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JANUARY 18, 2019

Happy Friday, friends. Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Well, the woman who wrote that glorious question did some equally glorious things with her own life. The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver, who passed away yesterday, taught us so much about joy, passion, and the natural world. In her honor, here are some of the stories that sparked joy this week.

It all started on a mat in California…

We were so grateful for the gift that was this stunning floor routine by UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi. Her seemingly boundless joie de vivre belies the struggle we’ve heard about more and more for the women in this sport, one which persuaded Ohashi to abandon the Olympic track in favor of college. In a tear-jerking video, she detailed the pressures to keep bodyweight low and pain resistance high—sadly, an all-too-common experience her fellow gymnasts Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, and Simone Biles have detailed in stunning audiobooks. Can’t wait for yours, Katelyn (hint, hint!).

We said hi to @ShaneEastReads and the cast of Birthday Suit!

One of our favorite Romance narrators, Shane East, has finally joined the Twitterverse, and he’s already proven to be a worthy follow with his romantic take on the flu. That Brit really can make anything sound sexy. Sick tweets aside, his real reason for joining was to celebrate the release of Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely. The full-cast production, led by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York, features 12 superstar narrators doing what they do best in a contemporary romance about a chocolatier and the man who has long loved her from afar. We recommend having some sweet treats on hand before you start listening.

Prayers for a missing girl were answered.

The entire country breathed a sigh of dumbfounded relief when missing Wisconsin girl Jayme Closs was found, three months after being abducted by the man who killed her parents. Luckily, stranger abductions are relatively rare (though it’s not much comfort in the face of such a devastating ordeal), but there are fellow survivors who can relate. Elizabeth Smart told CBS that what happened to Closs “doesn’t have to define her future.” In Smart’s case, she established a foundation to help prevent crimes against children, and her latest book, Where There’s Hope, suggests a way forward after tragedy—when Closs is ready.

A first lady celebrated another first.

While we’ve all been busy debating whether the Instagram egg (now the most liked photo on the platform after a successful campaign to unseat Kylie Jenner’s record) is genius or super annoying, another record was broken. According to Amazon Charts, Michelle Obama's Becoming holds the longest streak in the #1 best seller spot across all formats since the great Fifty Shades of Grey reign of 2012—and no political book or public figure’s memoir has sat at the top for as long. Long live the new queen!

The original joy-sparker kept making news.

In her Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” the author and tidying expert has sparked more than just joy. Debates abound: Is it OK for grown-ups to talk to their possessions? Are you a monster if you declutter your books? Can’t you just leave me and how I fold my undies alone already?! All tidiness habits aside, our editors are unanimous on one point—it’s impossible to watch Kondo in action and not feel at least a tiny twinge of her infectious delight. And if her KonMari method fails to bring you joy, we think she would agree: just say “thank you” and move along.

And, we’ll howl to this!

Editor Abby is so excited that the stars are literally aligning to give her both a day off for her birthday, with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday falling on the 21st, and a major astrological event the night before: the Super Blood Wolf Moon. Since she plans to be out dancing with friends during that first full moon of the year when it will also be a lunar eclipse that makes the moon look red, she can’t help but entertain fantastical thoughts, like whether she might end up flirting with a werewolf. Just maybe not a naked one. But hey, why not dream big?
Aaooooooooo!
—the audible editors

Audiobooks in This Edition

At Blackwater Pond Audiolibro Por Mary Oliver arte de portada
I Got This Audiolibro Por Laurie Hernandez arte de portada
Courage to Soar Audiolibro Por Simone Biles arte de portada
Birthday Suit Audiolibro Por Lauren Blakely arte de portada
Where There's Hope Audiolibro Por Elizabeth Smart arte de portada
Fierce Audiolibro Por Aly Raisman arte de portada
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