Happy Friday, friends. What are you up to this weekend? We’re planning on spending some time with friends outdoors and then staying cool inside watching the newly released Hamilton movie.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, and that you enjoy these interesting reads and fun things that we gather (almost) every Friday here on the blog.
My favorite finds from around the web:
- HBO Wins ‘The Vanishing Half’ Auction In 7-Figure Deal; 17 Bidders Pursued Brit Bennett Bestseller. I adored this book. YES PLEASE to an adaptation.
- Always Red is a favorite shade; if you’ve been wanting to try the cream lip stain this set is a great way to do it.
- I never thought I’d feel at home in my neighborhood—until we got The Slide. This is a lovely piece about community and welcome and how to lead with who you really are.
- Do bike lanes actually make cyclists safer? We recently got new bike lanes near our house that Will is beginning to use, but they are far from ideal and probably fall in the dangerous category according to this research.
- I was happy to see that Target now carries a cute version of the belly baskets I love to plop houseplants in.
- ‘A Conflicted Cultural Force’: What It’s Like to Be Black in Publishing. I was especially struck by the bit about Borders and Waldenbooks moving books by Black authors and the impact of those stores closing.
- In the Covid-19 Economy, You Can Have a Kid or a Job. You Can’t Have Both. I found this particularly interesting because it’s written by one of my favorite food bloggers.
- 26 Great Shows on Netflix to Binge-Watch During Your Long, Hot, Locked-Down July. See any favorite shows on this list?
- How to Know When It’s Time to Quit a Book, According to Avid Readers. Life’s too short to read books that aren’t for you.
- 26 Books That Give Iconic Literary Characters A Different Story. Lots of Austen retellings on here.
Don’t miss these posts:
- My favorite cold drinks for hot summer days. So refreshing!
- A Rom-Com Syllabus. This is the kind of resolution we can all keep!
Have a great weekend!
17 comments
Anne,
I have an idea for a post that follows up to “How to Know When to Quit a Book.” Give us some titles of books, including popular classics, that start slow but have fabulous endings. Sometimes I fear abandoning a book because I hold on to the idea that “it might get really good.”
I love this idea!
Great idea!
Another great show on Netflix is Northern Rescue. It’s one season (so far), about a fireman and his kids returning to his small hometown after his wife dies. Netflix is also a goldmine for anyone who likes documentaries; two of my favorites are one about Betty White and another about the life and death of singing legend Sam Cooke.
On the subject of plant baskets, if anyone has a recommendation for a good hanging basket, I’m in need of one. The ones I’ve found locally are either expensive or ugly.
Am in the middle of The Crown. Great entertainment but I wonder how accurate the peevish portrayal of Prince Philip is?
And. Anne With An E, of course.
Now that The Vanishing Half has been optioned, we can start our dream casting…what about Lupita Nyongo for Jude and Brian Michael Smith as Reese. Adele-Octavia Spencer. Is Michael B Jordan too young to play Early Jones?
We just kicked off our holiday weekend with a viewing of Hamilton, and it was fantastic!
As for Netflix ideas, don’t be afraid to look into foreign shows. We are on the fourth part/season of Money Heist (it’s a Spanish show), and it is such a nail-biter! We are almost at the end and I’m hoping there will be another season. I have enjoyed several foreign shows–the subtitles don’t bother me at all–it’s another way to combine reading and watching a show (two favorites at the same time).
What has happened to YA literature? That list is depressing, especially for an 11 year old avid reader.
I found the NYT Deb Perelman article interesting too. It’s the first I’ve seen that speaks to my fears over the huge setback COVID-19 is causing for working mothers of young children. I’d never once thought of quitting my teaching job to homeschool my kids. Now it might be the best option for my family. I’m praying for science to find us some workable solutions soon!
Love the Myers-Briggs list – Pride and Prejudice is “mine” and it is definitely spot on! (also, I was hoping for a link to those popsicles … they look delicious … especially as it’s a very humid 90 degrees here!)
I cannot imagine how difficult it is right now for working parents of younger kids right now. I feel fortunate that my kids are young teen and up, as my work schedule has been largely unchanged. As much as I wish schools will reopen this fall, I can’t see it happening…what an incredibly difficult situation we all find ourselves in, with parents of younger children and children with disabilities feeling it even harder.
I remember reading a science fiction book once long ago, and at one point, I turned back to the cover which featured a white hero in a heroic pose. Looking back at the story….the character was black. Later I read an article where the author complained about is misrepresentation, and the editor said no one would read a book about a black man. The editor was wrong. I read them….they were good books, and I didn’t care that the hero and others were black. Later, working in a book store, I read an author who complained that Borders wouldn’t carry his books because he was Jewish. I checked, we didn’t, but I read his book so too,, and they were good. We did carry Isaac Asimov, also Jewish. But I figured a good book was a good book, do too hat was all that mattered.
Ok, those popsicles in the image at the top look amazing!! Do you have a recipe? Also, I can’t wait to try those cool drinks!
So excited for The Vanishing Half! Really looking forward to seeing how they bring it to the screen 🙂
I’m an ISTP, and didn’t care too much for The Signature of All Things, but I LOOOVED The Martian. Easily the most ISTP book I’ve ever read.
Boy, your list occupied me for a couple hours! Good stuff this week. My favorite piece was The Slide. You just never know what will make a difference to your neighborhood!
Similar to The Slide, I read an article where a family had a picnic table in their front yard. By sitting there, they got to know a lot of their neighbors.