Weekend Edition #3

Reads, listens, & some interesting links for your weekend browsing

Hi all! This week has been a whirlwind. I’ve been floundering a bit in my reading life which happens sometimes when life gets stressful and hectic. Reading is my go to comfort activity outside of walking, so if I don’t have a book that I’m eagerly anticipating getting back to it makes me feel out of sorts. This week the main problem has been not having an audiobook that I’m enjoying, so I’ve basically been sampling audios nonstop which truthfully can lead to me feeling discouraged when nothing “hits” me. I love having an engaging audiobook for walks outside, running errands, cleaning the house, doing laundry etc and not having one slows down my reading momentum significantly. My ideal reading scenario is having the same book on audio and ebook so I can switch to my Kindle in the evenings when I sit down to read. *I finally landed on an audio that has grabbed me (details below), but I’d still love to know in the comments what your last 5 star audiobook was!!

My solution for times when I can’t seem to find an audiobook is to return to podcast listening. So, this week I caught up on several podcast episodes (one is probably one of THE BEST episodes I’ve heard) and it was glorious. Not only did I allow others to basically entertain me with their conversations, I learned a ton and I have to tell you, my eyes were opened to so many things this week. I’ll be sharing those episodes below, but I do want to highlight that sometimes us readers can be hard on ourselves when we want to be reading and just aren’t for whatever reason. And as I learned (yet again) and maybe you also need to hear- it’s ok to not be reading, to give ourselves a break because we choose to or because we just can’t find anything that grabs us despite having 5798 unread books on our shelves:)

Prior to this week I had finished the new book by Steve Cavanagh, Kill for Me Kill For You and I absolutely loved it! What a propulsive, super smart psychological thriller that pays homage to Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. The story is told in alternating perspectives, but not in a rapidly shifting way so I never felt like I couldn’t keep the perspectives straight. I was equally invested in finding out what was going on with each person. This is an incredibly layered thriller and I can’t/won’t say anything else about it because I think the less you know the better. I’ll end by saying I love to be shocked and this story delivered and then some.

One dark evening on New York City's Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realize they have much in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect plan: if you kill for me, I'll kill for you.

In another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She's attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there

I FINALLY landed on an audio that grabbed me in the first few minutes- it’s a new release that’s getting good buzz….

Today on audio I started After Annie by Anna Quindlen. I only listened for about 30 min, but I’m interested in getting back to it. Quindlen doesn’t mess around with any lengthy set up, the story starts with happenings and I’m anxious to listen a bit more before going bed to find out more. I’m especially excited to read this before seeing Anna Quindlen speak here in Columbus in early April

When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie's children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life.

Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody's fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone

As I mentioned above I took advantage of my audiobook slump and binged quite a few podcast episodes this week. One in particular just might be THE BEST podcast episode I’ve heard about focus, social media, cognitive brain health & more and that was the conversation between Cal Newport and Andrew Huberman on The Huberman Lab podcast. It’s over 2 hours long, yet I was riveted! I took notes, but I will listen again and I will be reading Cal Newport’s new book Slow Productivity asap. There’s really nothing I love more than listening to very smart people talk and share their knowledge in ways that create light bulb moments for me. Their insights helped me understand how things like being on my phone, especially with regard to social media, is impacting my brain. Fascinating - and eye opening - information. If you’re a parent with young kids this is a must listen!

The Mel Robbins Podcast episode “What Alcohol Does To Your Body: The Medical Facts You Need to Know” was extremely educational and informative. I do enjoy a glass of Pinot Grigio here and there, but I also know that I feel better when I limit the amount and times I have that glass. Now I know more about why that is. Mel spoke with Dr Sarah Wakeman who was compassionate, yet matter of fact about alcohol and its effects in our bodies.

On Sarah’s Bookshelves Live, she recently had a great episode with Sara Hildreth on "Classics & Retellings 101”

Sara Hildreth

is probably the only person who could make me excited to explore the world of classics! I loved their conversation, especially regarding how to pick an “accessible” classic and she had many great recs for listeners as well

I LOVE links! I love researching them and reading them, so here’s a list of some of the most interesting ones I came across this week.

The Mind-Boggling Simplicity of Learning to Say ‘No’ - something I’m getting better at doing as I get older but I still need a lot of work…no is a complete sentence as they say:)

Kate Middleton and the End of Shared Reality - I’m not an avid royal follower but even I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on after the mysterious case of the Photoshopped photo surfaced. Maybe she just needed a long extended break and truly who could blame her

100 Ways to Slightly Improve Your Life Without Really Trying - Interesting!

The 37 Best Feel Good Movies to Boost Your Mood - Yes please!

The New Book Club- Meet Online but Party in Person - this seems fun

Tipping is Now Officially Out of Control - 100% yes it is!

Must Reads: 50 Best Books of All Time - this is quite the list…I spy my top book of the past decade! And many more I want to read…how about you, what have you loved and/or still want to read from this list?

Here’s What Your Coffee Order Says About You - I’m a latte drinker and based on what the description says this feels right about me:)