the friday love list #5
books, encampments, writing routines
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Friday is Venus’s day.
A day for connection, for beauty, for joy. For sharing what is bringing us joy, and what we’ve loved.
As ever, the Friday Love List is in honor of and offering to Venus. Here are some of the things that most brought me pleasure and delight this week.
Things I loved this week
The Libby App
This last week, I finally downloaded the Libby app. I know; I know. I’m the last one here. But my preference for physical books has finally been outweighed by the desperate need to be reading more, plus not being on my phone before bedtime.
This last week, I devoured the laugh-out-loud funny, very magical, also very sapphic Regency romance, Mortal Follies, and finally got around to reading Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, the smart, sexy followup to Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (also has a healthy dose of mother-daughter issues, so that’s fun!). Thrilled to report that both Follies and Astrid Parker were suitably hot! Something that is so often lacking in WLW romcoms.
And I am in the middle of reading the decidedly not romantic, but very compelling fairy tale-cum-horror novel The Book Eaters. I’m a sucker for an original worldbuild, and this one, which follows non-human characters who quite literally eat books, is *chefs kiss.*
Pro-Palestine Encampments at Universities & Colleges
All power and solidarity to the students. Given the suppression of pro-Palestine stories and content in traditional media, TikTok remains one of the best news sources for updates on this. (Is it any surprise that Biden signed that fucking bill?) On IG/Meta, the accounts for Jewish Voice for Peace and dear_white_staffers continue to be excellent sources for updates.
Giving Birth Chart Readings about Writing Routines!
My super-popular 3rd house readings are back, for a limited time! I first opened my books to folks in the astrology for writers Discord, but am now opening them more broadly to the list.
Talking to people about their relationship to creativity and writing routines is one of my favorite things, and for that, I developed a reading that focuses on the 3rd house in a birth chart — because that is where our sacred routines (especially those to do with language and communication) live.
You don’t have to have any planets there for this reading to be relevant to your writing life. Trust, we go deep.
Powerpoint Parties on Dropout
College Humor grew up and became Dropout, my literal favorite platform for shows and comedy. You’ve probably seen clips from Dimension 20 (the D&D show) or Game Changer (which was ripped off by Ellen & her staff) on TikTok.
Anyway, they launched a new show this week called Smartypants which is basically an entire show of Powerpoint Parties.
Speaking as someone who has initiated a Powerpoint Party within the last month: this is my love language. This is my everything. This is all I care about.
My partner, Meg Jones Wall (aka 3am.tarot)
I learn something new from Meg every single day, and I firmly believe everyone else should have that same opportunity! Meg has a new members-only Conservatory, where you can take advantage of all their past courses as well as a Discord membership. A $1000+ value for $50/month. And this first round of membership is closing soon!
You aren't the only one. I just downloaded Libby this week, too. Somehow I got logged out of SimplyE, the app I use to access the NYPL catalog, and I can't seem to get back in. My local library uses Libby and I really, really needed some new, escapist YA romantasy for before bed, and I wanted to listen to the audiobook of Lev Grossman's Magicians when I drive down to NYC this weekend (my housemate and I have been rewatching the series on Netflix and IT IS SO GREAT.).
The book I started was Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer and it's quick and fascinating. And it's queer. Woot!
My bestie astrologer friend and I attended a webinar on Electitonal Astrology led by Mary Shea. Then we had a wonderful time practicing this techique - new to my friend and me.