What are you up to this weekend? Around here, I’m going to a dance recital, watching The Holiday with MMD Book Club, and hopefully wrapping up my holiday shopping. Plus choosing a new audiobook to enjoy because I just finished my current listen last night!
I hope YOU have something to look forward to this weekend, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
Good stuff on the horizon!
Two of our big annual events are right around the corner in January:
Team Best Books of the Year: Join the MMD team on January 9 as we share our favorite reads of 2023. This live event is for MMD Book Club members and (for the first time) WSIRN Patreon supporters.
Spring Book Preview: Our seasonal book previews are brimming with bookish delight! Join us for Spring Book Preview featuring 42 forthcoming books I’ve read and loved, books I can’t wait to read, and books of note publishing between January 1 and mid-April. It’s all happening live on January 25 for our MMD Book Club members and WSIRN Patreon supporters. (Stay tuned for a la carte ticket info.)
Both events are hosted for our member communities with recordings available the next day. We’d love to see you there!
My favorite finds from around the web:
My favorite books of 2023. (MMD) I already thought of one book I forgot: Congratulations, The Best Is Over by R. Eric Thomas which most definitely belongs on my favorites list (and my most frequently recommended and most gifted lists).
My favorite audiobooks of 2023. (MMD) A companion post to my favorite books; the only difference between these two lists is format.
Shelf Life: Jesmyn Ward. (ELLE Magazine) I love learning about the books that shaped her.
Craftsy extended their Cyber Monday sale: through December 10 get a 1 Year Premium Membership for just $0.65, the lowest price ever. This has proved popular with MMD readers not just for the cooking, crafting, photography, and home decor, but for the options found under “writing” like journaling, hand lettering, memoir writing, and fiction writing.
These Women Represent the Future Book Publishing Industry. (Shondaland) Such great profiles.
‘I was told not to make eye contact with Tom Cruise’: meet the world’s most prolific film extra. (The Guardian) What an amazing life!
Tūl pens, my one true love. (MMD) The pen that captured my heart: a fantastic and relatable installment in our Raving Fans series.
Yossy Arefi’s Malted Chocolate Cookies. (Dinner: A Love Story) I can’t wait to make these; they sound delicious. (Speaking of cookies: the cranberry orange shortbread I tried for our Holiday Cookie Exchange were SO GOOD. Everyone wanted the recipe.)
14 books that aren’t bestsellers — and that’s what makes them special. (Washington Post gift link) “When choosing books, here’s a bit of advice: Ignore the bestseller list. To give a bestseller shows—how to be kind?—a lack of imagination. What you want is something to match the personality, taste or interests of your family member or friend.”
The case for inviting everyone to everything. (Vox) This is an especially good time of year to keep this in mind. “Especially in a purported epidemic of loneliness and isolation, putting yourself in a place to form new and surprising connections could lead to revelations. So why not broaden the invitation?”
Best recent fashion find: the Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater. I can now attest that the rumors are true: this is a great dupe for my super splurgy, cult favorite Jenni Kayne sweater. And you can’t beat the price: $99.90 to Jenni Kayne’s $425. The 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater is just $49.90, and the men’s options—already wrapped as holiday gifts for the men in my family—are also great. (The order deadline for 12/24 delivery is midnight Pacific time!)
What does it take to go from studio to stage? (Sound Judgment substack) This written Q&A for a podcast that has been dubbed “therapy for podcasters” explores public speaking, author interviews, and hosting as hospitality through the lens of one raucous conversation.
Meet The Woman Behind Gilmore Girls’ Iconic “La-La” Vocals. (Bustle) Just reading this headline put the music in my head.
There’s a better way to grind coffee, according to science. (Washington Post gift link) Will is skeptical but we are absolutely trying this: our ground coffee goes EVERYWHERE because of the static discussed here.
The Best of Book Club Sweepstakes. We’re partnering with Simon and Schuster for a fabulous book club-themed giveaway: one grand prize winner will receive bookish goodies to share with their favorite readers! You’ll win all of the following for yourself and seven book club pals: eight copies of ALL twelve of the 2023 S&S book club picks, our MMD TBR tote, the My Reading Life book journal, our custom book darts, a cozy Saatva throw blanket, and Plum Deluxe tea. You’ll also win an incredible Isadora Maxi Dress and cookies from Funny Face Bakery for your next book club gathering. Enter here; you’ll be the hero of your book club!
From our archives:
A book lover’s guide to literary Edinburgh. This brings back such good memories. I can’t wait to go back.
20 riveting wilderness mystery and suspense novels. These gripping tales about detectives, park rangers, and hikers are perfect for enjoying indoors, preferably in front of a cozy fireplace.
13 skincare favorites for winter weather. Nothing makes me pay more attention to my skin than dry winter weather.
10 series kids love (and their parents do, too).
Have a great weekend!
4 comments
Thank you for bringing your literary Edinburgh post out of the archives – it’s perfect timing, since I leave for the city on Sunday! I’d already blocked a “bookstore crawl” day into my itinerary, but now I’ve got a couple additional places to add to my list.
Hurray for bookish serendipity! You’re going to have a great trip.
Thank you for the link to the Quince 100% cotton sweater! I trust your taste in sweaters, so I grabbed one as a Christmas treat for myself.
I hope you love it!