Et Cetera #2 | 2025 dreaming, souffles and Mock Newbery books
This is Et Cetera - a weekly brain dump of bookish (and non-bookish) things!
I talked about my new found love of mood boards in my post on Tuesday. Not only are they fun to do for books, but I’ve been working on my 2025 Mood board on Pinterest this week (my own version of a mood board). But I’m not going to lie, I’m starting another year where I’m don’t feel especially motivated by anything. Yes, I love reading and I have a mom’s group I go to twice-monthly and I’ve joined a bookclub, but outside that, I don’t think I’m accomplishing much. And maybe…maybe that’s okay? I took the year off from teaching for a reason - to slow down and take time for myself. So, why am I having such a hard time not feeling guilty for needing that?
My mood board is less about what I want to accomplish and more about the things that make me me. Is that even a mood board? I don’t know. I want to read books, feel comfy, make and create, put together way too many puzzles, drink lots of coffee and get healthy. I want to practice being calmer and more open to new things. I look forward to extra snuggles with my girls and late-night chats with my husband. I continue to dream about my very own bookmobile and living on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. What makes up your mood board? Share in the comments.
Weekend Plans
Ask me if I accomplished anything I put on my weekend plans last time? I did not. It was more jam-packed then I thought it was going to be (thank goodness it didn’t snow), but there was still a lot of downtime.
And speaking of downtime, I hope we have a lot of it this weekend. I have a puzzle that needs completing and a romcom that needs reading. I just finished a remarkable YA book in which one of the characters is a chef who makes a souffle. I realized I’ve never had one and sent my husband a text that I’d very much life him to try and make it. We’ll see how it turns out. He’s the chef and the baker in our family, so I imagine it will be nothing less than scrumptious.
Restaurant Week started yesterday and I know my husband and I would both love to try out a few of our favorite places. Not sure we’ll get a date night in or not, but wishful thinking universe!
5 Middle Grade Newbery Award Contenders
This week is all about the magic of middle grade books and these five I’ve seen on Mock Newbery lists all over the country. I read all five of these last year and couldn’t put them down. If you have middle grade readers, get these into their hands pronto!
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
In my mind, Kate DiCamillo can do no wrong. She is the best at writing quirky families and Ferris’s family is kooky. But it’s full of heart, like any good Kate DiCamillo book. You’ll be in a good mood by the end of the story.
Olivetti by Allie Millington
A typewriter who thinks and narrates the story? Yes please. This one was heavier than I thought it would be. It’s essentially a mystery about a mother who disappears and the family that tries to find her. All told by Olivetti, the mother’s typewriter. It’s fascinating and gut-wrenching. Be ready to cry.
Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell
A little girl and her mother both get tuberculosis and after being shunned, are sent to a TB hospital far from home. Halle, who is happy to be away from her difficult father, finds friendship, joy and a found family in the hospital. But after her mother suffers a hemorrhage, their future recovery is thrown into question. It’s a story of healing and hope and will warm your heart.
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
A middle grade take on The Yellow Wallpaper. Sign me up. This was so not what I thought it was going to be when I checked it out and I am so glad it wasn’t. There aren’t a lot of paranormal middle grade books that I like, but this one took the cake. You’ll be freaked out, but in a really good way!
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
Oh, this one is going to get you in your feels. Realistic middle grade novels can really punch you in the gut and this one is no different. The story of Hank and his sister Boo, who he is trying to keep from being separated from. There are twists and turns, but you will always be rooting for Hank who’s always just rying to do the right thing for his sister.
So On and So Forth: 5 Fun Links For Friday
I am coveting these shoes like crazy. How amazing is that pink?
Speaking of pink, I made this giant bow for my front door. I can’t get it to stay hanging, so I have a little more work to do. But it was a simple make - thank goodness I have so many pink scraps of fabric.
Actor Matt Bomer is going to narrate the audiobook version of A Little Life. If you’ve read it and it tore you apart, raise your hand. I’m not sure I can read it again, but Bomer does have a perfect voice for narrating.
LitHub wants to know which one of Tom Hank’s typewriters you are?
Eagles receiver A.J. Browns revives a little known self-help book all the way to number one on the bestsellers list. I love this for both of them!
Wishing you the best weekend full of coffee, comfy clothes and lots of reading!