Leslie Farnsworth
@lesliefarnsworth.com
Aspiring novelist with one project in the revising and one in the planning, blog-keeper (which makes me retro), reader, ponderer, flaneuse, yoga person, goofball, friend.
Blog: https://observingleslie.com
Author site: https://lesliefarnsworth.com
Blog: https://observingleslie.com
Author site: https://lesliefarnsworth.com
Applause for this fierce Swiss graffito.
Made me smile, anyway.
Made me smile, anyway.
November 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Applause for this fierce Swiss graffito.
Made me smile, anyway.
Made me smile, anyway.
It's finally hoodie season!
The Complex Symbolism behind the Hoodie — Observing Leslie
Hoodies have cultural baggage that wearing them will always evoke. Why?
observingleslie.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It's finally hoodie season!
I've read this analysis a few times and it's the one that rings the most true to me. 😬
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
The most likely AI apocalypse
How artificial intelligence could be leading most humans into an inescapable trap.
www.vox.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I've read this analysis a few times and it's the one that rings the most true to me. 😬
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
Recs for relatively recent short story collections you loved? #amreading 📚
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Recs for relatively recent short story collections you loved? #amreading 📚
I looked forward to the change of seasons this year when I realized that the turn inward gives me more time, quiet, and focus for my fiction writing.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Month-in-Review Highlights: October 2025 — Observing Leslie
The last quarter of the year always feels like such a headlong rush,
doesn’t it?
observingleslie.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I looked forward to the change of seasons this year when I realized that the turn inward gives me more time, quiet, and focus for my fiction writing.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
I know someone knowledgeable has hypothesized about what comes after the social-media era (as we know it, anyway).
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I know someone knowledgeable has hypothesized about what comes after the social-media era (as we know it, anyway).
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
C'est la Toussaint, pour tous ceux qui la célèbrent. 🪦
Never Give a Living Person Mums: How the French Celebrate Toussaint — Observing Leslie
November 1 on the Catholic calendar is All Saints’ Day. The French have
blended the term, making November 1 “la Toussaint” in French parlance.
observingleslie.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 AM
C'est la Toussaint, pour tous ceux qui la célèbrent. 🪦
I went on a Halloween hunt for scary creatures in these parts, and where what I found (and didn't find!): 👹🧌👻
Scary Creatures from France and Switzerland: A Monster Mash — Observing Leslie
Seeking French and Swiss monsters? I went on a creature quest and uncovered
one good mythical monster story from France and one from Switzerland. And
I’m on the hunt for more!
observingleslie.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I went on a Halloween hunt for scary creatures in these parts, and where what I found (and didn't find!): 👹🧌👻
Walked past a woman walking slowly, immersed in her ereader, and I desperately wanted to talk to her. (Hi, friend!)
October 29, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Walked past a woman walking slowly, immersed in her ereader, and I desperately wanted to talk to her. (Hi, friend!)
Changed time yesterday in my part of Europe. Fun fun.
Thing is... you may not have changed time where you are yet (if you change it at all).
Thing is... you may not have changed time where you are yet (if you change it at all).
Nobody Knows What Time it Is: Seasonal Time Change Confusion — Observing Leslie
Despite the endless confusion and evident misery, we may never get rid of
changing the clocks twice a year.
observingleslie.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Changed time yesterday in my part of Europe. Fun fun.
Thing is... you may not have changed time where you are yet (if you change it at all).
Thing is... you may not have changed time where you are yet (if you change it at all).
If I were anywhere near NYC, I'd be there tomorrow, because @danchaon.bsky.social has written some of my all-time favorite novels.
So if that isn't an endorsement to get there if you can, I don't know what is.
So if that isn't an endorsement to get there if you can, I don't know what is.
October 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If I were anywhere near NYC, I'd be there tomorrow, because @danchaon.bsky.social has written some of my all-time favorite novels.
So if that isn't an endorsement to get there if you can, I don't know what is.
So if that isn't an endorsement to get there if you can, I don't know what is.
We had some glorious autumn color these past couple of weeks. 🍂
October 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
We had some glorious autumn color these past couple of weeks. 🍂
Spooky... Denmark? 🐴💀🐴
See where my latest research rabbit hole took me in my Letter next week.
Sign up here if you haven't already!
See where my latest research rabbit hole took me in my Letter next week.
Sign up here if you haven't already!
Subscribe to The Letter — Observing Leslie
Once a month, I'll send you a little miniature post with cultural,
historical, and travel observations and fun facts.
observingleslie.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Spooky... Denmark? 🐴💀🐴
See where my latest research rabbit hole took me in my Letter next week.
Sign up here if you haven't already!
See where my latest research rabbit hole took me in my Letter next week.
Sign up here if you haven't already!
Random question: Am I imagining a time in the past when gift shops everywhere sold back scratchers, whether in plastic or bamboo or hand-carved?
October 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Random question: Am I imagining a time in the past when gift shops everywhere sold back scratchers, whether in plastic or bamboo or hand-carved?
The books I finished reading in Q3 2025. My favorites, as always, in bold. 📚
Oh, how I agonize over the bolding!
Oh, how I agonize over the bolding!
Books I've Read: Q3 2025 — Observing Leslie
The books I finished reading in Q3 2025. My favorites, as always, in bold.
observingleslie.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The books I finished reading in Q3 2025. My favorites, as always, in bold. 📚
Oh, how I agonize over the bolding!
Oh, how I agonize over the bolding!
How I'm rethinking the shorter days and colder weather...
When Seasons Change, Humans Change: A Reframing — Observing Leslie
SAD or just the season? it seems unreasonable to assume that seasons don’t
affect humans when they affect everything else. We live in the atmosphere,
after all. Even when we sometimes wish we did not.
observingleslie.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
How I'm rethinking the shorter days and colder weather...
Writers among you, is there a craft book you return to at least once a year?
October 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Writers among you, is there a craft book you return to at least once a year?
If you could have any author as a writing mentor or teacher, who would you choose and why?
October 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
If you could have any author as a writing mentor or teacher, who would you choose and why?
In today’s Deep Thoughts by Leslie Farnsworth:
Am I the only person with one nostril that runs a lot more than the other?
Am I the only person with one nostril that runs a lot more than the other?
October 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
In today’s Deep Thoughts by Leslie Farnsworth:
Am I the only person with one nostril that runs a lot more than the other?
Am I the only person with one nostril that runs a lot more than the other?
It's spooky season at last!
And lest you tell me you don't like horror novels, especially if you haven't read one in a while, hear out my reasons why I think you should at least give it a try.
And lest you tell me you don't like horror novels, especially if you haven't read one in a while, hear out my reasons why I think you should at least give it a try.
A Reading Challenge: Why You Might Like Horror—Even if You Think You Don’t — Observing Leslie
If you think you don’t like horror novels and short stories, you may not
have the full perspective on horror fiction. Hear me out—especially if you
like thriller and suspense books.
observingleslie.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:06 PM
It's spooky season at last!
And lest you tell me you don't like horror novels, especially if you haven't read one in a while, hear out my reasons why I think you should at least give it a try.
And lest you tell me you don't like horror novels, especially if you haven't read one in a while, hear out my reasons why I think you should at least give it a try.
September felt like a lot of ramping up and getting back into gear with one big break in the middle.
Month-in-Review Highlights: September 2025 — Observing Leslie
September felt like a lot of ramping up and getting back into gear with one
big break in the middle.
observingleslie.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:11 AM
September felt like a lot of ramping up and getting back into gear with one big break in the middle.
I just learned that October 1 is Older People’s Day.
When, I wonder, does a person qualify for the category?
When, I wonder, does a person qualify for the category?
October 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I just learned that October 1 is Older People’s Day.
When, I wonder, does a person qualify for the category?
When, I wonder, does a person qualify for the category?
Review: "some unnecessary and out of place swearing in the book"
Me: BUY NOW
Me: BUY NOW
September 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Review: "some unnecessary and out of place swearing in the book"
Me: BUY NOW
Me: BUY NOW
Anyone else ever flummoxed by the books recommended to you by whatever reading algorithm?
September 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Anyone else ever flummoxed by the books recommended to you by whatever reading algorithm?
I am winning Wednesday.
Just washed a massive load of laundry without detergent.
Go me.
Just washed a massive load of laundry without detergent.
Go me.
September 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
I am winning Wednesday.
Just washed a massive load of laundry without detergent.
Go me.
Just washed a massive load of laundry without detergent.
Go me.