Happy Saturday Links
11-20-21
Hi readers,
Happy weekend to you. I hope your week was a good one and that you accomplished everything you set out to accomplish. The grocery stores are getting busier with everyone buying food and getting ready for Thanksgiving next week. I see the department and mall stores getting busier with people trying to get a head start on their holiday shopping. Now is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year for most people.
I started a few books this week and finished none; it’s been a struggle with my reading, and I don’t know why. Nothing holds my interest long enough to finish it, and when I peruse my TBR, I’m not finding much that looks interesting. Books I was excited to get from my library aren’t doing it for me either. Maybe I can find my way over the holiday next week as I will have plenty of time to read when I’m not tired and stressed from work.
This week’s links are a few bookish articles I found interesting, a couple of books releasing next week, and a few bookish gifts that I just have to mention. Here we go.
Weekly links
I haven’t traveled a lot in my life, but I wish I had thought of this many years ago on my travels in the US. I am doing it now, and I enjoy looking back and reliving the memories.
I’m so nerdy when it comes to bookish information. Here is a Book Riot list of the Best Cities for Book Lovers in 2022. The article is a synopsis of a study by Sav Marie posted on Lawn Love; here is the link to the complete study. I’m not quite sure why a website about lawn care has this article about books, but hey, whatever works.
As an introvert, this article describes me to a tee. Since starting my newsletter in May, I’ve discovered several bookish people online that I enjoy following; some have blogs and newsletters and others are on bookstagram. I look forward to their writing and all the pictures of their books.
Books publishing next week
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett - Nashville bookstore owner of Parnassus Books and author of eight novels, Patchett compiles a collection of previously written essays along with her latest essay, These Precious Days, which was the reason for putting all of this together. These essays are all personal to her and through them the reader learns so much more about who Patchett is, her writing career and what is important to her. I’m not usually one for essays or short stories, but I really enjoyed these as I learned so much about her in the process.
City of Time and Magic by Paula Brackston - Devoted fans of Brackston’s Found Thing Series are rejoicing about the publication of the fourth book in the series, City of Time and Magic. I attempted to read the first book in the series, and it was too far out of my genre comfort zone with fantasy and time travel, but I know several readers who love her books. Early readers are raving about this book as being the best in the series so far. These books need to be read in order as most series books do; if you love fantasy or time travel, give the first book a try if you haven’t already. You could become a fan and want to read all of them.
Gift links
I love scratch-off book lists; I’ve completed a few in the last several years. Keeping with the travel theme from above, here is a website that offers scratch-off travel lists. If you are a traveler or know someone that is a traveler, one of these items might just be a perfect gift for their travels.
Uncommon Goods has several scratch-off lists. One of these would be the perfect gift for a reader that likes to keep track of the books they read and enjoys the satisfaction of completing things.
In the past, when feeling creative, I’ve made wine glass charms for friends and family. I found these so cute bookish charms for the literary wine connoisseur in your life.
Book lovers that read hardcover or paperback books would love a book sleeve to keep their book safe from wear and tear in a purse or backpack. If you love Etsy and going down rabbit holes as I do, here is a link to hundreds of book sleeves to fit all sizes of books and e-readers. Some come with outside pockets to hold a phone, glasses, and earbuds, and if you keep scrolling, you will find many links to other bookish gifts.
I’d love to hear about the fun and family things you are doing this year for the holidays; you can tell me about it in the comments below.
I hope you have some time off next week for the holiday. If you are doing some Black Friday shopping, good luck, stay safe, and have fun. I loved to do this when I was younger and didn’t mind the crowds as much. Now I do a lot of my shopping online. While you are out shopping, be sure to stop in at your local indie bookstore and check out their books and gifts; you just might find the perfect gift for the book lover in your family. Happy reading!
Some of the links in this newsletter may be affiliate links. That means that if you click through and purchase anything, I may earn a small commission. This costs you nothing and helps me feed my voracious reading habit, and for that, I thank you.
Great post. As an introvert myself, really enjoyed that article. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Gayla. Even though it's not a holiday here in Ireland, I celebrate it as if I'm back home.
The quality of your photos and images makes a fellow writer realize I have to raise my game. I enjoyed your best cities for readers. I never realized that "Little Bookstores" started close to home here in MN. It sure explains why walking around in the neighborhood means you might see one on every block or two.