Bloglander

Time for another GOOD READS blog. Each week, Inlander staffers share five-ish of our favorite stories in hopes you'll love them too. Use them to speed up your Friday afternoon, or bookmark them for your morning coffee over the weekend. Then let us know what you think! Love 'em? Hate 'em? Read anything great lately?

1. "Gus's Bricks" (Tom Chiarella//Esquire)

As we mourn the victims in Connecticut today — and those in at least six other mass shootings this year — a reflection on watching Columbine from the outside.

2. "Walking His Life Away" (Gary Smith//Sports Illustrated)

If any story can make you care about race walking, this is it.

3. "Life of a Salesman" (Eli Saslow//Washington Post)

Selling the American dream, when some people aren't sure it still exists

4. "Hoarder killed in North Portland house fire lived in plain sight, leaving a trail of questions" (Anna Griffin//The Oregonian)

Among them, did anyone try to help her?

5. "Think Twice Before Quitting Your Day Job to Sell Homemade Jam" (Emily Matchar//The Atlantic)

Is our obsession with Etsy success stories distracting us from what women really need to be equal in the workplace?

Keep reading over here.