What’s in store for your weekend? My weekend is looking at once Very Big and Very Relaxed. On the relaxed front, our college kids have consecutive spring breaks and this is the overlap weekend—I’m looking forward to making allll the good food and hanging around the house with my crew. But also, Very Big: I’m planning to take Summer Reading Guide photos and send a daughter to prom.
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 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 service like Pocket.
Unseen Harper Lee stories set in New York and Alabama to be published. (The Guardian) Huh. Thoughts?
Why Voice Notes Are a Small Act of Love. (Time Magazine) “‘Connection’ is what I found in hearing not just my loved ones’ voices, but the soundtrack of their lives playing in their 2-minute recordings: kids playing, how joyful someone sounded walking back from a good first date, the clatter of cooking utensils, gossiping about work.”
I love the Quince Mongolian Cashmere Tee—I just noticed they’re stocked for spring in a bunch of new seasonal colors (XS–XL). (I’m 5’9″ and typically take a Small, but this sweater has a trim fit and I could easily go Medium.) For those dreaming of spring this Vintage Wash Tencel Camp Shirt (XS–XL) is also pretty great. I recommend sizing down (I’m an XS in this style).
Memento Mori: An interview with Hanif Abdurraqib on his early career. (Delivery & Acceptance) “Something I still apply now is this idea that everything I’m writing has the opportunity to be my last thing. So make it your best thing.”
French Cinema Leads the Way to a Revival of In-Person Moviegoing. (New York Times gift link) This piece, which highlights the “very French idea about citizens’ moral obligation to support the arts and to do so somewhere other than at home,” pairs beautifully with the Culture Study essay in last week’s Links I Love.
How learning to DNF books enhanced my reading life. (MMD) The case for quitting books that aren’t serving you.
Why Is Young Hollywood Going So Old Hollywood? (Elle) “It feels like an extension of method dressing: dress for the job you want (an award-winning Hollywood diva of yore) and you might just go home with a statuette.”
I impulsively added the Keira Collared Button-Front Blouse by Pilcro (XXS–XL) to my Anthro cart a few weeks ago and it turned out to be warm weather PERFECTION. My teenage girls oohed and aahed so I know it’s good! This Old Navy Shirred Flutter-Sleeve Top has a similar vibe and is available XS–4X.
Creole vs. Cajun Food: What Are the Differences? (Food & Wine) Fascinating food history. (Apropos of regional food talk: I’m taking a quick trip to New Orleans next month. Any recs?)
Books for an adventure out West. (What Should I Read Next?) What to read to prepare for a summer road trip to the Grand Canyon and more national parks.
Concert Ticket Prices Are Soaring, and Busting Gen Z’s Budgets. (New York Times gift link) Will and I parent four Gen Z kids: this piece generated good dinner table conversation at our house.
A Brief History of the Em Dash. (Wallflower Chats) I’m a fan! “But one mark you’ll never be able to pry from my cold, dead hands is the almighty em dash. Because it’s more than a punctuation mark. It’s an ethos, a state, a heady rush of feeling that tolerates no space between thought to thought. It’s an energy!”
A break from your smartphone can reboot your mood. Here’s how long you need. (NPR) I took a five-day phone break last month and it was GREAT. And surprising. “‘Helping people to retrain their brain to derive joy from healthy activities has an antidepressant effect.’”
Don’t miss these posts:
Science Fiction and Fantasy that is fabulous on audiobook. Audiobook experiences that will carry you away.
A whole stack of middle grade books you can read in one weekend. Perfect for Middle Grade March!
My favorite Jane Austen film adaptations. Some Jane Austen adaptations are phenomenal; some are more likely to leave you feeling like you squandered two hours. Here’s my guide to the best versions.
16 classical literature retellings, remixes, and reimaginings. The best retellings add something new and unexpected to the stories we know well.
Have a great weekend!
