Happy New Year's Eve!
If you're in the Boston TV market: NBC is switching channels tomorrow! It's very complicated and I'm a bit skeptical of how this will go for them.
GOOD: Planned Parenthood Donations Jump in Northern New England
Fatal shootings by police remain relatively unchanged after two years
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Singer Resigns Over Trump Inauguration Performance: ‘I Could Never Throw Roses to Hitler’
How Donald Trump’s Health Secretary Pick Endangers Women
The Putin Paradigm
Heh: Kremlin Names Trump Employee of the Month
Mock Tudor? Comparing Theresa May's leadership style with Henry VIII's
Post-Mortem: How 2016 Broke Political Journalism
My friend June went to Alaska and saw walruses and wrote about it!
'Where's the beef?' The weirdest stories from 2016’s autobiographies
Want to read all of Shakespeare in 2017? Here's a plan.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
My Favorite Books of 2016 (plus a few older ones)
A few people have asked about my favorite books of the year, and I'm always hesitant to post that because it seems so arbitrary - there are SO MANY books that I'm sure are great that I just haven't gotten to yet! So this isn't any sort of "best books of 2016" in general, but rather my favorites of the ones I happened to read. And I've followed it with a second list of some great older books that I read for the first time in 2016. What were your favorites of the year?
(Both lists are alphabetical by author because I was driving myself crazy trying to rank them.)
My Favorite Books of 2016:
Exposure by Helen Dunmore
The Trespasser by Tana French
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
My Favorite Older Books I Read in 2016:
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
The Secret Place by Tana French
Twilight of the Elites by Chris Hayes
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
(Both lists are alphabetical by author because I was driving myself crazy trying to rank them.)
My Favorite Books of 2016:
Exposure by Helen Dunmore
The Trespasser by Tana French
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
My Favorite Older Books I Read in 2016:
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
The Secret Place by Tana French
Twilight of the Elites by Chris Hayes
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
Morning Coffee (12/30/16)
I've got a special edition of Happy Friday links for you today - a compilation of various "best books of the year" lists that looked interesting. Hope you enjoy. Later today I'll tell you about my favorite books of the year.
NPR's Book Concierge
LA Times: The 10 most important books of 2016
History Today: The best history books of 2016
The 2017 Tournament of Books Long List
35 Over 35
Book Riot: Best Books of 2016
At the Times:
100 Notable Books of 2016
The Year in Reading
Notable Children’s Books of 2016
The 10 Best Crime Novels of 2016
At Literary Hub:
Baffling Omissions from the NY Times’ 100 Notable Books List
10 Overlooked Books By Women in 2016
Literary Hub's Best Books of 2016
At the Guardian:
The best fiction of 2016
The best crime books and thrillers of 2016
The best SF and fantasy books of 2016
NPR's Book Concierge
LA Times: The 10 most important books of 2016
History Today: The best history books of 2016
The 2017 Tournament of Books Long List
35 Over 35
Book Riot: Best Books of 2016
At the Times:
100 Notable Books of 2016
The Year in Reading
Notable Children’s Books of 2016
The 10 Best Crime Novels of 2016
At Literary Hub:
Baffling Omissions from the NY Times’ 100 Notable Books List
10 Overlooked Books By Women in 2016
Literary Hub's Best Books of 2016
At the Guardian:
The best fiction of 2016
The best crime books and thrillers of 2016
The best SF and fantasy books of 2016
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/29/16)
Ta-Nehisi Coates on President Obama is, of course, great: My President Was Black
The dangers of mystifying Trump
Of course: Lebanon’s first minister for women is a man
Wow: Starting in 2019, if Your Film Isn’t Diverse, It Won’t Be Eligible for a BAFTA Award
A History of Classical Music (The Women-Only Version)
Michael Phelps, Businessman: The World's Greatest Olympian Writes His Second Act
Why Can’t Silicon Valley Solve Its Diversity Problem?
Was Anne Frank’s family betrayed? After 72 years, historians have a new theory.
Here's an interesting look at the history of anti-Hindu prejudice.
Why We Still Need Thomas More’s ‘Utopia’ in 2016
!! Ants Exchange Messages When They Make Out
This is neat: The Totally Jinxed Map of Global Superstitions
The dangers of mystifying Trump
Of course: Lebanon’s first minister for women is a man
Wow: Starting in 2019, if Your Film Isn’t Diverse, It Won’t Be Eligible for a BAFTA Award
A History of Classical Music (The Women-Only Version)
Michael Phelps, Businessman: The World's Greatest Olympian Writes His Second Act
Why Can’t Silicon Valley Solve Its Diversity Problem?
Was Anne Frank’s family betrayed? After 72 years, historians have a new theory.
Here's an interesting look at the history of anti-Hindu prejudice.
Why We Still Need Thomas More’s ‘Utopia’ in 2016
!! Ants Exchange Messages When They Make Out
This is neat: The Totally Jinxed Map of Global Superstitions
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/28/16)
Wonder and Worry, as a Syrian Child Transforms
A trailblazer: Dark matter scientist Vera Rubin dies at 88
A People’s History of the Third Reich
"The logic of Book Twitter is: Books are inherently good. Therefore, if we’d all just read more books, Donald Trump wouldn’t have been elected. If you believe that books have the power to do good, you also have to believe that they can do just as much harm. After the election, there was no soul searching on Book Twitter. No one questioned the power structures of publishing."
The Far Right Has a New Digital Safe Space
How Pacifism Can Lead to Violence and Conflict
Seven uncomfortably resonant foreign films about politics for the age of Trump
The movie that doesn’t exist and the Redditors who think it does
To Speak Is to Blunder
Wow: New battery tech lasts for days, charges in seconds
Ooh: The first recording of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony
Five Colossal Stone Portraits Around the World
A trailblazer: Dark matter scientist Vera Rubin dies at 88
A People’s History of the Third Reich
"The logic of Book Twitter is: Books are inherently good. Therefore, if we’d all just read more books, Donald Trump wouldn’t have been elected. If you believe that books have the power to do good, you also have to believe that they can do just as much harm. After the election, there was no soul searching on Book Twitter. No one questioned the power structures of publishing."
The Far Right Has a New Digital Safe Space
How Pacifism Can Lead to Violence and Conflict
Seven uncomfortably resonant foreign films about politics for the age of Trump
The movie that doesn’t exist and the Redditors who think it does
To Speak Is to Blunder
Wow: New battery tech lasts for days, charges in seconds
Ooh: The first recording of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony
Five Colossal Stone Portraits Around the World
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/27/16)
Cybersecurity firm finds evidence that Russian military unit was behind DNC hack
Venezuela’s crazy currency swap looks like alchemy, not economics
Not that this should surprise anyone, but Trump is picking people for high-level positions based on how they look.
This was... quite something: CIA Director John Brennan tells the BBC that Trump's ideas are terrible
"'I told them I was here to see the president like everyone else.' Switzer said he instead went upstairs in Trump Tower, bought a coffee at Starbucks and came back downstairs."
Good for him: Resigning from Oracle
Canadian journalists who covered Rob Ford offer tips on Trump
On the Dangerous AIDS Myth of ‘Patient Zero,’ and the Book That Started It All
The Metropolitan Opera recently performed its first work by a woman SINCE 1903. Wow.
Ooh: 'Carol' Screenwriter Phyllis Nagy to Write Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta Film
Anna Kendrick's By the Book is pretty delightful.
Truther Love
Venezuela’s crazy currency swap looks like alchemy, not economics
Not that this should surprise anyone, but Trump is picking people for high-level positions based on how they look.
This was... quite something: CIA Director John Brennan tells the BBC that Trump's ideas are terrible
"'I told them I was here to see the president like everyone else.' Switzer said he instead went upstairs in Trump Tower, bought a coffee at Starbucks and came back downstairs."
Good for him: Resigning from Oracle
Canadian journalists who covered Rob Ford offer tips on Trump
On the Dangerous AIDS Myth of ‘Patient Zero,’ and the Book That Started It All
The Metropolitan Opera recently performed its first work by a woman SINCE 1903. Wow.
Ooh: 'Carol' Screenwriter Phyllis Nagy to Write Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta Film
Anna Kendrick's By the Book is pretty delightful.
Truther Love
Monday, December 26, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/26/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance and does not take into account whatever additional horrors have recently been unleashed upon the world.)
Out With The Old, In With The New: Meet The Dems Who Will Defend Obamacare
Russia, NATO, Trump: The Shadow World
Important: After a Crime, the Price of a Second Chance
This is completely fascinating: The Most Politically Dangerous Book You’ve Never Heard Of
“In my defense,” he said, “I thought you were 13.”
The story behind The New York Times’ largest and most ambitious crossword puzzle
Kathleen Kennedy doesn’t think women are ready to direct ‘Star Wars.’ She can fix that.
Dungeons & Dragons’ Gradual Shift Away From Monster Boobs
Whoa: Found: A Roman Tombstone Buried in the New York City Suburbs
Deliver Me from Disneyland
Wow: Mahler's second symphony manuscript sells for record £4.5m
Feathered baby dinosaur tail found trapped in amber
Out With The Old, In With The New: Meet The Dems Who Will Defend Obamacare
Russia, NATO, Trump: The Shadow World
Important: After a Crime, the Price of a Second Chance
This is completely fascinating: The Most Politically Dangerous Book You’ve Never Heard Of
“In my defense,” he said, “I thought you were 13.”
The story behind The New York Times’ largest and most ambitious crossword puzzle
Kathleen Kennedy doesn’t think women are ready to direct ‘Star Wars.’ She can fix that.
Dungeons & Dragons’ Gradual Shift Away From Monster Boobs
Whoa: Found: A Roman Tombstone Buried in the New York City Suburbs
Deliver Me from Disneyland
Wow: Mahler's second symphony manuscript sells for record £4.5m
Feathered baby dinosaur tail found trapped in amber
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/25/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance and does not take into account whatever additional horrors have recently been unleashed upon the world.)
Merry Christmas!
Pope’s New Nativity Scene Raises Awareness of Worldwide Refugee Crisis
Whoa: Take a Virtual Tour of One of the World's Largest Gingerbread Cities
What's it like to race a reindeer?
Ooh, let's look at some of this year's holiday windows.
Christmas chaos in literature, from Emma to Adrian Mole
For Teddy Roosevelt's Son, Rebelling Meant Sneaking Christmas Trees Into the White House
How the ‘War on Christmas’ Controversy Was Created
The Long, Rich, Boozy History of Eggnog
Heh, Zillow made a listing for Santa's house.
In Albuquerque they make snowmen out of tumbleweeds.
‘A good preparation for Christmas’: Revolution and Augustan Yuletides
10 Harry Potter Recipes That Will Make Your Holidays Magical
Merry Christmas!
Pope’s New Nativity Scene Raises Awareness of Worldwide Refugee Crisis
Whoa: Take a Virtual Tour of One of the World's Largest Gingerbread Cities
What's it like to race a reindeer?
Ooh, let's look at some of this year's holiday windows.
Christmas chaos in literature, from Emma to Adrian Mole
For Teddy Roosevelt's Son, Rebelling Meant Sneaking Christmas Trees Into the White House
How the ‘War on Christmas’ Controversy Was Created
The Long, Rich, Boozy History of Eggnog
Heh, Zillow made a listing for Santa's house.
In Albuquerque they make snowmen out of tumbleweeds.
‘A good preparation for Christmas’: Revolution and Augustan Yuletides
10 Harry Potter Recipes That Will Make Your Holidays Magical
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/24/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance and does not take into account whatever additional horrors have recently been unleashed upon the world.)
Happy Christmas Eve! All holiday-themed links today.
This is absolutely the best holiday ad of the year.
In New Hampshire, Decorating Christmas Trees in the Woods is a Thing People Do
Sweden Has Won the Annual Santa Olympics
Amazing: A Dickensian Divide, but United in Holiday Cheer
It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the best movies America has ever made about itself
Step-by-step guide to making a dumpster fire ornament for 2016
How Fast Is Santa?
5 Lesbian and Gay Holiday Romances to Read This Season
The Nazis Fought the Original War on Christmas
The 1,800-year evolution of Santa Claus, from skinny medieval saint to WWII propaganda icon
Was this the first public Christmas tree?
Untangling the History of Christmas Lights
Happy Christmas Eve! All holiday-themed links today.
This is absolutely the best holiday ad of the year.
In New Hampshire, Decorating Christmas Trees in the Woods is a Thing People Do
Sweden Has Won the Annual Santa Olympics
Amazing: A Dickensian Divide, but United in Holiday Cheer
It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the best movies America has ever made about itself
Step-by-step guide to making a dumpster fire ornament for 2016
How Fast Is Santa?
5 Lesbian and Gay Holiday Romances to Read This Season
The Nazis Fought the Original War on Christmas
The 1,800-year evolution of Santa Claus, from skinny medieval saint to WWII propaganda icon
Was this the first public Christmas tree?
Untangling the History of Christmas Lights
Friday, December 23, 2016
Morning Coffee (12/23/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance and does not take into account whatever additional horrors have recently been unleashed upon the world.)
Time for some pre-Christmas happy Friday links!
Curiosity's Most Incredible Mars Snapshots of 2016
Midsomer Murders is getting a new sidekick!
Whoa: New York superfan recreates Star Trek's Enterprise bridge + sets from actual blueprints
12 Writers on the Books They’re Giving as Gifts This Year
Who wants to go on an Agatha Christie vacation?
A city councilman tried to get rid of a library cat. The cat outlasted his political career.
Aw: 57 Years Later, Even the Library Had Stopped Counting the Fines
The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy
Related: How to Hygge Your Reading Life
Let's ogle some vintage ski posters.
The Year in Kate Middleton’s Hair, 2016 Edition
8 Knitting Projects for Fantasy and Sci-Fi Fans
Time for some pre-Christmas happy Friday links!
Curiosity's Most Incredible Mars Snapshots of 2016
Midsomer Murders is getting a new sidekick!
Whoa: New York superfan recreates Star Trek's Enterprise bridge + sets from actual blueprints
12 Writers on the Books They’re Giving as Gifts This Year
Who wants to go on an Agatha Christie vacation?
A city councilman tried to get rid of a library cat. The cat outlasted his political career.
Aw: 57 Years Later, Even the Library Had Stopped Counting the Fines
The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy
Related: How to Hygge Your Reading Life
Let's ogle some vintage ski posters.
The Year in Kate Middleton’s Hair, 2016 Edition
8 Knitting Projects for Fantasy and Sci-Fi Fans
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)