The Edition: No. 169
May 6, 2020
Problems are not the problem; coping is the problem. // Virginia Satir
+ Help; My Boss is Smothering Me.
+ My colleague swears by this “Stay on Track” planner.
+ Tips for spring cleaning your bra drawer.
+ Affordable WFH outfit: denim jacket + stripe tee + linen pants + sandals.
+ Looking for a job? Eight critical questions to ask your interviewer.
+ Remember the office? This Black Halo dress would be perfect for it.
+ Friendships change when you’re the only one with kids or without them.
+ Need these short pajamas and this Moonlight loungewear for cozy days.
+ 14-percent of women are considering quitting; why companies are at risk of losing top female talent because of Covid-19.
+ The best organic cotton tampons and my favorite period underwear.
+ A crash course in buying wine (because life’s too short to drink bad wine).
+ Shopbop sale: an incredible Marant necklace and these Ray-Bans caught my eye.
+ Why you should take a vacation day even if you’re working from home.
+ Summer Shoe Wardrobe: chic sandals and cozy slippers.
+ Navigating your relationship while under quarantine (and stress).
+ The prettiest guava-colored midi dress (also in tall).
+ Long Reads: How we got to Sesame Street.
+ Bonus: Rent the Runway is still shipping designer gowns, during a pandemic.
I feel like I’m waiting for so many books. This one, The Heir Affair, has been on my waiting list, since I read The Royal We forever ago. I’m also waiting on the sequel to American Royals.
Not to mention, there’s a new Cormoran Strike book coming out and Andre Leon Tally’s memoir is on the way. So much waiting!
So I guess this begs the question, what are you reading right now? Or what book did you just finish?
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I’ve finished a few books by Caitlin Doughty http://caitlindoughty.com/ that have been really great reads. She talks a lot about the Funeral Industrial Complex, death rituals from different cultures, and questions from kids about death. A little morbid but a lot funny and thoughtful! Also read “You Never Forget Your First” by Alexis Coe, the latest bio of George Washington. I learned a lot about Washington and the systems of historical writing that have been dominated by men and white people.
Second the Alexis Coe book! It was a pretty quick survey of Washington’s life, but very informative and not too dense!
+1 for Caitlin Doughty’s books! They are fascinating, and definitely influenced the decisions I made on my advanced health care directive, and in my will. Yes, she writes about death. She’s respectful, not morbid.
I’ve been woeful in my reading this last year — too much stress means I can’t engage in any dense or solid reads — and covid has only compounded the problem. Enter: easy beach-read/chic lit material. I just finished The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and the literary references, trivia content, and snark made me giggle out loud several times over.
I have that guava Banana Republic dress (albeit in a different color) and I can vouch for it being amazing. I actually wore it to my wedding rehearsal and keep looking for reasons to wear it again. That guava color is very tempting!
Reading now: Where the Crawdads Sing. Good concept, but the writing isn’t the best. Very curious as to all the hype about it….
Can’t wait to read Open Book by Jessica Simpson or All Adults Here by Emma Straub!
I felt the same way about Where the Crawdads sing! I thought the story was weak and the writing was really poor. Can’t understand what the hype is about.
Great recommendations as usual! I just finished Anna Karenina, and I just started War & Peace. I’m studying for the bar so a fun goal, along with my study goals, will hopefully keep my sane…
Just finished reading the Romanov Empress which was the perfect blend of entertainment & history.
Royal We and American Royals are what I devoured after Red, White, and Royal Blue. They’re all so good.
My library had the Crazy Rich Asians ebook available, so I reread that and grabbed #2 and #3 with my curbside appointment to reread too. Reading about rich people and travel when I’m stuck alone in my apartment is exactly what I want right now.
I just finished “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle. I highly recommend it for every woman. I’m almost finished with “She Said”by Kantor & Twohey. I’m about to start “Such a Fun Age.”I am having real trouble sleeping at night and reading before I go to sleep seems to help, so getting lots of good reads in!
+1 for Untamed! It was such and incredible book. I read it through my library app, and had to go back and order a physical copy so I can reread and make notes in my own book. I loved it so much.
Re: the next Cormoran Strike book, I really hope the next one is better than Lethal White. I loved the first three books in the series but the most recent one had too much “will they or won’t they” regarding Robin & Cormoran. I just want them to be badass detectives who work together and it annoys me that she can’t just be a strong female character who leaves an unsupportive husband, ya know?
Totally agree!
I’m in the middle of “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.” I like the commentary on the ties of family, culture, and religion that often dictate our choices. The setting also makes it a perfect book to curl up with on a chilly, wet afternoon.
I read this one a few years ago and really enjoyed it too!
Adding your recommendations to my list, they look like great summer reads! I’m reading “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer, “Conversations with Friends” is on deck.
I just picked up The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, by Grady Hendrix. I hear it gets gory but for now it’s wickedly smart and funny. Bad on Paper podcast picked it as a group read. I just finished Deacon King Kong (rapid fire, humorous but serious themes) and Loveboat Taipei (absolute cotton candy but in the best way. If you liked To All The Boys I Loved Before you’ll like this one). I’m still reading a lot, but I get fickle about what I’m in the mood for. Find myself juggling 2-3 books to stay engaged.
I’m reading Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile, which is really about mentally surviving the Blitz. It is a beautiful read so far and the feel of not knowing exactly what is about to happen and no real roadmap to the end reminds me of our right now. I love Larson’s work and highly recommend all of his books for enjoyable non-fiction historical deep dives into things you didn’t know were interesting.
I just finished Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and it was excellent. I also got Catch and Kill via my library and I gotta say, I’m less than 30 pages in and already lost. I might need to return it and try something lighter. :-/
I have so many book recommendations!
Fiction: The best book I read this year is hands down Pachinko. It’s truly an incredible novel
Non-Fiction: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone–awesome insight into therapy; Catch and Kill which is about Ronan Farrow’s relentless journey to help break the Harvey Weinstein story (the companion podcast is fantastic too)
I really need to read American Royals!