What are you up to this weekend? I’m looking forward to time outdoors because we’re finally enjoying a break from the heat and humidity where I live. I haven’t been able to read much this week—back to school season is relentless, am I right?—so I’m hoping to spend some quality time with my current book-in-progress as well.
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 state 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 bookmarking service.
How to read like a novelist. (quite useless) On reading for the purpose of learning how to write aesthetic fiction—or for developing a rich interior life.
I’m not ignoring your message – I’m overwhelmed by the tyranny of being reachable. (The Guardian) “In today’s culture, your responsiveness equals your worth. It’s a proxy for your love, your professionalism, your care.”
Everything you need to know about Fall Book Preview this fall. (MMD) Fall is going to be lit(erary)!
I just noticed that Madewell’s Labor Day sale started early: get an extra 40% off sale items. This makes for a GREAT deal on some of their very good bags, including several I own and adore: check out their Essential Bucket Tote, Handwoven Cane Tote, Essential Curve Shoulder Bag, and many more styles. There are lots more clothing and accessory deals to be had if you know what you’re looking for!
The Diplomat Season 3 Trailer & Release Date Revealed: Kate Investigates New President. (ScreenRant) Coming October 16! Will and I LOVED the first two seasons and found it through your recommendations. (Thank you!) But we need a show in the meantime: what should we watch next?
The Otherworldly Ambitions of R. F. Kuang. (The New Yorker) Compelling profile of Kuang’s life and novels.
Fancy Sexy Little Non-Alcoholic Drinks I Love. (Earl Earl by Lauren Pantin) I haven’t been drinking since early last year, and am always on the lookout for fun and interesting drinks that aren’t Diet Coke, Spindrift, or tonic with lots of lime. (If you have more good ones to try, please share in comments!)
I ended up with a bottle of Color Wow’s Extra Strength Dream Coat Ultra-Moisturizing Anti-frizz Treatment; my hopes weren’t high because my fine and thick hair is PICKY about product but I have been using it for a couple of months now and I love it. Also available at Ulta.
Our team’s best books of summer. (What Should I Read Next?) TBR inspiration! And such fun conversations.
What Happened When I Tried to Replace Myself with ChatGPT in My English Classroom. (Literary Hub) Fascinating! And worth reading to the end. “It was this line of thinking that led me to conduct an experiment in my English classroom…. Rather than taking an “abstinence-only” approach to AI, I decided to put the central, existential question to them directly: was it still necessary or valuable to learn to write? The choice would be theirs. We would look at the evidence, and at the end of the semester, they would decide by vote whether A.I. could replace me. What could go wrong?”
What I’ve been reading lately: the new and the notable. (MMD) Short and sweet book reviews of what I’ve been reading lately.
The Very Best Cookie Delivery Services for When You Need Sugar Directly at Your Doorstep. (Bon Appétit) This was fun to peruse, but I’m sending homemade cookies to my college students this weekend. (These!)
Puzzle Me a Mystery: Solve the Puzzle to Find the Killer. (CrimeReads) “When I tell people I’m writing a mystery series that features jigsaw puzzles, the reactions fall into two categories….” I enjoyed this list of mysteries in which puzzles feature prominently in the plot.
Life In Elastic, It’s Fantastic. (Bustle) “Though the arc of American fashion is long, it bends toward comfort.”
7 tips for book club success from a group that’s been going for decades. (Washington Post) “One of the original rules of this group was: ‘We all seem to agree that by the end of an evening, we don’t all have to like a book any better, but we want to understand it more.’”
She ditched New York for Paris at the age of 79 and says it’s the best decision she’s ever made. (CNN Travel) An inspiration! And an interesting look at the practicalities involved in a big international move.
Don’t miss these posts:
7 memoirs read by the author. There’s something special about hearing a memoir brought to life in the author’s own voice.
Get ready to set the mood for a cozy season. It’s time to replenish my candle stash.
20 notable novels featuring family secrets. Stories built around family secrets make irresistible reads!
Have a great weekend!
18 comments
Super excited about a new season of The Diplomat. Popping in to leave some show suggestions…they are all British/Scottish, so you know language…as one of my British friends said “we just have a different relationship with some words.” First, The Lazarus Project on Netflix. Second, Dept. Q on Netflix. My husband, teenaged son and I all loved these two. My husband and I are 3ish episodes into Black Doves (also Netflix…and Keira Knightly!) and also really enjoying it!
I’d recommend for your interim viewing “Dept. Q” on Netflix or “Crash Landing on You” (in Korean with English subtitles). Of course, if you go down the rabbit hole of Korean shows, you will thank me and you won’t run out of enjoyable viewing for a long time.
Just finished Dept. Q and LOVED it! Matthew Goode is fabulous in this role and I loved all the other characters as well. For those considering it, know that it’s highly salty in its language. I found it made the story more authentic and I don’t mind but wanted to mention it.
Has anyone read “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray? It is the Sept. selection for our book club. Here’s the thing…. Was I intrigued enough to finishe the whole book? yes,I think so. Do I know what the book wccCas about? No, not really. Any thoughts?
Another vote for Department Q… and I read recently that there is going to be a season 2! Happy dance!!
Hubby and I recently watched Land Man and 1923, both by Taylor Sheridan of Yellowstone fame. Both of these are excellent series with wonderful casting. Highly recommend if you have a way to watch either of these.
For a non-alcoholic mocktail option, my go-to is mixing club soda with a flavor packet of true lemon and adding in a fruit option. For summer, I’ve liked using the mango flavor and adding light pineapple juice (very tropical). I’ve also done the black cherry flavor with sliced limes, and the raspberry flavor with sliced lemons. (Next on my list is to try the lemonade flavor with blueberries.) I like sweeter drinks, and this gives me a fruity low-sugar version.
I’ll be trying this.
Don’t miss The Code of Silence, a compelling British TV show (four episodes, first season) on Brit Box and Amazon about a young deaf woman who gets hired by the police to lip read the conversations of a gang planning a heist. Clever storyline, excellent acting and sparks flying between the lead character and her (maybe) love interest.
I just read a decent review of a new series on Netflix “Hostage”. Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy star, and this NYTimes review compared it to The Diplomat. 6 ep, now available and up next at our house!
One more episode to go on “Hostage.” My husband and I got sucked in immediately. Love that show.
I have to jump on the Department Q bandwagon–hubs and I just finished the first season and OMG.
I also know that you enjoy learning about things you didn’t think you cared about–so check out Drive to Survive on Netflix for a behind-the-scenes view of the world of F1 racing. Grab the popcorn–it’s that good!
For a non-alcoholic drink suggestion, I like Pellegrino Zero. It comes in multiple yummy flavors–low sugar, low carbonation, and great flavor.
The book Killer Cocktails (Dangerous Drinks inspired by History’s most nefarious Criminals) by Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi has a lot of good stories on crimes and each story has an inspired cocktail and mocktail to go with it. I’ve listened to the podcast a lot and though I haven’t actually tried any of the drinks, they all sound delicious. Plus, it’s a book! win/win!
On the drink suggestions – I really enjoy the Tilden Lacewing and Tandem non-alcoholic cocktails. They have complex flavors that aren’t just one note and I like that (at least to me) they’re not overly sweet. I’ve tried a few different non-alcoholic mocktails, but those are the pair I keep coming back to.
Anne, do you like gin and tonics? If so you simply must try Tanqueray 0.0% gin. I first tried it in a local restaurant about a year ago and it was a revelation! It tastes just like the real thing, in my opinion, and as I barely drink that much these days, it is perfect for when I have a g&t craving, but don’t want the after-effects of alcohol. They also do a 0.0% version of the Sevilla, orange-flavoured, variety which I also really like.
Oh, and another vote here for Dept. Q. It’s very compelling!
I loved the CNN travel article about the 79 yo American woman who moved to Paris – Seriously? I cannot even imagine. . . .
Me too! Although I was adventurous in my younger years, at 82 I am quite content being a homebody and I still think the U.S is still a great country to live in. But I do admire these older folks who can pick up and live in an entirely different country with a different language. Very intriguing!
I, too, can hardly WAIT for the next season of “The Diplomat.” (On a side note, as a longtime Kerri Russell fan, I recently tried to rewatch “Felicity.” As my girlfriends and I had weekly “watch parties” before the term even existed, I was sad to find that this show didn’t age well.)
If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend “The Residence” on Netflix. Though it’s not “political” in nature, the setting is the White House, and the quirky, main character is a birder – so fun!
Since you’re working on your German, Anne, I thought I’d pop in and suggest the show “Maxton Hall” on Prime. It’s based on a popular book series in Germany and filmed in German, though it’s available dubbed in English as well. Think Romeo & Juliet vibes! And Season 2 comes out in November.
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