I’m sad I didn’t get to Prodigal Summer this year but something to look forward to next summer I suppose. Impossible Creatures is on our read aloud list! And thanks for the crispy zucchini recipe— we made Two Peas and their Pod zucchini brownies and they are phenomenal!
I’ve stopped using my Instagram during my holiday somewhere end of May, beginning of June. I don’t feel like going back on there, either. Although I do miss the bookish interactions, I don’t miss it for anything else.
And talking about zucchini, I’ve just made leek, zucchini, potato soup yesterday and it’s delicious.
I have two plants and we’ve had so many zucchini this year that we’re set for the whole winter already and they’re still producing new ones. I hope yours will be giving you lots of zucchini too.
I truly miss interacting with my book friends, but I absolutely do not miss anything else and any time I open the app I instantly feel a negative reaction. It's frustrating that a platform that used to be so fun is now a place I feel I need to avoid. I am thankful to have space to chat books on Substack free of unwanted noise!
And that soup sounds delicious! I'll have to keep that in mind once the weather cools off a bit. I'm really hoping to have a good late season zucchini harvest. So far my plants are growing well, but I feel cursed when it comes to zucchini. Maybe this year is my year 🤞
I added Prodigal Summer to my TBR, sounds really good!!!
Regarding Instagram, I use it in a personal way, but it has never "bothered" me too much, I never scroll more than 1 minute and don't even watch all the stories 🤣 But I know it can be the worst in some contexts and I'm glad you left it if it wasn't serving you!
Prodigal Summer is such a great backlist gem! I'm so glad I picked it up. Hope you enjoy!
I feel good about my choice leaving IG, I think many of us could benefit from examining our social media consumption and whether we're really enjoying the time we pay to be there. The platforms have changed a lot and it might not be something we notice fully unless we take a step back.
I never spent much time on IG until I started a book specific account and really found community there, but it's no longer a community-driven space. Happy to have found community with other readers here though 🙂
I need to check out Your Friends & Neighbors, I keep hearing good things and I really like JH! I struggled to enjoy My Friends, it felt a bit slow and meandering for me. I know Backman has a distinct writing style - I’ll continue to read his books, this one just wasn’t my fave. Your pasta looks good!
Oh, I feel the same about leaving social media. Instagram, TikTok, even Facebook, draining. I’m really glad I found my perfect blog-Twitter combo, Substack.
As for my reading, I’m currently rereading Harry Potter books to get myself out of reading slump (I’m on the book 6), but I’m waiting on the paperback of Pride and Prejudice so I will have Jane Austen September ✨
I got into bookstagram for a hot minute and I always felt like it was a “keeping p with the joneses” environment of who can read more post more be more aesthetic. it bridges so far away from reading!
I just wrote an article about booktok because I feel like that the same stuff happens!
I have a complicated relationship with Instagram these days. I haven't given it up but I don't post often and I've moved it to the last screen of my apps so it's basically become out of sight out of mind. When I do pop on I started looking at watercolor and doodle art and that's helped to make my feed more enjoyable. I'm going to make those muffins, thanks for the less sugar tip
Yes to all of this! I’m so glad you are here in this space. If we were neighbors, I would invite you over to talk about everything in this post and more, haha!
First, many congratulations on the zucchini! I'm drowning any tomatoes so I've been making sauce and definitely want to try the crispy zucchini. And thank you for your reflections on stepping away from the algorithm!
I love reading about you leaving Instagram. It's funny, on my personal account I do a but of scrolling then get bored and bounce, but I spend far more time on my book account, though markedly less in the past few months. I think eventually I'll head the same way as you. I often worry about how my reading habits are influenced by the app and even the books I pick up. There's also often a weird competitiveness underlying it all. Anyway! Very pleased to see your zucchini success!!
I’m sad I didn’t get to Prodigal Summer this year but something to look forward to next summer I suppose. Impossible Creatures is on our read aloud list! And thanks for the crispy zucchini recipe— we made Two Peas and their Pod zucchini brownies and they are phenomenal!
Zucchini brownies sound like an excellent choice!
To consciously uncoupling from toxic tech! You made your points beautifully well.
Thank you!
I’ve stopped using my Instagram during my holiday somewhere end of May, beginning of June. I don’t feel like going back on there, either. Although I do miss the bookish interactions, I don’t miss it for anything else.
And talking about zucchini, I’ve just made leek, zucchini, potato soup yesterday and it’s delicious.
I have two plants and we’ve had so many zucchini this year that we’re set for the whole winter already and they’re still producing new ones. I hope yours will be giving you lots of zucchini too.
I truly miss interacting with my book friends, but I absolutely do not miss anything else and any time I open the app I instantly feel a negative reaction. It's frustrating that a platform that used to be so fun is now a place I feel I need to avoid. I am thankful to have space to chat books on Substack free of unwanted noise!
And that soup sounds delicious! I'll have to keep that in mind once the weather cools off a bit. I'm really hoping to have a good late season zucchini harvest. So far my plants are growing well, but I feel cursed when it comes to zucchini. Maybe this year is my year 🤞
I know exactly what you mean. Every time I open the app, I feel anxious. And it used to be really fun place to be.
It's just overwhelming and such a time suck 👎
I added Prodigal Summer to my TBR, sounds really good!!!
Regarding Instagram, I use it in a personal way, but it has never "bothered" me too much, I never scroll more than 1 minute and don't even watch all the stories 🤣 But I know it can be the worst in some contexts and I'm glad you left it if it wasn't serving you!
Prodigal Summer is such a great backlist gem! I'm so glad I picked it up. Hope you enjoy!
I feel good about my choice leaving IG, I think many of us could benefit from examining our social media consumption and whether we're really enjoying the time we pay to be there. The platforms have changed a lot and it might not be something we notice fully unless we take a step back.
I never spent much time on IG until I started a book specific account and really found community there, but it's no longer a community-driven space. Happy to have found community with other readers here though 🙂
Me too 💖
I need to check out Your Friends & Neighbors, I keep hearing good things and I really like JH! I struggled to enjoy My Friends, it felt a bit slow and meandering for me. I know Backman has a distinct writing style - I’ll continue to read his books, this one just wasn’t my fave. Your pasta looks good!
Oh, I feel the same about leaving social media. Instagram, TikTok, even Facebook, draining. I’m really glad I found my perfect blog-Twitter combo, Substack.
As for my reading, I’m currently rereading Harry Potter books to get myself out of reading slump (I’m on the book 6), but I’m waiting on the paperback of Pride and Prejudice so I will have Jane Austen September ✨
I got into bookstagram for a hot minute and I always felt like it was a “keeping p with the joneses” environment of who can read more post more be more aesthetic. it bridges so far away from reading!
I just wrote an article about booktok because I feel like that the same stuff happens!
I have a complicated relationship with Instagram these days. I haven't given it up but I don't post often and I've moved it to the last screen of my apps so it's basically become out of sight out of mind. When I do pop on I started looking at watercolor and doodle art and that's helped to make my feed more enjoyable. I'm going to make those muffins, thanks for the less sugar tip
Yes to all of this! I’m so glad you are here in this space. If we were neighbors, I would invite you over to talk about everything in this post and more, haha!
First, many congratulations on the zucchini! I'm drowning any tomatoes so I've been making sauce and definitely want to try the crispy zucchini. And thank you for your reflections on stepping away from the algorithm!
I love reading about you leaving Instagram. It's funny, on my personal account I do a but of scrolling then get bored and bounce, but I spend far more time on my book account, though markedly less in the past few months. I think eventually I'll head the same way as you. I often worry about how my reading habits are influenced by the app and even the books I pick up. There's also often a weird competitiveness underlying it all. Anyway! Very pleased to see your zucchini success!!