SCREENSHOTS #5: A nanny spills the tea on her book - and other recs
Movies, series, books and more: everything I've watched, listened to, read, and tried in August.
Movies
It ends with us
In my previous SCREENSHOTS edition, I mentioned that I read "It ends with us". The book is a phenomenon, and it was adapted to the big screen - and there was a lot of anticipation about it. My friend and I rushed to the theater the first day it was screening, and well, I know that book adaptations to the big screen are not always successful, but I think they did a great job with "It Ends with Us".
If you are not aware, the story is about domestic violence, so I think the more we talk about this topic, the better.
But, of course, I can't deny the fact that Blake Lively was pushing the movie as a rom-com is annoying, to say the least…
Series
Presumed Innocent
Everybody was talking about Presumed Innocent - and since we had just finished Your Honor, I was really missing another drama/suspense series involving a trial. This limited series is about prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who is accused of murdering his colleague and former lover, Carolyn Polhemus. As Rusty fights to prove his innocence, the case reveals the legal system's complex layers of corruption, deceit, and moral ambiguity. I spent the whole series changing my opinion about Rusty and whether he had killed Carolyn or not. To learn the answer, you have to watch it…
Documentary
Inside the Mind of a Dog
A short and interesting documentary that show some scientific and emotional insights about our lovable BFFs. We had such a good time watching it! I'm sure all the dog owners are gonna love it!
Books
Ok, this was a good month for books! It makes me so happy because I used to read A LOT, and then I just lost myself with the social media distractions, but I'm back, baby; I'm so back! Before proceeding with my recs of the month, I just wanted to leave you with this article:
I was talking to my husband about this another day, and it feels so good just to abandon a book that I'm not enjoying it. As it happens with everything in life, it all comes to personal taste regarding books. Our preferences and even our experiences have an impact on how we react to a book.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
Two friends had told me they absolutely loved this book, which made me want to check it. For this title, I went with the audiobook, and it was so good! As the name suggests, this memoir blends Lori Gottlieb's experiences as a therapist and her own journey through therapy. The book explores the emotional complexities of her patients and her own life, revealing universal truths about human vulnerability and growth. It was so intense! I caught myself in tears towards the end, and I even took notes on some of the quotes.
Primates of Park Avenue
I bought this book a few years ago and never read it - but I finally decided to give it a chance, and boy, I had fun! The author, Wednesday Martin, is a new mom who moves from the West Village to the Upper East Side and finds herself as an outsider trying to fit in. What I liked about this book was discovering more about the wealthy families of the city that inhabit the famous neighborhood. From the morning ritual of dropping the kids at school to the summers in the Hamptons, the price of the clothing and luxury bags, and the staff these people hire. It all looked so shocking to me. I guess we do no know what wealth means until we see it.
Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America
What is it like to be a nanny in New York City? And what is it like to be a nanny for the 1%? I was still reading Primates of Park Avenue when I learned about this book, and I bought it immediately and read it in less than a week.
Stephanie Kiser moved to the Big Apple to chase her dreams after college - but besides that, she had a lot of student debts, and because she couldn't find a job that would pay her fairly, she decided to start nannying. However, her employers were wealthy people in NYC - most of them living in the UES. I was jaw-dropped by some of the stories. Like $500-learning classes or the interview she did to take care of a 17-year-old boy (I couldn't believe the tasks).
But besides some of the shocking stories, I also enjoyed the fact that she shared her background, growing up in Rhode Island in a low-income family with a lot of problems. She often compares her life with the life of the kids she is taking care of, which brings such a compelling perspective.
Another thing is that I really appreciate the fact that the author is aware of her privileges as a white young woman. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially her vulnerability, social aspect, and gossip.
Podcast
Female-Specific Exercise & Nutrition for Health, Performance & Longevity
I've been very interested in learning more about health over the last year, especially about exercise, nutrition, and quality of life. This podcast episode is gold for any woman +35y old (but I guess the younger ones should also listen because you will get there one day, lol!). Not all the advice we have been listening to about workouts and food is true, especially for women. So, do yourself a favor and listen to this episode! It changed my perspective on a lot of things.
On the blog
How I improved my English skills – writing, speaking and pronunciation - a post with a lot of valuable tips and resources.
Everything about the FIT ESL/Fashion Certificate – Summer program in New York City - this was one of the best experiences I had when I moved to NYC!
Day trip ideas from NYC: a hiking trail in Cold Spring accessible by train - a fun an easy escape from the city.
Day trip ideas from NYC: Greenport, New York - another fun day trip idea.
How to buy cheap Broadway tickets – and more tips! - these tips never get old and I keep adding more!
What to wear in New York City during Fall – tips and outfits inspo - hate to break the news but yes, Summer is gonna end…
Other random suggestions:
Exactly Why Are Friendship Breakups So Brutal? Loved this article trying to explain more about this topic.
That Time I Fell and Hit My Head in Oslo — and Learned All About the Norwegian Medical System - Brent and Michael are two Americans living as nomads, and this post about Michael hitting his head and talking about the medical system abroad and comparing to the one in the USA summarizes a lot of my thoughts about the health system in America.
Get my NYC Fall Guide – my comprehensive e-book is your Fall go-to guide, packed with 40 pages of essential information to make the most of your visit from October to December. Use the code NYC and you will get it from $6,99 for $4,99!
I've been using Language Drops to help with my French skills for months and I really love this app! They feature more than 50 languages!
Let me know if you have good recs on movies, TV, podcasts, books… I'm all ears! And let me know if you have followed any of these tips that I share here :)