Hello! I know it's been a while, but, as they kids say with a gif "things are happening." I'll skip over all that for now and get onto what you know and love: clips, books, and movies.
Tally ho!
Recent Bylines
"The New Retirement: Near the Kids" for The New York Times. This one meant a lot to me, not just because this is exactly what my grandmom did, but also because this was a heck of a complicated story to write. I'm proud of it.
"Hear Myself and I: When Someone Else Narrates Your Audiobook" for The Writer. Spoiler alert: it's weird! Also, for you other writers out there: another publication held onto this story for a year and didn't run it. Oy. I'm glad it's seeing the light of day.
"Turning to Marijuana for a Runners' High and More" for The New York Times. This was more interesting and scientific than I expected! That's a great thing about writing: being interested in a topic, and it opening up before you when you start asking questions.
What I'm Reading
Quick hit review time:
- Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York by Amy Hill Hearth. What a wonderful dive into a section of history we should know. It's a book for the youths, but adults can read it too.
- The Arrangement and The Escape by Mary Balogh. Two books in the same series. I liked the Arrangement much more – but that could just be my personal taste.
- A Gentleman Never Tells by Eloisa James. Yes I'm reading a lot of romance lately. That's what I do in stressful times.
- The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. I listened to this audiobook, which was a good companion for the eight hours we are together. It is very upper crust book/academia world, but still warm in that it's really about a mother and son.
- This is Where you Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are by Melody Warnick. I read this first because of a friend's recommendation and then decided to use it in a story, so mum's the word.
- 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing my Edge, and Found Self-Help that Actually Works by Dan Harris. This was way more memoir than the title suggests, which I appreciate since it's a look into TV news (it reminded me of Andy Cohen's memoir, which got into the same intense world, which is what he did pre-Bravo). The other stuff is pretty good too.
- Fortune Favors the Wicked by Theresa Romain. I'm reading this right now, per a recommendation on Smart Bitches Trashy Books. No review yet, but it's not bad.
- Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan. I'm listening to the audiobook of this one, which is funny. I think I like his food book better, which I listened to on my trip, but it's still a delight.
- A Date With Judy. It's is an old movie on TCM that I almost immediately forgot about except the costumes, which were fun.
- Trading Places. I always somehow manage to forget that it's both a Christmas movie and set in Philadelphia. Still hilarious of course.
- Kid Gorgeous by John Mulaney, a VERY funny stand up special on Netflix that I highly recommend.
- Man from U.N.C.L.E. I have mentioned many times before how GREAT this movie is and how I cannot understand why it underwhelmed at the box office, though it appears more people are seeing it now that it's streaming and coming to the same realization that it's fun and fantastic and needs to be a franchise.
- Infinity War. I dunno. I had a really bad morning before I saw this, didn't know it is the first part of a two parter and…I dunno. My brother and I have had many discussions about it that I won't get into because spoilers. He loved it. Me, not so much – though I feel like I need to see the second part to make a judgement.
- Music & Lyrics. Well this was silly but silly fun and perfect to watch with my mom.
- The Greatest Showman. The whole time, I kept asking "what the f*** is going on here?" Also why is Michelle Williams in this (did she even do any promo for it?) I love Hugh Jackman. He needs a better musical. Also because of the time period, I kept thinking about him in The Prestige which is a creepy af movie that I'd rather not think about again. Also also they strayed from the truth enough that they should have just make it about a fictional showman.
- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I am caught up. Man, I'm curious where the last season will go.
- Jane the Virgin. OMG SAME. You know what I'm talking about if you're caught up too.
- Schitt's Creek. This is never not amusing. I had no idea that it was created and stars Eugene Levy's son – nice surprise!
Sorry to dine and dash, but more to come. Enjoy this not cold weather!
Jen A. Miller
jenamiller.com
runningalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
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