Since 1995, April 23rd has been more than just another day on the calendar. Thanks to UNESCO, it’s the official World Book and Copyright Day—a global celebration of reading, literature, and the brilliant minds who shaped it. The date was chosen to honor two literary giants who passed away on this day: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. The tradition began in Spain, where the day also coincides with the beloved Festival of the Rose and St. George’s Day. Read more
I recently finished Honoré de Balzac’s Memories of Two Married Wives, and I have feelings. Big ones. The kind you have after a long dinner with old girlfriends—half-inspired, half-exhausted, and slightly emotionally hungover.
This book is basically the original 19th-Century WhatsApp Group Chat conversation between two best friends—Renée and Louise—who grow up together in a convent, then head off into womanhood down dramatically different paths. Think: “What if you and your bestie made completely opposite life choices, then spent decades dissecting them via eloquent, passionate, sometimes maddeningly long letters?” Read more