Readers, you’re not dreaming: it’s not the weekend quite yet! Since we’ll host Quick Lit on Friday, July 15, I thought you might prefer to have this collection of interesting reads and favorite things at the ready on Thursday. I hope you enjoy this week’s round up.
This week is unusual in more ways than one: yesterday was my birthday! I’m writing up a not-exactly birthday reflection for a weekend newsletter so keep an eye out for that (and subscribe here if you’re not on the list).
My favorite finds from around the web:
- NASA unveils first images from James Webb Space Telescope. Are you as in awe of these images as I am? (Gift link.)
- Some Surprising Good News: Bookstores Are Booming and Becoming More Diverse. Here for this. (Gift link.)
- This is an amazing deal from FirstLeaf Wine Club! Get 6 bottles of wine + free shipping for just $24.95 with code SUMMER2022. Between this deal and a case of Spindrift I’ll be ready for book club or any other summer gathering.
- Netflix’s Persuasion Isn’t Just Bad Austen. It’s One of the Worst Movies in Years. Ouch! I haven’t seen it yet; have you?
- Fantasy Failed to See Me, So I Wrote Myself In. Nice reflection from V.E. Schwab. “There’s a reason so many people who don’t see themselves in the hero find themselves in the villain. Villains move perpendicular instead of parallel. Their presence disrupts the story. They are unabashedly, unashamedly themselves.”
- Kwame Alexander To Host New Reality Show. This sounds interesting!
- Will made this family favorite ice cream recipe last night for my birthday. Yum! (Don’t miss my What Should I Read Next reel featuring Will making ice cream!)
- Where the Crawdads Sing Author Wanted for Questioning in Murder. In case you missed the original coverage.
- The Case for the Supermarket Supershopper. “Grocery shopping is an intimately personal act—deciding what to put in your body and what to feed the people you love—performed in public.”
- ‘Proud to represent Kentucky.’ Lexington writer Ada Limón is new U.S. poet laureate. Happy to see this!
- While we’re on the topic: this is my holy grail sunscreen for daily use on my sensitive skin.
- 7 Nonfiction Audiobooks for Disability Pride Month. I just finished Easy Beauty; you’ll see it in tomorrow’s Quick Lit post!
- The Road to Turning 500 Acres Into a Black City. It’ll be interesting to see how this comes together.
- The Norwegian library with unreadable books. What an unusual, thought-provoking project!
On the podcast:
This week’s episode has been a long time in the making! I hope you agree it was worth the wait. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right here with the player below.
Don’t miss these posts:
- Not every adventure has to be grand. We’re bringing back the Summer of Saying Yes!
- 20 terrific tomes to add to your TBR (or teetering to-read tower). Summer is a great time to sink into an enormous book.
Upcoming Events:
- July 22-24: Readers’ Weekend: Save the date for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Readers’ Weekend!
- July 26: Live discussion with Bonnie Garmus: Time for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club discussion of Lessons in Chemistry with author Bonnie Garmus!
- August 2: Book signing at Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida: I’ll be there at 12:00pm central time with my new kids’ journal My Reading Adventures.
You can find more upcoming events here.
Have a great weekend!
50 comments
James Webb was born in the NC county where I’ve lived most of my life. This is a BIG deal around here!!
That’s so cool!
Happy Birthday a day late! My 30th birthday was on Tuesday and I was taking time to reflect on my 20s and what I hope for in my 30s, so I’m excited to read your birthday reflection.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, and happy birthday to YOU!
Happy Birthday Anne! You have the same birthday as my daughter. What a special treat of home made ice cream for your birthday!
Happy Birthday!
I love reading about the uptick of independent bookstores opening and doing so well. In the early years of our marriage, my husband and I had a nice Friday night routine. We would grab a bite to eat somewhere and head to one of a couple bookstores. I miss those bookstores!
While I appreciate the latest info on sunscreen for the eye area, it sounds super tricky to me. And what if you begin to sweat, or rub your eye for some reason, and that sunscreen should then end up in your eyes anyway? I still think your best bet is a good pair of UVA-deflecting sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, which will help not only your eye area, but your whole face.
From the big book TBR suggestions, I have read four of them, and recommend them:
– Five Days at Memorial;
– Wild Swans;
– Resistance Women;
– 1Q84.
Happy Belated Birthday!
The images from the James Webb telescope are simply amazing! Out of this world in fact… Oh that was a bad pun! The key lime ice-cream looks delicious – will have to give that recipe a try. Thanks for sharing the links.
AHAHAHA 😂
Happy belated birthday! Wishing you many healthy and joyful returns of the day. ♥️
I was one of the – apparently – very few people who truly loathed Crawdads. I tried several times and thought it was appalling. Had no idea about Delia Owens’ past but it helps to explain (a bit) part of why I disliked the book so much. It felt patronizing and heavily stereotyped in ways that condescended to populations I was fairly certain the author wasn’t part of.
Rather than putting sunscreen on your eyelids, wear sunglasses! We have a family history of macular degeneration and I recently learned in talking with my optometrist that one of the best things you can do for your eyes is wear UV protection (sunglasses) to reduce your risk of many eye conditions. My eyes are very light blue so I always wear sunglasses outside and often inside (i joke – sort of – that I only collect two things, books and sunglasses). I do it for comfort but was happy to hear there are actual health benefits as well. For others who wonder, as I did, whether it matters if they are polarized, it does not. The UV protection is what you’re after. Your face will appreciate a wide brimmed hat, too. 😉
Happy reading, fellow book lovers! 📕
Yes, my family has a history of macular degeneration (mother) and cataracts (both parents). I usually don’t spend any time outdoors in daylight without wearing sunglasses. I live in a super sunny city, so it’s rare not to need them, most days!
Good to hear Inam not the only one who disliked the book! I was a lone wolf in our book club that month.
*I am*
I loathed Crawdads, too! You are not alone. We are out there. 🙂
Me too!
You can count me and my sister too.
I haven’t read Crawdads myself, although I assure you that you’re never alone in any opinion about the reading life.
Thanks for the sunglasses tip!
I love Rebekah Taussig’s writing (both in “Sitting Pretty” and on her Instagram). Another potential read for Disability Pride month (and any and all months) is “My Body Is Not a Prayer Request” by Amy Kenny. I haven’t read it yet but the audiobook is on my TBR and is available on Scribd.
Thanks for the book recs, Andrea!
Happy birthday! Yesterday was my birthday too! Thanks for the warning about the new Persuasion! Now I know not to get excited about it.
Happy birthday, Kari!
Happy belated birthday, Anne! We share a birthday, as well as a love of reading! Many happy returns.
Spent my birthday visiting the public library, then home to watch Belfast on library DVD, and start reading Bomb Shelter by Philpott, as my holds had finally come in. Also welcomed the plumber unexpectedly, and we topped off the day with a birthday supper of seafood lasagna and chocolate fudge cake. An eventful but good birthday, thanks to you (book recommendation!), the plumber (speedy work) and my hubby, haha.
Happy birthday, Pam! That sounds like a wonderful day.❤️
My version of the not so grand adventure, the summer bucket list. All the fun things I want to do (or have already done this summer).
1. go to the zoo (actually I zoo walk every Thursday and took granddaughter last week).
2. eat outside on the terrace every evening, weather permitting.
3. take a picnic to Golden Gardens (nearby beach)
4. eat cherries as often as possible … falling behind on this one
5 make key lime pie or lemon ice box pie … perfect summer food
6. listen to music outside somewhere (did that last week and again today).
7. ice cream with blackberry sauce should be on this list somewhere
8. every kind of ice cream should be on this list (except coffee flavor)
9. check out the Nordstrom sale (stuff on the way)
10.read beach books
11. watch the best of the summer blockbusters … nothing like a summer action flick.
12. goof off.
13. take a day trip, maybe Mt Rainier or Whidby island? (taking the ferry to Vashon Island on Friday.
14. S’mores should be on this list…
This list is a DELIGHT. Thank you for sharing, Patricia!
Patricia-coffee ice cream is the best!! You can’t live in or adjacent to Seattle and not know that. haha
What a great list!! I went to Spokane for an outdoor concert a few weeks ago, on a non-traditionally cold June evening in Eastern Washington.
Patricia, your list sounds great, especially the trip to Whidbey Island! My daughter lives there and I’m in Florida so I don’t get to see her nearly enough! Enjoy your summer!
I haven’t watched the Persuasion movie yet, but I was very disappointed in the trailer. Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen book and it does not seem like the adaptation is going to be very good.
Hi Anne
On a completely different subject- attached is a fascinating article that says the shape of a city influences how much rain it gets! Another area of urban planning to think about!
https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/62c475698237080007ee186c?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1550010538#62c473ea8237080007ee0bf9
Fascinating indeed! Thanks for sharing.
Happy belated birthday!! It was also my husband’s birthday yesterday. Hope you had a wonderful day. 🙂
As a 15 year bookstore owner I can assure you indies are not booming but falling. The real facts are down 6% across the board since last year at this time.
Karen, I just wanted to say I am still so disappointed that the cancellation of my 2020 book tour meant I didn’t get to visit Foxtale as planned that year. I’ve heard wonderful things about your store and am very much looking forward to visiting in person. Please keep up the good work; we readers appreciate you so much.❤️
I good book (not brand new) to go with the ice cream–The Ice Cream Makers–https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/two-new-ice-cream-books-a-novel-and-a-cookbook/
I have very sensitive eyes. Several years ago Clinique had a fantastic SPF eye cream but by the time I was ready to my my second tube they’d discontinued it. I switched to the Supergoop, but a couple of years ago it was reformulated and the new formula has a tint and I can only assume the tint is the problem because it irritates the heck out of my eyes. So the search continues.
Anne, have a great time in Seaside, FL. I remember Sundog Books from when we used to visit my sister-in-law at her beach condo. That whole area is truly an experience.
Happy belated birthday Anne! Homemade ice cream is awesome. Disability Pride reads I could hug you. Thank you so much for seeing me, us, disabled people, when much of the wider world wants us to stay invisible and silent.
This weekend I’ll be making a jigsaw puzzle advent calendar!!
https://hurrayforpuzzlesblog.wordpress.com/2022/07/13/christmas-in-july-how-to-make-a-jigsaw-puzzle-advent-calendar/
Sounds like fun!
My sisters, sister-in-law, and I are planning to watch the new “Persuasion” this Saturday to destroy it amongst ourselves. . . if we can get through it. I could barely get through the preview, and I think one sister watched it on mute.
garden of the gods, ilove those red rocks. Right in my hometown.
I’ve searched and cannot find the post where you recommended them, but I have to thank you for pointing me to the Sun-San Saltwater sandals. I bought a navy blue pair (navy + white = summer uniform) and they are the BEST. My feet are stupid sensitive, like they’re made of tissue paper and rose petals. I get blisters if you look at my feet too hard. These are sturdy and comfortable! I’m thinking about getting another color. Yay! Thanks so much!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying yours!
I must recommend the new Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris movie for those wishing for entertainment indoors to beat the summer heat. Delightful!
Where’s your picture? I know it’s somewhere near me in the SW 😁
That’s Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs!
I knew nothing about the new Persuasion going into it – Netflix recommended it to me and I LOVED it. Now that I’m looking at the article and comments I’m seeing I’m clearly in the minority but I thought it was hilarious and so fun and fresh! My husband even snorted out loud during one moment although he was pretending not to watch. What a scathing review though. Just had to go on record as one of the movie’s (only?) defenders!
I don’t even understand why people are hating on the new Persuasion. I absolutely loved it!
I have made the key lime ice cream. It’s waiting in the freezer for after dinner, so we haven’t yet enjoyed the full experience. But the scrape-the-freezer-bowl tastes? –swoon– Thanks for the link!