What are you up to this weekend? Around here, I’m looking forward to pizza night, a kid coming home from college for the weekend, and The Great Gatsby musical, which happens to be in town this week. (Anybody seen it?) I also hope to finish at least one good book, and put the final touches on my February Quick Lit post, coming this Monday.
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.
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.
Saying Goodbye to the Mass Market Paperback. (New York Times gift link) “According to Circana BookScan, which tracks most print book sales in the United States, about 103 million mass markets were sold in 2006, the year before the Kindle was introduced. Last year, readers bought fewer than 18 million of them.”
It’s Maggie O’Farrell Appreciation Week around here! First, I shared a deep dive into the works of author Maggie O’Farrell and a discussion about our favorite “completist” authors (the start of a new series here on MMD): Where to start with Maggie O’Farrell. Then I was thrilled to welcome Maggie onto What Should I Read Next to discuss the new film Hamnet and so much more.
The Most Romantic Place to Go in Every State. (Travel and Leisure) I’ve been to four: Savannah’s River Street, Oregon’s Thor’s Well, Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin. (Not a one was remotely romantic, nor intended to be as I was traveling for work or with kids.) What about you?
Sara Bareilles Musical The Interestings Will Make World Premiere in 2027. (Playbill) “‘When I read Meg Wolitzer’s unbelievably funny and poignant novel, The Interestings, I wrote the first song before I’d finished the book,’ says Bareilles in a statement. ‘I felt like I knew these characters already, and they continue to inspire and challenge me to evolve as a writer and a storyteller.’” (Thanks to Jill for sending me this news!)
Whether it’s yoga, rock climbing or Dungeons & Dragons, taking leisure to a high level can be good for your well-being. (The Conversation) “People often associate leisure with ease and freedom. In contrast, serious leisure involves pursuing something for a long time and gradually developing the skills and knowledge required to excel at it. People have to push through barriers or setbacks to stay engaged and make progress.”
I made Melissa Clark’s Classic Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies last night to satisfy a craving and they were so good! On a related note, my hold for the New York Times Cooking Cookies cookbook finally came in from the library and I am loving browsing through it and baking from it. These recipes are all on the site, but there’s something about the nicely organized physical book you can hold in your hands that is bringing me joy. (That Oatmeal-Raisin recipe is in the book, in the “Nostalgic Classics” section.
Text Is (Still) King. (Persuasion) A reassuring take on the purported decline in reading. “Finishing a great nonfiction book feels like heaving a barbell off your chest. Finishing a great novel feels like leaving an entire nation behind. There are no replacements for these feelings.”
I can’t remember using a shower oil before, but I’m loving the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil I got in a holiday beauty box.
Don’t keep a diary. Embrace the fragments of real life instead. (New York Times gift link) “Rather than keeping a diary, I started keeping notebooks. Where a diary constructs narrative, character and voice, a notebook is inherently fragmented, allowing for unexpected glimmers of serendipitous juxtaposition and lyric voltage.”
Airborne Thoughts of an Olympic Ski Jumper. (McSweeney’s) “Oh man, did I close the garage?” This made me giggle. Are you watching the Olympics?
My “Anti-Cozy” Trick Is the Only Way I Survive Being Stuck Inside the House All Winter. (Apartment Therapy) “Somewhere between the umpteenth mug of hot cocoa and the third month of darkness, coziness stops feeling restorative and starts to become suffocating.”
A beginner’s guide to translated books. (Books + Bits) “While the inherent weirdness of translated fiction is a cornerstone of what makes the genre so great I would gently suggest that you do not start at its most obscure point. Instead, I offer you a ‘beginners selection box’, with titles from Germany, Brazil, Central African Republic, The Netherlands, Togo, Italy, Cuba, Argentina, Spain and France.”
Many years ago my mom had a ringer tee just like this; I “borrowed” it all the time when I was a teenager. I just ordered one for nostalgia’s sake: wish me luck as I try not to cry every time I put it on. (Evereve, XS–XL)
My house is chaos: where do I start? (House and Garden) Declutter by category, be realistic about time, develop a system, and more tips.
Go To a Museum. Any Museum. (Design Mom) “When I stepped into the museum, I noticed my mind settled down immediately. I swear I could feel my nervous system regulating in real time. It got me thinking about how museums are pretty much ideal for those of us with broken attention spans, or for those of us in need of distraction.”
Don’t miss these posts:
20 chaste and closed door romances for your TBR. Romance has a wide range of heat levels ranging from chaste to high heat. We’re turning our attention to the oft-requested category of chaste and closed door romances!
50 engrossing and adorable rom com books and movies for your Valentine’s weekend. Perfect pairings!
10 contemporary love stories for bibliophiles. These bookish love stories will sweep you away.
Have a great weekend!
