Happy weekend, readers! I’m just home from a quick trip to Colorado to visit family. (I’ve been to Denver more in the past year than any other U.S. city, even the ones much closer to home, and I’m not sad about it.) This weekend we’re catching up on laundry and hosting old friends, and I’m looking forward to both.
My favorite finds from around the web:
- A Ballet ‘Jane Eyre’? Reader, She Dances With Him. This sounds like it could be incredible!
- When Delayed Gratification Backfires. “We convince ourselves that the best — the perfect — moment to indulge must be in the future, where our imaginations can conjure up all sorts of notions of an ideal time and setting to enjoy ourselves. So, rather than enjoy the bottle of wine or a free concert pass now, we tuck them away and wait for that imagined perfect moment. And wait.”
- 8 Classic Cookbooks Any Beginner Cook Should Own. Or a cook at any level. They’re classics for a reason!
- Last time we went to Colorado I took Will’s old Cons, which busted on day 3, so I ended up hiking in Tieks. That worked much better than I expected, but outdoorsiness is a lot more fun in these boots. I initially bought them for our Scotland trip and love them so much.
- The Simple Thing That Makes the Happiest People in the World So Happy. It really is that simple.
Favorite Instagram:
I’m not saying coffee tastes *better* in a Jane Austen mug … but it sure doesn’t hurt. Follow me on Instagram @annebogel.
On the blog:
One year ago: A little interaction goes a long way. “since that night, I’ve been looking for ways to provide that little bit of interaction for the people making the stuff I enjoy. I’m not a crowd, but I’m a person—a person who can say I see you. I see what you’re making, and I’m here for it. I enjoy what you do. I’m happy you’re doing it.”
Two years ago: 9 books to give your dad this Father’s Day.
Three years ago: What makes a relationship work? (10 tips for making it last). “What makes a relationship last? It’s the stuff we’re tempted to write off as boring…”
Four years ago: The satisficer’s guide to NYC. A glimpse at what our “good enough” trip to New York looked like: “We didn’t have time to possibly do it all—or anywhere close to it all—so I wasn’t tempted to try. Instead, I was free to enjoy the time I did have.”
Five years ago: Slate, you are drunk. Adults should be reading YA. “Much young adult fiction is terrible, but so is much adult fiction. But a good book is a good book, no matter the intended audience. And the list of good books—for all audiences—is long. Thankfully.”
On the podcast:
As we announced in last week’s episode, we took this week off from What Should I Read Next and will be back next week. And Volume II of One Great Book kicks off next Friday, June 21! In the meantime, I recommend you revisit my fun conversation with Preston Yancey, all the way back in episode 8. His description of what a YA book should be remains one of my favorite WSIRN moments.
Have a great weekend!
15 comments
The simple action leading to happiness puts me in mind of something that Kurt Vonnegut wrote about his uncle, who had developed the habit of saying, mid-activity and in the moment, “If this isn’t great, I don’t know what is.”
Cultivating that habit is surprisingly difficult, but I’m working on it.
I hadn’t heard that before! Love it.
Preston’s episode cracks me up! He is spot on in his description of YA!
Two weeks ago I attended a play: Pride and Prejudice. I was a musical romp! I loved every minute of it, even tough I think of myself as a purist Janite. If it tours anywhere near you, I would recommend it.
This sounds delightful!
I love the article about delayed gratification! How true it is! I’ve never been able to understand why people think that the future holds a better time to enjoy things.There really is only the here and now. I’m not saying that we should blow our lifetime savings in one go, however, being austere now, and not enjoying anything, can make you very sour, to the extent that you forget how to have a good time!
I am the queen of Delayed Gratification so it was really good for me to read that article, and I never would have found it on my own. Thank you!
I have almost those exact boots, bought and worn constantly during the three years we lived in Scotland. We’ve been living back in the States since 2003, and those boots are still in great shape. I pull them out every winter, esp. if we go to visit family in Boston. Love them!
I’m happy to hear this!
Appreciate the article on delayed gratification. Read it now, instead of saving for later! 😉
Great links! I think the cookbook choices are great, but my How to Cook Everything doesn’t have step-by-step photos…or any photos for that matter! I wonder if they are confusing it with his “The Basics” book.
I love that mug!
I think about your post from a year ago “A little interaction goes a long way” often since then! I try to notice and appreciate what people are doing!
I’m totally guilty of delaying gratification for books – if there’s something I’m REALLY looking forward to reading (like I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara) I’ll force myself to wait until the timing is “perfect”, like after I’ve just finished a book that was a real slog. So thank you for that link – a timely reminder! Hope you have many more wonderful Denver travels! 😉