Happy Friday Links

3-17-23

Happy Friday, readers!

It’s my favorite day of the week for many different reasons. I usually work on Saturdays during tax season, but I always find a way to take off work early on Fridays. I get a little break, then I go in on Saturday and get so much work done when the phones aren’t ringing, and others aren’t there to disrupt me.

I’m down to “1”; when I set my retirement date last year, eighteen months seemed so far away. I decided instead of counting months, I’d count the remaining major tax deadlines, which were six. I’m now down to one left, along with another three and one-half months of work, and then I don’t have to live my life around tax deadlines anymore, and I can’t wait. Enough of the small talk; let’s get to the weekly links:

• I remember the bookmobile from my childhood; waiting for it to arrive at the elementary school close to my home and then choosing my books was so fun. I’m happy to see modern-day bookmobiles doing their part against book bans.

• Being a librarian sounds like the best job in the world to many readers. I don’t envy librarians now as they face the challenges of the government getting involved in the personal choice of what to read. In this article, librarians tell about what their jobs have been like recently (gift link).

• There are many authors that can speak to this subject, but I enjoyed reading Rachel Joyce’s take on writing a trilogy about Harold Fry. The third and final book hit the bookshelves in early February, and Joyce says it was now time to let it go.

• I love the lifestyle website Cup of Jo. Time is short, and most of the time, work and family life prevent readers from reading as much as they might like to; in this older (2014) post, an alternative Article Club might just be the reading club some readers are looking for.

• Not many people know about this non-profit organization, but this article and documentary trailer highlights how the Assistance League has put children first in its 125-year existence. I used to be involved in my local chapter, and a friend and reader of SoNovelicious is still involved. If you are so inclined to do volunteer work, see if there is a chapter local to you, and you might find what you’ve been looking for.

• Readers are unhappy about the latest changes at their local Barnes and Noble bookstore. Management thinks their new plan will be a good opportunity to get to know their customers; time will tell if their customers feel the same way. My prediction is they probably won’t agree.

• There has been some talk recently of problems when authors recommend or blurb upcoming books and either don’t read the book or don’t read it carefully enough. This The Millions article tells how blurbs came to be and some of the fallout when the “blurber” doesn’t do their homework carefully enough.

• My quest for friendship means things catch my eye now that normally wouldn’t have in the past. I enjoyed this Good Trade article which reminds me of long-ago friendships. How simple and fulfilling these ideas seem.

• I don’t collect paper or hardcover books, but readers with bookshelves have so many different ways of organizing their books. This Washington Post article tells about what works best for them. If nothing else, the pictures of all the bookshelves are dreamy (gift link).

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What are your plans for this weekend? Is something fun happening in your life, or is a relaxing weekend with a good book your idea of fun? Tell me in the comments about your ideal fun weekend. I need some ideas for my retirement.

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My idea of a “fun” weekend right now is catching up on a little sleep and finishing those darn books I can’t stay awake long enough to read at night. I’m taking advantage of my last weekend off work until after April 15th, and then it’s the countdown to retirement. Have a great weekend, and happy reading!