Hello readers! Today’s newsletter brings you a glimpse at April in Wisconsin, a few links of interest and a roundup of some recent reads ~ let’s dive in!
We kicked off April with a really wet heavy snowstorm that lasted from Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon, but we’re on our way back to spring weather again now! I had the day off on Tuesday and was able to drive the newest voter in our household to the polls for her first-ever election ~ on nasty icy roads, but we made it and she got her “I Voted” sticker. Also, I was so happy when my adult niece called me on the way to the polls to ask me my thoughts on a state constitutional referendum ~ she knew that I would have researched the ballot and she could count on me to help her understand the issue. I’m a proud aunt and mother of thoughtful voters 🖤
Links of Interest
My friend Suzanne just published a great roundup of books that will change how you think about alcohol. Definitely check that out!
That same friend and I are working on convincing our brothers that they must attend a Violent Femmes concert with us this summer. We’ve all been thoroughly enjoying this album again …… and reminiscing about our concert experience back in 1998 when apparently our mom let me and my brother drive hours away to meet our friends for a concert on a weeknight? Thanks, Mom!
I can’t believe I never knew about the Kirkus Diversity Collections before! I’ll definitely be using it going forward. Their description: “A curation service developed to help librarians find diverse books that meet modern standards of sensitivity and respect as well as high expectations for literary merit”
Do you believe in the freedom to read? Detest book bans? You really do need some stickers.
One of my very favorite booklists from Book Girls Guide! The list Books With Characters in Their 40s contains quite a few titles that I have already read and loved, but also provided some amazing new recommendations as well.
I adored the sound of this gentle book club and immediately ordered all of the titles from Blackwell’s. I’m excited to dig into a bunch of new-to-me UK titles and re-read one of my favorites!
I rely so heavily on book covers to signal what a book contains, and I am just loving
‘s analysis of book covers! Her newsletter is definitely a must-subscribe for book lovers.A favorite on-brand song for all of you book lovers
And finally, a new favorite Spindrift flavor.
Yay for more book recommendations!
Please remember that I have decided to hold back my reviews of pre-release titles until their respective monthly release newsletters ~ that means my recent reads selections will all be titles that you can get your hands on immediately!
I am nothing if not eclectic in my reading tastes, but while I usually say I’ll read almost anything, that’s not at all true. I read almost zero science fiction, very little fantasy and very few books written by men. In keeping with that, my varied mix today IS all written by women and includes no science fiction or fantasy, but ranges wildly in setting, theme and tone. Maybe, possibly, something for almost everyone!
Nonfiction
I’m always up for reading about the worker’s plight, and Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. by Rachel Slade was a compelling argument for why the free trade movement ruined American manufacturing and why unions kick ass (they do). It’s a portrait of one manufacturer in Maine attempting to make sweatshirts with union labor from materials 100% made in the US ~ while the book was an interesting case study and I learned a ton of great union history, you can read my full review for some caveats.
And then two badass women-in-business books that reminded me why I love memoirs on audio so much. I adored having these women in my ears telling their stories and recommend them both so highly. Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career by Kristi Coulter is the perfect antidote to any nascent Lean In BS still hanging around the hustle culture water cooler and is a delicious insider view of Amazon. If you’re like me and are actively attempting to lean (far) out, you’ll appreciate this one.
And then. Oh, then my HERO. Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher is everything I ever dreamed about. I have a major crush on Kara Swisher and I adore her Pivot podcast. If you are super nerdy like me and want all the insider dirt on tech people and happenings over the years, you’ll be in love too.
Fiction
I fully admit to buying What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama simply because of the cover, but the fact that it was one of my BookRiot TBR recommended reads is what made me prioritize it. And I’m so grateful I did! This is a new heartprint book for me and I know I’ll be recommending it over and over again. The English translation is excellent and I was fully transported to a small Japanese library in a community center where a very unique librarian makes very special recommendations in a series of connected short stories.
The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar is an older release from an author I have come to love and it features a group of friends in India who band together to visit their childhood friend in America who is nearing the end of her life. Main plot points include religious extremism and a woman breaking free from her abusive husband, so be aware that this contains some tough content.
Meanwhile, You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi is a romance I have been curious about for years, but just now decided to try. It’s a very unique story that in some ways made me really uncomfortable, but ultimately forced me to open my mind and explore why that discomfort was my initial reaction. I appreciated that both romantic leads are bisexual, and the Caribbean island setting is beautiful.
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford takes us to England where an older woman decides to enter a British baking show competition. I really loved this older heroine and her ruminations on her life and marriage, but was a bit surprised by the lifelong secret that a lot of the book is devoted to. I appreciated how it was all pulled together, but just be aware that this story is a bit more than a sweet old lady on a baking show.
And finally, I mentioned Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor a bit ago, but want to make sure I feature it. I’m so grateful a reader recommended it to me so strongly after I wrote about revisiting The Great Gatsby because it was exactly the counterpoint to the rather gross feelings I had after the racism and misogyny that ran rampant in Fitzgerald’s work. As I told a friend, Beautiful Little Fools is what I wish Gatsby had been all along ~ told from the viewpoint of the women and with way more backstory. This was fabulous on audio with some of my very favorite narrators.
All of these books are available to read now ~ I hope you found a title that intrigued you today!
Have you read any of these books? Have any of them on your TBR? Let me know!
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Did you miss my last recent reads roundup?
That’s all for this edition, my friends!
Thanks for reading,
I love to hear from readers, so please do reach out to me with questions or feedback at mindfullibrarian@substack.com . If we aren’t already connected on Goodreads, I would love to see you there as well!
I appreciate all your content! And wow I love, LOVE that you featured beautiful little fools!! (And I’m incredibly impressed with how expeditiously as well, after “a reader” wrote to recommend haha - though it sounds like I missed your original mention of it!).
Aw, the gentle book club sounds so nice! I’ll definitely be checking out the list in more detail. Thanks for sharing! And I’m with you, we got two days of snow here this week too 🙄