Weekly Highlights for Book Lovers
Books in the face of war
There’s a lot of terrifying stuff happening in the world right now. (Understatement.) I feel like I’m glued to all the breaking news posts on Instagram and the actual news on TV. It’s insane to be watching a war unfold in real time like this from the palms of our hands, isn’t it? Planes falling from the sky. Missiles being intercepted. And then, an ad for a cute dress?!
How can we not be feeling the effects of all of this uncertainty and devastation?! No one is immune. I’m praying for the safety of all our friends around the world.
In the face of all this, I’m going to keep posting and sending newsletters about books and authors — because connecting through stories is how I process life. Maybe you need the distraction as much as I do? So here’s my normal newsletter in anything but normal times.
Zibby’s Book Club
TONIGHT at 7 pm ET, join me for a Q&A with #1 New York Times bestseller author Belle Burden about Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, my February Zibby’s Book Club pick! I just added even more free spots. It has sold out twice and I keep increasing capacity. Make sure to mute yourself and add questions to the chat. Sign up here.
My March Zibby’s Book Club pick is Allegra Goodman’s This is Not About Us. Join me for that Zoom, too! March 11th at 7 pm ET. Sign up here.
Events
TONIGHT! NAPLES, FL. Monday, March 2nd at 5:30 pm: Event at Books on Third in Naples. Tickets here.
(NAPLES, FL. Tuesday, March 3rd: Private Jewish Federation event.)
NEW YORK. Thursday, March 5th at 6:30 pm ET: “The Truth About Being Jewish: Educating Children to Be Proud American Jews” hosted by EMET Classical Academy. I’ll be doing a talk with Rebecca Sugar — exclusively for parents of fourth to ninth graders in NYC schools. Learn more here.
For all my upcoming events, click here!
Totally Booked with Zibby
Monday: An Earlier Hostage Speaks Out
Mimi Nichter was an American teenager returning from a summer in Israel on September 6th, 1970 when the plane she was on was hijacked. She was then taken hostage. Until recently, she had never shared what happened. With the release of her memoir, Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, Mimi sets the stage for how what happened to her has echoes in the news — literally today. I’m embarrassed to say I’d never heard about this flight hijacking. Now I can’t forget it.
Tuesday: Poetry That Makes Motherhood Beautiful with Jessica Urlichs
I loved these poems by Jessica Urlichs so much that I ended up reading some to my son. Somehow, they take the unwieldy, much-discussed experience of motherhood and reframe it, distill it, and make it relatable in a new way. Isn’t it wild how effective great poetry can be? We discussed all of it and made each other cry. Check out her collection We Bloom Because of You.
Wednesday: “Midwinter Break” Director Polly Findlay Discusses Adaptation
Focus Features was kind enough to offer me the chance to host a screening of the new film “Midwinter Break,” which many of you in my community attended! Based on the novel Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty, which was edited by podcast guest and author Jill Bialosky, the film “Midwinter Break” paints an intimate portrait of a marriage in its later years. Director Polly Findlay and I discussed the adaptation, how to depict intimate relationships, and the power of stories in all mediums. Watch the movie trailer here.
Thursday: From Infertility to Empty Nesting in Fiction
Trying something new here! I interviewed three women authors on the same day whose novels took me through the full spectrum of motherhood — so I wanted you all to have the same experience. We start with Angela Brown’s Ways to Find Yourself in which Grace Whittaker meets younger versions of herself as she mourns her mother’s loss while attempting to get pregnant. We then move on to British “it girl” Saba Sams’s Gunk which really throws you into the birth and baby experience. And then we fast forward to empty nesting in Lindsey Goldstein’s Gap Year in which a middle-aged mom takes off on an adventure after being left by her husband. Would love your input on this new episode format. I had fun doing it!
Friday: Joan Lunden Shares What’s Beyond the Script
I interviewed the one and only Joan Lunden live in front of an audience for this very special discussion about her career as a longtime GMA anchor, her women’s health advocacy, the loss of her father at a young age, her marriage and second marriage, and so much more. What a thrill! Check out her latest memoir Joan: Life Beyond the Script.
On Being Jewish Now
Our play, “On Being Jewish Now,” adapted and produced by The Braid, is opening this month in L.A. and next month in Northern California, plus on ZOOM! Come see it! Tickets here.
Have you been keeping up with the original essays we publish on our Substack On Being Jewish Now?! Recent essays include “On Becoming a Jewish Mother at 19” by Ariella Laya and “The Joy of Jewish Book Clubs” by Fern Lebo.
Item of the Week
We have a new collab with Unsweetened New York! Treat yourself or a book loving friend to our “Next Chapter Please” t-shirt! Order here. We also sell these in-store at Zibby’s Bookshop!
Watch: The “Totally Booked” TV Show on JBS
Did you miss all these episodes of my TV show? You can catch up! Click below.
Mitch Albom, Lili Anolik, Rabbi Angela Buchdal, Susan Choi, Kate Baer, Michael Eisner, Corinne Low, Kelly Corrigan, Suzy Welch, Leslie Gray Streeter, Amy Bloom, Jill Bialosky, Michele Filgate/Kelly McMasters/Joanna Rakoff, Rebecca Minkoff, Jeanine Cummins… and new episodes every Thursday at 7:30 pm ET on the JBS network.
Have a great week, everyone. Stay safe.
About Our Membership
You’re all part of my community! But if you want to go deeper, please do! Z.I.P. stands for Zibby’s Important People. It’s the membership community for readers who want exclusive podcasts and events, private content, book discounts, member pricing, and more. It’s also for anyone who wants to support what I’m doing — uplifting authors, connecting readers, and speaking up. This weekly newsletter will always be free for all subscribers. (I do include some affiliate links.)
Just a note that tonight's event is on erev Purim and many of us will be attending megilla readings then.
I knew about that hijacking, but I didn't know about the new book--thanks for that!
Also, fyi: The latest AAA newsletter spotlights the new show from The Braid! https://www.theartistsagainstantisemitism.com/campaigns/view-campaign/g2XJAvM3YdYUP7Hui1duYwbIC26hSCxpnm0KIvDFIW9DgDH7jlnldmZt6nN2fbqphZLbOqBvFLAJOyxq_guGM_9Zl8G3qNeZ