I have not written a Do Listen Read post since June! Meanwhile, I’ve been doing, listening, and reading tons. I’m happy to share what I’ve enjoyed, which I tend to do often on my Facebook Page or in my newsletter. But certain times of the year call for these types of posts.
DO & LISTEN
– I made this pareve (non-dairy) apple-raisin kugel for Rosh Hashanah. It would be great for a Shabbat meal, a Sukkot meal, or any fall meal when you want a sweet side dish that has no milk, butter, or cheese.
– My aunt shared this Amy Shumer video on her Facebook page and it is SO funny. It’s called “Mom Computer Therapy.” It features Amy and her “mom” in a therapy session. The therapist coaches Amy on how to kindly help her mother use a computer. Amy thinks her mom is exaggerating her inability to turn the computer on, etc.
– I’m currently listening to Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir. Writer types of the nonfiction variety will really enjoy it, I think.
– WHY I AM A JEW. If you are a Jew and you’re not sure why you should care or what it is you are passing on to your children, then this video will help. If you are a Jew who just feels “it” (the big IT) in her bones (that’s me), then this video will bring tears to your eyes. I especially loved every word in the last minute. Yes, I know I’m heavy on the Jewish links today, but it’s the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which is a pretty major time, spiritually speaking. This video, “Why I am a Jew,” by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks describes in the most exact way why I am a Jew, too. And not only why I am a Jew, but why I’m always so interested in learning and doing more that connects me to my heritage. I’m thankful that my old boss (and friend) Rob Goldberg shared it on his Facebook page. See, a win for Facebook.
READ
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One area that I’m constantly working on (as a Jew and really just as a PERSON) is giving others the benefit of the doubt. I wrote it about in The Jewish Daily Forward a few years ago. Although I’ve made improvements, I can always use a refresher on giving others as much wiggle room as I give myself.
– LOVED this on Momastery on The Secret to Being Liked.”But that’s a risk right? To openly like someone? To admit to someone: I like you. I’d like to spend time with you today. It’s to risk rejection. It’s vulnerability. It’s brave.”
– I found Megan Garber’s Atlantic essay on the rise of “Quit Lit” really interesting.
– Allison Barrett Carter has continued the conversation about the future of blogging and trying to figure out what it means to be a writer in this digital age. Reading her piece brought on an epiphany that I shared in my second comment there. I will write more another time about the conclusion I came to after reading and agreeing with her post.
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15 Responses
Oh wow, Nina! I am honored to be included and yes, always happy to have a dialogue on this big topic! Thanks for sharing and for giving such thoughtful comments (as always).
Allison carter recently posted..My Manifesto. And This is Where I Leave You…
I love these posts. I hadn’t seen Allison’s post and am off to read it now! xox
I always have to give myself time to click on all your links from these posts, Nina. I laughed at Amy, loved the Why I Am a Jew video, and found Allison’s post thought-provoking and relatable. Thank you! An easy fast to you too.
Dana recently posted..8 great books to read this fall
I love your Do Read Listen posts:)! I just bought The Art of Memoir on Audible, and my book club’s pick this month is the Marriage of Opposites. I loved Allison’s post as well – but it also made me sad.
Allie recently posted..A Stranger Among Us
I loved reading Allison’s post and look forward to your piece on this topic. Off to check out your other recommendations! Thanks, Nina.
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri recently posted..A Few Friday Faves
That Amy Shumer video was a hoot. 🙂
Annie Neugebauer recently posted..Honey in Blurring the Line
Nina, I’m really looking forward to giving some of these a deeper look, but as I never commented on your recent ‘keep blogging?’ I wanted to make sure I comment now. I’ve been thinking about the issues that post raises since I read it, and a lot of the points in Allison Barrett Carter’s post really provoked thought as well. I may have to write my own post in response b/c I really do have a lot of thoughts, but I wonder if part of the discussion/issues stem from the murky nature of the word *blogging.* By that I mean that people use that word to mean sooo many different things. Blogging/blogs/bloggers are words that are supposed to apply to everything from those deep personal essays, quick hit light posts, impersonal niche blogs (recipes, how tos, fitness), publications in it to make money, etc etc. And I think a lot of the issues arise when there are mismatches between expectations.
A good example is when a blog goes ‘serious’ (ie, focused on making money). A lot of readers get turned off on that b/c they feel betrayed, when the person who started it may have had that goal all along, and to support a business has to proceed in a way that isn’t as personal.
Thank you for linking to Allison’s post. It’s totally in line with a lot of my thinking lately. It gives me more food for thought re: why I write and where I want to put my focus.
Tara Borin recently posted..Identity Crisis
Allison’s post really rings true for me as it did for many others. Sometimes I think I continue to blog because I worry about what is on the other side of the blog. There’s a bit of fear there. Does that make sense? I wonder if anyone else feels that way. I do know where I want to focus my writing efforts — fiction. I am happiest when I put my attention there, rather than writing another “listicle.” One of my short stories is going to be published later this fall and that is more satisfying than all the other articles combined. (Do you feel a pull to write more fiction too?)
But…I do enjoy meeting new people through the blog. That’s the biggest bonus by far.
Jackie Cangro recently posted..A Sneak Peak
Always love your recommendations – I read the “Quit Lit” essay and totally related – not because I’ve actually written any quit lit, but because I think about quitting all the time! I’ve been teaching for 25 years and while I love working with kids, everything else is getting harder and harder. Thanks for making me think!
Jennifer Wolfe recently posted..This is Sixteen- Happy Birthday to My Boy
The kugel looks incredible, and I’m usually not a pareve person!
I read Allison’s post and now I need to read it again and again.
Tamara recently posted..When You Can Make Yourself This Happy.
Glad to see the return of the DLR posts! I am happy you pointed me in the direction of Allison’s blogging post too. A topic forever on my mind!
Kristen recently posted..If You Ask Me How . . . Family Tree
Ah, I always love your links so much! The Art of Memoir is now in my Amazon wish list cart…so many good books out there! Thanks for all of these…going to check out Amy Shumer now…(her mother will prob remind me of me.)
Thanks for all the reading recommendations. I keep hearing about “The Art of Memoir,” so will have to check that one out.
Leah recently posted..Monday Musings ~ September 28
My friend just reviewed The Art of Memoir and I’m ordering it. She loved it. I’m happy to see another recommendation for it. Also, I remember your mentions of Mosquitoland and I think I’m going to order that one, too. 🙂 Cheers.