Monthly Mercies: June
Murders in huge old houses, sparkling water, and how a change of perspective can really change your perspective.
Hello, friend. Happy June!
I’ve been sitting on the couch more lately.
Big news, I know.
The thing is, I spend a lot of time in my living room and most often, I can be found in the pink wingback recliner in the corner by the lamp. It’s a good spot. But lately I’ve been sitting on the couch.
A few days ago, my big kids proudly walked in the house from library camp with bird feeders. These diy creations were decorated (Eloise wrote “FREE BIRD FOOD, yum yum” on hers. I’ve never seen anything cuter) and each had a ziploc bag of their own birdseed blend. Eloise and Ollie proudly displayed their bird feeders on the railing of our front porch and filled the trays with seeds.
So, the couch. Our couch faces the windows which look out onto the front porch which is where the bird feeders are which means there are birds on the front porch all day now which means I like to sit and watch them which means I guess I’m a birder now.
When I look up from my book or computer or phone in my cozy corner chair, I see things to do. From that corner I can see toys littering the living room rug, the dining room table completely covered with art supplies, and dirty dishes on the kitchen island. From the couch, my gaze leads me outside to the bird feeders where there is nothing to do but sit and watch. That’s my only job there—not chores or to-do lists or guilt, but to quietly take in the beauty around me.
A whole different perspective and all it took was changing my seat to the other side of the room. Imagine that.
Wishing you a pleasant start to summer and maybe a change of perspective or two.
In his mercy,
Amy.
May Reads
A Most Efficient Murder (Mr. Quayle Mysteries #1) by Anthony Slayton
I listened to this murder mystery because it was suggested on Hoopla and I’m going to be honest: I really don’t remember much about it at all. It’s a classic British murder mystery— big party, rich people, someone ends up dead in the garden, and the secretary of the Earl of Unsworth must solve the mystery to protect his Lordship’s reputation. There was nothing remarkable about this book, I didn’t even know until over halfway through what time period it was set in (1920s), but also nothing wrong with it either. If you’re looking for a chill and cozy mystery, this one soundly meets the requirement.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Well, I’m assuming I’m not the first person you’re hearing about this book from because it is EVERYWHERE. And for good reason. The Anxious Generation is about the shift from a play-based to a phone-based childhood and how it is negatively affecting our children. Much of this information was similar to things I already assumed or had heard, but the way the data is laid out and communicated was very thought-provoking and compelling. This would be a great one to discuss and I’ve recommended it many times since finishing a few weeks ago. I think every parent or anyone who works with kids/would like to have children of their own needs to read this, it’s so important.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
This collection of essays was a delightful re-read in my chronological Ann Patchett journey. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage was the book that made me fall in love with Ann’s writing several years ago and my second read through of these stories about her life and writing career was even better than the first! Nobody tells a story like Ann Patchett.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt
This charming novella follows a 17 year-old narrator raised in Marrakech by her French mother and English father and has been taught to seek class and taste in every situation. Her life takes an unexpected turn and, well, I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but I found this to be a clever and very fun book to read in one afternoon.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
Another Hoopla find, I was thrilled to see this murder mystery by A.A. Milne, most known as the author of Winnie the Pooh. The Red House Mystery is a novel dedicated to Milne’s mystery-loving father. It’s a classic locked-door mystery where the estranged brother of a wealthy man is found dead in a locked room soon after he comes to visit for the first time in ages. Naturally, a man passing through who is friends with another guest pops by and proceeds to begin his own Sherlock Holmes-style investigation. This was a fun listen that felt very Agatha Christie!
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Hey Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
Hey Hun is a deep dive into the world of multilevel marketing, told by a woman who was very successful in it. The behind the scenes peeks here were fascinating and much like the podcast Under the Influence, it exposed the intense and predatory aspects of MLMs as well as explaining how virtually no one can make the big profits these companies promise their consultants. I wanted to really love this book because the first half was so captivating, but Emily Paulson started to lose me a bit when she shared her story of disillusionment and disapproval with the whole MLM world, but explained that she continued to knowingly profit off of other’s exploitation for a long time before quitting completely. Ultimately, the messaging felt performative rather than genuine as the book went on, although I found the book overall very interesting.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files #1) by Kristen Perrin
Big month for murders that happened in a huge old house! How to Solve Your Own Murder is a dual-timeline novel, telling the story of Frances Adams through her teenage journal from 1965 and her great-niece Annie, who has been summoned to the village where Frances lives in the present day to talk about inheritance issues. When Frances dies, Annie finds herself racing to solve the murder by piecing together Frances’s story. This was a charming and fun read. For most of the book I found myself more invested in the 1965 storyline, but I came around to Annie’s character by the end which is good news because it seems like this is going to be a series!
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build on for Life by David Thomas
I’m a big fan of David Thomas from the Raising Boys and Girls podcast, so I was excited to read this book about raising sons. David writes with such a great balance of research, personal anecdotes, and scriptural truths that left me feeling encouraged and empowered to understand my own son better. This is a must-read for all parents of boys!
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler
Well. This book. Daniel Handler is more commonly known as Lemony Snicket, the author of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books. And Then? And Then? What Else? is a memoir in essays where Handler talks about his writing, his life, and art that he loves. This book was so funny and also had a lot of depth that I wasn’t expecting. He’s a strange guy for sure and I could see this book not being right for everyone, but I absolutely loved it. (Content warning: mentions of sexual assault)
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
May Bakes
May Words
For the May issue of
, I re-shared a poem written last year. It’s about getting kids out the door for school, but also more than that, ya know? Read the entire issue here!On Instagram, I shared a few thoughts on racing, trying again, and motherhood.
May Favorites
I simply cannot get enough of this Instagram account that shows how a woman takes thrift store tablecloths and quilts and turns them into beautiful clothing.
My friend Lauren brought this rosé sparkling water to my house for a hangout one night and it might be my flavor of the summer.
Speaking of sparkling water, I’ve been mixing a splash of grapefruit juice into Aldi lemon sparkling water and it’s sort of like a diy Spindrift. Little treats forever.
This video of friends taking turns racing the NYC subway between stations is exactly what the internet was made for.
Joel and I watched The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix, a documentary about the making of We Are the World. Come for the behind the scenes peek at a bunch of superstars, stay for the most endearing Bob Dylan moment ever.
This paloma sangria was delicious and a fun twist on sangria!
Last month I shared a roundup of white tees and told you I’d report back on whether or not I liked this one. Well here’s the report: I love it. Wishing I had bought several though because I know I’m going to end up destroying it with stains.
“Maybe this is what I’ve been searching for all my life, as far as exercise goes. Maybe this is what I’ve always needed: to move my body in a way where I have nothing to prove.” A story about yoga that encapsulates how I feel about running, especially running in community.
The Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide is always a huge highlight of summer for me. I’m not a Patreon or Book Club member, so I always just purchase it solo. Worth every penny of those $15!
🎶This month's newsletter was written while listening to:
Older- Lizzy McAlpine
Family Ties- Charles Wesley Godwin
I'll see you back here on the first Friday in July! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.
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I hope your June is full of new mercies. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Loved the anxious generation too and have been banging on about it to anyone who will listen, scheming for how I can get my oldest to ride by himself to school. I'm intrigued by the raising boys one - I recently read a famous Aussie, Maggie Dent, about raising boys, everyone loves her and I just really didn't... The bird-feeder sounds delightful. Enjoy summer! It's pouring rain here haha
Ok, but do you yell at the squirrels that steal the bird food like I do. 😂 Also, I now have three of the Old Navy tanks and one tshirt and am probably going back for more tomorrow.