What Caught My Eye Online #34

More book bans, Baldwin's birthday, and what I'm loving

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

After taking a break for most of July, I’m back with weekly Wednesday posts highlighting my favorite online finds. If you’re new here, I like to share articles, essays, poems, videos, podcast episodes, or anything else I find interesting. Most of what I link to in these posts is literary, but I also enjoy sharing some non-bookish things, too, like recipes.

I’ve also started sharing a list of what’s bringing me joy. Here’s the latest:

• Watching the Olympics. There’s something special about seeing people from around the world engage in excellence.

• My $40 thrift store piano. It’s in great condition, and playing music again brings me so much happiness. The piano is named Penelope, by the way. I know you were wondering.

• Homemade salsa. Chips and dip is one of my favorite duos, and you just can’t beat homemade salsa with Juanita’s chips.

• The touring Van Gogh expo. This multimedia art show finally came to my city, and it was a fantastic experience.

And now for the links!

• Thirteen books have been banned from schools across the entire state of Utah. Authors include Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, Rupi Kaur, and Sarah J. Maas. It’s interesting how violence never seems to be a problem in books, just sexuality.

• Bloggers at Beyond the Bookends recommend captivating coming-of-age books for teens. I love the diversity of their list. I hope none of these get banned in Utah (or anywhere else).

• James Baldwin, one of my favorite writers, would have turned 100 on August 2. The Guardian suggests where to start if you want to dive into Baldwin’s work.

• Here are ten reasons to love James Baldwin from Lit Hub.

• And if you need even more reasons, check out this lovely piece from NPR in which those who knew Baldwin talk about his life and legacy.

• Publishers Weekly shares a list of 10 upcoming nonfiction debuts that all sound fascinating.

• Electric Literature lists seven thrilling tales that upturn what we know about Black history.

• Laura Carraro writes about the process of memoir writing, facing the past, and getting help. This is a beautifully vulnerable piece.

• CrimeReads recommends six mysteries about female friendships gone wrong. I’ve already read and enjoyed two titles (Yellowface and Listen for the Lie), so I’m eager to try others on the list.

• Even though I’m in denial that back-to-school season is upon us, I still want to share this list from Goodreads featuring campus novels and dark academia. They recommend one of my favorite books of the year so far, The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu. It’s such a funny and heartfelt book that nails what it’s like to work in education.

• The Booker Prize longlist has been announced. I read several of the Booker titles last year and enjoyed them, so I’m excited to read many of this year’s selections. I like that the Booker captures a wide range of voices, styles, and genres.

• I’ve yet to read the Pulitzer-winning Elizabeth Strout, but Barnes and Noble suggest where to start.

• I love this list from Anne Bogel of little things she’s loving this summer. Noting our small daily joys is an important practice that helps cultivate gratitude and contentment, two things I always need.

• I saw this and this on Etsy and ordered them immediately. My cold brew tastes better in these adorable glasses.

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What caught your eye this week? What have you been loving? I’d love to know! Thanks for reading!