14 Comments
User's avatar
Sarah Small's avatar

I just finished reading Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows and it was absolutely gorgeous. My only regret is that I read it on my kindle. Definitely recommend the print edition to give justice to Billy Renkl's gorgeous artwork!

Expand full comment
Maggie Smith's avatar

Absolutely. I have a copy here and it’s stunning!

Expand full comment
Melissa L Weber's avatar

Podcast recommendations: Wildcard with Rachel Martin. (Weekly). She interviews interesting people using cards chosen at random. Such insightful discussions!

"Letters from an American" written and read by Heather Cox Richardson. Her historical perspective on the news of the day offers a buffer and perspective that is sorely needed. Listening to her makes me feel validated and saner.

Expand full comment
Maggie Smith's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Donald Illich's avatar

This is an old Band of Horses song I can't get out my head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpRtY4aHReQ&list=RDFpRtY4aHReQ&start_radio=1

Expand full comment
Maggie Smith's avatar

Oh yes. I love Ben Bridwell’s voice!

Expand full comment
Inez Ribustello's avatar

Newest musical obsession is Mon Rovia (https://monroviaboy.com/)

Discovered the Slowdown podcast (because I follow you, and I absolutely adore the 6-8 minutes in the morning listening to you reading gorgeous poems)

Watched Younger this summer on Netflix and may do it again in the Fall

Reading The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad and journaling like crazy...

Expand full comment
Maggie Smith's avatar

I’m in the middle of Younger!

Expand full comment
PartlySunnyToday's avatar

Ah, the penultimate day of August. Farewell familiar foe - hope to see you again next year.

TYSM for the book recs: added Answer and Lion to my library holds; added TPP to notifications. Just started “Dead in Long Beach, California” V Blackburn, and the reissue of Gabino Iglesia’s “Coyote Songs” arrived yesterday. Please please - more 200-page novel recs, everyone!

Expand full comment
Maggie Smith's avatar

🙏🙏🙏

Expand full comment
Ellen Girardeau Kempler's avatar

I’ve gotten hooked on the A Way with Words podcast—a funny, quirky exploration by two linguists of listeners’ questions about words and

expressions. https://waywordradio.org/ I also discovered novelist Rachel Joyce and have been escaping into every one of her wonderful character studies. “Miss Benson’s Beetle” is her latest. I also loved “The Music Shop.” Finally, watch the new Netflix documentary “Devo.”

Expand full comment
Cate Honzl's avatar

I'm truly enjoying "The Plot Thickens," a Turner Classic Movies podcast hosted by Ben Mackiewicz. This season is all about the making of the film Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, and the production and public drama surrounding it. Ben's great uncle was the film's director, so there's a fun familial connection in the storytelling. As for my favorite songs right now: "Mr. Electric Blue" by Benson Boone and this odd little gem called "Forever and Ever" by Demis Roussos, a song from the 70s by a Greek singer-songwriter that's not quite ABBA-like but entrancing and joyful in its lyrics nonetheless.

Expand full comment
Marcie Alvis Walker (she/her)'s avatar

Neko Case was on repeat all through my divorce years and years ago. Love that woman!

Expand full comment
Tracy's avatar

Music: Case Oats debut album - especially "Tennessee" and "In a Bungalow"

Expand full comment