Finished reading: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett 📚

There are some authors whose writing (and fine, online presence) makes yyou want to be friends with them. For me, Kristen Arnett is one of those writers. Maybe someday.

📚💬 “Oh, this clown will never run out of bits, because every gag is taken from the endless wellspring of her own self-loathing!” Kristen Arnett, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One

📚💬 “How can I turn this into a bit, I wonder. That’s how my brain always chooses to process trauma or grief or anxiety.” Kristen Arnett, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One

Finished reading: With Teeth by Kristen Arnett 📚

Kristen Arnett’s books are sad, funny, and ultimately hopeful. I don’t often miss the Florida of my early childhood, but when I read her work, I do. I tore through this one in one day.

Finished reading: Home for the Challah Days by Jennifer Wilck 📚

Sweet, like an apple dipped in honey. A Hallmark movie if Hallmark made Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur movies.

Finished reading: When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas 📚

Finished reading: The Border of Paradise by Esmé Weijun Wang 📚🎧

Esmé Weijun Wang writes beautiful prose. This book is intense and upsetting; over and over again I found myself sympathizing with a character only to be appalled by then when perspective shifted away from them and to someone else. Read the NPR review before picking this one up.

Finished reading: Lady Sophia’s Lover by Lisa Kleypas 📚

Finished reading: Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas 📚

Somehow both low-conflict and high-angst.

Kelly J. Baker and Book Riot continue to do critical reporting on the current administration’s impact on the Institute of Museum and Library Services in today’s piece about Freedom Trucks. 📚