The Pizza Hut Book Club Prepared Me for This (Issue #32)
This week’s theme is books – how to reignite the joys of reading well into adulthood.
As we near the end of 2023, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can make Sincerely, Celisia even better. So, I’ve created a reader survey and want to hear from YOU! The survey takes less than 3 minutes to complete, and as a bonus, you'll automatically be entered to win one of three $20 American Express gift cards!! Check out the survey here, and thanks sooo much in advance for your feedback. <3
Hi friends!
As a kid, I loved reading. I always had a book with me, and can still remember the magical feeling of falling into a new and exciting story. One memory that really sticks with me took place in a bookstore in Atlanta. My mom loves bookstores, so whenever we traveled, we’d make a point to visit whatever bookstores that area had to offer. So there I was, browsing the kid’s section, when a unique title caught my eye – The Day My Butt Went Psycho!
The cover showed a boy, eyes peeking up from the bottom of the cover, peering at a naked butt hanging from the top. I flipped the book over to read the description:
“An epic tale of one brave boy and his crazy, runaway butt. Can Zack save the earth from butts gone berserk? Can he defeat the biggest, ugliest, meanest butt the world has ever seen? More important -- will Zack and his butt ever find true happiness?”
I! Was! Hooked!!!! I flipped through the pages as fast as I could, reading as much of the story as possible before my mom whisked me towards the register. Luckily, she bought the book for me and I devoured it in a few short sittings. 🙂
(Important side note - In researching for this intro, I discovered that The Day My Butt Went Psycho was turned into a tv show which ran from 2013-2015. Episode titles include “My Milkshake Brings All the Butts to the Yard” and “I Dream of Deucie.”)
As a kid, reading felt like magic. And that energy, that excitement, it’s just difficult to recreate as an adult. It’s a feeling I can still remember, and it’s one I haven’t yet been able to perfectly replicate since my reading taste included stories about unruly butts.
So, for this week’s issue, I want to reignite some of that childhood magic by centering all of the recommendations around books. Enjoy!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
The Atlantic: What Scares Jordan Peele? by Hanna Rosin
This past October, Jordan Peele released *Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror, a collection of short stories by Black writers, which I’m really looking forward to checking out. This article is an extension of the Radio Atlantic podcast, in which Rosin interviews Jordan Peele and best-selling sci-fi author N. K. Jemisin, whose short story is the first in the anthology. Peele and Jemisin discuss the new book, including the ways their experiences have shaped their perspective and approach to the horror genre.
Book: *Advika + the Holywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti
This book follows the story of 26-year-old Advika Srinivasan, who falls in love with Julian Zelding, a film producer 41 years her senior. Amidst their newly wedded life, Julian’s ex-wife and famous actress Evie Lockhart dies. Soon, Advika finds herself unraveling the truth of who Julian really is, all through examining the lives of his exes. The description describes it as “A page-turning tale of marriage, scandal, and fame, perfect for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid,” a perfect selling point for me!
Book: *The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante and translated by Ann Goldstein
This book found its way onto my to-read list this summer as I prepared for my honeymoon to Italy! I was looking for a story set in Italy, and this coming-of-age novel tells the story of 14-year-old Giovanna as she seeks to find her place in a divided Naples. While I ran out of time to read this book prior to my trip, I still plan to check it out soon!
Playlists to add to your music library.
Okay, so I don’t use Spotify for most of my music listening, but I don’t want to be left out of the Spotify Wrapped experience! Check out the top 50 songs I listened to the most in 2023:
Things to try + share in the group chat.
I love pairing books I’m reading with related activities, which incentivized me to check out *The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. The book has been adapted into a TV series starring Jennifer Garner, and is described as a "‘page-turning, exhilarating’ (PopSugar) and ‘heartfelt thriller’ (Real Simple) about a woman who thinks she's found the love of her life--until he disappears.” To really close the activity loop with this book, I want to try this Poggio linguine recipe by the book’s author, which is the same pasta the main character makes in the book and show!
Another book-turned-movie I’m obsessed with is *Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, which follows the love story between America’s First Son and the Prince of Wales. I read this book a few years ago and looove this sweet teen romance. The movie is available now on Amazon Prime, which is an excellent incentive to get through the book quickly! And even if you’re not quite ready to read the whole book or watch the movie, make sure to check out “If I Loved You” by Vagabon, which was made to accompany the show and is just the sweetest love song that gives me all the feels. 😭
For a more unique bookmark option, I really like the customizable felt corner bookmarks I’ve seen floating around lately. There are tons of custom variations available on Etsy, and I especially like this one and this one. If you’re looking for a DIY option, check out this written tutorial, or follow the instructional video below:
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One of my favorite newsletters,
, recently recommended these *metal line markers as a way to keep track of recipes in cookbooks, and I thought it was such a great idea! I also think they’d be perfect for noting key quotes or passages without having to underline or otherwise mark up your book (especially ideal for library books).
Want more recommendations? Make sure to check out the bonus issue paid subscribers got this week:
Whether you’re looking for decorations worth the investment or the perfect holiday party dessert, this list has plenty of options for all your holiday food needs!!
Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you again Monday :)
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