Happy Friday, readers! As I’m sure you know from yesterday’s post, I’ll be editing my book this weekend. A lot. But I’m also taking some time out in the great outdoors, and reading a great book or two. (I started this one last night; if you have any insight, tell me in comments?)
My favorite finds from around the web:
- From Agatha Christie to Gillian Flynn: 50 great thrillers by women. LOVE THIS and the story behind it.
- Here’s Why Airplane Boarding Got So Ridiculous. This explains a lot.
- Science Has Figured Out Why You Love the Smell of Old Books. It’s science, y’all.
- I’ve had a small tube of Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen in my cabinet for a while now … and this week I finally got around to trying it. Now I totally get why this is a cult classic, I love it.
- I had a great time talking about historical fiction, letting go of reading guilt, and more on The Readerly Report!
- Podcast Recommendations for Bookish Women. What Should I Read Next got a great mention in Verily Mag.
- Two library branches to close for good, weeks before budget vote. Friends, this is the current situation in my community—and the greatly reduced hours at branches across the county means the situation is even worse than the headline indicates. Please support your libraries, with your votes, with your patronage, and, if you’re able, with your dollars.
Favorite Instagram:
Last week I got to interview Celeste Ng for LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (the paperback was cheaper than the ebook when I looked just now!) at the Louisville Free Public Library. Follow me on Instagram @annebogel.
On the blog:
One year ago: Don’t take fake breaks (and two nonfiction books to frame your summer reading.) “When I start feeling rushed, my natural instinct is to begin frantically doing all the things that make it worse. It turns out that hurrying doesn’t help me catch up on my to-do list; it only serves to make me feel hurried.”
Two years ago: 11 juicy memoirs to toss in your beach bag this summer.
Four years ago: The 10 item wardrobe. If you’re thinking about creating a daily uniform, this is a helpful guide.
Five years ago: After you lose something you want. “Missing out is a motivator.”
On the podcast:
Author Lamar Giles joined me to chat about his two great literary loves: children’s books, and… horror novelist Stephen King? If you don’t think those things go together, Lamar is prepared to talk you into changing your mind, and maybe about more than just that.
Have a great weekend!
22 comments
Loved the Lamar Giles episode!
Hi there! Did you know the 11 juicy memoirs link doesn’t link to the right page? Obsessed with memoirs rn so i’d love to find that!
Sorry about that! It’s fixed now. 🙂
The 10 item wardrobe links to new house pics.
Hi Susan, I think I found the link to that post: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/ten-item-wardrobe/
I really like reading your blog and reviewing your choices. Since you plan on editing this weekend, perhaps you might consider that the ‘Hey’ salutation is a turnoff. Every time, I see that I think of my Mom saying “Hay is for Horses!”….
Also, ‘y’all’ is simply not correct linguistically or grammatically and is a distraction to the value of the rest of the content. Unless and of course it is used in a culturally diverse subtext.
Wow.
You must be lots of fun to have a conversation with.
I wish there was a “like” button! 😂
Not sure where you’re from, Gwenythe, but Anne lives in the Southern United States, as do I. In our culture, to omit the use of the words ‘Hey’ and ‘y’all’ in everyday conversation would be considered pretentious and would sound awkward. I, for one, am glad that Anne feels comfortable enough with her readers to use her natural voice when she writes blog posts.
Dear Anne,
I love “Hey” and “y’all”! Just sayin’.
Hey Ya’ll ! I agree with you, Sue! happy Friday Ya’ll 🙂
Me too! I’m British and speak RP English; I have absolutely no problem with ‘hey’ and ‘y’all’. I enjoy ‘hearing’ your spoken voice from WSIRN when I read your written voice on the page. Also, I loved the Guardian article you linked to: Josephine Tey’s The Franchise Affair is an AMAZING thriller for fans of the Golden Age of crime novels and/or unreliable narrators.
Or even all ya’ll… (from the West Coast)
My first time commenting but I’ve been enjoying your blog for quite a while now! Thanks for all the great recommendations and for these Friday posts—they are fun and interesting. I’ve become a fan of Supergoop’s Unseen sunscreen too. After using a sample for a few days, I had to go buy a tube. It feels unbelievable on my skin. Enjoy your weekend!
I read The Dearly Beloved for review (and interviewed the author for Shelf Awareness) and I loved it SO MUCH. Insightful and lovely and so human. Highly recommend. https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=340#m719
Also: Celeste! I love her. So fun to see y’all (yes, y’all!) together.
The Dearly Beloved sounds like a stellar read. Looking forward to your review!
Linda Parvin Hutchindon
IG: @bookbimbo
Anne – The Middletown Library was the Library I used when lived in the Polo Fields next to Lake Forest. The first time I walked in I asked myself “how is this even a library with the DMV on my left and Public Healthcare on my right”? These (and other offices) shared the building with the library, This library was a very sad and depressing place. I had hoped the interior would have been redone! It’s very sad….. Sue (from Charlottesville) We have a beautiful library (one of many but the one I go to is quite new!)
Sue, I didn’t know you had this Louisville connection! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this isn’t the end of the library story for that part of town.
Hard to see libraries impacted. Fundraising and budgets remain a huge issue – I highly encourage all readers to get involved with your library! I reluctantly joined our tiny little library’s Board and it has been eye opening and enjoyable. I have learned how a small contribution in money, time, or donations/connections to donations (ex new flooring, prizes for auctions etc) go so far in our community libraries! If you can’t give time, just a small monetary donation to your library or library friends group will be impactful especially as many libraries implement automatic renewals and/or no overdue fines which is a large revenue source loss! If every borrower donated just $10-25 that would add up quickly!
My community library closed down last week. 😪 We had an earthquake six months ago that caused it to close for a couple of weeks for cleanup but recently they had a second inspection there that found more structural damage that they didn’t find in the initial inspection. They are looking for a temporary space to house our library until they figure out if they can repair and reopen it but in the meantime my closest library is 30 minutes away now. 😭
Love that list of great thrillers by women – good on The Guardian for compiling it, and you for sharing it! Thank you!