Friends, it’s the end of July!
Summer is just zipping on by. And we are trying to grab as many moments of joy as possible over this way (including ongoing attempts to embrace our Gen X Summer aspirations – with mixed success) :)
To that end, my husband and I decided to try something we’ve never tried before. We read a book together. Or more accurately, we bought two copies of the same book, read it separately, and discussed it together. I borrowed the idea from another book I was reading, and it was a pretty great experience.
We decided to choose a book that was a little bit for him (sci-fi) and a little bit for me (strong friendship theming and a dash of romance). Moss’d in Space turned out to be the perfect compromise. I had fun hearing my husband’s perspective on the novel and his education about the “cozy sci-fi” genre, which was new to me. And I think he found it mostly fun to get my thoughts on the story structure, specifically the lack of satisfying tension in parts, which he had to consistently remind me was part of the pleasant experience of reading in a cozy genre :)
If you have never read a book with your partner (or best friend or sibling or close colleague), I highly recommend it. I feel like my husband and I learned a lot from each other AND about each other in the process. After almost fifteen years of marriage, we keep trying to find fresh ways to stay connected. And when that includes MORE BOOKS, better still :)
P.S. July also afforded me the opportunity for a MUCH OVERDUE reunion with my beloved writing group, and I am happy to report that we adore each other as much in person as over Zoom.
What I’m Reading (some spoilers included)
Moss’d in Space
By Rebecca Thorne
This was certainly a cozy, sci-fi read, and I enjoyed many aspects of it (especially the character of Moss). I do admit to wishing there was more tension in parts of the narrative, many of the obstacles were just a bit too easily resolved. And I did find myself thinking that I wanted to spend more time in certain spaces and less in others (as they weren't overly important to the unfolding story). Critique acknowledged, if you are looking for a fun, summer read, this is worth a look.
https://bookshop.org/a/120532/9781250414144
I read a few “Christmas in July” books this month, as well (as I will take all of the happy vibes I can get my hands on right now). Though not my favorite of her books, I did certainly enjoy parts of this Emily Stone offering
.https://bookshop.org/a/120532/9780593722084
[Also read this month: Same Time Next Summer, The Eight Heartbreaks of Hannukah]
For more book reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/88169319-gina-ma?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read
[Please note: The links for purchasing books are affiliate links and will offer me a small percentage of the purchase price if you choose to grab your copy of recommended books through their site. If you choose to utilize, thanks for the support!]
What I’m Watching
Because we are still celebrating Gen X Summer, I have been revisiting many of my fave movies from childhood/adolescence (Retro TV/Movie Mondays has given me plenty of opportunity).
Princess Bride, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Big, Can’t Buy Me Love, Home Alone, Good Will Hunting, She’s All That, Beauty and the Beast, The Parent Trap, Sense and Sensibility, Say Anything, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Groundhog Day, Toy Story, Sleepless in Seattle, Big Business, Clueless, Speed, Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park, Father of the Bride, etc, etc, etc.
All so nostalgic!
We also spent our 4th of July hiding at a local movie theater to escape the fireworks/explosions that plague our area most of the evening. The silver lining of needing to flee our home was that we got to see TWO movies back-to-back (very Gen X Summer). So, I can now recommend Supergirl AND Toy Story 5 (though you should know that I am not known for being an overly reliable movie critic).
Any Gen X gems (or fun, recent releases) that I need to add to my summer queue?
What I’m Writing
I am taking a break from most writing projects for the summer to rest and reset. I was starting to lose joy in the process, which was, unsurprisingly, hindering my creativity. I am trying to fully enjoy these Gen X Summer months and looking forward to hopping back into my writing practice in the fall.
What’s Making Me Smile
Few things make me smile like silly dog videos, and this one is stellar.
https://youtu.be/t7s2IUh1LjE?si=EzMQAYqH4Z3yDpME
If you have stumbled upon anything extra delightful lately, I always love a good laugh!
A Little Unsolicited Writing Advice
It’s okay to take a break. That’s all I’ve got for this month, friends.
Just a permission.
For you and me.
BONUS: A Random Fact About Me (For Fun?)
I passed my professional counselor’s licensing exam in 2004 and must give at least some of the credit to the week I spent studying on in Cancun with a few friends the week prior.
And to all of the random strangers who heard of my poolside studying and popped by to quiz me. It takes a village :)
And for those of you who asked for photo evidence of the PV beach dancing from my wedding (mentioned in the June newsletter), I give you this.
JULY BOOK HAUL
Just thought I’d share one of my independent bookstore book hauls from this month. This was our first visit to Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond, but it won’t be our last.
God, I love an independent bookstore!
As always, I want to sincerely thank you all for joining me on this leg of my journey. If you have other bookish friends who might enjoy my newsletter content, please feel free to share. I'd love to grow this community.
And don’t forget to hit me up with some of your responses to posed questions. I always love hearing from you!
Gina