I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead of you. It’s a big weekend in my town—the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow! While things will look very different this year, I’m still making a Derby pie and buying mint for our lemonade (and maybe for juleps) to celebrate this weekend.
My favorite finds from around the web:
- ‘Barefoot Contessa’ Ina Garten Just Teased Her 13th Cookbook. Something to look forward to!
- Why Writing a Memoir is Like Making Kimchi. Fantastic interview with Michalle Zauner about her memoir Crying in H Mart, which I just loved.
- On sale now: this classic cardigan is a favorite spring piece, with more colors available here (I’m especially loving that cheerful green!).
- Why Am I Sp Bad At Typign? A fascinating piece for word nerds. (I hadn’t heard of “dystypia”or “dystextia” before.)
- This is my favorite Derby Pie recipe. I only make it once a year, but I really enjoy that one time!
- My local library system is considering eliminating fines, as so many other systems have already done.
- My whole family loved these slow cooker chicken caesar wraps from Damn Delicious.
- Finding a Book When You’ve Forgotten Its Title. NYPL has such helpful tips!
- Would your book-loving mother or mother-figure enjoy a copy of my book I’d Rather Be Reading for Mother’s Day? My local indie has signed copies!
- Here’s how to fix online harassment. No, seriously. “Using social media platforms right now is a little like being able to travel on roads only in a standard-issue open-air vehicle with no protection against people furiously slinging eggs, and given an air horn to signal for help (but no one comes).”
- In-Person Author Tours Won’t Be Back Anytime Soon. Sad, but it makes sense.
- I talked with Jennifer Rothschild on the 4:13 Podcast about how to stop overthinking.
The Summer Reading Guide is coming!
Did you see the big announcement yesterday? The tenth annual Summer Reading Guide is coming your way on Monday, May 24. And we have an exciting Unboxing event for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club members and What Should I Read Next Patreon community members on May 20. You don’t want to miss out!
To get the guide when we release it on May 24, sign up below. We’ll also send you book lists and my newsletter with stories and content only for subscribers.
Don’t miss these posts:
- My 8 favorite spring-to-summer transition pieces. These are some of the favorite pieces I rely on to gracefully carry me from spring into summer, no matter the weather.
Upcoming Events:
- May 6, 1 pm ET: What’s your summer reading style? We want to help you think about what you want from your reading life in this season with tips for how to pinpoint what you like and strategically approach the Summer Reading Guide to get the most out of your summer reading. Get in that summer reading frame of mind — whatever that means to YOU! (This is an MMD Book Club event. Events are available as replays for members who cannot attend live.)
- May 20 at 12 p.m. and 7 pm ET: Summer Reading Guide Unboxing: MMD Book Club members and Patreon supporters get the first look at all the books in the MMD Summer Reading Guide! (Replay will be available for members who cannot attend live.)
- May 24: 2021 MMD Summer Reading Guide: We’re sending the 10th annual Summer Reading Guide to all newsletter subscribers by email!
- May 25, 7 pm ET: Live chat with author Stacey Lee: Time for our MMD Book Club discussion of The Downstairs Girl with author Stacey Lee! (Events are available as replays for members who cannot attend live.)
You can find more upcoming events here.
Have a great weekend!
15 comments
No library fines sounds awesome but I’d be happy if my library eliminated hold fees!
(Mostly for others. Whilst £1 per hold is slightly inconvenient at times for me, it’s enough to stop some people using their library which just seems grossly unfair!)
The St. Paul Public Library was one of the first in the US to eliminate fines. Our mayor, Melvin Carter, who also happens to be the first Black mayor of our city, says it is among his proudest achievements. A fine of a few dollars would keep a family permanently away from the library. No more. Such a great step towards equity.
Not charging fines doesn’t mean you can keep something forever. I had a Playaway checked out and could not for the life of me find its case. The library was going to send me a bill for the item, fortunately the case turned up. Phew. 🙂
Hey Anne! Your Summer Reading Guide 2021 for Book Club members/
Patreon Community is an agonizing tease. I belong to neither… for particular personal reasons not related to your wonderful blog.
Enjoy your reveal. I’ll be there in spirit with a sad smile on my face.
Don’t worry! You still get to enjoy the (gorgeous) summer reading guide. I love having the physical guide to go through (I print it). The Patreon/ book club just get an earlier sneak peek.
I join the book club every year for just one month for this!
I can understand why so many people are looking forward to the return of in-person author talks. However, I must say that I personally have enjoyed virtual events over these past few months. I’ve been able to “attend” talks with authors and in places I’d never get to see in real life. That includes one with you, Anne!
While I would love to listen to some of my favorite authors in person, I also hope some virtual options remain long after the pandemic has passed.
Yes! It’s also been very helpful for my disabled friends/family. Even when things return to “normal” (a new normal?), I hope this increase in access remains.
Thanks for that article on periods and the vaccine. It was eye opening for me! I hasn’t heard that that was an issue. I have endometriosis but it’s been under control for years. However, I just had my second dose of the vaccine and had a breakthrough period (I’ve never had that before) and lots of pain with it. This was two days after my second dose. I’m thinking it’s connected. Our scientific community must research this more.
I heard this quote yesterday on Happier in Hollywood podcast and thought of your book, Don’t Overthink It which I love. “The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” We we’re shopping for patio furniture and your book helped me to not overthink or over shop.
That is a hilarious (and true) quote!
I would caution that passing on anecdotal information without proper research will just lead to more misinformation. The article on vaccines and periods has no scientific or medical validation. We women are full of wive’s tales and false facts passed down by friends and family regarding our periods. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/no-proof-covid-19-vaccine-affects-menstruation-or-fertility-68720/amp
I don’t think “women are full of wive’s tales and false facts”. What a thing to perpetuate. For example, I had no reason to give a false fact about my experience with my period and second shot, it was simply my experience. Why can’t women share experiences before a published scientific study comes out without them being dismissed. What year are we in?
The point of both articles is the correlation between receiving the vaccine and a change in symptoms afterwards and IMO both articles are just fluff. Kate Clancy’s name appeared in both and she is an anthropologist but both writers used her how they wanted to get their respective points across. I think if anyone has concerns about their periods after receiving a vaccine that has not been approved by the FDA or tested sufficiently, they should go to their doctor and get their information there, not online.
Oh I love the Damn Delicious site for recipes! I get so many good ones from there I go back to time and again.
The NYPL article was neat, I enjoyed the real examples they had of what people remembered about books and how they were able to still find the book!
Our weekend here is full of laundry, online church, and hanging out with the dog. 🙂