Sunday Saves 4.30.23
in which the Midwest can't make up its mind about spring
Theo and I drove up to Wisconsin to visit family while Curtis traveled for work last week. We stopped in coffee shops, hugged our people, and attempted to dress for the weather even though it consistently spanned 34 degrees to 54 in what seemed like two hours. Loveliest of all was the opportunity to see J. Ryan Stradal at Books & Company along with my mom and a bunch of bookstagram pals. J is the epitome of Minnesota nice, such a sweetheart. He spoke about his mission to write about people who do small, unnoticed things for one another just because good deeds are part of the ecology [in the Midwest], how the memory of his mother inspires every book he writes, and how he doesn’t need an antagonist or villain—just give him two characters who want different things.
If you’re curious about what J. Ryan Stradal is reading, here you go:
They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey
Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
The Novel Pairings Anne of Green Gables episode aired with much affection, fondness, and warmth for the titular character and her impact on our young reading lives. Check out our newsletter for retellings and resources that will make your inner Anne Shirley shiver with delight.
Will I recommend various face sunscreens in every edition of Sunday Saves this spring? MAYBE. Sun protection is important! I’m currently obsessed with the ELF Suntouchable Whoa Glow 30 SPF primer, a suitable (but lower SPF) dupe for my beloved Naturium Dew Glow 50 SPF.
When I’m not scrolling or posting, I’ve been plotting how to take a proper Instagram break this summer while still promoting various projects. I highly recommend the Off the Grid podcast from Softer Sounds if you’re contemplating something similar (or leaving social media altogether)—shout out to Holly for the recommendation!
Yesterday was Independent Bookstore Day, and I couldn’t resist just one more stop at Books & Company to support the store and hunt down a few paperbacks. I picked up A Lost Lady by Willa Cather, Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth, and A Horse at Night: On Writing by Amina Cain.
Did you grab a book to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day? Have any thoughts on a summer IG break or leaving the app for real? I’d love to hear about any and all of the above.
Chelsey
Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you shop these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way.
To find out more about my current reads, favorite recipes, and life updates follow me on Instagram. If you’re interested in reading classic literature with a cozy community and contemporary flair, check out the Novel Pairings Patreon community.
Chelsey! What an amazing week of bookish goodness-- from Anne to J! I looove that line about not needing a protagonist / antagonist, just two characters who want different things-- so relatable to real life. 💛
J. Ryan Stradal is so wonderful in person! So happy we both got Wisconsin visits with him ❤️ I have already removed IG from my phone and just check DMs in the phone browser occasionally and otherwise just use the app on my iPad. It’s so clunky in the browser there’s no temptation to scroll. This keeps me from being on it while out and about and having to pull out a bigger device allows for a lot more think time before using the app. I took a very long break in 2020 and what I realized then is that I didn’t miss much of the content, but I missed my many people I connect with via DMs and stories - we’ve been there together since 2017! That’s the only reason I haven’t just quit IG altogether again.