The Inside Scoop
Also a Substack primer, some fun links, and my recent reads.
My list of often used, well loved bookish terms:
The Substack 101
Substack is the platform I use to send out my newsletter each month. I have been writing monthly for three years now and Substack has grown a ton since I began. Currently their focus is on encouraging writers to earn income through monthly paid subscribers. Along with growth are more bells and whistles available to its users, including ways to create podcasts and add videos. But even with these add ons, Substack still remains free to anyone who wants to create. Substack also has an App so if you do subscribe to other newsletters on the platform, you can find them all in one place rather than scrolling through your inbox.
For the record, my subscriber base is pretty small and I have no plans to charge you to read it. Shayne’s Bookish News remains a personal project that I create to share with the world. I am thankful to Substack for the opportunity it provides for a person not versed in either graphic design or technology to easily create a quality newsletter. Below are a few newsletters on Substack that I read regularly:
Miller’s Book Review - Covers various book and publishing information
Austen Kleon - On creativity and artistic inspiration
Dinner: A Love Story - fresh takes on dinner
You can find these and other newsletters by searching the Substack website or App.
Links and Musings
The French National Library has reopened after a 12 year renovation. For the first time ever the oval reading room is open to the general public. If you are planning a trip to Paris, this amazing building that serves as a library and museum, is only a ten minute walk from the Louvre.
I saw A Man Called Otto (adapted from A Man Called Ove - one of the most popular curmudgeon titles ever). I read A Man Called Ove ages ago and saw the Swedish adaptation so I am not sure if this movie is necessary. I enjoyed the movie, Tom Hanks is perfect in this role, and I found myself tearing up more than once.
The publishing industry is off to a rought start this year. The Harper Collins union is on strike (since November) and there are no ongoing negotiations and USA Today laid off its long time employee who compiled the Best-Seller list, leaving the list on hiatis. This excellent article covers both these events.
In honor of the new year: I am so inspired by this woman who tried 365 new things in a year. I can’t imagine doing that many new things, but I loved seeing her list and thinking of some things I could try this year.
@myoldbooks is a darling instagram that highlights vinatge childrens books and serves as a book-finder for people that can’t remember the title of a childhood book. People give suggestions in the comments and help track books down. I love the illustrations and the sometimes funny and heartfelt descriptions of what people remember. The bunny above is seared in my memory from my childhood favorite -Richard Scarry’s Best Story Book Ever. And yes, I dug it out and looked through my own copy. Is there really anything better than Richard Scarry?
Recent Reads
The Matchmakers Gift is a “romance-light” title that I heard great things about when it released. This delightful story told in two timelines. One is by Sarah, a Jewish immigrant who arrives in New York City in the 1920s as a child, and has the gift of matchmaking. She struggles to follow the conservative rules of her temple regarding matchmaking and just can’t help herself when she finds a match that needs to be made. The other, more recent (1994) timeline, is from her granddaughter Abby’s perspective, a divorce lawyer. Abby begins to wonder if she may also have a bit of her grandmother’s gift. This is a sweet story filled with fascinating information about traditional matchmaking practice, as well as a little magical realism thrown in. This book doesn’t follow one love story but includes bits of many love stories. This is a great choice if you are looking for something sweet but smart this new year and it would make a great Valentines read. [Published 9/22, 309 pages]
The Moonlight Child was an Amazon First Reads selection a few months ago (free ebooks each month for prime members) and I devoured it. This is a suspenseful story about a very sad situation. When Sharon sees a child washing dishes late at night in the home behind hers, she is startled and suspicious. She knows her neighbors don’t have a little girl and why would a visitor be washing dishes late at night. When Sharon and a her new house guest (a former foster youth) witness more strange behavior, they set out to uncover what is really going on. This story was unputdownable except for when I got so stressed, I had to put it down. It is fast paced, and compelling, but also really heartbreaking. I love how it explored the meanings of found family in new ways and asks how far people are willing to go to help others. I am finding it hard to categorize this story since it involves a suspenseful domestic situation but in no way resembles most books given this description. I also don’t want to give too much away. [Published 9/20, 328 pages]
I finally read Ann Patchett’s 2021 book of essays, These Precious Days. She is funny and self deprecating, wise and instructive. Patchett carefully examines periods of her life and the people around her. I am in awe of how well she strings sentences together, not just in an intellectual way but in a way that I can completely relate to. “Me too” I say, as I am drawn into her carefully constructed stories. She writes about being a writer, about Snoopy and dogs, about choosing not to have children, and choosing to show up for friends and family. She writes of her youth and of aging, of gathering and of giving away. Each essay proved better than the one before. Extra bonus: Listen to this conversation where Ann Patchett is a guest on one of my favorite podcasts! [Published 11/21, 320 pages]
Hidden Pictures is one of the best supernatural-mystery mash ups I have read since The Sundown Motel — and I LOVED The Sundown Motel. It was also the hot book in my house over the holidays, when my husband and two adult children finished it in a blink. Read the physical copy; there are drawings throughout the book that serve as clues. It is a thrilling reading experience to turn the page and reveal the drawings just mentioned in the story. Don’t page through or look ahead. The story centers around Mallory, a young addict in recovery, trying to get her life back on track. She is hired as a summer nanny for a young boy in a very upscale neighborhood. It does not take long for her to suspect there are strange things going on - the aforementioned drawings, the eccentric neighbor, and the endearing but peculiar child she is watching. What begins as a summer job turns into a hunt to uncover the truth of a past mystery that ultimately risks the future Mallory is fighting for. This is a fast paced creepy read with well developed characters and some great plotting. [Published 5/22, 384 pages]
Always enjoy reading about your reading!☺️