So Much to Read, So Little Time
A few newsletters about books, food, and travel, and how all three work together to create some pretty awesome reading
Hi readers,
Most of what I share in this newsletter is book-related. I do my best to keep everything light and enjoyable, much like talking to another reader about the books we’ve been reading. I stay away from controversial subjects; there are many other newsletters to stir the pot; I don’t want to do that here. Occasionally, I’ll venture out from the topic of books and add food and travel to the mix, as I believe that food and travel go hand in hand with books. I love combining two or more of those when relaxing and enjoying my free time, and in today’s newsletter, I’ll help you do the same.
I’ve gathered up some of my favorite newsletters that all have to do with books, food, or travel, and I can’t wait to share them with you. I’ll tell you a bit about why I think you might enjoy the newsletter, then link to one of my favorite issues. Click through to see if you might enjoy it also.
Brent and Michael Are Going Places takes you on their journey of packing up their lives and living and working as they travel the world as digital nomads. Both are writers, and as they share the places they go, the things they’ve learned, and how they afford it, their writing allows the reader to live vicariously through them. The photography is breathtaking, and the writing leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Something to Eat and Something to Read is a companion newsletter to a podcast of the same name; one host is a bibliotherapist, and the other is a food writer. Together they have created a newsletter of show notes with links, listener letters, book prescriptions, and they tie it all together through food in ways that leave your mind and taste buds wanting more.
The Austen Connection makes you want to read Jane Austen even if you’ve never desired to do so in the past. Austen wrote just six books, and yet, Janet Saldi has turned bite-sized bits and concepts of those six books into dozens of newsletters of information and connections to current-day themes. If you enjoy Regency romances, this should be your next stop on that journey.
America Eats! takes you on a journey through food culture in America while learning about farmers, food writers, and how events in history have shaped our food landscape. Traveling through small towns and country fairs, the reader learns about the past along with many good recipes thrown in. Her stories remind me so much of stories I heard growing up; it feels like I have a connection to a past that relatives are no longer alive to tell tales of.
Books & Friends tells the reader just enough about a book to make them want to add it to their already overflowing TBR. Highlighting books written primarily by women, Bobbi Dumas writes short newsletters packed with enough information to know if the book is a book for you. Her goal is to write about 1001 awesome reads, and she’s made it to 40 and is still going strong.
Time Travel Kitchen takes the reader back to the early twentieth century in a retro kitchen baking through recipes from that same time period. Jolene shows off her original 1927 kitchen, provides glimpses of history for context, and bakes some of the most delicious-looking sweets and treats from original recipes that have stood the test of time. I’m fascinated with the depth of her knowledge and the cute tiny kitchen she has.
Unearth Women shares with its readers a love of travel while focusing on BIPOC owned businesses around the world. Books are sometimes featured along with their authors, and travel to exciting places is the norm with the newsletter. The location's history ties together with current information and allows the reader to get glimpses of wonderful places to travel to.
Walk It Off takes walking to a whole new level around NY City. Issac combines his love of history and being curious about everything with a walk and talk with a guest. The guest is often an author and sometimes just someone with an interesting story to tell. I mean, how many people get to walk around the Prospect Park Loop with dystopian author Emily St. John Mandel? I learn so much from his newsletters that I can’t wait until the next one lands in my inbox.
Shayne’s Bookish News contains so much bookish goodness every month. She writes about the books she reads, the ones she wants to read, and other bookish topics; it sounds like my favorite kind of newsletter. I’ve talked about finding a “book twin,” and she has quickly become my book twin. I wish her newsletters would land in my inbox more often than once a month, but I’ll take what bookish goodness I can get when she writes.
I’ve mentioned a few of these newsletters in the past, and some are relatively new to me and might be new to you also. There is such a wealth of bookish-related newsletters on Substack for almost every reader. If you find yourself looking for more to read, you can go to the “Substack reader” here, click “discover,” and type in either books or reading and you will find dozens more to read.
I’m working way too many hours right now, and for the next three weeks, my time is limited. I hope to still drop into your inbox the next couple of Tuesdays, but time and tiredness will determine when you hear from me next. Happy reading!
You’ve hit the nail on the head with books, travel and food, Gayla! Looking forward to digging into some new ones. And I’m a huge fan of Jolene’s Time Travel Kitchen!
Thank you so much for the Walk It Off love! So glad you enjoy my lil' walking blog. 🙏🏻💚