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Working backwards:

- #’s 8 & 14 WRECKED ME!

- I made Maggie Smith autograph her book “to my favorite poet” aka me TYVM

- “I made myself miserable trying to hit an arbitrary goal! (While lengthy, that sentence would make the perfect title for my memoir.)” made me scream! Ma’am. Same.

I’m so happy to have met you this year. Thank you for the amazing writing. Cheers to a 2024 word count that doesn’t quit.

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author

Right back atcha! You have been such an inspiration to me as a writer, teacher, and person. So glad we crossed paths and hope to see you again in 2024! (And so jealous that you’re BFFs with Ms. Smith!)

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The minute you posted your top movies and books, I wanted to see what you had to say! I have only watched a couple of the movies, "Barbie" and "JoJo Rabbit" - both top notch. I am going to watch all the rest you suggested. I have not read any of your recommended books - but will. You have read 47 books in 2023 - what the hell??? So, two of my favorite books this past year are, "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is about an old Hollywood star and chronicles her life with all 7 husbands. This book kicks ass. The other one is, " Talking to Strangers" by Malcolm Gladwell. It has totally changed my view of what we perceive when we talk to people. I can't stop thinking about this book. Happy New Year! 2024 here we come.

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Loved Evelyn Hugo! Did you know that’s being made into a movie? We’ll have to go. And I just picked up that Gladwell book in an airport a few weeks ago and thought it looked interesting! Adding that to my list. HNY and can’t wait to see ya in a few weeks.

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Had no idea "Evelyn Hugo" book was turning into a movie. Let's go see it.

By the way, the book by Gladwell has really been impactful to me. He backs it with so much research.

Happy New Year to you!

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Jan 24Liked by Tina Neidlein

Just want to mention Tamara Shopsin's book, "Arbitrary, Stupid Goal." A great book that I read within the past couple of years! I have no connection to her other than loving her book and the fact that you two have something in common!

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author

Fantastic! Perfect title and it looks great. Just added to my TBR list! Thank you!

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Jan 17Liked by Tina Neidlein

Tina, thanks for the giggles and recs...please keep ‘em coming.

I think you might have room for some podcasts, on or off the couch. I love Armchair Expert and have been listening to Julia Louis Dreyfus’s Wiser Than Me and Anderson Coopers podcast (warning: it’s about grief so not a lot of laughs).

Cheers to 2024!

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I've been trying to fit more podcasts in. I listen to one every single week, "Keep It!" Other than that, I struggle to listen consistently even though I love them. I probably dabble too much, which is also my problem with TV. I want to try everything and end up getting hooked on very little.

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“Keep It” looks great!

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Jan 2Liked by Tina Neidlein

Thanks for the tip on Heating and Cooling! I just finished it. What an interesting and entertaining ride. Inspires a semblance of a plan I've been desperately missing. Also watched Blackberry last night and really enjoyed it. Thank you for enriching our lives as usual!

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author

Yea! So glad you liked H&C and "Blackberry." And I promise you, 2024 *will* be the year I try "Last of Us." Just for you!

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Dec 29, 2023Liked by Tina Neidlein

Ooh I have become interested in micro memoir/fiction lately so appreciate these recs!

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Yes! I didn’t even know micro-memoir existed before this year and I am loving it. I love all memoir, really. I’m nosy as hell!

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What an ambitious and enriching year!

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It was! Sometimes I do need to relax on the lists, though...I have 96 movies on my imdb watchlist and 205 books on my Goodreads to-read list. It’s obsessive. Trying to get better at ditching anything I don’t love, though. Work in progress!

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