10 Things: Poems, Pens, Protagonists
All my recommendations on what to read, watch, listen to, bake, buy, do, and consider this week.
Hello There!
Thank you for your patience as I continually struggle to come up with fresh recommendations that are good enough for your discerning palates! I hope I’ve produced some winners here. First three are above the paywall, seven mysterious others are below (including cookie-making tips and the exact pen I feel I must use every day for the health of my well-being).
Yes, I’m on a novel kick right now, and it won’t let me go. I’m more upset about it than you are; I feel like I am UNABLE TO STOP, and there is such a huge pile of books I need to read, because I am working on a book, and that’s my job. But the novels beckon.
This is probably my favorite novel I’ve read this year — and I’ve liked all the ones I’ve read, with just one exception! The protagonist is explicitly NOT polyamorous (nor is she a “swinger,” her word — a distinctly British one in 2024), and she seems to be only into men, but honestly, people can like who they like and want to date the way they want to date, and be married the way they want to married, and all the different ways are great. This book made me laugh out loud many, many times, and it made me think a lot about my own life, using “husband” as a lens through which to consider alternate universes. on page 20, I wasn’t sure that the premise could possibly sustain itself (every time a husband goes into Lauren’s attic, a new husband comes out), but by page 55 I was absolutely hooked and wanted to know what she was going to do. I didn’t predict the ending, and I liked it. This was a pure joy for me. (Thanks, Brendan & Kat for the rec.)
BUY: Bath bombs for children that have toys in them
I got one of these on a whim for my daughter (it had a dinosaur in it and was shaped like an egg), and she loved it so much I felt like I’d discovered a Magical Parenting Hack. Which I hadn’t (haven’t); this is just a product that my child likes, and not a hack at all. But they smell great and take a while to produce their toy, giving me loads of time to wash someone’s hair. Personally, I find the toys INCREDIBLY CUTE. I guess they are also choking hazards, but my kid isn’t going to choke on one of these, because she loves them too much. She sets up little scenes with them. I will be buying these as presents for parents of toddlers I know. I don’t think a toddler would like to get this as a present, but I do think that a parent would appreciate having something to make the bath a literal party every once in a while.
WEAR: Ankle socks
I know I’ve read somewhere (and it feels like it has to have been New York Magazine) that ankle and crew-length socks have made a comeback, and the teens are really into them. To this I say, “THANK GOD.” I have hated both very long songs (whose calves are that tiny?) and “invisible” socks (they are always bunched up inside my shoes, and it’s horrible). I can’t find the New York Magazine article, but prompting NYM with “socks” led to a bunch of fun reviews, which you may peruse at your leisure. I bought these hedgehog ones at Target, and they were $2.50.
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