What’s Making Lit Hub Staff Happy This Week

Lit Hub staff are sharing the small joys that got them through the week, and this roundup leans on gags, fruit, and a handy database for Korean literature. The staff picks are a mix of personal notes from Brittany Allen, James Folta, and others, each with a distinct angle on what made their week bright.

Korean Literature Resource From Odintz

Molly Odintz found a resource she thinks readers will want to know about. The Digital Library of Korean Literature lets users track translations by author. It is described as an elegantly structured, absolutely “great” tool that helps you find the international footprints of authors like Han Kang.

Odintz’s note is brief but warm. She points to the library as a useful addition for anyone following Korean writers across languages.

Travelstead’s Vlog From Folta

James Folta is getting joy from a project he calls “very dumb,” though he means it as high praise. He recommends Ted Travelstead’s Vlog, a series created by writer and actor Ted Travelstead.

“The less I say about this series before you watch it the better.”

Folta adds that Travelstead “made something that is so perfectly silly and simple.” He closes with a request for a few seconds of the reader’s time to judge for themselves.

Apple Trees On Broussard’s Property

Drew Broussard and Jonny Diamond both have apples on the brain. This week, Broussard’s property revealed two big old apple trees that have finally decided to fruit after at least five years of not doing so. The timing is perfect for autumn sweaters.

Jonny’s cider house story ties into the apple theme directly. A friend gave him a small cider press, and suddenly his apple tree exploded with big red apples. The result is cider in October.

Last Waltz Homage In Jersey City

Brittany Allen kicked off her fall concert season in Jersey City, where Hudson County musicians recreated The Band’s 1976 farewell concert at White Eagle Hall. The performance has been running for twelve years, and a small army of gifted fans has been putting it together.

Most homages were delightfully faithful, with appearances from “Bob Dylan,” “Van the Man,” and “Joni Mitchell.” The dissonant bits stood out too. One version of Muddy was much paler, and Jersey City’s take on Robbie Robertson would fit right into a Van Halen tribute act.

Allen frames the experience as a surreal chance to live through something she missed entirely, since she was not yet born when The Last Waltz happened.

The Picks In Order

1. The Digital Library of Korean Literature, recommended by Molly Odintz.
2. Ted Travelstead’s Vlog, recommended by James Folta.
3. The fruiting apple trees on Drew Broussard’s property.
4. The cider house setup from Jonny Diamond.
5. The Last Waltz homage in Jersey City, which Brittany Allen attended.

Our View Of The Roundup

The roundup reads as genuinely pleased rather than performative. Folta’s warning that he should say nothing before recommending the Vlog is a joke in itself, and his staff colleague’s description of the project as “perfectly silly and simple” lands as a compliment, not a dismissal.

The Muddy Waters bit is cheerful absurdity. A pale Muddy and a Robbie Robertson that sounds like Van Halen add a layer of humor to the story.

Key Facts Box

• The Digital Library of Korean Literature tracks translations by author.
• The apple trees have not fruited in at least five years.
• The Last Waltz homage runs for twelve years.
• The Jersey City performance recreates The Band’s 1976 farewell concert.
• The cider press came from a friend who gave it to Jonny Diamond.

Each item comes with a personal touch — a property discovery, a gift, a concert memory — that gives the list a warmth readers can hold onto over the weekend.

Source material: “Here’s what’s making us happy this week.,” Literary Hub.

apple trees · concerts · Korean literature · Lit Hub · staff picks