"amidst farting cows and dreary traffic on the I-5" - I loved this descriptor, it gave me a nice chuckle! (I also haven't read Crying in H Mart but it's on my list of books I want to read.)
I work at a library and see the power of third spaces every day at work. It's also a great place to provide resources for those struggling with housing or finances. And while I'm not a reference librarian there, I'm amazed at how much those librarians help people with all sorts of questions, sometimes involving history of the city here.
While it's only been a couple weeks since I last read it, I have a feeling that Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is going to have quite the staying power for me. Jenn read it before handing it off to me, and I went through it SO FAST.
Aw, thanks for the kind comment, Ryan. Glad my writing made someone chuckle, and thanks for your interest in my new newsletter! Yes, libraries are arguably *the* quintessential example of a third place in action. I love the LA Public Library so much. I just put Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow on my TBR list! I see it's always popular at the bookstore, so the author must be doing something right.
I actually just bought a copy of Station Eleven upon recommendation of my friend/local bookstore owner. I didn't realize it's a decade old already! It is pretty remarkable how some books can stick around in the collective consciousness for a while.
Another thought I had when I was reading your newsletter: I've found that media that takes longer to consume tends to stick with me longer. If I spend a week reading a book or a month watching a TV series or playing a video game, I'll probably think about it longer than, say, a 20-second Tik Tok or a two-hour movie.
There were books I read as a kid that I still think about today (Shiloh, the Molly Moon series, the Warriors series, etc). I still have nightmares related to Squid Game season 1, which I watched in 2020. And there's a video game called The Dream Machine that I played over a year ago that I still find myself referencing and reminiscing on from time to time.
So it seems that, at least for me, more investment in a piece of media = longer staying power. More commitment means a larger reward.
Wow you’re so right! There have been books I’ve skimmed in two days and while they may impact me in the moment, they don’t really stick around in my brain. But books that I savor over a month or two linger longet…and was Squid Game really released all the way back in 2020?! Where has the time gone?
I hope you enjoy Station Eleven ad much as I did! It’s a bit different than the TV show but I still enjoyed it a lot. And aw thanks for the support for Naturally Entertaining! First newsletter coming soon :)
Just looked it up to fact check myself, and Squid Game season 1 actually came out in 2021. So I was a year off. I just remembered being in a stupor of seemingly endless indoor time due to Covid, so I assumed I watched it during the first year of the pandemic, but it was actually the second!!
And I'll let you know what I think of Station Eleven once I read it (as well as your first newsletter)!
I hope more people, city planners and such specifically, really take heart the concept of a third place. People seem to subconsciously gravitate towards wanting to hang out somewhere that's not their home, and not their place of work, but in so many cities across America there are very few public places ideal for people to spend their time. I find customers at my work will hang out for extended periods of time, even though they have to buy something to be there, and there isn't necessarily a shortage of parks in the general area, but parks aren't for everyone. City squares, bookstores, libraries, Rec centers, etc, the world needs more third places! There's a local board game shop with a space for people to rent games and play with friends or even strangers which is a super cool third place.
Anyway I'm rambling, it's just a concept that's important for a healthy society IMO. Can't wait to read more, as well as your new nature themed substack!
I agree. I notice people hanging out in the bookstore just because they want a place to be in quiet community with others not even necessarily to buy books. We need more of these spaces. Thanks Nash!
"amidst farting cows and dreary traffic on the I-5" - I loved this descriptor, it gave me a nice chuckle! (I also haven't read Crying in H Mart but it's on my list of books I want to read.)
I work at a library and see the power of third spaces every day at work. It's also a great place to provide resources for those struggling with housing or finances. And while I'm not a reference librarian there, I'm amazed at how much those librarians help people with all sorts of questions, sometimes involving history of the city here.
While it's only been a couple weeks since I last read it, I have a feeling that Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is going to have quite the staying power for me. Jenn read it before handing it off to me, and I went through it SO FAST.
P.S. Excited for Naturally Entertaining!
Aw, thanks for the kind comment, Ryan. Glad my writing made someone chuckle, and thanks for your interest in my new newsletter! Yes, libraries are arguably *the* quintessential example of a third place in action. I love the LA Public Library so much. I just put Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow on my TBR list! I see it's always popular at the bookstore, so the author must be doing something right.
I actually just bought a copy of Station Eleven upon recommendation of my friend/local bookstore owner. I didn't realize it's a decade old already! It is pretty remarkable how some books can stick around in the collective consciousness for a while.
Another thought I had when I was reading your newsletter: I've found that media that takes longer to consume tends to stick with me longer. If I spend a week reading a book or a month watching a TV series or playing a video game, I'll probably think about it longer than, say, a 20-second Tik Tok or a two-hour movie.
There were books I read as a kid that I still think about today (Shiloh, the Molly Moon series, the Warriors series, etc). I still have nightmares related to Squid Game season 1, which I watched in 2020. And there's a video game called The Dream Machine that I played over a year ago that I still find myself referencing and reminiscing on from time to time.
So it seems that, at least for me, more investment in a piece of media = longer staying power. More commitment means a larger reward.
Also, looking forward to Naturally Entertaining!!
Wow you’re so right! There have been books I’ve skimmed in two days and while they may impact me in the moment, they don’t really stick around in my brain. But books that I savor over a month or two linger longet…and was Squid Game really released all the way back in 2020?! Where has the time gone?
I hope you enjoy Station Eleven ad much as I did! It’s a bit different than the TV show but I still enjoyed it a lot. And aw thanks for the support for Naturally Entertaining! First newsletter coming soon :)
Just looked it up to fact check myself, and Squid Game season 1 actually came out in 2021. So I was a year off. I just remembered being in a stupor of seemingly endless indoor time due to Covid, so I assumed I watched it during the first year of the pandemic, but it was actually the second!!
And I'll let you know what I think of Station Eleven once I read it (as well as your first newsletter)!
I hope more people, city planners and such specifically, really take heart the concept of a third place. People seem to subconsciously gravitate towards wanting to hang out somewhere that's not their home, and not their place of work, but in so many cities across America there are very few public places ideal for people to spend their time. I find customers at my work will hang out for extended periods of time, even though they have to buy something to be there, and there isn't necessarily a shortage of parks in the general area, but parks aren't for everyone. City squares, bookstores, libraries, Rec centers, etc, the world needs more third places! There's a local board game shop with a space for people to rent games and play with friends or even strangers which is a super cool third place.
Anyway I'm rambling, it's just a concept that's important for a healthy society IMO. Can't wait to read more, as well as your new nature themed substack!
I agree. I notice people hanging out in the bookstore just because they want a place to be in quiet community with others not even necessarily to buy books. We need more of these spaces. Thanks Nash!