What are you up to this weekend? I’m wishing a very happy Easter to all who celebrate. This weekend I’m looking forward to time with family and friends, and to enjoying some more leisurely reading time after what unexpectedly turned into a jam-packed week.
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.
The 2026 Summer Reading Guide is coming!
Did you hear? We’re dropping our 15th annual MMD Summer Reading Guide on Thursday, May 14.
I’m so excited about this year’s Guide: our theme is reading retreat, the 8 categories are offbeat and whimsical, the photography is gorgeous, the new books superb, and the backlist recommendations plentiful.
Get the lowdown and order yours right here.
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.
The Life-Changing Power of a Book Review Before Algorithms. (New York Times gift link) “The pleasures of a good book review are less in being a leader than a follower — to have smarter minds tell you things you didn’t know about things you weren’t necessarily thinking about.”
The Easter crime wave sweeping Norway. (BBC) “Visitors to Norway during Easter might find the streets emptier than usual, thanks to the nation’s cherished Eastertime obsession: retreating to isolated cabins to binge crime fiction.” (Thanks to D for sending this one my way!)
The Scottish island that bought itself. (Elysian) “When a wealthy artist bought the island as his own personal lifestyle retreat in the 1980s, that was the final straw. He refused to improve roads and infrastructure and tried to evict the island’s residents when they objected. Islanders united against him, so did the press and media, and wider public opinion.”
15 short nonfiction audiobooks you can read in 7 hours or less. (MMD) Build momentum in your reading life with one of these short nonfiction audiobooks.
I’m really liking the Rothy’s Max Buckle Mary Janes for spring; their summery Espadrille Mary Janes are also adorable (but I haven’t personally tried them yet). (Available in size 5–13; Rothy’s sizing seems inconsistent these days but my “regular” Rothy’s size I’ve worn for years works for the Max Buckle.)
Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is our MMD Book Club April 2026 selection. This is a full circle moment for us as The Nest was one of the first five titles we read together in our brand-new 2016 “Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Club” that then became MMD Book Club at summer’s end. I’m thrilled that 2026 will be different from 2016 in a major way: this time the author will join us for a live discussion on April 23!
Andy Anderson: The Shape of Paris. (YouTube) Ostensibly a skateboarding video, but I watched it for the nearly nine minutes of breathtaking Paris cinematography.
Alta Picks: Star Power. (Alta) A cheat sheet to celebrity book clubs.
Feeling Ragey Lately? Here Are 12 Dark, Revenge-Filled Books That’ll Help You Channel Your Anger. (Real Simple) This title made me chuckle. “An anger-filled book offers you a way to process your emotions and imagine a fresh path forward (though probably—hopefully!—not quite in the same way as the dangerous anti-heroes in the books below).”
What a famous theater director did to totally change the dynamics of a nervous cast. (Group Life by Priya Parker) “Tools for group life are everywhere if you know where to look. And nowhere have I found a deeper or more usable source than in the theater.” Fascinating!
Meet the ‘Literary King of Tulsa’ (Before He Moves to Seattle). (New York Times gift link) “In the past two decades, Martin has steadily, and without much fanfare — except in 2019, when he was named Tulsan of the Year by TulsaPeople magazine — established his hometown as a magnet for best-selling authors.” I remember my visit to Magic City Books for Independent Bookstore Day 2019 with fondness: Jeff was a great host and a passionate advocate for his store and community.
Why ‘Unserious’ Interiors Are the Joyful Anti-Trend Designers Are Obsessed with in 2026. (Homes & Gardens) “The overarching theme is highly personalized spaces. The most stylish homes right now reflect the people who live in them; they are characterful and layered, and imperfect.”
Announcing the Finalists for the 38th Lambda Literary Awards. (Lambda Literary)
28 Hearty Salad Recipes to Satisfy Your Appetite. (Food & Wine) I am so ready for salad season.
I’m excited to be in conversation with Laurie Frankel to celebrate her new book Enormous Wings at Parnassus Books in Nashville on May 7. The event is free but space is limited so you’ll need to register here. I’d love to see you there!
Don’t miss these posts:
7 mysteries and thrillers set in a cabin. What happens when cabins are no longer a place of refuge?
5 common triggers for highly sensitive people, and 5 antidotes to help them. Here’s what HSPs need to feel calm, content, and collected during stressful times.
5 favorite poetry collections for National Poetry Month. These poetry collections are hospitable to beginners and seasoned poetry lovers alike, perfect for National Poetry Month or any time of year.
Have a great weekend!
9 comments
Awesome recommendations! Thank you for the NYT article about data and book reviews! As a recent denouncer and deleter of all social media platforms, I will begin relying heavily on good book reviews. Bring back newspapers and landlines!
I was in Paris in 2024 with my sister for a milestone birthday. I immediately sent her the Streets of Paris YouTube video – like you, I don’t care much about the skateboarding, but it was so fun to see the streets of Paris again! Thanks for sharing!
Disappointing Elisabeth Egan said Magic City Books is on a “gritty corner”. Sheesh, so far from the truth.
Thank you for all the great links!
By the way, I love your hair! You look great with bangs.
The streets of Paris video is amazing! I have to wonder at how he can control that skateboard. How long did he practice some of those moves anyway? It’s incredible. And the scenery isn’t bad either!
Thank you for sharing “The Shape of Paris”. It makes me feel young again. All the memories as a girl in my twenties as I traveled there twice and fell in love with the city came flooding back.
The film is exquisite. The cinematography, the movement of the skateboard and the music combine to show off the beauty of the city. Just beautiful.
I loved The Shape of Paris video – what a treat for a lover of both Paris and skateboarding! Thank you for sharing.
I love the “unserious” approach to decorating, especially with whimsey and color. Let a room germinate, grow and bloom, naturally! And I couldn’t help thinking, when they showed a peachy/coral room, of YOUR coral walls! Did you ever tell us the color?
The Paris video was fabulous, I’ve been to France, but not Paris, alas!
And I enjoyed the roundup on Celebrity Book Clubs.
Thanks for sharing the Paris skateboarding video. It is amazing! That rider, Andy Anderson, is like the Danny MacAskill of skateboarding. The edits and music are wonderful.