Hi everyone! Notice anything new? I switched to Substack, which has infinitely more bells and whistles including comment threads so subscribers can interact with each other and with me. How cool is that?
If you’re a previous newsletter subscriber, nothing will change. I was able to import the existing list. So just keep enjoying the monthly newsletter, which will ALWAYS be FREE forever.
One thing new I can do with Substack that I could never do before is create special content for paying subscribers, which is something I’m excited to add to the free monthly content you’re used to getting in your inbox.
I’m creating a subscriber-only book club called The Dear Nina Virtual Book Club (not a terribly original name—but HOW FUN that it will be on Zoom so we can see each other’s faces). There will also be monthly subscriber-only content.
Also, if you’ve been enjoying my podcast, writing, and recommendations for a long time, this is a way to support my work. I’m very grateful!
If you’re interested in becoming a paying subscriber, you can do that below.
And now to the regular newsletter content!
I want to make sure you know I always put book and TV recommendations towards the end of these newsletters.
But today I’m putting the TV talk up front.
I was in the middle of a TV drought this summer until I convinced my husband that we were ready to watch The Queen’s Gambit. I love it! He only “likes it,” which is the best I can hope for with Bryan. He hates anything dark, which is pretty much anything with any decent drama. We struggle to find shows we both like.
One show Bryan and I both loved was Shtisel, which took us a long time to get through over the past few years. Bryan is willing to watch about 30 minutes of TV a week, though we’ve watched a bit more with the kids at overnight camp. He also liked Cobra Kai. Know anything in these two categories? I will put it on our list. Queen’s Gambit is only one season so we will need ideas soon.
As for my own TV watching, I didn’t love anything I started this summer until recently. The new season of Virgin River has been so boring and predictable I’m not sure I will finish. I was, however, thrilled to see that Netflix put out a part two of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. It’s not exactly enjoyable, but it’s compelling.
RECENT PODCAST EPISODES
Ep 29: Outgrowing a Friendship & Friends Who Cheer You On
Chaz Sandifer and I talked about the reality of outgrowing friendships and friends who disappear in the good times, but show up in bad times. And so much more!
A favorite quote from the episode: “If you weren’t healed at a moment, you might have been giving off an energy that wasn’t positive, which made people back off. And then sometimes people bring energy to you and that’s not what you need. Then when you have found where you’re at in life, you definitely know what type of energy to bring in; you can tell immediately the older you get. That’s why I think it’s great that you get older each year, because you get a little wiser.” ~ Chaz
Ep 30: Loneliness and Worry/Anxiety Despite Having Close Friends
Episode 30 is about loneliness and worry despite having close friends. And I’m so excited to introduce this week’s guest— author, Mary Laura Philpott. I’m a huge fan of Mary Laura’s work!
A favorite quote from the episode: “You can have great friendships and still be lonely because loneliness is a facet of the human experience, especially in times of life when you’re going through something that the people around you are not going through. But I think that’s why we have to be so intentional about putting ourselves with other people and talking and asking how are things going. And then listening. We have to make ourselves do that, even when it’s hard. We can’t just default to, well, we just won’t talk about it. It’s too much.” ~ Mary Laura
I was a guest on Every Soul Has a Story with Dara Levan
I had my first live podcasting experience as a guest on Every Soul Has a Story LIVE. Dara Levan invited me for a conversation about the nuances of boundaries within friendships both on and offline, giving friends the opportunity to change, and reaching out to friends. We talked about being in charge of your own social life and teaching kids to do the same, the cliques that exist on social media, and more.
FRIENDSHIP ROUNDUP #11 (The roundup on my site has all the links you need for the recommendations below!)
— Reese on Glennon discussing friendship
— Esther Perel on Dan Harris discussing friendship
— “The Magic of Your First Work Friends” in the NYT
Summer Reading Highlights
On audio, I really liked Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris.
I absolutely loved Molly Shannon’s memoir Hello Molly. Maybe one of my favorite audios ever.
I’m in the middle of the audio version of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Whoa (the title). I like a compelling true family story. Really good so far.
On my Kindle I enjoyed Bookends by Zibby Owens and Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny. (Nora’s isn’t out until October. Sorry!)
In print, I’m currently reading Jessi Klein’s essay collection, I’ll Show Myself Out. I didn’t love the first few essays, but now I’m really into it. I adored her first book. I really enjoyed Linda Pressman’s memoir, Jewish Girls Gone Wild. And I want to mention one of my favorites of the year, which I got to read early in 2022 before its official release— that is, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I’ve loved all of her books. She’s brilliant.
Amazon and Bookshop links might earn me five cents! They’re affiliate links.
My full 2022 reading list with short reviews is here.
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