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Happy Friday to you! It feels like a sleepier week than usual (sleepy-making?) but maybe the short days are to blame. How is it pitch black at 5 PM. How. Although that does make for a good excuse to find a nice reading lamp. Or a reading pillow. Really just use it as an excuse for any reading accessory purchase.
Also — sidebar — but if you feel too guilty doing that, you can always send one to a fellow reader! About ten years ago, my friend wanted a Pride and Prejudice-themed mug, but instead she bought and sent it to me and it sits on my coffee mug shelf to this very day. There’s some kind of lesson there.
Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn
This came out THIS YEAR. Acclaimed singer/songwriter and subject of the film Coal Miner’s Daughter Loretta Lynn shares memories of her friendship with the utterly amazing and my first-dance-at-my-wedding-was-to-one-of-her-songs Patsy Cline. Loretta Lynn is extremely charming and her books are an easy read, so pick this up if you like nice things about nice people.
The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey
Yeah, like I’m not again recommending Mariah Carey’s book without still having read it. This book has five stars out of almost 5,000 ratings. That MEANS something. Learn more about the woman who not only gave us the greatest Christmas song of all time, but also “I don’t know her.” Legend. Icon. Mariah Carey.
My Own Devices: True Stories from the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love by Dessa
You know who super loved this book? Kim, former runner of this newsletter and still-cohost of For Real. Lin-Manuel Miranda said “Wanna be an artist? Get this book.” She’s a REALLY good writer and if you haven’t heard her version of the cult song “Congratulations” from Hamilton, you are missing out.
Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday, William Dufty
Speaking of ICONS AND LEGENDS, here we have Billie Holiday’s 1956 memoir. Published three years before she passed away at the very young age of 44, Holiday tells the story of growing up in Baltimore, getting a record deal in the 1930s, and performing sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall. Let’s all listen to some Billie Holiday.
For more nonfiction reads, check out the For Real podcast which I co-host with the excellent Kim here at Book Riot. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @itsalicetime. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.