It feels silly to be talking about favorites as news out of Minnesota—and the rest of the U.S. and the world—continues to grow scarier, more painful, and more frequent. I’ve felt this way so many times since 2016. It seems futile to mention things we’re enjoying or the places we’re finding comfort amongst the chaos. It feels wrong.
But it’s not.
I go through this cycle every few hours. Reading the news, feeling angry, feeling aching hopelessness, calling and emailing my representatives, recognizing that joy is rebellion too, trying to laugh and smile and live, and then thinking of the news again.
Please indulge me where I’m at currently in this cycle: trying to find that joy. It can be hard to think forward, at months ahead, when the now is so uncertain. But one thing I know: I’ll be in New York City from April 22nd to 28th. We received a confirmation from the Barnes & Noble off Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn for a signing that Monday the 27th. That bookends my schedule alongside the signing (with my good friend Becca C. Smith) at The Mysterious Bookshop in Tribeca on the 23rd. We’re waiting to hear back from another bookshop but it’s shaping up to be a wonderful trip. Most of my family will be able to make it and some incredible friends, too. I can’t wait.
That said, this isn’t my favorite book-related news from this past week.
Favorite THANKS FOR WATCHING news:
I got to choose a narrator for the audiobook! Working with Podium has been so fun and the rights agent passed along several narrators for me to choose from. I’d even listened to one of them before, so of course, I chose her. I’ll wait a little bit longer to make the OFFICIAL announce but I can’t wait!
Favorite Day of our Pusheen Calendar:
I don’t remember what I was looking to buy at Walmart in December—maybe some yarn—but I was wandering the aisles and found the discounted clearance section. Lo and behold this beautiful, daily Pusheen calendar appeared. I gifted it to my husband despite him buying a Pokemon desk calendar in Germany several months earlier. (He then gave away the Pokemon one during a gift exchange and kept the Pusheen. So, you know, taste.)
He gets the benefit of tearing off the calendar and I get the benefit of him curating the best ones (read: most of them) for me by randomly leaving them on my desk, sometimes with a little note. This week’s favorite was Cozy Hobbies with Pusheen because that very much described my weekend, too.
Favorite Read:
All aboard the Heated Rivalry train, choo choo! I’ve been slowly watching episodes on HBO and my library, like lots of others, decided to buy more licensing for Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. Instead of binging the show, I ended up binge listening to the audiobook, and I had a genuinely wonderful time. It was a lot more sex than my usual romance reads, but Reid really managed to layer in depth to each interaction, advance the plot, and build character. Totally how I want my steamy sex scenes to be done!
(To be fair, its competition for ‘best read of the week’ was WRITE FOR LIFE, which I completed on the way home from St. Louis. It’s a nonfiction follow-up of sorts to THE ARTIST’S WAY, and I gave it a rough 3/5 stars for my enjoyment. That said, I gleaned several new things to try in my writing process, so overall I’m glad I read it.)
Favorite Performance:
Water for Elephants. Holy shit. The voices! The choreography! The acrobatics! This really had it all. It also made me sob. (I was on my period, but I think I still would’ve cried anyways.) I somehow avoided the Water for Elephants book and movie from the past two decades so the musical was my first experience with this story and I’m not sure how either the book or the movie could be better. (Also not sure I’ll read or watch either because of the aforementioned sobbing.)
Easy will absolutely be added to my rotation of songs. Also look at how beautiful the ceiling of the Majestic Theatre is. I’m always marveling no matter how many times I visit:
Favorite Purchase:
I’m making a granny square blanket for my brother and future sister-in-law for their wedding! Having never made a granny square anything outside of the learning process early on, after years of crocheting, I finally had to buy a blocking board! With some rough measurements, I think I’ll need to make one hundred squares total, which feels both very doable and also like a lot of weaving in ends.
Least Favorite New Hobby (lol):
To get the free shipping, I also snagged this gem/diamond painting kit alongside my blocking board. Turns out—not for me! Much like watching ballet, this is a very fun discovery. It’s why I’ve been on such a “tutorial kit” buying kick! All different hobbies, I’m ready to dabble. I’m not sure anything will *click* for me the same way crochet has, but isn’t that the fun of experimenting?
Finally, I’d like to leave you with my favorite photo I took of Zelda this week. Of everything in this world, my animals bring me the most comfort. Isn’t she regal? A true princess, just like her eponym.
Hope you are all staying warm and safe during this Winter Storm!