Happy Oaks Day from Louisville, Kentucky! It’s Derby weekend here which means the kids are out of school, the city and track are packed, and everyone’s gearing up for the greatest two minutes in sports tomorrow. I can’t name a single horse running right now but that will change in the next twenty-four hours. But first: we’re actively putting together our 2024 Summer Reading Guide, coming your way so soon!
Are you ready for Book Camp?
Our THIRTEENTH annual Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Guide drops on May 16. In addition to releasing the guide, we’ll host our fabulous Unboxing party for our MMD Book Club members, What Should I Read Next Patreon community members, and a la carte purchasers. If you’ve ever considered becoming a member, now is an excellent time to jump in. I can’t wait to talk summer books with you all! Sign up here. Have a friend who would enjoy the MMD Summer Reading Guide and live Unboxing event? We now have a way for you to gift them a la carte access.
What’s this about Book Camp? This year’s guide has a gentle summer camp theme, and our team had so much fun bringing it to life. We can’t wait to show you!
Speaking of, we’re excited to introduce you to our new bookish merch in honor of Summer Reading Guide season. Read in style with our stickers and soft, cozy t-shirts and sweatshirts. Our merch shop is full of the perfect picks for any reader.
*Some items will be on preorder until May 10th with a limited quantity stocked after that date. We encourage you to order before May 10 to make sure you are able to grab the size and color you want!
My favorite finds from around the web:
The woman behind the Kentucky Derby’s most coveted hats: ‘The hat becomes part of you.’ (The Athletic) “Millinery, in fact, is as much a game of numbers as horse racing.” (If you read this profile and wanted to check out the hats, like I did, check out the Christine A. Moore Millinery Instagram account.)
Does all the Kentucky Derby coverage make you want to read more about millinery? Try this YA novel—and past MMD Book Club selection—set in gilded age Atlanta. (MMD)
Cast of ‘Thursday Murder Club’ Film Is Revealed. (Kirkus) What a lineup!
These fabulous Old Navy High-Waisted Linen-Blend Wide-Leg Pants are 40% off right now. (I adore my Anthro cropped linen pants, but you can’t beat the price on the Old Navy ones!) This is also a great dress for the price, in killer prints or an adorable white eyelet.
The Rick Steves guide to life. (Washington Post gift link) “The real Rick Steves is so much more complex than who you see on TV.”
The Great Felicity Reckoning. (Slate) “Felicity, by contrast, feels slightly forgotten, which means the timing is ripe, perhaps even felicitous, for a large-scale discovery and rediscovery.”
12 Mystery Novels Featuring Black, Indigenous, and POC Protagonists. (Electric Literature) Great list.
The Magic of Charlotte Tilbury. (Elle) Fun to learn more about the woman behind the brand. I’m a big fan of Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna (Sephora) and their Magic Cream moisturizer.
20 backlist reads from your favorite Summer Reading Guide authors. (MMD) What to read while you’re waiting for this summer’s buzziest new releases.
Important Seltzer Update: I tried the Topo Chico Sabores Tangerine Ginger Sparkling Water in Tallahassee and fell in love … but Topo isn’t widely available in my area. Imagine my surprise when I found a great selection at my local Target!
4 tips for dealing with a ferocious allergy season. (Vox) Ferocious is right: this is solid advice.
A Bronx Teacher Asked. Tommy Orange Answered. (New York Times gift link) What an incredible teacher! His students will never forget this day.
15 Pastas Absolutely Perfect for Spring. (Bon Appétit) These sound good!
Why I wrote an AI transparency statement for my book, and think other authors should too. (The Guardian) I hate that this has become necessary but I’m glad people are thinking about it.
Don’t miss these posts:
20 backlist favorites from 10 years of the Summer Reading Guide. A little something to whet your appetite as you wait for this year’s Summer Reading Guide.
7 steps to read “hard” books. “Hard” books are the books we want to read but feel intimidated by because of difficult themes or subject matter. These tips will help!
16 page-turning mysteries that aren’t too dark and gloomy. A list of favorite mysteries that fall squarely within the confines of the genre, yet maintain a hopeful tone throughout.
Have a great weekend!
21 comments
The new merchandise is delightful! I can’t wait for my sweatshirt!
I couldnt be more excited about Thursday Murder Club being made into a movie. The casting of Helen Mirren is genious. Now Judy Dench IS joyce. My greatest hope is that the book series will go on.
So I can see Ben Kingsley as Ron, which means Pierce Brosnan will be Ibrahim. I’m kind of disappointed they didn’t find an actor of South/Southeast Asian descent for that character. Unless the article got it wrong and these aren’t necessarily the actors for “three of the four pensioners.”
Pierce Brosnan has been cast as Ron, and Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim. Kingsley is of Indian descent.
Ben Kingsley is playing Ibrahim, and is of Indian and British heritage. Pierce is playing Ron.
I’m pretty sure Ben Kingsley (who is partly of Indian descent) is Ibrahim and Pierce Brosnan is Ron?
I have to believe Kingsley is Ibrahim which fits him well. And Pierce will be a rougher version of himself to be Ron. I love the cast so far and also pictured Helen Mirren while reading it. Any time there is a older former spy, she comes to mind like in Deanna Rayborne’s Killers of a Certain Age.
Same here, Dana! I pictured Helen Mirren the whole time I was reading the series, and I’m thrilled to see she’s been cast in the part! I could see Judy Dench playing Joyce beautifully, but I somehow imagined someone more ultra-ultra-feminine. However, I just can’t think of who that would be. The actresses that come to mind are all too young for the part. My little brain is whirring! By the way, I think the casting for the male roles is excellent! I never would have thought of Pierce Brosnan, but I think he’ll be perfect. This is going to be fun!
I agree . The casting is perfect can’t wait for the film hoping it will be as fun as the book.
@Dana, Judi Dench is wonderful in everything! — but she’s 89 and probably a little too old to be playing Joyce (who is supposed to be in her mid-70s, I think?). (Helen Mirren was always my first pick for Elizabeth, but I always thought Judi Dench would make a great Elizabeth too, if she was a few years younger.)
Helen Mirren is who I always pictured as Elizabeth.
Thank you for always sharing such great finds, I really look forward to my Friday morning emails!! Enjoy the Derby! Always a favorite to watch on my birthday weekend.
So funny, we recently signed onto Hulu via my daughter’s Spotify account to watch We Were The Lucky Ones and this inadvertently led to my finding Felicity! I loved Felicity when it originally aired. And I was never able to watch it bc it was via a paid venue I was not subscribed to. So, I am watching again and bugging my daughter to join me. I love Keri Russell! A few years back, it would have been absolutely perfect for her. Now she is about to embark on grad school abroad. But I still think she needs to watch, lol!
Enjoyed lots of topics on this post. Thanks so much 😊
Thank you for all the great finds! I needed the reminder that Old Navy has the best summer dresses, I just picked up a few for when summer hits San Diego (in the fall haha).
Love the idea of a theme for SRG this year!! And I especially love that it ties into the public library summer reading program theme! We even get to spend an evening after hours “camping” at our library!!
Rick Steves is a national treasure. I am currently traveling in Europe and his material is the first thing I go to when planning a trip.
As usual, lots of great links! I really loved the story about Tommy Orange. What a terrific experience for those students, their teacher, and Tommy!
Loved that story about Tommy Orange … it inspired me to read “There There” and I am so glad I did.
I knew immediately your millinery book had to be THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL. What a great read!
So glad you saw that Rick Steves article, Anne. I saw it and my first thought was I needed to send it to you!
Thank you for the Rick Steves’ article gift link. He is so interesting and his PBS travel show is fantastic. Have a great Derby weekend!
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