The Mother-Daughter Dish - August 2024
Good morning, and welcome to The Mother-Daughter Dish, where we get caught up on what’s keeping us educated and entertained these days.
The first Sunday of the month, we’ll be offering a deep dive on our Feature Book complete with the perfect pairings to accompany it (did you check out our last issue, One Night in a Thousand Years?). And on the third Sunday of every month, check in here for our Mother-Daughter Dish.
In August … we are soaking up the last weeks of summer before some big transitions for both of us at the end of the month/beginning of September. Julie is going back to work as the next stage in her ongoing concussion journey, and Katie will be entering a new chapter - motherhood!
So August is about a lot of preparation - both mental and physical - a lot of emotions, and a lot of savoring summer’s simple reminders that life is always full of changes. What do you have going on this month?
What’s on our nightstand
Katie: A couple books I need to bring back to the library, including Scarlett Thomas’s The Sleepwalkers - an atmospheric drama about a newlywed couple (with major issues and secrets) on their honeymoon in Greece. I enjoyed this book but it was definitely dark and you’ve got two deeply unreliable, unlikeable narrators whose letters to each other slowly unfold. A 2.5 star read for me!
Amy Tintera’s Listen for the Lie was honestly a bit disappointing for me. It’s a thriller about a girl who is widely believed to have murdered her best friend several years ago, and a crime podcast host decides to investigate. Unfortunately, the main character was just so unlikeable for me (sarcastic and prickly) and the book includes the tired old trope of a journalist sleeping with the subject of his/her piece. We are also told a lot, but not shown anything, and the reveal of the murderer felt ho-hum and predictable. I can’t recommend!
A thriller I did enjoy and find very unique was Scott Carson’s The Chill. My husband couldn’t put this book down last month, so I read it myself and it was a great companion as I struggle with insomnia and just general pregnancy-related discomfort in the middle of every.single.night (seriously, I feel like a rotisserie chicken slowly trying to rotate around my pregnancy pillow seeking a semi-comfortable position!).
This book has elements of the supernatural in it, which isn’t usually my thing, but it’s so well done and spooky. I don’t want to give much away but this was a good one!
Julie: Some new-to-me books! I think I remember seeing The Chill at your place when I was visiting earlier in the summer. And that “rotisserie chicken” image? That’s a good one! Hang in there - it will all be worth it!
I am just getting into The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl, and enjoying it so far. I first heard about it on Instagram from Ann Patchett and Parnassus Books, and I recently ran into BookStarrs reader, Myra, who raved about it. I purchased my copy at the delightful Curiosity House Books in Creemore, Ontario - a serendipitous road trip discovery.
Speaking of Ann Patchett, next up is one from her own backlist - Bel Canto (2001). I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile now. I was reminded of it when the NYT released their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. Bel Canto is also back in the news because a new annotated version is being released on November 5.
Katie: That bookstore is so cute! Let me know what you think about Bel Canto - it’s one I’ve been meaning to read too. And I just heard about Jodi Picoult’s latest book, out on August 20! It’s historical fiction and tackles the question of whether Shakespeare’s strong female characters were actually written by a woman. I loved this interview with Jodi in People magazine - it sounds like this was a huge passion project for her.
What we’re recommending
Julie: Missing the Olympics? (hands up here!) You must watch Young Woman and the Sea - the true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel (Disney+). I LOVED it! Not just an athlete’s biopic, but a fascinating glimpse into the hurdles that women have faced in their attempt to follow their own Olympic (and other) dreams. And, of course, it brought back your speech in - what grade was it?
Katie: Yes, I gave a speech on Ederle in grade four, I think! I will definitely have to watch this! Olympic fever seems to have caught everyone this year in a way that Tokyo 2021 didn’t. Watching Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky own the pool definitely inspired me to get in some laps myself, and the pool was packed with people thinking the same thing!
I’m recommending a throwback of a movie…1987’s No Way Out with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman. I watched it last weekend and trust me when I say the final twist was truly shocking! It feels like none of the thrillers I read lately take me by genuine surprise (anyone else?), but this movie pulled it off! It was also so cool to see all the DC, Pentagon, and Alexandria location shots.
Julie: I’m pretty sure I saw No Way Out in the theatre back in the day.
Since we’re on the movie trend, I have another one for you. The Marsh King’s Daughter (Amazon Prime). I had shared a recommendation with your dad to read the book by Karen Dionne. I hadn’t read it myself, but thought it sounded like a perfect match for him. We recently caught the film version, and it was suspenseful and thrilling. (I think your dad enjoyed the book more, naturally.) Set in Michigan’s U.P., the outdoor wilderness scenes were filmed in Lindsay, Ontario. Oh, and it stars Daisy Ridley, who also plays Trudy Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea! I just caught that connection.
One more recommendation. This one was sent to me by BookStarrs reader, Mary Margaret, who shared a podcast after catching our July feature of Swan Song. Elin Hilderbrand talks to Kit from The Coop about all things in the EH universe. I really enjoyed this one. And when I ever get to Nantucket, I’ll remember that it’s two Coronas at the Chicken Box!
What’s open on our browser/what’s worth hitting our article limit on
Katie: Aside from several tabs about nourishing and easy-to-freeze postpartum meals and adorable baby clothes I’m trying to resist, I found this article on why “Simone” hasn’t taken off for baby names yet (despite Biles’ dominance at the Olympics) super interesting!
Of course, like every millennial girl, I’ve been reading about the Ballerina Farm controversy. Here’s a piece on The Cut on why we’ll never really know Hannah Neeleman.
And as someone who’s moved to three different countries in my 20s and 30s, I loved this piece on Cup of Jo! It’s not always an Emily in Paris fantasy haha - but I have found experiencing life in different countries and cultures so rewarding and fascinating.
Julie: These are great little escapist reads. I have this fun piece to share: Before Bum Bum Cream - a nostalgic walk through 80 years of teen beauty trends (NYT gift article).
Katie: Oh, I read that one too! Loved it! When I think back to beauty trends from my own teen/pre-teen years, the dominant one is all things Bonne Bell! Lip Smackers were life.
Julie: Oh wait! I almost forgot about this one. I know we have some Louise Penny fans out there. Her Three Pines series is hugely popular. In fact, on a recent trip to Montreal I ended up chatting to a couple of American tourists who were on their own Louise Penny tour. For one reason or another, I just haven’t caught on to Inspector Gamache - yet. I’m determined to try one out sometime. This Modern Mrs. Darcy post could be the push I need - the Louise Penny Starter Kit.
What we’re trying
Julie: Not looking at the calendar (August is the “Sunday night” of the year for educators), and enjoying every single moment of Summer 2024. And waiting for that Baby call!!!
Katie: All the recipes using up late-summer produce! I live about a 15-minute walk away from America’s oldest continuously-run farmers’ market, so I stocked up last weekend on some of my favourites - zucchini, peaches, blackberries, and juicy, ripe tomatoes! I made this bourbon peach pecan crisp, and I’ve got my eye on some zucchini muffins next. And of course, toasted tomato sandwiches on repeat…
Julie: What an absolutely delicious note to wrap on!
Ask the librarian/journo
Do you have a question for Julie (librarian) or Katie (journo)? We’d be happy to answer, if we’re able. Feel free to send your question in the Comments below, or you can always email us at bookstarrs@substack.com.
Thanks for reading, fellow BookStarrs! Join The Dish in the comments - let us know what’s on your nightstand, what you’re cooking up with late-summer produce, and what your favourite Bonne Bell Lip Smacker was. As always, feel free to share our newsletter with fellow bookish people in your life.
Thank you so much for visiting our bookstore. So happy you found the book you wanted. Happy reading!
Thank you for this months dish!