wouldn’t join a choir or a dance group where they said ‘no one is really in charge and half the people don’t show up and we won’t actually sing/dance most of the time.'”

• When I wore this lipstick for a few video chats this week everyone wanted to know the shade.

• Author looking for ‘missed connection’ with teacher from Magic City Books event. I am happy to say this literary mystery from my Tulsa event at Magic City was SOLVED!

• What it’s like to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). I loved chatting with Crystal Paine about being a highly sensitive person and how realizing this gave me a sense of control in my life.

• 6 fun things about Harry and Meghan’s royal baby. “My heart swelled at his comments, both what he said — ‘How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension… this little thing is absolutely to die for’ — but also how he said it.”

• Rick Steves wants to save the world, one vacation at a time. “The tiniest exposure to the outside world, he believes, will change your entire life.”

6 (!!) days until the Summer Reading Guide:

Readers, the 2019 Summer Reading Guide is coming NEXT WEEK! The titles—all 30 of them—are set. The categories are decided. Everything is almost ready to go.

We’re sharing this year’s guide as a PDF in the style of an e-magazine. And we’ve decided the best way to share this with readers is by email.

If you want to be one of the first to get the Summer Reading Guide in your inbox on May 16, sign up below. We’ll also send you my monthly-ish newsletter with stories and content only for subscribers.

Favorite Instagram:

I don’t know what these are called, but they are hopeful and happy and I’m loving it. (Follow me on Instagram @annebogel.)

On the blog:

One year ago: 20 books everyone will be talking about this summer. “To compile this list, I chose books coming out past the guide cutoff date, books I haven’t read yet, and books I didn’t think were a good fit for the Summer Reading Guide.”

Two years ago: For the graduates: 11 books for figuring out what to do with the rest of your life. “Readers everywhere—grads or not—will enjoy these good reads on work, career, relationships, personal growth, and living the good life—whatever that means to you.”

Three years ago: One question to ask yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed. “The question makes me reflect on what my life looks like right now: what are my responsibilities, what projects are on my plate?”

Four years ago: MBTI: strengths :: enneagram: motivations. “I’m no expert. But my layperson’s advice is to take the tests, read through the descriptions of the various personality types under both systems, and choose whichever one resonates the most.”

Five years ago: Moving to Narnia. “If the home you’re checking out reminds you of Narnia, you go with it.”

On the podcast:

Don’t miss today’s brand-new episode of my new show One Great Book, where each week I pull one standout selection off my personal bookshelves and tell you all about it, in ten minutes or less.

Have a great weekend!