What are you up to this weekend? We’re in the middle of back to school season around here: our youngest went back to high school this past week and our girls are headed off to their respective colleges next week. Emotions are running high and our priorities look like social fun, packing well, and churning out good meals and treats in our kitchen while everyone is still around to enjoy them!
I hope you have something good 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 bookmarking service.
What Jane Austen’s Possessions Reveal About Her Literary Ethos. (Literary Hub) “The disconnected ‘nothings’ of Austen’s domestic correspondence can take on the appearance of an inventory of the day’s passing moments. The domestic letter was her model for fiction, the shadow life of her novels. In her hands, the transfiguring challenge of the realist novel begins with the domestic letter: how and what do you write when you have so little to say?”
13 “Unpausable” audiobooks for your listening needs. (MMD) Once you start listening, you won’t be able to stop until you’re done.
What’s it like to have Frank Lloyd Wright design your house? This 101-year-old knows. (NPR) I’m struck by the owner’s reflection on what’s kept him in good health all these years: “‘Neuroscientists tell us that awareness of beauty in one’s environment for a long time, reduces stress, can have physiological benefits, perhaps even longevity,’ he explained. ‘And I realized that there’s not a day of my life that I didn’t see something beautiful.’”
The Post-Vacation Slump Is Real—Here’s How to Snap Out of It. (Real Simple) Timely advice, since my family just got home from a week at the beach.
Are Families Who Play Games Superior? (The Cut) “Someone who is good at games, whether we’re talking cards, or kickball, or Carcassonne, possesses a secret handshake into a good-natured society of people who know how to have a low-intensity good time.”
Speaking of games: our friends Mel and Dave were just in town and introduced us to this fun new-to-us dice game, which we then took on our family vacation and enjoyed playing on repeat.
Nobody loves a city like someone who wasn’t born there. (Packing Light Live Full) A thought-provoking reflection. “Only someone who chose a place can see it that way. Only someone who fell in love with it from the outside can maintain that kind of unmarked appreciation. There’s a kind of love you can only give to a city you chose to fall for.”
Ice Cream Socials Are So Back—9 Elevated Ideas for Hosting Your Own. (Martha Stewart) Such a fun idea!
The Quintessential Urban Design of ‘Sesame Street.’ (New York Times gift link) “More than 50 years old, ‘Sesame Street’ has endured, in part, because it is both realistic and idealistic at once. Through its aesthetics, the show is grounded in reality; and through its messaging, it portrays a vision of how urban life can be. It’s a block where residents of all backgrounds and varying income levels exist together harmoniously and where local businesses thrive.”
Why it’s nearly impossible to buy an original Bob Ross painting. (The Hustle) “Ross paintings are a bit like diamonds: vast in volume, scarce on the open market.” Fascinating!
Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025 longlist. (The Booker Prizes) Including two Summer Reading Guide titles!
Why Pasta Tastes Better at Restaurants, According to Chefs. (Food and Wine) “At the end of the day, restaurant pasta isn’t about one flashy move. It’s about rhythm, care, and a little chemistry.”
Don’t miss these posts:
20 wonderful books in translation. Expand your literary horizons with these books in translation!
Louisville City Guide. I might be biased but I think my town is pretty great. Here’s what to do on your next trip to Louisville!
16 series to read after you’ve run out of Louise Penny novels. All caught up on Inspector Gamache? Here’s what to read while you’re waiting for the next installment in the series. (The comment section is a goldmine!)
Have a great weekend!