Surgery, switching sides, and a shift in perspective

Hey readers, Hello and happy October! Thanks for subscribing to my monthly-ish newsletter; in this edition I've got piles of announcements and goodies and deep thoughts (kidding/not kidding about that last one). Let's do this. I'm just back from [a quick trip to Books by the Banks](=), which was a delightful end to a doozy of a week. My husband Will had shoulder surgery on Tuesday, and though we of course expected spending the day at the hospital + coming home with a bleary-eyed, hurting patient to be disruptive, we both underestimated just how disruptive it would be. Will's dominant arm is immobilized, pinned in place with a massive sling, which means he can't write, he can't drive, he can't walk much without pain. He can't even sleep the way he's used to. (It's always struck me as particularly cruel that sleeping is often difficult for those who need it most.) Because of said massive sling, we realized only as we got in bed Tuesday night that our current setup—the one we've stuck to for going on twenty years—wasn't going to work for him now. To protect his shoulder, he needed to sleep on my side of the bed. If you'd asked me Monday night if I'd ever consider such a switch, I would have said HECK NO. It's not easy to establish good sleep habits, and mine were working for me—why mess with a good thing? But Tuesday night, we switched. And we both fell promptly to sleep—Will from the meds, and me from sheer exhaustion. I expected my new side of the bed to feel different at night, of course. But since we made the switch, I've been startled by the change every time I walk in the bedroom. The room looks different. I'm constantly surprised to see Will's books on "my" nightstand, or my jewelry on his. Muscle memory is a funny thing: I toss my pajamas automatically to the old familiar side, I wake in the morning and instinctively move towards what is now the middle of the bed. I didn't realize how accustomed I was to things being the way they were until they changed. I know the value of a fresh perspective. But I had no idea that an alternate one was even possible in my own bedroom. How many ways could there be to see a room as small as this one? It turns out the answer is: at least two. There have been times in my life where I've welcomed, even sought, a new point of view—traveling to new cities, meeting new people, visiting different bookstores. Even picking up a book can change the way you see the world. Some shifts of scenery are unavoidable, and I'm not just talking about the surgery: right now the leaves are falling here in Louisville, and as they drop my eye, no longer caught by the foliage, instead goes straight to the architecture of the trees themselves. Whether you're seeking out a needed fresh perspective or have one thrust upon you, my hope for you, and for me, is that we can truly see, with fresh eyes, what's right in front of us. I'm sure this new point of view will come to feel familiar before too long, and on that note, I've been wondering: once he's recovered, do we switch back? I have no idea. Feel free to hit reply and weigh in. We've got a few weeks to figure it out. MMD Reading Journal A long, long time ago—at least in internet time—I released a free printable reading journal as a thank you to those who signed up for my email newsletter. (Hi, email friends!) We recently gave it a refresh, with a new look, improved design, and updated book lists. We're going to put it on the blog tomorrow for the whole world to see, but I'm sending it to you first: [click here to get yours](. Popular on the blog: - [16 Shakespeare-inspired books for readers of all ages](). - [What Should I Read Next FAQs.]() Everything you've ever wanted to know about the podcast. - [7 spooky (not scary) short story collections.]() These short story collections that will get you in the mood for spooky October reading without keeping you awake all night. - [6 fall style essentials.](=) Because sweater weather is here! - [All about the inaugural Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club retreat](. - [15 quintessentially British audiobooks for chilly weather listening.](=) The comments on this post are AMAZING. - [100 stocking stuffers that will actually be appreciated, don’t feel like a waste of money, and won’t be broken/destroyed/forgotten by New Years](. I gotta admit, it surprised me to see how many people started searching for this post come October 1. MMD Book Club news [The Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club]() is the place where we're learning to read better, together. We host community, classes, and conversation in that place, as well as purposefully seek to build the skills of the reading life, whether that means learning to choose good books for our own enjoyment, exploring different methods of book journaling, learning to write better reviews or request Advanced Review Copies from publishers, or make reading resolutions for the New Year. Reading along for our monthly book selections is optional and only a part of the Book Club experience, but the books we're reading for the coming months are: - Celine by Peter Heller (November) - How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen (December) - The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali (January) - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (February) [Check out our full schedule of upcoming events right here](). Effective November 1, the price will increase $2 per month for new members, making the new price $12 a month. This price increase only applies to new members; existing members will continue to pay $10 per month. That means if you'd like to get in on the existing rate, now's a great time to sign up. [Click here for more info and to get started](=). On the podcasts: I loved getting to meet so many listeners in person yesterday in Cincinnati. The most frequent comment I hear about the podcast is this: What Should I Read Next changed my reading life for the better. Give the show a try with any of these terrific recent episodes: - [WSIRN Ep 204: Nonfiction that reads like a thrilling novel.]( This guest loves larger than life nonfiction, especially if it reads like an intense thriller, so I hooked him up with exactly that. - [WSIRN Ep 205: Books that won't let you stop reading.]( When you need book recommendations to fill your time during harvest season, you turn to WSIRN for some unputdownable reads. - [WSIRN Ep 206: How to avoid a book hangover.]( Avoiding book hangovers is a tricky task but we're more than capable. - [One Great Book](=) season 3 is in the books but a new season is right around the corner soon. I hope this newsletter finds you well (and in the middle of a great book), wherever you are. Happy reading! Anne P.S. I'll be in Huntsville in less than two weeks! I'd love to meet you in person: get the details on that event, plus my full event schedule, [right here](=). Do you have a friend who would enjoy getting these emails? 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