Dear Inklings,

First of all, congratulations to our giveaway winners, Sarah Christy, Nisha Mody, and Ruthie Arbeiter! Thank you to all my patrons for supporting this newsletter.

And if you'd like more to read this week, click HERE for another free book download by Lara Wray! It's a book featuring elemental magic and a magical academy.

Welcome back to another town square gathering. For those new here, this is our interactive space where we cover a range of topics, from books to the meaning of life.

Here’s how this works:

1. Answer the question: Is reading really the best way to expand your mind, or could that be literary snobbery talking?
2. Respond to someone else’s comment. Please don’t forget this step!

Town square discussions are open to patrons only, in order to keep this space an intimate one. If you’d like to be part of this fellowship, consider upgrading your subscription.

Meet you in the comments. 🩵

Things I enjoyed reading this week:

• Matthew Long's beautiful and timely essay on why kindness is so hard
• this one about the problem we all have with being too happy when friends cancel plans
• an essay on why YA deserves a chance by Joanne Yi
• Stephen King fangirling over Daphne du Maurier made my day: "It’s time for you to take Daphne du Maurier’s hand and let her lead you into the dark. Her talent is a bright light that will guide you. Her remarkable stories await. I envy your discoveries. And your discomfort."
• a beautiful reflection on breaking bread with your "enemies," by Imola
• Laura Kennedy's 36 lessons for being alive in absolute mayhem
• Grace Smith's thoughts on how she reads quickly
• an essay about the unspoken expectation for you to get over your grief, by Bess Stillman
• an article on why every cafe looks the same (spoiler: it's Instagram's fault)
• Heidi Tai's touching essay about her unlikely friendship with her best friend

A tremendous thank you to my patrons for sponsoring this newsletter, especially my council members: Joanne L., Tiffanie L., Joanne Yi, Stanley Sze, Endora, Albert L., Matthew Long. Thank you, Mary Roblyn, for upgrading to council member this past week! And lots of love to all of my Inklings reading this newsletter.

With Love,