ššReading accessories to gift and receive
Plus 100 notable books of 2020 and Elena Ferrante's must-read women authors
Hey, readers!
Weāre going to get right into this because todayās newsletter is a long one. In fact, you might want to go ahead a click the title of this letter to view it on a web browser because the full thing might not load in your email!
In addition to sharing what I read this week (three very different and very wonderful books) and what Iām currently reading, Iām offering more gift recommendations for the readers in your life. Todayās suggestions are all reading accessoriesā¦the little things that elevate the reading experience from delightful to fully luxurious. You can shop this post through the text and photo links. Some of those are affiliate links, but I promise Iām only recommending goodies that I have and love or things I desperately want. I hope you find something here to gift and maybe even something to add to your own holiday wish list!
This week in books.
This week I readā¦
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw. One thing I learned from my Aspen Lit Prize reading is that I actually really enjoy reading short story collections. I think I rarely picked them up in the past because the descriptions of story collections were never as appealing as those of novels, but now that Iām actually reading full collections, Iām appreciating the craft not only of writing a single story, but of putting a whole collection together. This particular collection is phenomenal. Each story delves into the desires of Black women from the Southāthe deep hidden desires they feel they shouldnāt have. This book seemed to come out of nowhere when it was longlisted (and then shortlisted!) and I truly think itās one of the best books Iāve read this year. Amazon | Bookshop
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Iād been seeing rave reviews of this book all over the internet for months. And who doesnāt love a heartwarming story about books and the trials of being human? The story starts when 35-year-old Nora Seed decides she wants to dieāyes, this book deals very directly with suicide and suicidal ideation so be cautious going in. She ends up in a sort of in-between space that happens to be a library. But this library is filled with books about Noraās life and all the lives she could have lived if sheād made different choices. As Nora explores the infinite collection, she learns about her regrets, her potential, and what really makes life worth living. I didnāt love and adore this book the way I hoped I would, primarily because I didnāt care about all the variations of Noraās life. However, I think Haig writes poignantly about regret and the small choices that create a life, and heās very much an expert in writing gently and vulnerably about mental health, all of which make this book worthwhile. Amazon | Bookshop
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon. This story about a tight-knit but troubled community is one of my Patreon book club picks for November. I really enjoyed this novel, and Iām looking forward to discussing it with everyone! Amazon | Bookshop
Now Iām readingā¦
Inheritors by Asako Serizawa. This is the second pick for my book club this month and itās phenomenal. Amazon | Bookshop
I started this quirky historical fiction novella that the owner of The Bookshop in Nashville recommended to me and also downloaded this work of nonfiction from a favorite author on my Libro.fm app.
Gift Guide: Reading accessories.
The wonderful thing about being a reader is all you need to be cozy and satisfied is a great book. But of course there are a few accessories that can take the pleasure of the reading experience to the next level. Today Iām sharing some of my favorite reading accessories alongside a few things on my own wishlist that I know will make this long, indoor winter a little brighter. These gift ideas include some easy-to-find-on-Amazon-or-Target items alongside products from small businesses. Theyāre also arranged from budget-friendly ideas to splurges, but I think any of these accessories would be a special and thoughtful gift for the readers in your life.
Book darts. I have no problem dog-earing my pages, but to some readers thatās sacrilege. Plus while a folded corner will tell me what page I wanted to remember, it doesnāt help me find the exact passage that spoke to me. Enter book darts. You can use them to precisely mark sentences or keep track of where you are in your planners and journals. They are the handiest little devices and you can never have too many tins! This $11 tin of 125 brass book darts is the perfect stocking stuffer.
Great pencils. When I write in my books, I prefer pencils to pens. Iāve tried a lot of different pencils and while I love super cute ones like these floral beauties from Rifle Paper Company or this adorable grammar nerd set, these plain yellow ones from Aretza are my current favorites. They write so smoothly and clearly and they never break in my sharpener.
Mildliner highlighters. I am obsessed with my mildliners, which were recommended to me by several particularly meticulous and organized former students. I donāt have their bullet-journaling skills, but I still make great use of my pack of 15 pretty colors. On the page, these colors are, well, mild, and much more aesthetically pleasing to my eye than the neon yellows and pinks of my grad school days.
A reading light. Reading lights that you clip onto your book are a nostalgic item for me. I have such fond memories of packing my reading light for summer camp and reading way past the ālights outā mark. While I donāt use my reading light nearly as much in adulthood, itās absolutely an item that every reader should have in the drawer of their nightstand. I got this one at Target a couple years ago and itās very sturdy and reliable.
Page weights. Every reader has encountered this problem. You sit down with your current read and a delicious snack, open up to your current page, and thenā¦what do you do with your hands?! You need them both to eat and to keep your book open and the whole thing is just a disaster. Enter page weights. These nifty little devices are designed to keep your book open while your hands are otherwise occupied. My assistant Michelle is partial to these elegant Page Anchors (currently on sale!) and Iāve heard rave reviews of the Book Bone.
Pretty journals. Iām pretty sure that every avid reader I know also adores a good notebook. Whether itās for penning their own novel or keeping track of all the books theyāve read and want to read, a book lover always has a use for another journal. Personally, I have two great loves when it comes to journals: Leuchtturm and Rifle Paper Company. I use Leuchttrums as my book journals and a space for creative brainstorming because I love the feel and weight of the paper. Iām also obsessed with their new muted tonesā¦I just ordered myself a new one in sage. I use my Rifle Paper journals for special projects that I want to contain in a single place. My favorite current designs are the Fable pattern on their fabric journal and the Rosa pocket notebooks.
A bookish mug. Who doesnāt love reading with a cup of coffee or tea? Put a warm beverage in a literary mug and it makes the experience all the better for a bookworm. I love every mug from Jane Mountās Ideal Bookshelf line, the āShe Is Too Fond of Booksā mug from Carrot Top Paper Shop, and this Bookwormās Belongings to-go mug.
Candles. Lighting candles while I read elevates the reading experience from ordinary to luxury. But Iām also quite picky about candles because intense scents and unclean burns give me a headache. My favorite candles come from a small, woman-owned Colorado business called Old Pine Candle Company. I particularly love Sweater Weather, Summit, and Mountain Man, and I appreciate that you can buy the candles on their own or purchase a gift box that comes with a coaster, matches, and a wick trimmer. Other candles I love are Maison Louis Marie No. 4 and Otherlandās Chandelier Champagne and Cardamom Milk.
A bath tray. Iāve been reading in the bath a lot the last few weeks and every time Iām envious of readers who have a beautiful bath caddy tray to hold their books and beverages. There are a lot of great options out there, but I currently have my eye one this one from Wayfair recommended by Read & Wright or this Etsy option.
A book cart. Every time I post my book cart on Instagram, I get tons of messages asking where I got it. Mine is from Ikea, but now Michaels, Target, and Amazon sell these super useful, highly Instagrammable storage devices. Michaels has the best color options by far (and itās the cheapest!) and I like that Targetās has handles and looks like you could fit hardbacks on every tier.
A cozy blanket. I love reading under a blanket in the winter months. Iām very into this machine washable chunky knit blanket from Casaluna and this classic cozy look from Anthropologie. Iāve also heard great things about Chappywraps, but I havenāt sprung for one myself.
A Kindle or Kobo. I will always prefer reading paper books, but Iām grateful for my Kindle Paperwhite when I need to get through books fast. Kobos are similar devices that allow you to buy your ebooks from independent bookstoresā¦so cool!
A Page One Subscription. Page One is a small woman-owned business that sends a personalized book selection and a cute bookish accessory to subscribers every month. Iāve been a paying subscriber of Page One for years and every month Iām thrilled with what they send me. Iām so excited to finally be able to offer you 10% off a subscription through my affiliate link! You can also enter code āFICTIONMATTERSā at checkout for the same deal.
Bookish reading.
Let the best of the year lists commence! The New York Times published their list of 100 Notable Books.
Check out more gift recommendations for readers from the Read & Wright blog or from my previous newsletter recommendations of gifts for the reader with too many books.
The elusive writer Elena Ferrante shared 40 book recommendations and theyāre all written by women.
Weāre nearing the end of the month (crazy!) so itās time to check out Read It Forwardās best books of November.
Looking to give a charitable donation this holiday season? Hereās some suggestions for 18 worthy literacy charities.
End notes.
Watching:Ā We binged The Queenās Gambit (Netflix), which is just as delightful and engaging as everyone said it would be.
Listening:Ā Itās more Youāre Wrong Aboutā¦sorry! I canāt get enough! This episode on the Electoral College is a must listen.
Making:Ā Our safe Thanksgiving plans. We are very lucky to live close to my mom, but we havenāt been seeing her indoors. The three of us decided to choose the warmest day next week (thatāll be Wednesday here) and eat a Thanksgiving meal together outdoors. I feel very fortunate to be able to safely spend time with family this holiday.
Loving:Ā My husbandās new pedal steel guitar. Not only do I love the sound of it, his extensive practice regimen is doing wonders for my reading life.
Readers, I hope you found some great gifts for the reader in your life. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please donāt hesitate to reach out by emailingĀ fictionmattersbooks@gmail.comĀ or responding directly to this newsletter. Michelle and I love hearing from you!
If youāre looking for more book recommendations and delightful bookish community, considerĀ supporting FictionMatters on Patreon.
And if you enjoyed todayās newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. Thatās a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!
Happy reading!
Sara
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