What are you up to this weekend? We’re looking at a few beautiful days of fall weather around here and I’m excited to take a nice long walk or two, drink coffee on the patio, and maybe pick up a few pumpkins for front porch decorating.
I hope you have something good 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:
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.
Zadie Smith is ruthless about getting rid of books. (Washington Post gift link) “I’m aware, when I go to certain writers’ studies, they’re beautiful and everything is perfect. That kind of energy, I can only put into writing.”
The coziest item in my home. (MMD) Brigid continues our raving fans series with an ode to her perfect throw blanket.
Walking as Inactivity. (The Commonplace) “The luxury of the aimless walk is one of the most accessible and readily available blank spaces we have. It is no coincidence that such a stroll will all of itself produce ideas and insights and new observations. In the absence of a task the mind will begin to play. It will be free.”
Meet the 2024 MacArthur Fellows. (MacArthur Foundation.) Big congrats to the 2024 class of “Genius” grant recipients, including the writers Ling Ma, Jericho Brown, Alice Wong, and Jason Reynolds.
12 classics on audiobook. (MMD) A tried-and-true method for reading classics.
I bought a few fall puzzles on a winter sale and have been waiting all year to dive in! Which shall it be first: Michael Storrings’s Halloween Parade, his Pumpkin Patch, or this beautiful (and I suspect challenging) Autumn in the Neighborhood puzzle?
The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age. (The Walrus) Gulp. “But we know all this. What we hardly talk about is how we’ve reorganized not just industrial activity but any activity to be capturable by computer, a radical expansion of what can be mined.”
I baked these peanut butter cookies this week to satisfy a craving and they were fantastic. (New York Times Cooking gift link) There are many, many modifications suggested in comments but I followed the recipe as written, using Whole Foods 365 brand unsweetened crunchy peanut butter, and they turned out great.
These LEGO-built landscapes and landmarks from artist Rocco Buttliere are STUNNING. (Rocco Buttliere) I mean, how?!
Seven Lessons I Learned From Ina Garten’s Memoir. (Cup of Jo) I unexpectedly found myself in the car for many hours yesterday and Ina’s voice via the Be Ready When the Luck Happens audiobook proved to be an engaging and peaceful companion. I’m 70% through and can’t wait to get back to it.
This You’ve Got Mail mug makes me grin big every time I see it. You might as well get this sticker to go with it, wink wink.
24 Inspiring Fall Outfit Ideas From Fashion Month’s Best-Dressed Guests. (Marie Claire) I’m not stylish enough to actually use these as outfit inspiration (except in the Devil Wears Prada “cerulean” sense, if you know what I mean) but I sure love looking at the pretty street style pictures from Paris, London, New York, and Milan.
Don’t miss these posts:
21 spine-tingling but not TOO scary audiobooks for fall. Spine-tingling audiobook recommendations from a self-professed scaredy cat!
25 jigsaw puzzles to treat yourself or someone you love. An array of puzzles to give as gifts or replenish your stash!
20 unputdownable mysteries and thrillers to keep you glued to the page. There’s nothing like a well-plotted mystery novel to shake me out of a reading slump or to get the pages turning when it feels hard to focus.
Have a great weekend!
7 comments
Those legos are INCREDIBLE!
My sister-in-law’s father spent most of his career working at the Chicago Board of Trade. I just sent her a link to the page with the Lego version. All of his creations are amazing, and so intricate!
I feel the same way about Ina’s memoir. I’ve been listening in the car all week and it has me looking for errands to run!
Curious what playback speed you all listen to on your audiobook apps. I usually do 1x but if I am in a hurry, or the narrator has a slow manner, I up it to 1.25 unless the increase makes them sound like a cartoon character! Recently tried to rush through last third of All Fours by Miranda July because it was dragging, her self-narration was flat. Eventually gave up and not feeling guilty about my DNF. Anyone else have comments on that one? Should I try again??
My normal go to speed is 1.5, sometimes I’ll go even faster, but I’ve never gone higher than 1.8. I did read somewhere that if you are interested in trying to speed up the narration to do it in small jumps. For example 1.0 to 1.10, then 1.20. Give it several sentences before moving it up again. It also helps if you pause the book before doing it.
I love the Galison Pumpkin Patch one!!!!
I am facing surgery soon and knew that a comforting throw would be useful. I ordered the one Brigid recommended and I love it! I will also make use of the puzzle recommendations—I found the Galison puzzles through this site. And of course I enjoy the book recommendations most of all!
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