How is it December already? We’re rolling into December a little sleepily—one of my kids has a show this weekend and that’s both tons of fun AND keeps us up too late. I’m looking forward to hosting out-of-town family, going to the performances together, and finishing this puzzle and (hopefully) this audiobook.
Speaking of December: we’ve collected our best seasonal posts in one place for your convenience and browsing pleasure: this is the place to get great gift ideas, consider new traditions, and help you stay grounded this month. View our holiday collection here.
I hope you have something to look forward to these next few days, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
My favorite finds from around the web:
‘She’s not waiting.’ (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Meet the remarkable 14-year-old owner of a bookstore in Shawnee, Kansas.
The 2023 Modern Mrs Darcy Holiday Cookie Exchange. (MMD) We may not be able to exchange actual cookies together but we CAN trade recipes!
The 10 Best Books of 2023. (New York Times gift link) I’m a sucker for a “best” or “favorites” list, even when they’re out of sync with my own taste. Keep an eye out for my list of favorite (not “best”) books next week!
My Job Is Books. Who else desperately needs this tshirt?
A baker’s dozen of cozy mysteries. (MMD) “While I agree with Anne Shirley that Octobers are fabulous, I am so glad to live in a world where there are cozy mysteries.”
Is the Campus Novel Dead? (Esquire) I sure hope not but this raises great points about how it can and should evolve.
The best place for product reviews is … Reddit? (Vox) Unexpected but it makes sense: I find myself going there more and more these days to see what “regular people” think about their purchases.
How Natalie Naudus Reached the Pinnacle of Audiobook-Narrator Fame. (Shondaland) From opera singer to audiobook narrator!
This candle made me laugh out loud! You’ve Got Mail fans, you’ll totally get it. (I might need this one, too.)
Why Does Stress Seem to Make My Skin So Much Worse? (SELF) Talk about adding insult to injury!
These 8 Boutique Hotels Host Beautiful Libraries. (Hotels Above Par) I’ve stayed at the Library Hotel in NYC and it was incredible. The rest of these sound amazing.
A friend gifted us silicone donut molds for baking and now I can bake this favorite Baked Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe (NYT Cooking gift link) as actual donuts instead of as muffins. (If you have a baked donut recipe you love, would you share in comments?)
I won the National Spelling Bee. This is what it takes to master spelling. (Washington Post gift link) “The skill of guessing is everything.”
12 giftable books for every reader. (MMD) Because book gifts are the best gifts.
Late addition because maybe y’all knew this was coming but I didn’t: get 20% off your Sephora purchase with the code YAYGIFTING, plus 30% off Sephora collection. (Now I am so glad I didn’t hit “checkout” on my stocking stuffers last night!) I shared my fall Sephora shopping list in this edition of Links I Love, plus a few Sephora recs are in our stocking stuffers post.
8 Fascinating Facts About the Appalachian Trail. (Daily Passport) Have you ever hiked part or all of the trail?
From our archives:
112 reader recommendations for festive holiday fiction. So many great options here.
Elevate your reading experience with these favorite bookish things. Are you looking for more comfort and joy in your reading life?
15 books about books for bibliophiles. For everyone who loves books about books!
Addictive spiced nuts. We devour this stuff.
Have a great weekend!
9 comments
I’ve taken just a few steps on the AT, but my husband once hiked on it a few days with his Boy Scout troop. Of course this article about the Appalachian Trail brings to mind 2 great books: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis!
Thanks for these book recs! I loved A Walk in the Woods but I haven’t yet read Becoming Odyssa.
And Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben McIntyre. I always enjoy an “older feisty protagonist.
My only problem with your Links I Love posts is I feel like I need to have an actual conversation about them!
Totally agree about Reddit. It feels like one of the last corners of the internet that hasn’t become all about influencers and advertising.
Speaking of LOL candles, I got this amazing Moby Dick candle for my daughter (she and I did a long-distance buddy read of the book this year). I am so excited to give it to her! We try to read a classic together every year. Next year’s buddy read is Don Quixote if you have any gift tie-in suggestions… https://www.etsy.com/listing/785465628/
I have never tried a baked donut. Do they taste/feel like muffins in donut form or does the shape change the taste and texture?
I haven’t tried your spiced nuts yet because my husband is mostly vegan (I’m less so but try to accommodate him). I just learned that aquafaba works in place of the egg whites in spiced nut recipes, so I can finally give them a try this week!
Thanks for the kind words, Deirdre!
That Moby Dick candle IS amazing. I hear you on Reddit. I hope your spiced nuts turn out great. And I haven’t tried a baked donut either, but I’m going to tomorrow!
I love all of these roundups. Currently searching for the next great read so the NYT list is very helpful
We make baked donuts all the time at my house! Here is my favorite recipe for Baked Churro Donuts: https://theartoffoodandwine.com/baked-churro-donuts/
And how can I resist a great cookie swap? These Crinkle Cookies are always on my Christmas cookie platter and they are a recipe handed down 3 generations. https://theartoffoodandwine.com/dark-chocolate-crinkle-cookies/
I am always so impressed by how varied your sources are for these weekly curations! From the New York Times to the St. Louis Post Dispatch!! Great work!
Thanks for sharing the article about Seven Stories in Shawnee. I was excited to see the news from the area near where I grew up. Turns out she attends the high school I did! Maybe we’ll have a chance to visit her store when we are in the area for the holidays. Have a wonderful beginning to December.
In a moment of serendipity, I just got around to reading Links I Love this morning while eating a donut I had baked! This is a favorite recipe because it uses mashed banana to make it sweet and thus has less sugar. A couple of tips: you can just melt chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate ones) in the microwave, you don’t need the cream if you don’t have it. I also like to drizzle peanut butter on them in addition to the chocolate. These are so good! http://topwithcinnamon.blogspot.com/2012/03/whole-wheat-baked-banana-chocolate.html