February Feature: From the Front Porch | Podcast

I was first introduced to Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, a bookstore in Thomasville, GA, on the Little Women episode of Novel Pairings. She shared her enthusiasm for Louisa May Alcott's heroines and character-driven novels in general. In turn, she sparked my interest and I started listening to her podcast, From the Front Porch. I particularly enjoy her monthly reading recaps and conversations with Hunter McLendon. As a modern day Kathleen Kelly, she emphasizes how a book makes her feel over specific page-turning plot points. In short, Annie's a lovely person to listen to and she's skilled at describing books!

The first episode of January 2023 features her favorite books of all time and is a quick way to get a sense of her reading taste.

Thanks to Annie B. Jones, these titles are on my list: 

Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette
But You Did Not Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
Flight by Lynn Steger Strong
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
The Road by Corman McCarthy 

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Here are a few other bookstagrammers whose content I enjoy: 
@lizisreading_ -- her 'top 20' stories have lots of great titles
@michellereadsbooks -- like the format of her monthly review posts
@diversespines -- love their mission and corresponding book

Reading every night,

- SJW

February Feature: FictionMatters | Public Reader

Whenever I listen to the Novel Pairings podcast, I'm struck by Sara's insight into books, particularly her focus on themes, style, and structure. Like her, I value writing and language and I'm just as interested in how a story is told as I am in the story itself. Sara's love of literary fiction and mythology draws her to introspective, often dark or weird novels, and she prioritizes well-drawn characters over intricate plots. I appreciate her mix of new releases and backlist titles, and inclination to explore weighty subjects like grief, complex relationships, family dynamics, and race in America.

Sara's reading list is impressively broad, and she often provides "mood recs" on Instagram. If you're ever in a reading rut, just take a look at her stories!

Thanks to FictionMatters, these titles are on my reading list:
Fun Home:A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey 
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Nevermoor the Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
The Long Answer by Anna Hogeland
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
They're Going to Love You by Meg Howrey
Zorrie by Laird Hunt

At the start of this year, I joined the FictionMatters Patreon and have enjoyed listening to her members-only "Books that Matter" podcast, as well as the episodes in which she ranks every book she read each month. I never thought I'd pay for bookish content, but I'm happy to support Sara's work and join the community of thoughtful readers she's fostered through her book clubs and other reader-focused events.

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Pausing on Dewey Decimal, 

- SJW

February Feature: Novel Pairings | Podcast

A year ago, my college roommate introduced me to Novel Pairings and it quickly consumed my earbuds. The podcast is hosted by two former high school English teachers that feature classic books and pair them with contemporary titles that contain similar themes, topics, or styles. They often refer to books being in conversation with one another, particularly when one has shaped a genre or led to various adaptations. Tuning in is like eavesdropping on a cozy and intellectual book club between friends -- whether they're defining literary lenses, speculating genres, sharing a 'pick of the week', recommending audiobooks, or sharing personal reflections, the show is an absolute delight!

When first listening, I chose episodes with titles I was already familiar with -- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Little Women, but soon after decided to start at the beginning and listen straight through in order. I genuinely think you could start with any episode, including their current semester of Children's Literature, but I've grouped some of my favorites below. 

Classics I picked up because of the podcast -- these all became favorites!:
Passing by Nella Larsen
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson 
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes (inspired by their J-term covering Not Without Laughter)

High school required reading that I enjoyed revisiting through their conversation:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

'Short Story Club' Episodes that were fun to quickly read and then listen to:
Speech Sounds by Octavia Butler
All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

Titles I don't necessarily intend to read, but still enjoyed their discussions:
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay
There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset

Episodes I'm waiting to listen to until after I read the book:
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Additional titles I picked up from their recommendations:
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott

Their Quarterly Favorites are especially fun and help provide a sense of their reading tastes. I'm often intrigued by Sara's fiction and Chelsey's nonfiction selections. Their podcast helped revamp my reading life and is my go-to resource for determining what to read next. I'm so smitten that I joined their Patreon Community in order to support their work and receive access to an archive of classes, lectures, seminars, and bonus episodes. 

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Effusively gushing, 
- SJW

February Feature: Lindywell | Pilates Instructor

Another February brings another round of February Features! 

I'm kicking things off with a long-time favorite, my online Pilates Membership platform. Originally 'The Balanced Life', the company was rebranded to Lindywell last year. I joined while pregnant with NLW and am coming up on 5 years with the program. It's been a staple in my exercise routine and is the number one way I build strength and flexibility. 

Lindywell's founder is Robin Long, an encouraging, positive advocate for short effective workouts, plus a mother of fraternal twins! Her membership package provides access to an archive of videos and a curated monthly workout plan. Each day I just log in, and click play for that day's video -- typically 10-15 minutes on MWF and 25+ minutes on TTH.  It's realistic, convenient, fun and at just $19/month, fairly inexpensive. 

While I have long dips in my consistency, I appreciate having a go-to plan that I can pick up at any time. I recommend it to everyone and have had several friends join the program -- occassionally I can even get Mr. Fleece to do a workout with me :)

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14 Day Free Trial

Every time I create space to breathe, stretch, relax, and move my body, I notice the mental and physical difference. Along with connecting with friends, taking walks, and reading, Pilates is a core way that I personally restore and recharge!

Remember to breathe,

- SJW