What are you up to this weekend? I’m wrapping up a busy week and am counting on some quality family time in the hot hot sun, along with some quality reading time. I’m also hoping to finish my Ted Lasso re-watch! (If you missed it: I talked about that in this week’s post about 9 little things I’m loving right now.)
I hope this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
My Reading Adventures is almost here!
We’re only days away from the release of my new kids’ journal My Reading Adventures. I can’t wait to get it in your kids’ hands. Don’t miss out on the preorder bonuses!
If you’re around Seaside, Florida on August 2, I’ll be at Sundog Books for a release day signing at 12:00pm CT. I’d love to see you there!
My favorite finds from around the web:
- That Voice You’re Hearing? It Might Be Hers. Fun profile of author and audiobook narrator Julia Whelan. (Gift link.) Julia appeared on this week’s episode of What Should I Read Next and it’s packed with great book recs! Listen to episode 340: The secret life of an audiobook narrator.
- How to fall back in love with reading. “You’ll never become a reader by wishing you read more, listening exclusively to podcasts, or sitting next to a book while you scroll Instagram. (Even buying books doesn’t make you a reader, as I have, unfortunately, found out.)” This delightful piece is by the author of our November Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club selection.
- Craftsy is running a hot summer deal: get your premium membership for only $0.99 for your first full year (normally $89.99). Crafts, of course, but also cooking, baking, gardening, and writing!
- The 14 Prettiest Outdoor Restaurants in Europe. Take me there!
- Alice Elliott Dark Writes Women in Their 80s Like Men in Their 30s. Lovely interview and behind-the-scenes on Fellowship Point, a 2022 Summer Reading Guide selection.
- This Anything-Goes Salsa Will Change the Way You Think About Leftover Veggies. This sounds great!
- The Booker Prize 2022 Longlist is out.
- I’ve been making this spinach and red pepper frittata every few days. I keep slices in the fridge and wake up to a ready-to-go breakfast. Such a nice way to start the day!
- What Counts as Seeing. Fantastic conversation between journalist Ed Yong and disabled activist Alice Wong.
- Has an Iconic Book Series Been Completely Ruined? I’m in favor of whatever format encourages kids to read.
Don’t miss these posts:
- 20 books featuring seasoned female protagonists. For readers looking for good books featuring female protagonists who aren’t just in their twenties and thirties.
- 8 workout staples that make getting fit a little more fun. Fun workout attire really can make a difference!
Upcoming Events:
- August 2: Book signing at Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida: I’ll be there at 12:00pm CT with my new kids’ journal My Reading Adventures.
- August 11: Kickstart Your Reading Life with Mystery: Crowd-Pleasing Picks from Popular Genres: Mystery. This is a Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club event.
- August 18: Austen in August Tea Party: It’s Austen in August! We’re reading Sense & Sensibility and having tea with cooking expert and self-professed Anglophile, Caitlyn from Geraldine + Virginia. We’ll learn Regency-era history and modern tea etiquette to enhance our Austen reading experience. This is a Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club event.
- August 25: Live discussion with Peng Shepherd: Time for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club discussion of The Cartographers with author Peng Shepherd!
- August 27: Sense & Sensibility Watch Party: Stream, buy, borrow, or rent the film, then join us as we all press play on the 1995 version of the film Sense & Sensibility, all together at the same time. We’ll use the Zoom chat feature to share our thoughts as we watch! This is a Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club event.
You can find more upcoming events here.
Have a great weekend!
5 comments
I much appreciated the list of older women lead characters (and put several on my TBR list). Alas, I’ve read every single Miss Julia book (delightful character even when she’s wrong, she’s still right).
I want more older lead women characters that aren’t cute, have a brain and know how to use it. I want women with flaws and interesting life experiences.
I’m currently writing a mystery with an older woman as the lead. More correctly, I’m rewriting it again and again and again. I do have an editor who reads it and tells me to rewrite again. I tell myself this is a growth experience. Oh well, it keeps me off the hot summer streets and glued to my computer.
Love your posts. I’ve gotten so many additions to my TBR pile over the years.
Sending love for your reading choices and your writing. Keep on it!
Hi Patricia! Keep at the writing! I admire people who write…
One suggestion for a book with an older (and flawed) female protagonist – Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce. I loved this book about a woman who sets off for New Caledonia to search for a mythical golden beetle. It’s a book about her resolve and grit through her madcap adventures, but also about finding unexpected friendship. Happy Reading!
I have read 2/3 of your book list featuring older women. I have re-read The Enchanted April & enjoyed the movie. A newer book The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett was enjoyable and an older title, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. A non-fiction amazing true story, Grandma Gatewoods Walk by Ben Montgomery..
I’m reading (and adoring) Fellowship Point now. I really enjoyed the Interview between Halimah Marcus and Alice Elliott Dark. My reading experience is richer from reflecting on their conversation. Thanks for sharing this link.