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[Movie still from Tenet, Syncopy and Warner Bros.]

Christopher Nolan has made some of the most compelling and confusing movies of the last twenty years. The mind that brought Inception and Interstellar to the screen for your viewing pleasure is at it again with Tenet, an action packed SFX mindbender. The film was originally slated to be released on July 17th, but due to theaters being shut down, has had its release date pushed several times. While Nolan fans are chomping at the bit to see the film, they may have to wait just a bit longer as again it seems theaters may not open in time for the new release date. With that in mind, here is a list of some great science fiction reads to fill the hours until the film is released.

[Photo by Martin Lopez from Pexels]

Happy 35th birthday to Anna Kendrick – a voracious reader, dedicated tweeter, and published author. Are we missing something? We’re kidding, of course. Because who could forget that she’s a delightful actor and wonderful person to boot. It’s hard not to love her! With production schedules on hold and the future of film and television uncertain, we thought we’d have a little fun and pitch Anna on a few yet-to-be-announced film adaptations that we know she’d be wonderful in. Let’s dive in!

[Image by David Mark from Pixabay]

If the phrase “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” conjures up images of cardigans and trollies to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, then you’re going to love our two newest board books: It’s You I Like and Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Both of these gorgeous books feature the lyrics (and the warm neighborly welcome) of Fred Rogers, with beautiful illustrations by Luke Flowers. We recommend them for the littlest readers in your life – or for your millennial friends and family who could use a visit from Mister Rogers right about now.

One thing we love about Mister Rogers is the way he welcomed us into both his home in Pittsburgh and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe in equal measure. He treated us like guests in his world, and we’ll never stop thanking him for that. And what better way to welcome these Mister Rogers books into the world than by exploring some of our favorite neighborhoods in pop culture!

(Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels)

A favorite doughnut is like a good book: exciting, dependable, and absolutely delicious. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory, as cakey or as doughy as you desire – and okay, now we’re just talking about doughnuts. But can you blame us? Doughnuts are the best! Which is why,we’re bringing you a host of book recommendations, inspired by your favorite doughnut. Let’s dig in!

Jelly Filled

If you have a hankering for a jelly filled doughnut, chances are you’re not afraid to get a little messy. Which is why we’re recommending The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix to pair with that oozing strawberry jelly. Once you sink your teeth into that jelly, it’ll be hard to tell if you’re on team vampire or team vampire slayer. Make sure you’re on the right side of the fight because once you dive into Hendrix’s world – the subsequent doughnut sugar coma – it’ll be difficult to know fact from fiction.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

Old Fashioned

If your doughnut of choice is an old fashioned, we know diving into the world of Jane Austen will be a real treat, especially if her heroines are familiar. We recommend keeping it super classic with Pride & Prejudice, pairing the world of balls and long walks across the moors and botched proposals with this steady and reliable doughnut. You might even find yourself wondering: how would the Lizzie/Darcy story be different if they knew about the wonder of doughnuts?

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

Frosted with Sprinkles

We’re here to tell you that doughnuts that are frosted with sprinkles are more complex than they seem. But of course, we’re not ignoring the sprinkles of it all. These doughnuts are incredibly sweet and fun. They remind us of childhood, but we’re not afraid to eat them as fully-grown adults. Which is why we’re recommending pairing this book with a comforting and addicting young adult novel like Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston. It’s as familiar as a fairy tale, with some modern surprises – just like this delicious doughnut!

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

Cream Filled

If you’re a fan of cream filled doughnuts, chances are you’re a lover all things sweet. Fingers crossed that extends right down to your reading material because we think that a sweet and chewy romance novel, like Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, is just the ticket. And just like reading a romance novel, with its wealth of frustrating obstacles to keep the leads apart, eating a cream filled doughnut can be a messy experience. But we’ll be right here with a stack of napkins – and maybe a tissue or two, for the happy tears.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

Doughnut Holes

If you’re always reaching for doughnut holes for the variety and bite sized satisfaction, we know you’re going to love the short stories in Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties. These stories range from retellings of campfire tales to meditations on the state of Law and Order: SVU – and everything in between. It’s a wild ride and you never know what you’re going to get, much like in a delicious mixed dozen of doughnut holes.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Bookshop

[Photo by mentatdgt from Pexels]

Let’s face it: our friends are the best thing in our lives right now. They’re the best thing in our lives always, but with all the distractions of commuting and commerce and “normalcy” (whatever that means, right?) pushed to the side over these past few months, our friends have remained a constant – like the co-protagonists of our lives that they are. Today we’re celebrating unlikely friendships in literature and pop culture. Because all of our truly favorite people IRL started out as our own unlikely companions.

[Photo by nappy from Pexels]

As readers, we’ve always reveled in this idea that we can travel incredible distances without ever leaving the comfort of our own home. We’re taking that sentiment to heart these days – especially now that international travel feels like a fantasy and taking a plane or train anywhere is an unnecessary risk. To celebrate the summer vacations we’re not taking, we’ve gathered some of our favorite books – books where the international setting truly feels like another character. Go the extra mile by reading each of these books with a friend or family member. That way, you can “travel” together.