What are your long weekend plans? First off, I’m looking forward to a break in this heat wave. (102 yesterday, no thank you!) We’re looking forward to welcoming college kids home from school and going to our first cross country meet of the season, and enjoying what I hope will be a mix of running around town and lazing around the house. (I am hoping to finish my current print book and audiobook this weekend!)
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.
A summer sale
Because summer’s not over—and neither is summer reading! For this weekend only, get your a la carte 2024 MMD Summer Reading Guide for just $10 instead of the usual $15.
My team and I take great pride in what we do: we pour a lot of love, knowledge, and expertise into every year’s SRG, but dare I say this year’s book camp-themed edition is particularly fun?
We’ve never discounted our Summer Reading Guide before. Your purchase includes the full SRG experience: our digital 46-page digital PDF Guide and our 90-minute Unboxing video where I walk you through every title, why I chose it, and why I think it might (or might not!) be right for your reading life.
Our guide is brimming with books I’ve read and loved, plus fun and helpful features like our ever-popular Awesome on Audio selections, New in Paperback releases, piles of readalikes, and standout summer selections from our team members.
Click here to get your 2024 Summer Reading Guide now. Our sale is good now through Monday September 2 at midnight EDT. No code or coupon needed—the sale price is already live on our shop site.
My favorite finds from around the web:
I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there’s no gift link and you’re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a service like Pocket.
The 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years. (The Times) This list is based in the U.K. but there’s overlap with the bestselling titles in the U.S.
The Dynamism of Growth: William Kent Krueger on Milestones and Making the Familiar Fresh Again. (CrimeReads) “Always the challenge with a long-running series is how to keep it fresh. To my mind, the best way to do this is to offer, book by book, a look at the dynamic process of growth for the characters as they age, as events shape and reshape how they view the world, themselves, and their relationship with one another.”
Can This $13 Walmart T-Shirt Save the American Garment Industry? (GQ) “A T-shirt is one of the simplest and most ubiquitous pieces of clothing in the world, but like many apparently simple things, it turns out to be incredibly complicated, especially if you’re set on making it entirely in the United States.”
How Iowa libraries serve communities in the digital age. (Iowa Public Radio) “‘You may be able to get that copy on Amazon or Apple Books for $12, $20. We’re paying $65, we’re paying $85, for audiobooks that can be $125 per copy.'” If you want to understand more about how library finances work, this piece is for you.
After professing my summer love for “food in bowls” in this post, a friend texted me Pinch of Yum’s Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Salad with Rice Noodles recipe. I knew I would love it but to my surprise (because not everyone loves rice noodles as much as I do) it was a huge hit with the whole family.
14 recommended reads for those traveling to Japan. (MMD) Holly put together a great list for armchair travel.
Haters came for this ‘disappointing’ national park. It’s fighting back. (Washington Post gift link) This made me laugh so hard!
11 Ways I’m Channeling Back-to-School Vibes as an Adult. (The Everygirl) Love this. “As I transitioned from student to employed adult, however, I started to miss my back-to-school rituals and decided to recreate them for myself. Now, I like to treat the last few weeks of summer like I’m heading back to school and reset everything in my life.”
One of my it’s-hot-as-blazes coping strategies is to get my wardrobe ready for fall. I just ordered Quince’s 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater in two new colors. Between this cotton sweater and their cashmere version I now own this Quince style in five colors. (I need a small for Quince blouses but prefer a medium for their sweaters.)
10 Garden Reading Nook Ideas for a Backyard Getaway. (Martha Stewart) I’m feeling inspired.
Pumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explained. (Vox) “When a food trend is as in-your-face as pumpkin spice is — ever been to a Trader Joe’s in October? — it forces us to think about how the free market is essentially designed to create this kind of phenomenon.”
Craftsy just launched their end Of summer deal: use this link to get your Craftsy Premium Membership for only $0.99 for your first full year (normally $123).
The Best US Cities For Book Lovers In 2024. (Explore) Are you as surprised by these results as I was?
Trekking 85 Miles With Grandpa, Scuba Diving With Grandma. (New York Times gift link) “It’s clear that many older adults are enjoying longer “healthspans” — the time they are active, fit and healthy. This shift is adding a new dimension to traditional grandparent-grandchild vacations: adventure.”
I Am Probably Snooping on Your Books (Wallflower Chats) “There’s something about spying a familiar book cover in the wild, in the hands of a stranger, that opens a new door for conversation.”
Don’t miss these posts:
20 wonderful books in translation. Expand your literary horizons with these books in translation!
10 campus novels that will take you back to your school days.
30 Jane Austen-inspired books for Janeites of all ages. These titles celebrate the vibrant wit and dependable comfort of Jane Austen.
Have a great weekend!
16 comments
Book list seems very UK slanted – I’d be surprised if Delia’s books make the US list at all!
I went to Harrisburg last year for a long weekend, and when the forecast showed rain, I looked up bookstores. We went to four fabulous stores–Midtown Scholar, which features in the article; Paperback Exchange, great collection of genre fiction, especially romance; The Bookworm Bookstore, at the farmer’s market; and Cupboard Maker Books which was astoundingly large and featured a wonderful book mural on the building AND bookstore cats. Highly recommend!
I live in this area, and 100% concur with your choices! Glad you found some great spots!
It’s such a fantastic bookish place to visit. So glad you enjoyed it!
I am traveling to Wales and London for the first time…any book recommendations ?
For London, try Jeffrey Archer’s books. For Wales, “How Green Was My Valley.”
Thanks for this rec. I’m always looking for books set in Wales and they are hard to find! The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston is the last one I’ve found set in Wales.
I tried to order the Summer Reading Guide on sale for $10 but when I went to the cart to check out, a popup comes up that asks if I want to order the Fall Reading Guide also. The little ‘no thanks’ at the bottom is not a link so the popup doesn’t go away unless a person agrees to order the Fall Reading Guide too? As a result you can’t reach the cart to continue check out for just the Summer Reading Guide?
Also I don’t belong to any of the groups so don’t have a sign in and don’t know if that is also required to order the Summer Reading Guide?
This process seems a little complicated for ordering. Maybe there is a way to make it easier? Thanks.
The cute navy blue jumpsuit with the happy camper cup!! Do you have links for either of those?
Thank you! I purchased both this spring and just checked and neither still seems to be available. The blouse (it is a blouse, though a jumpsuit along these lines sure sounds cute!) was Evereve and the mug was a Target dollar spot find.
So proud to be from Lancaster PA, No. 1 for book lovers! Aaron’s Books is a great independent book store in nearby Lititz, where we now live. Thanks for mentioning it!
I am an Uber driver and I often ask what passengers are reading. They make suggestions; I make suggestions. It’s awesome. I am definitely a book snoop.
I love this!
Gotta thank you for suggesting “I lived on butterfly hill” from your 20 books in translation post. I’ve been working at learning Spanish for some time and it is difficult to find books written in Spanish for adults that have vocabulary I can handle without constant ly checking my dictionary. I’m reading this book in Spanish and because it was written for middle school age I can handle the vocabulary but the writing and characters are lovely. Though written for older children, the themes are complex enough to be enjoyed by adults. I love this book and Celeste’s loving family.
So pleased to see Central PA recognized for its bookish towns of Lancaster and Harrisburg. Before we started recording my recent episode, I encouraged Anne to visit when she needs a getaway filled with indie bookstores and fantastic food!
I’m thrilled to see Central PA get recognition for its bookish towns like Lancaster and Harrisburg. Before we recorded my latest episode, I suggested to Anne that she visit if she’s looking for a getaway with indie bookstores and amazing food!
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