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I Miss You When I Blink
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Acclaimed essayist and bookseller Mary Laura Philpott presents a charmingly relatable and wise memoir-in-essays about what happened after she checked off all the boxes on her successful lifes to-do list and realized she might need to reinvent the listand herself. Mary Laura Philpott thought shed cracked the code: Always be right, and youll always be happy. But once shed completed her lifes to-do list (job, spouse, house, babiescheck!), she found that instead of feeling content and successful, she felt anxious. Lost. Stuck in a daily grind of overflowing calendars, grueling small talk, and sprawling traffic. Shed done everything right, but she felt all wrong. Whats the worse failure, she wondered: smiling and staying the course, or blowing it all up and running away? And are those the only options? In this memoir-in-essays full of spot-on observations about home, work, and creative life, Philpott takes on the conflicting pressures of modern adulthood with wit and heart. She offers up her own stories to show that identity crises dont happen just once or only at midlife; reassures us that small, recurring personal re-inventions are both normal and necessary; and advises that if youre going to faint, you should get low to the ground first. Most of all, Philpott shows that when you stop feeling satisfied with your life, you dont have to burn it all down and set off on a transcontinental hike (unless you want to, of course). You can call upon your many selves to figure out who you are, who youre not, and where you belong. Who among us isnt trying to do that? Like a pep talk from a sister, I Miss You When I Blink is the funny, poignant, and deeply affecting book youll want to share with all your friends, as you learn what Philpott has figured out along the way: that multiple things can be true of us at onceand that sometimes doing things wrong is the way to do life right.
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review
IuliaC
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Many of these essays resonated with me and the funny potrayal of the type-A personality was so honest and relatable. She reminds us how beautiful, scary and brave it is to be a child, a young adult, a parent...

I found ingenious her longing for a time machine allowing us to go back and forth in time and relive our life at different ages and maybe avoid or overcome our mid-life crisis by staying connected with older versions of ourselves.

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jdiehr
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

On the phone with my grandma a while back, I asked her how she was doing. "I can't complain, but I still will," was her perfect response. ?

This essay collection is about doing everything right, but still feeling as if something is off.

Relatable, funny, and oh so entertaining.

Chelsea.Poole Lol your grandma sounds wonderful 😊 2y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JackOBotts
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a wonderful read. So many of her essays resonated with me. There is a special blend of humor and reflection, vulnerability and honesty. I‘m so glad to have finally read this for my #Roll100 pick.

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉🎉 2y
36 likes1 comment
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JackOBotts
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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I‘m looking forward to this #Roll100 pick (#5) for March! This book was shared with me by my dear pen pal, @BekahPat and came highly recommended. It‘s a long overdue read, so I‘m excited to jump in! (And I‘ll be sure to get it back to you after holding it hostage for 3 years!!! I‘m so sorry! 🤦🏻‍♀️)

JackOBotts @BekahPat - LOL and I‘m so confused…I may have your copy…or I may have sent it back and picked up my own copy?! What is going on with me?! 😆😉HELP! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
PuddleJumper Awesome! 2y
39 likes2 comments
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Cinfhen
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

I was absolutely charmed by Mary Laura Philpott. While not every essay was relatable for me, I mean what 25 year old woman wishes for a lawn blower as a birthday gift (?!!?!) there were many moments I felt Mary Laura was speaking directly to me. She‘s self effacing,honest, astute, funny and the type of person you‘d want as your emergency contact. Overall an enjoyable listen. Thanks for the suggestion @britt_brooke 💚

Megabooks So glad you liked it! 2y
britt_brooke I‘m happy you enjoyed! 💚 Her new collection pubs in April. I think it‘s better, but it‘s different. Deeper. 2y
79 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Cinfhen
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Recommend by my girl @britt_brooke and using for #PoP22 #Onomatopoeia ( Blink is on the list!)
I‘ve already cracked up in the first 2 minutes when Mary Laura Philpott shares one of her daily mantras “Not my circus, not my monkeys” as a reminder that not EVERYTHING is her business or concern. Love it!!

jenniferw88 🙈🙉🙊 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Amandajoy I have her mantra stitched on a pillow 🐒 2y
KarenUK 😂😂😂😂 2y
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lynneamch Yes, yes, yes MLP! Thanks @britt_brooke for turning me on to her. 2y
britt_brooke I‘m so happy you‘re liking this so far! Mary Laura is funny and very relatable. She used to work (behind the scenes) for Parnassus Books, and I don‘t get down there often, but one time, the bookseller ringing me up told me I‘d just missed her. I was SO bummed. 2y
Cinfhen Do you really @Amandajoy ???? I NEED that too!! That‘s brilliant 🙌🏻💕🙊 2y
Cinfhen Right @jenniferw88 @KarenUK how PERFECT is that mantra!?? 2y
Cinfhen I‘m finding MLP SO endearing @britt_brooke @lynneamch 2y
KarenUK Just texted it to Paul! Soooooo appropriate for his work place shenanigans! 😂 2y
Megabooks I think I‘m the only person who wasn‘t a fan. 2y
Cinfhen I like her and the essays are lighthearted but I don‘t think they are particularly relatable for me @Megabooks I mean she wished for a lawn blower as a 25th birthday gift 🙄😁😉 2y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Endearing is a good description. I think she‘d be fun to have coffee with. 2y
TrishB I do like that mantra! 2y
88 likes2 stack adds14 comments
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Nikki_E
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

Finished listening to this last night. Mary Laura Philpott is definitely on my radar now, really enjoyed this collection.

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britt_brooke
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A quick #reread before starting an #ARC of her new collection. Recycling my original review bc I‘m lazy:

Philpott reminds us that being an adult, even one who seemingly has everything, is hard and periodically sucks. Sometimes we have to step back and assess ourselves; tweak a few things or make drastic changes. As someone who has moved a lot, I understand that urge. I enjoyed these stories, but feel like they only scratch the surface.

Megabooks Can you tag me in your ARC review? (edited) 2y
britt_brooke @Megabooks Sure! Hoping to get to it before the end of the year. 🤞🏼 2y
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Megabooks @britt_brooke thanks! 👍🏻 2y
Cinfhen Ok, #Sold 💓💓💓💓💓 2y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Philpott is a local Nashville author (used to work at Parnassus Books). She‘s pretty funny. I think you‘ll like this! 2y
Cinfhen 😘 2y
85 likes4 stack adds7 comments
blurb
Erinreadsthebooks
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Well, I‘m between books and nothing is keeping my interest. After 5 years as a high school librarian, I go back in the classroom tomorrow at a new school teaching middle school STEM 😬 and feeling a bit anxious. Hoping this book will stick!

wanderinglynn Sending you positive vibes & well wishes for a great first day back! 💚 3y
Tamra Wishing you a smooth and fulfilling first week & beyond! 3y
Allyneedsbooks Everything‘s gonna be alright 👊🏼👏🏼💕 3y
36 likes3 comments
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Andmiruna
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott

When you internalize what you believe to be someone else‘s opinion of you, it becomes your opinion of you.

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lovelybookshelf
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

This memoir-in-essays covers parenthood, existential angst, and just dealing with people and everyday life when it all seems so mundane. Perfect book for those of us who tend to think too much. Philpott's writing is amusing and comforting, and even though a lot about her life differs from my own, she made me feel like there's a lot we share.

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SShiney
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Sheridanb
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott

“Doing something for humanity doesn‘t mean you won‘t still find yourself sometimes hating humanity.”

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Sheridanb
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott

“Who were you when you weren‘t wondering who you were?”

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lahousewyfe
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

I've been waiting for this book for almost a year - and it was so worth it! This collection of essays made me laugh, cry and think. I'm definitely going to be finding more of her writing.

jillrhudy I loved this. Especially on perfectionism 🙋🏻‍♀️ 4y
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rjsthumbelina
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

I listened to this one on audiobook, mostly while driving. I typically enjoy memoirs where the author is basically telling stories from their life, and this was no exception. I enjoyed it and found a few parts to be particularly funny or poignant, but overall it was around average as far as enjoyment level and what I got out of it.

rjsthumbelina I can't say that I believe I will remember much of this story when I look back at this review in a few month's time. But I will probably remember a few of the moments where it succeeded in making me feel something 4y
Megabooks Agree. It just wasn‘t enough for me either. 4y
25 likes2 comments
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SShiney
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

A lot of reflections in this book about perfectionism and the life of a creative person.

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LauraBeth
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh. This didn‘t really land with me. I didn‘t read anything in here that I haven‘t already read a million times. I‘ll say what no one else wants to say: Ann Patchett is her boss and she‘s very fortunate to have gotten a big signal boost from her. Big applause for the PR team behind this book! If you haven‘t read a lot of white-lady-post-40-I-KNOW-I‘m-privileged-but-I‘m-gonna-whine-about-my-life-anyway-books, you can put this on your TBR.

Becker Same experience here. I ended up bailing on it. It just had nothing to offer me. 4y
Lreads I wanna know what your two fur buddies are watching so intently! 😍☺️ 4y
DGRachel I almost choked on my lunch when I read the last line of your review! 😂 4y
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LeahBergen Are they staring at Robert? 😆😆 4y
Hooked_on_books Oh damn, I love your candor! 😆 4y
LauraBeth @Becker, @DGRachel, @Hooked_on_books I feel badly about my honesty about it bc I do think that everyone‘s voice is important, regardless of who you are. We all bring significant and valuable things to a conversation. But sometimes when I read something, I just wish the author had gone deeper bc sometimes that‘s where the real story lies (or had bothered to look at the world around her and not just at her place in it).
4y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen of course! 😹😹 4y
LauraBeth @QuietlyLaura they were looking at the annoying kitten, Robert 😹 4y
DGRachel Nothing wrong with being honest. The book didn‘t work for you and you explained why without being nasty. It was also funny, and I appreciated the laugh. 😘 4y
Hooked_on_books I‘m with @DGRachel ! Plus, you should never feel badly about honesty. There are far too many privileged people with blinders on in this world and they should be called out. I would find this book maddening, too. 4y
Suet624 I have to say that the cover of the book kept me away from it. Thanks for taking one for the team. 4y
LauraBeth @Suet624 😂😂 The cover is terrible! 4y
91 likes13 comments
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LauraBeth
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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britt_brooke I liked this one! Hope you enjoy. 4y
LauraBeth @britt_brooke I read half of it yesterday and LOVE it! 4y
79 likes1 stack add3 comments
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SoapboxEdits
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

This book of essays was funny and the author is easy to relate to. Any mom that needs to feel like part of something, and maybe feels a bit alone, should read this!

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Graciouswarriorprincess
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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I loved meeting this author today and showing up on her Instagram page! #booknerd

MallenNC I liked that book. 5y
Lcsmcat I must have blinked while I was there. I missed you. 😂 5y
SoapboxEdits How cool! I‘m just about finished with the book. So relatable, and funny! 5y
Graciouswarriorprincess @MallenNC Me too! @Lcsmcat I'm sorry that I missed you at the festival this year. Did you have fun? @Soapboxedits Happy reading! I thought the same about the book! :) 5y
66 likes4 comments
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JackOBotts
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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My wonderful #penpal and #birthdaybuddy has showered me with love and kindness once again! 🤗🥰 Thank you, @BekahPat - you‘re so thoughtful. I promise I will be able to sit down and write soon. xoxo

Most importantly: Happy Birthday to You! 🥳

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KerriArista
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

Loved this- I dont typically read essays, but I‘m not sure why. I related to this author and liked it more and more with each essay.

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auntie_jenn
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

i‘ve been picking away at this essay collection that got rave reviews...but really, what middle-aged white woman needs to read about another‘s agita? ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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KerriArista
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Now THAT‘S some sound advice!

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Christine
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

This is well-done - funny, frank, and charming. It just wasn‘t quite for me. I could identify with many of her experiences, but overall her tone and themes didn‘t speak to me. I could see this being a strong pick for others, though.

Megabooks Completely agree! 5y
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MelKelsey
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Bailedbailed

I made it through 198 pages, but this style isn't for me. I have no doubt that it will resonate with many readers. It's memoir-esque but more humorous observations on adulthood and the gap between expectations and reality. Her views mildly rubbed me the wrong way, and I want to spend my reading time on more engaging novels.

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LizzieLou
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

Memoirs from mother's who are honest about the ups and downs of motherhood are my jam right now. Definitely helping me in my journey as a mom.

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Eringogreen
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

My first 5-Star read of the year! So real, funny and raw. A good book to recommend to other women. #fivestars

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LyndseyReads
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Started this on audio and LOVING it. Great narration by the author. Funny, candid, and thought-provoking.

Kristy_K I liked this one on audio as well! 5y
15 likes1 comment
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suvata
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

ModernMrsDarcy.com Summer 2019 Reading List

This is a book of essays/memoirs that is not only humorous but it gave me reasons to stop for a bit and evaluate my life and behavior. I particularly enjoyed Chapter 17: Rock You Like A Hurricane and Chapter 19: A Letter to the Type A Person in Distress (I believe she was talking directly to me). So funny! I love books that make be think and/or reminisce and this one certainly did.

marleed I loved it to. I‘m aided by memoirs coming to conclusions by evaluating themselves more than the people around them who did them wrong. It helps me evaluate myself. And for this one - I am a list person! 5y
britt_brooke I really enjoyed this one. Philpott is a local author for me, which made me like it even more. 5y
suvata @marleed I am a list person too so that was part of the fun in this book. 5y
suvata @britt_brooke I am in Florida so she‘s a little North of me but, her “ Southern“ was showing. I love southern authors. 5y
56 likes1 stack add4 comments
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marleed
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this memoir via essays book because the author grows by evaluating self rather than those around her. It had a Brene Brown vibe which I loved. And if you evaluate your day by little checks against a myriad of self-made lists, this is a healthy book for you (‘er I mean me) to read.

And did I sneak a photo of mugs in a shop on the Country Club Plaza so I could coordinate with a book that was about to drop for me? Why yes I did!

PaperbackPirate So sneaky! I love it!! 😉 5y
marleed @PaperbackPirate I was trying to snap a pic of the mugs without shadows but decided sneakiness comes at a price! 5y
PaperbackPirate Lol! I‘d say it‘s a happy accident bc it makes the book pop! 5y
60 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Nitpickyabouttrains
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Essays but also sort of memoir. Witty and fun while covering some more serious issues.

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Pam.Kokomo
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Laugh-out-loud funny and sweet by turns. Great writing and great narrating on audio.

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jillrhudy
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Mary Laura Philpott hits me and all perfectionists right in the solar plexus with her essay collection “I Miss You When I Blink” 🤗#IMissYouWhenIBlink #essays #selfhelp

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MallenNC
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

This is another book I read because it‘s on the Modern Mrs Darcy summer reading list. I liked the book overall, but like most essay collections, I connected with some of them more than others.

jillrhudy This looks like a great list! 5y
MallenNC @jillrhudy I love the Modern Mrs. Darcy site, and her Summer Reading List is always fun. 5y
25 likes2 comments
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MallenNC
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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One of my current reads. Trading off between it and a few others but it is due back soon so it gets priority. I don‘t usually love essay collections but this one is pretty good.

24 likes2 stack adds
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SoapboxEdits
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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1. I grew up in the desert of AZ!!! 🌵
2. I love plants of all kinds and can sometimes bring the most hopeless back to life. 🌱
3. Work reading and the tagged book 📚

@saguarosally @ReadosaurusText

ReadosaurusText I am from Arizona, too! 5y
saguarosally Yeah, me too. 🌵 5y
SoapboxEdits Yay for AZ! 🌵 5y
16 likes3 comments
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kbuggle
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Alright, I love-loved this; if you have been on the fence about whether you should pick it up next, then you should. SHE IS A WISE LADY. Her essays are succinct, and thoughtful, and they just punched all the buttons I needed right now- I love when you pick up the right book at the right time.

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HotCocoaReads
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Some of the essays really spoke to me, some were funny—all around, this was a fun book to read. I think this will appeal more to people who are mothers

marleed I love the title - and your cat! 5y
HotCocoaReads @marleed Thank you—I love that Poppy just happened to blink at the right time! 🤣 5y
10 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Floresj
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Good collection of essays that explore the parenting/ middle age white woman experience. She‘s definitely type A, comfortable with describing her bouts with depression, and humorous. I liked it enough but wasn‘t blown away. Soft pick, strong so-so.

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razmanda
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

Really enjoyable collection of essays that made me feel VERY SEEN but in a, “hey, you‘re not alone; we‘re all fundamentally broken and that‘s okay,” kind of way. I was not familiar with the author but when Samantha Irby praises it, I make it a priority. Bitches gotta read indeed.

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KathyWheeler
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this collection of personal essays. Some stories, like her interpretation of her teacher‘s instructions to write a story about a lobsterman, had me laughing out loud. Other essays, such as the one about her feelings of guilt for experiencing depression when she had a good life, I liked because I related to them so much.

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Well-ReadNeck
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

I began this essay collection thinking “Yes!! So relatable”. Then, this one is not so relatable, but ok. Interesting. And, finally, meh. Not so interested. I‘m not sure what it is, maybe just too much in one place. Might be better spread out over time. #24b4monday

90 likes3 stack adds
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Rhondareads
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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So excited to read this book of essays funny touching drawn from her life experiences great reviews everywhere .

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SReed151
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this memoir through essays! Philpott has a great way with one-liners but she‘s a sharp and honest observer of herself and others too. Recommended!

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Lauren.Archer
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
Pickpick

This was one of the best essay collections I have ever read. She is very relatable. This will make you smile, laugh and even ponder some things. Can‘t wait to read more from her.

KathyWheeler I just got this book. 5y
71 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Megabooks
I Miss You When I Blink: Essays | Mary Laura Philpott
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Mehso-so

#BFC Book 3/8

I either like to relate to essay collections or learn something from them. To me, this wasn‘t a great collection. There are no great universal truths, and I didn‘t connect with all the motherhood anecdotes. It was basically an okay memoir. I think other Littens would appreciate it more.

I finished all three books I had started, so I‘m back to square one on the #BookFitnessChallenge, but I met all my fitness goals today!! 🎉🎉🎉

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 5y
BethM Reading and working out good job! 5y
Megabooks @wanderinglynn Thanks! 😊😊 5y
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Megabooks @BethM thank you! 👍🏻👍🏻 5y
BookwormAHN Great job 👏🏻 5y
Megabooks @BookwormAHN Thanks!, 👍🏻👍🏻 5y
Kaye 🌟👍🏼🌟 5y
Laughterhp Great job! 👏🏻 5y
AprilMae Great job!!! 5y
TheSpineView Keep up the good work! 5y
Megabooks Thank you @Kaye @Laughterhp @AprilMae @TheSpineView !! 😁😁😁 I‘m glad I had a good day! 5y
79 likes11 comments