Happy Saturday evening! I have to admit, it has been a busy fall season hosting family, celebrating birthdays, and traveling. I’ve definitely had time to read, but apparently watching The Summer I Turned Pretty was more important (ha!). Now that the series is over, I guess I will resume my reading life. I’m excited to share some updates with you!
Re-joining MMD
In August, my annual subscription to the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club expired. At the time, I was very busy with work and I was reading some wonderful books that had been on my TBR for months that nobody was telling me to read. It felt like freedom!
Fast forward to the past two weeks and I’ve felt adrift in my own reading life. Yes, there are some great books I have on my shelves to read, but as I was reviewing some of my favorite books over the past 12 months, I noticed so many of them are from MMD Book Club. I love Anne’s recommendations, the forums to discuss my latest reads, Sunday newsletters, seasonal guides, and author chats. Needless to say, I renewed my subscription!
Silly Little Habits
This morning as I was wrapping up my 4-mile walk, I saw this post from Karin Nordin, PhD. She’s a behavior change expert/influencer and her suggestions are so do-able. She recommends having a “silly little habit” that brings you joy but has nothing to do with optimization or productivity. I take my daily walks very seriously, but to an observer it might appear to be a silly little habit! I track the mileage because I’m curious, but I’m not tracking my pace. That time is usually just for me to look at the sunrise, say hi to my neighbors, drink my coffee, and mentally prepare for my day…oh, and listen to Taylor Swift’s entire discography. (Yes, I have tickets to The Life of a Showgirl release party!)
Currently Reading
Right now I’m reading French Windows by Antoine Laurain, translated by Louise Rogers Lalaurie. At only 176 pages, it is a quick read – perfect for a weekend full of laundry or house cleaning. “With trademark style and charming whimsy, this intriguing murder mystery of neighbourly curiosity from a “master storyteller” is sure to delight fans old and new.” (Huffington Post)
Next: The Correspondent
The book that is next on my list to read is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. (This e-book is currently on sale for $1.99!) It is also the MMD October book club pick, so I’m excited for the author chat. From the publisher: Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.
Literary Society at Orinda Books
Today I attended the NorCal MMD Chapter meeting at Orinda Books. This book club / literary society is very low pressure – there is no required reading before the meeting and we all arrive ready to answer just three questions about our reading life! Sometimes we add in some seasonal fun, too.
- What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
- What book are you reading now?
- What book are you looking forward to reading?
If you’re looking to get together with bookish friends in a low-pressure setting, consider a literary society! I always walk away with some great book recommendations since we have diverse interests and reading experiences.
Bay Area: Meet Percival Everett!
Read Contra Costa presents “A Conversation with Percival Everett” on Saturday, November 8th at 11am in the Los Medanos College Student Union in Pittsburg. Everett’s novel, James, won the Pulitzer Prize and he will be signing copies after the event. Registration is not required to attend in person!
That’s it for this week! Tonight I’m headed out to a mom’s night – I’m sure I will be home before 10pm with plenty of time to finish my current read!
Questions for your weekend:
- Do you have any silly little habits? Tell me about them!
- Are you part of a literary society? What does your agenda look like for meetings?
- What are you reading this weekend?
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