I’m happy to be back today to share my favorite recent reads and discoveries. As I’m writing this post, I’m sitting in our AirBnB in Paros, Greece, after making a last minute change to our trip due to a swarm of earthquakes around Santorini. This feels very on brand for 2025, to say the least, and I’m hopeful the earthquakes will fade without causing any major damage. While I’m on the road, I’ve been finishing up some reads for an upcoming book list I’ll be sharing here with you soon.
I think we can all agree it’s been quite a start to 2025. I hope you’ll find something here today that brings you a moment of joy, distraction, or discovery. Anne’s annual What’s saving your life right now? post came at just the right time for me this year—if you missed it, be sure to check it out. And if you’ve read, listened to, or discovered something you’d love to share with our reading community today, please let us know by leaving a comment below.
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.
‘Severance’ Self-Help Book ‘The You You Are’ Available to Download. (Variety) Like so many others, we’re currently fascinated by season two of Severance. I’ve been tempted to check out the real-life copy of the self-help book that the innies are obsessed with.
Katherine Arden on The Warm Hands of Ghosts and the Myths of the Great War. (Waterstones) I love Katherine Arden and her latest novel fills a particular bookshelf gap in my own reading life: World War One historical fiction. But since this story is from Arden, it also features a trio of old ladies who I interpreted as the Fates, a Faustian figure, and a fantastical take on one of the most tragic chapters of our shared history. In this essay, she writes about her creative experience and shares this line that feels especially resonant right now: “In times of change, especially of violent upheaval, humans have always resorted to mythmaking; myths are how we create meaning and narrative out events that are in fact random, arbitrary, indifferent to the desires and dreams of humanity.”
The Enduring Appeal of Magnificent Trees and Fantasy Forests. (Reactor) I feel like trees are having a literary moment (perhaps they’re more on my radar since hearing Ginger’s tree-related recommendations in WSIRN #454). I loved this article about trees and forests both real and imagined.
While we’re on the subject of trees, during a recent visit with family we played a multi-hour match of Botany (Amazon) and I now need to add this to my board game collection immediately. It was such a soothing experience and the art and story is delightful.
Bookshop.org launches new e-book platform that exclusively supports local bookstores. (NPR) In case you missed it, I hope you’re as excited as I am about this new way to support indie bookstores while indulging an e-reading habit.
While in Greece we discovered the Dakos Salad, a hearty yet simple main meal that I’ll be hoping to recreate once we arrive back in the U.S. this spring. I haven’t tried this specific recipe (Dimitra’s Dishes) but it looks close to what we experienced.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot in the Works. (Kirkus Reviews) This might make me re-subscribe to Netflix, finally, although I have a fresh perspective on this childhood favorite series after listening to the Wilder podcast (Apple Podcasts).
Inside a Collection of ‘Imaginary’ Books. (Atlas Obscura) Fascinating! I would love to wander through this collection.
SXSW Launches Book Publishing Imprint. (Publishers Weekly) I’ve never been to SXSW but I’m intrigued at this imprint that will “publish works by experts and innovators across creative industries with a mission to ‘encourage the production of ideas that can mold the future of tech, film, music, and beyond.’” I’ve paid much more attention to the imprints and publishers I enjoy since learning about this technique from Anne. The varied personalities of your favorite publishing imprints Patreon bonus episode is a great place to start.
I was absolutely a 90’s revival Swing Kid, and I’ve been to multiple Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Amazon) concerts to prove it. I loved this episode of Decoder Ring: Jump, Jive and Fail: The ’90s Swing Craze (Slate).
The Audie Awards Competition Names Its 2025 Finalists. (Publishing Perspectives) I’m thinking of adding Playground (Amazon) to my TBR—do you have any other audiobook recommendations based on this finalist list? I’d love to know!
As someone who has worked as a diplomat and has both family and friends working with the U.S. Agency for International Development worldwide, the cataclysmic and sudden shutdown of this organization has sent shock waves through my life and my personal and professional network. If you’re not familiar with USAID—many Americans aren’t—this article (The Querent Substack) from WSIRN-recommended author Alexander Chee has a great combination of information and actionable steps we can each take if we feel so called.
I spent a few short days in Dublin a few decades ago, but haven’t been back since. Anne’s recent literary tourism post (MMD) and this piece about an epic walk on Ireland’s wild coast (Afar) have me pushing this destination up my wish list.
Don’t miss these posts:
End your reading slump with these short novels and novellas. Short books that pack a big punch.
101 powerful books to celebrate Black History all year long. February is Black History Month! I hope this list helps broaden your TBR throughout the year.
10 contemporary love stories for bibliophiles. These bookish love stories will sweep you away.
Have a great weekend!
About the author
Holly Wielkoszewski is our What Should I Read Next Media Production Specialist. Her go-to genres are Fantasy and Sci-Fi. You can follow Holly on her Substack: A Liminal Life.
21 comments
I was in Crete in September 2023 and my favorite meal was this Dakos salad with a heavenly Vegetable Risotto. Thanks for discovering the rusk on Amazon! Now I can enjoy this at home!
I love this, Betsy. Isn’t it a delicious meal? Enjoy!
The free download of “The You You Are” is also available as an audiobook. It’s so well done. We can’t listen to it before bed anymore because our laughing keeps us awake.
Elizabeth, that sounds like a good problem? Glad you are enjoying it on audio!
Thank you for the information about USAID. My niece works for them overseas. I have been very concerned about what effect this will have on so many programs and families. I’m praying for the safe return of her and her family.
Thinking of your niece as this unfolds, Carol!
I recently listened to Whoopi Goldberg’s book and it was excellent.
Oh, I bet it would be – thank you for sharing, Mary Ann!
Thank you for amplifying USAID and its importance to American safety and values. I want to echo the call to action to call your representatives and make some noise for the tens of thousands of people who have dedicated their careers to providing assistance that not only saves lives, but also helps people in developing countries to improve their education, local economies, health, and well-being.
Thank you for the great information re: USAID. The scripts in Alexander Chee’s post are especially helpful.
I’m glad you found it helpful, Tamara. Thanks for commenting!
I have worked in the international US community for over a decade and the attack on USAID has been both catastrophic and heartbreaking. I have friends literally fighting to keep food in the hands of starving children. This is chaotic evil.
Well, thanks for the heads up about Santorini! I visited there in 1998 and adored it, and my niece honeymooned there in 2022. I had not heard about the earthquakes! I can well imagine how likely a major outburst of the volcanoes would be, (and how devastating, potentially changing (again) the shape of the island) but I would hate to see anything happen to the delightful warren of dwellings on Santorini. I hastened to look it up, and will be watching out for it now.
And I loved the TREE article! Yes, I think Trees are having their day. In many genres. I loved Lab Girl and Rules for Visiting.
So glad you have happy memories of Santorini, Suzy! We’re very disappointed to miss it and I hope the events will pass without major impact.
I also enjoyed Lab Girl – Rules for Visiting is new to me, so thanks for placing that on my radar.
I’m not a big fan of crowds so I’ve only braved 2 concerts in my life and one of them was Big Bad VooDoo Daddy! It was such an awesome experience!
Right!? I stand by my BBVD love. Glad you had that experience, too!
In 2017 we rented a house on the Dingle peninsula. You can actually see the edge of house in the third photo, look right from the yellow house to the red with green roof. It was absolutely magical and one of our favorite spots we have visited.
Oh, that does sound magical, Kaye!
Actually My hsuband and I spent three weeks in Ireland before we tied the knot back in 1984. We did the Ring of Kerry and traveled around the Dingle peninsula. It’s was our favorite part of the trip. Purchased two Irish books that I still have. Twenty Years a-Growing by Maurice O’Sullivan and the Islandman by Tomas o Groban translated from the Gaelic. Still have them both — I have reread Twenty Years A-Growing twice. When I saw the 1984 inscription I was stunned to realize that was 40 years ago………….
As for the raping of the U.S. Government — I am protesting, I am canvassing and trying to help the candidate I hope will make a difference for a House of Representative seat and getting politically active – Something I have not done since the Vietnam War era. What is happening now is illegal in many respects but the courts are too slow and the balance of power that held the government together is being shredded. Can you tell how upset I am, I am mostly in a rage or reading fantasy, romances and light reads.
Same-I was pondering why my last 3 well reviewed contemporary fiction book club picks have been “meh” for me and realized that outside of book club I have only been reading romantasy-it is the escapism I currently need to counteract overconsuming news, calling and emailing representative.
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