What are you up to this weekend? I’m looking forward to a few days of visiting old friends, enjoying new hobbies, and cleaning up the house. The books are a mess thanks to Fall Book Preview prep! And maybe baking cookies for the first time in months? (I have something to mail to a college kid, so I might as well send treats while I’m at it … or so I tell myself.)
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 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.
Why my book club almost broke into fisticuffs over Ann Patchett. (Lost in the Marginalia) Do you remember at Summer Reading Guide Unboxing when I said, about this book, that my heart about stopped near the end when I briefly thought Patchett was deliverinng an out-of-left-field, this-changes-everything ending? This is what I was talking about! (And while I ultimately rejected this idea myself, as most of the book club participants mentioned in this piece seem to have done, I would appreciate a robust conversation about how the symbolism of the horse Whistler in the story is a powerful argument in Alex’s favor.)
Thank You, Dolly, for “High-Heeled Thoughts.” (The Cottage) A wonderful (and short) poem from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.
Outta That Holler. (Slate) “Parton says you can’t be from where she’s from and not like woeful melodies.” Fascinating history of and tribute to Dolly Parton, excerpted from Sarah Smarsh’s excellent niche nonfiction She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs.
Clinique’s iconic Black Honey lipstick is 50% off today at Sephora. View the rest of today’s 50% off deals right here.
15 novels featuring dogs in honor of International Dog Day. (MMD) “Dogs feature prominently in each of these fifteen stories. Sometimes a dog provides the inciting incident, sometimes the dog is a major character, sometimes the dog serves as faithful companion to the protagonist as they go about their business. Every dog in these pages is beloved.”
Seeking heartwarming, oh-so-discussable reads. (What Should I Read Next?) This NOLA-focused episode focuses on New Orleans books and dining and also, relevant to today, on Madeline’s longtime membership in the Krewe of Dolly.
How ‘Abbott Elementary’ Pulled Off Its Big Phillies Game Episode. (Variety) “Einhorn also had to trust his actors — and not just the series regulars. Episode writer Ava Coleman’s script called for Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber to hit a home run during the game. Overachiever that he is, Schwarber hit four.”
The High Priestess of the Ordinary. (Atlantic gift link) On Mary Oliver: “The umbrella hanging over all of her writing is her penchant for observing and absorbing—as she puts it so perfectly, ‘attention is the beginning of devotion’—and her encouragement of her readers to do the same. The poetry is an attempt to ask, over and over, What am I supposed to do? It’s also, sometimes, an answer to that question.”
I love this Ara Silk Blend Lace Cami I found at Boden this summer: it’s been a great answer to the “what on earth do I wear out to dinner?” question. (0–22) (I just noticed Evereve’s Juliette Lace Pintuck Cami is similar, at a lower price point. (XS–XL)
America’s Greatest Hot Dog. (The Ringer) The fascinating deep dive I didn’t know I wanted. “The Costco hot dog is special because these days it seems rare: It’s low cost and high quality.” And also: “There’s a reason why Julia Child herself used to eat two Costco dogs at a time with mustard and sauerkraut.”
How my reading life is helping me achieve my yearly goals. (MMD) How Shannan is working through goals relating to fitness, food, and poetry with help from her To Be Read list.
Season 8 of Strong Sense of Place is now underway! Our friends Mel and Dave do great work. Themes/destinations for this season include Denmark, Michigan, and South Korea … as well as boarding school and—wait for it—”shenaniganery.” I love talking books with these two, and I’m excited for what they’re releasing soon.
Actually, Dining Side-by-Side in Restaurants Is Good. (Eater) Does the fact that I love this entry in the “hot takes” series adequately indicate where my preference lies?
Finalists for the 2026 Kirkus Prize Revealed. (Kirkus) “This year’s slate of prize finalists takes readers around the globe while exploring the deepest, most private recesses of the human mind, offering profound windows onto human experience. Each book is beautifully written and/or illustrated, brilliantly conceived, and compulsively readable.”
Hating Matcha, Yet Loving Life, Made Him a TikTok Star at 89. (New York Times gift link) “His online persona of an affable curmudgeon who uses Gen Z slang to complain about the cost of lattes has drawn almost 200,000 followers and 2.8 million likes. Mr. Kalecinski may hate the taste of oat milk matcha lattes, but his fans say his thirst for life is infectious.”
Our team’s best books of summer (Part 2). (What Should I Read Next?) Hearing from the other half of the team!
Troika by Irena Smith is the September 2026 MMD Book Club selection. We say “discoverability” and “discussability” are our twin pillars as we select titles: Troika nails it on both counts. The author joins us for a live discussion on September 23. Will you be reading with us?
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.
School supplies for grown-ups. I get more excited about back-to-school shopping than my kids—and not for the reason you think.
Historical fiction that isn’t set during WWII. Go beyond World War II with these terrific historical fiction offerings.
Have a great weekend!
