Prague Winter by Madeleine Albright

The day Jeff and I went to tour the Prague Castle, across the Charles Bridge and up the hill, it was very hot. Our guide met us near the entrance to the 9th century castle complex. He said he had lived in Prague his entire life, for which he was very proud. Before we entered the castle grounds (which consists of several buildings and a church), he pointed to a beautiful white apartment building. "When Madeleine Albright came to visit as Secretary of State, they asked her where she wanted to stay in Prague. She asked to stay there because when she was a little girl she used to walk by the beautiful building and wonder who lived inside." Staying within the castle is only reserved for dignitaries and Albright certainly qualified, first as Ambassador to the United Nations, and later as U.S. Secretary of State. "Prague Winter," one of several memoirs Albright has written, focuses on the Nazi invasion of Prague, the city where she was born. The story is not only told through Albright's eyes, but through her family members featured in interviews and recently found documents. The book also explores the stories her parents did not tell her. For example, she did not find out until she was an adult that she was Jewish and that 20 family members died in the Holocaust (including three of her grandparents). Told with extensive research and compassion, Albright takes the reader on a very personal journey into the lives of her mother, father, and others. Despite the fact she moved to London during the war, and later to America, she remained very connected to Prague, and the people her family left behind. This book is not only a memoir but also an important narrative which documents the horrors of war, and the loss of love and family. The book ends with hope, when Vaclav Havel rises to President of the Czech Republic and Albright shares his friendship and a great love of Prague. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Don't Over Think it by Anne Bogel

Last month I was in a fight with Austrian Airlines for about 10 days. I would go to sleep angry at the airline, and I would wake up in the morning fuming. I tried to contact them by phone and email countless times without success, and each unanswered call was like throwing a log on the fire of my anger and frustration. I paid for seats on the plane, but could not locate our seats on line. While the airline had no idea I was fighting with them in my head, when it came time for my flight it all worked out perfectly. The seats were great, and the Gruner Veltliner quite crisp. This all made me sad that I had wasted so much time and energy on a problem beyond my control. I only wish I had read this book sooner because I overthink everything. I can feel the vibration now of Bill and Jeff nodding their heads in agreement. But the good news is that my friend Noelle told me about this book to help change my obsessive, and futile, behaviors. "Don't Overthink It," by Anne Bogel. A self-professed overthinker, Bogel is a powerhouse when it comes to expressing herself. She is famous for her books and podcasts, including “What Should I Read Next?” This book outlines her own overthinking, insights and modifications that have worked for her. She dissects certain vortexes like analysis paralysis, fear of making the wrong decision, and the problematic inner critic who plagues so many of us. After reading this book I realized that I know so many remedies about how to combat overthinking, but I need to start implementing them instead of just ruminating over them. Her concept, that we "lavish mental energy" over things that don't deserve it, is spot-on. How many times have I wasted sweat and tears over my interaction with Comcast or Verizon? Bogel is a rational voice in the muddy sea of adulthood, and I welcome her sanity. She is the mother of four children, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Don’t over think it, just go read it. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

I like people who have obsessions. In fact, I like them so much that I tend to shy away from people who do not have quirky passions such as exercise, food, reading, music or other activities. So, from the first page, I fell head-over-heels in love with the book "Swimmers" by Julie Otsuka. From the author of "The Buddha in the Attic," and "When the Emperor Was Divine," comes this very special book. It centers around a group of recreational swimmers and how they respond when a crack is found at the bottom of their local pool. The swimmers only know each other from the pool, sharing their passion for swimming. When the crack appears, they know the future of the pool is at jeopardy. Some jump ship early and try to secure other forms of exercise, while others refuse to believe the reality of the situation. Meetings take places, solutions are discussed, and then the pool is closed for good, for “safety reasons.” The novel then follows one of the swimmers, Alice, a retired lab technician. Alice's visits to the pool brought structure, joy and familiarity to her daily routine. Once the pool closes, dementia and painful memories from her childhood arise for Alice. We then follow her to a nursing home, and see later the perspective of watching Alice through the mind of her adult daughter. The writing is compact yet powerful, and the characters familiar and haunting. As we follow Alice through the end of her life, we can’t help but dream of her swimming in the pool at full strength once again. “The Swimmers” is a beautiful book. Read soon, and spread the news. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Rebel Homemaker: Food, Family and Life by Drew Barrymore

I am having trouble growing lettuce this year. Now in my third summer of lettuce growing, suddenly this year I am not seeing the success I had the previous two years. But I am experimenting to see how I can improve the growth. Maybe it is the heat, the water or the soil, but I was beginning to get a little miffed until I read this delightful book. "Rebel Homemaker" by Drew Barrymore with Pilar Valdes, is an enchanting cookbook and lifestyle memoir about what the actress-turned-talk-show host has been up to the last three years. Three times divorced, with two young daughters, she found herself doing things during the pandemic, like me, that she had never done before. She started gardening and cooking, and doing home-based activities outside of her normal comfort zone. It also didn't hurt that she started a talk show which features Valdes, a self-taught chef originally from the Philippines. First working for Barrymore as a private chef, the two have now turned their passion for food into recipes for this book, and segments on Barrymore's talk show. The book is highlighted by pictures of food, plants, and cooking gadgets, and many of the photos were taken by Barrymore. The dishes look delicious, especially things like Soft Scrambled Yuzo Kosho Eggs, Nutty Fish, Green and Herbs Quiche, and Harrisa Spaghetti. Barrymore's prose has her signature energy of a much younger person, and her pictures make the recipes look enticing to try, without the pressure to be perfect. Reading this book made me feel much better about my own lettuce. Hobbies don't need to have perfection as the end goal. They should bring joy, which I think Barrymore and Valdes would agree, is what hobbies should be all about. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

In Love by Amy Bloom

Jeff and I have Alzheimer's disease on both sides of our family, so books about families who gracefully deal with the disease inspire me. But I have never read a book quite like "In Love" by Amy Bloom. This is a small, heartbreaking book, but at the same time I found it quite educational as far as learning about end-of-life options. Amy, a New York Times best-selling author, started to notice changes in her husband, Brian. At first these changes were small, like typical memory lapses that come with aging. Then, he would set out to meet some friends, only to come home because he could not find the house he was going to. When he quit a job he loved, and then started to distance himself from friends, the couple decided to seek medical help. An MRI revealed, without a doubt that Brian had early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Brian, at this point still able to make decisions for himself, told his wife he was crystal clear he wanted to die on his own terms, peacefully, and before his disease progressed much further. After extensive research and a lengthy application process, Brian and Amy made the trip to Switzerland where they enrolled Brian in an end-of-life organization called Dignitas. There were many hoops to jump through to obtain the Dignitas acceptance letter, but they were determined to see it through to the end. Amy’s writing is no-nonsense and, at times even witty, despite the dark circumstances. What makes her writing, and this book, so herculean is that instead of fighting or disagreeing with Brian’s wishes, she honored and supported him every step of the way. After all is said and done, this is a true love story.   To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris

I brought this book on our vacation last week, and read several chapters on the train from Vienna to Prague. I laughed so many times, and even read passages out loud to Jeff. When we got to Prague we went on a private walking tour with a guide. About noon he said, "Now we stop for beer." We ducked into a small cafe, and I said, "I don't drink much beer, so I'll just have a small one." Our guide said, "That is the size we give the children. When they are babies we give them beer foam to familiarize them with the taste of ber. And when they can walk, then we give them small beers." This could literally have been in David Sedaris' new book, "Happy-Go-Lucky." He mines his own life for small, quirky conversations like this and then riffs on them until you are in stitches. These personal essays focus on his life since the beginning of the pandemic when he was robbed of his favorite activity: being on a book tour. His father, Lou, is a prominent character in the book, after he gets hit on the head by a grandfather clock and moves into an assisted living. His partner, Hugh, and his sisters are part of the narrative, especially his sister Amy, who has a flair for dressing oddly. He gains weight during Covid, and loses it quickly on a self-imposed Jell-O diet. As the restrictions are lifted, we find him traveling once again, and reporting on his rich interactions with his fans, which are the best. He remains one of my favorite writers and during this difficult times in our country, we need a witty, and talented historian on our side. The New York Times summed it up best, "It's a neat trick that one writer's preoccupation with the odd and the inappropriate can have such a wide spread appeal." To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Love and Saffron by Kim Fay

Dear Jackie - I mailed this book to you today because it is just the kind of book we love. My friend Page left it on my coffee table when she was here earlier this year, and now I am passing it on to you. It has everything we like including food, friendship, letters, and even a little travel. Set in the 1960's, the book chronicles letters between 27-year-old Joan Bergstrom and 59-year-old Imogen Fortier. They meet when Joan sends a fan letter and a gift of saffron to Imogen. Joan lives in Los Angeles and is an up-and-coming food writer for a local newspaper. Imogene lives on Camano Island, outside of Seattle, and writes a monthly column for Pacific Northwest magazine. Imogen knows how to dig for clams, but knows nothing about the spicy Mexican food that Joan is finding in Los Angeles. As the two women correspond about food and life, we also see them survive historical events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. We also see the relationships with the men in their lives grow, change, and expand thanks to their friendship. The novel is fascinating and heartwarming, while at the same time a fast read, and extremely poignant. I think it's the perfect gift for my favorite pen pal. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and please feel free to pass it along to another friend when you are done. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Beauty of Dusk by Frank Bruni

 I love people who write about restaurants and food, and I have a few that I have been following for years like Ruth Reichl and Frank Bruni. So when I heard Bruni, an author and New York Times writer, had written a new book, not about food but about losing his eyesight, I was intrigued. In 2017 he woke up with blurred vision in one eye. At first, he tried to ignore it, hoping it was simply a temporary condition or situation. But when the vision in that eye became completely obscured, and words on his computer screen began to dance without reason, he finally went to the doctor. The doctor told him he had had a stroke in one eye, and the damage was irreversible. However, there was treatment. It began with an injection in his eye, and then lead to a more experimental treatment in which he had to insert an injection in his own eye twice a week for two months. This tragic turn of events for a man in his 50s might overwhelm, and even depress, most people. But Bruni soon discovered the stroke made him realize not how weak he was, but how strong he is. The experience gave him an early glimpse into what aging is like, and how you need to focus not on the skills you are losing, but the skills you still maintain. With hard work and some adaptations, Bruni continues to write and now teaches journalism at Duke University. The vision he lost has taught him lessons in perspective and perseverance. His memoir is a beautiful example of how to live and age gracefully despite the inevitable problems along the way. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Hello Molly! by Molly Shannon and Sean Wilsey

When I was growing up my dad worked with a lot of comedians, but they were never allowed inside our house. My mother said they were too crazy, and too sad for our house. So instead they would call late at night on the house phone, to speak to my dad. He would punch up their jokes and counsel them, while I waited patiently for him to proofread my homework. This made me always think that funny people had sad stories inside of them. In her new memoir "Hello Molly!" Molly Shannon details how a tragic event in her childhood would not only bring sadness but later a resilient life in comedy as well. Best known for her role on "Saturday Night Live," and most recently "White Lotus," Shannon grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. At the age of 4, Shannon lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident in which her father was driving. Molly, her sister Mary and her dad survived the crash in which he fell asleep at the wheel, after a day of drinking at a family celebration. She and her sister were then raised alone by their father, and haunted by the memory of the others they had lost. Improvisation and role playing quickly became a source of joy and comfort for young Molly. Despite the tragedy, Molly didn't hold any resentment against her father. As the only parent left, she loyally stuck by him and never lost touch as she moved to New York for college, and later to Hollywood to start her career. Frustrated by early rejections at auditions, Molly worked in restaurants while honing her comedy in clubs in Los Angeles. Shannon even used a fake name and pretended she worked for playwright David Mamet in order to get auditions. Ultimately it was Calvin Klein's daughter, Marci Klein, who saw the star potential in Shannon when she suggested she audition for SNL producer Lorne Michaels. "Hello Molly!" is rich read full of behind-the-scenes Hollywood and SNL stories. However, at the heart of the story is Shannon's ability to persevere and survive her own childhood. She is now happily married with two children, a boy and a girl. I listened to Shannon recently on a podcast promoting her book, and she is one tough and talented woman, both fierce on stage and off.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life by Delia Ephron

As a big fan of memoirs, I have spent years selecting and following my favorite non-fiction writers. And then they began to die. First there was Nora Ephron's death in 2012, then Maya Angelou’s passing in 2014, and most recently, we lost Joan Didion in 2021. Of course, I still have David Sedaris, but the man really cannot write more than one book a year, so I always find myself clamoring for more memoirists. I am thrilled to say I have found someone new, and she is alive. Her name is Delia Ephron, the younger sister of Nora, and her new book "Left on Tenth" is a page turner, and just the kind of book I love. Delia grew up, like Nora, Hallie and Amy, in a household with two screenwriters who told their daughters "everything is material," meaning anything that happens in this house is “fair game.” So, it is not surprising that Delia is a master storyteller, who has written such books as "Siracusa" and screenplays "You've Got Mail," and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." This time Delia turns the pen upon herself and writes about the death of her beloved husband Jerry, and how she rebuilt her life after his passing. Connecting immediately with a man online named Peter, Delia feels an instant connection to him and finds a reason to live again. Dry, witty yet some how softer than Nora, Delia describes dating, friendships, and even fighting on the phone with Verizon’s support, like a real master. However, just as she is getting on her feet again and thriving in her relationship with Peter, she is diagnosed with leukemia. "Left on Tenth" describes her life after Jerry's death, her fight against her disease, and her dream of a future with the kind and nurturing Peter. I am the kind of person who does not find cancer books depressing. Rather, I find them life affirming, inspirational, and often a road map on how to live with or without a disease. I am a big fan of Delia Ephron’s, and her leukemia is now in remission. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making Of A Medical Examiner By Judy Melinek, MD, and T.J. Mitchell

On average, five times a week I go to hot yoga for both the challenge and also the people watching. There is this older, possibly retired woman who comes in pretty regularly, and she always stands close to the door. What is most fascinating about her is the towel: a medium blue colored beach towel with the words "San Mateo Coroner's Office" and the outline of a dead body. Where did this towel come from? Was it an office Christmas gift, and everyone got one? Was it a retirement present? A going away gift? Swag from a supplier? Is this woman a former medical examiner or not? I do not know, but this beach towel, along with coroners and dead bodies, is noteworthy. "Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making Of A Medical Examiner" by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell is a memoir not for the squeamish reader. Up-close and un-filtered, the book chronicles Melinek's rookie season as a forensic pathologist in New York City two months before the World Trade Center collapsed. Opting out of the sleep deprived nights training at a hospital, Melinek chose to train as a medical examiner because, with a young son at home, the hours were better. She entered the world of death investigation which includes accidents, suicides, murders and drug overdoses. She is faced with the challenge of going between the land of the dead, and the land of the living in which she must answer questions from the loved ones left behind. Melinek's own father committed suicide, so whenever she does an autopsy on a suicide victim, she is haunted by the memory of her father's own senseless death. Another heartbreaking part of the book is hearing her stories of identifying bodies following the September 11 terrorist attacks. She and other coroners were overwhelmed with bodies of civilians as well as police officers and firefighters. Clear and compassionate, I learned a lot about the human body from this book which is told in a very matter-of-fact manner. I also like people with quirky jobs and Melinek's line of work is certainly fascinating. It is not exactly like you see on television, but it certainly explains why there has been more than one TV series made about a medical examiner. The body is complex and this narrative provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the after-life of a corpse. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Renegades: Born in the USA by Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen

Here's how you read a coffee table book. You put it on your breakfast table, or kitchen table, and you just leave it there. Then you read a few pages when you are having coffee in the morning. You read another few pages on Saturday morning when your husband is looking for his hiking boots before you go for a walk. And then you read another few pages as you are waiting for the oven to warm up to roast your vegetables for dinner. There are plenty of stolen moments throughout each day that can be used to read a coffee table book. "Renegades: Born in the USA" by Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen is one of the more beautiful and fascinating books you can ever place on your kitchen or coffee table. The former president and rock-and-roll icon have been friends for years, and this book documents not only their friendship but also their careers and the history of our country. The lively exchange of ideas includes such topics as politics, music, race, family, marriage and parenting. The text is equally matched by rich documentation and wonderful photographs including Bruce with long hair in his early days with the E Street Band, and Barack in high school in Hawaii surrounded by men he is still friends with today. They reveal private family photos of their children, as well as Bruce's dressing room at "Springsteen on Broadway," and Barack's edits to his Selma Alabama speech (Note: He has very neat handwriting). The book is a companion piece to the 8-episode "Renegades" podcast available on Spotify. The book is smart, historical, intimate, revealing, entertaining and very honest, like the two friends themselves. Their conversations are definitely something not to be missed. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

The other day I was sitting at Angelina's eating sandwiches outside with my friend Page and her son and daughter, and his girlfriend. As afternoon activities were discussed, her son and his girlfriend decided they were going to get their library cards. I wanted to stand up and do the dance of joy! In this uber high-tech world we are now living in, for two young people to actually find value in getting their library cards made me beyond happy. I then suggested that they download the Overdrive app and get free audio books from their library, too. One of the books they were interested in downloading was this one: "56 Days" by Catherine Ryan Howard. So, of course, I had to investigate this title as well. Set during Covid, this is a love-story-turned-murder thriller. Ciara and Oliver meet in the line at the supermarket in Dublin. After a planned movie date turns into a boozy date, they decide they really like each other. When the lock down occurs, Oliver spontaneously asks Ciara to move in with him. However, their Covid romance quickly turns problematic when they both seem to be hiding things from their past. Told in a non-linear manner, the novel moves back and forth through time, unraveling the mystery and the identity of the murdered subject. I found this audio book very exciting, and was thrilled to discover a new author who has written other books, too. So, try Catherine Ryan Howard out from your library, your local book store on here on Amazon.

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

I see people reading this book all over town. If people haven't read it, they want to read it, and if they have read it they are loaning it to a friend. I love a book like that - one that spreads like wildfire. "One Italian Summer" by Rebecca Serle, is by the same author who wrote the best seller "In Five Years," which was published last spring. Without giving away too much of the plot, I will say both books share a certain theme of time travel which feels quite magical, rather than contrived. I don't really care much for fantasy books, but in the creative hands of author Serle, the plots come completely alive in the best way. "One Italian Summer" centers around Katy, whose mother, Carol, has unexpectedly died from cancer. Untethered from losing her mother and best friend, Katy sets off on a two-week trip to Positano, Italy. The trip is one she and her mother had hoped to share before she passed away, but time ran out.  Positano was the last place Carol visited before marrying Katy's father, and the city left a lasting impression on her. Traveling back to her mother's happy place forces Katy to take stock of her own marriage, career aspirations and desire to start a family. I went on a girls’ hiking trip to Positano in the fall of 2018, and I found that this book really captured the sound, smell and feel of the charming town along the Amalfi Coast. As Katy hikes along the Path of the Gods trail, I was taken back to what a very special part of the world it is. The novel's theme of travel being rejuvenating and restorative really impressed and resonated with me. My copy is now safely back at the library, waiting for the next special reader to choose it. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

This Will All Be Over Soon By Cecily Strong

Without a doubt, there is going to be a new genre of pandemic non-fiction books heading our way. One of my favorites, of course, was Amanda Kloots' heartbreaking story "Live Your Life" about the loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero. But now others are writing their reflections and memories of the early days of the pandemic, and I am finding these stories very therapeutic. As a world, we have seen incredible loss over the last two years, and to hear other people's tales of survival is fascinating. Cecily Strong, an uber-talented member of the "Saturday Night Live" cast recently published her own story, "This Will Be Over Soon: A Memoir." The book details her own journey during the pandemic from the star of the iconic Saturday night comedy showcase to her move to the woods in upstate New York with a group of quarantine friends. What is unique about this memoir is that while she was navigating the Covid pandemic, she also suffered through the loss of her cousin Owen, who passed away from glioblastoma at the age of 30. Her reflections on her childhood growing up with Owen are beautifully written, and she uses them as a roadmap on how to live out the rest of her life in his honor, not taking anything for granted. The books is divided into small chapters that read almost like diary entries, and are quite touching and intimate. I have met several comedians in my life and I think it is always interesting how they can be so funny on stage, and yet so very serious off stage. This Will All Be Over Soon" represents a time in history we will never forget, and Strong's memoir is one that should be ready by many for years to come as an example of what we all endured together. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro

The other day I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to try this new restaurant in the Mission called Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar & Izakaya. He looked at me like I told him he could never eat a hamburger ever again. I countered by telling him this would simply be one dinner out, not a complete lifestyle change. But that just goes to show you that vegan cuisine still gets a very bad rap from notorious carnivores. I am here to tell you about a beautiful new book called "The Korean Vegan" by Joanne Lee Molinaro. Now if you have never seen any of Molinaro's videos, I suggest you stop and look her up on Youtube or Instagram. She is more than just a creative and exciting chef, she is also a master storyteller and performer. Whether she is talking about her Korean parents, her divorce, her new marriage, or her struggles with body image issues, her stories and the recipes she pares with them, are heartbreaking and heartwarming. The pictures of her family and the food in the book are gorgeous, far more impressive than the photos in any cookbook I have ever read. The Mung Bean Pancakes, Seaweed Sesame Bagels, Korean Style Omelets using JUST egg (which I love!) and the Angry Penne Pasta and Black Bean Pasta all look delicious, and possible to create even for an amateur chef. Except for some specialty items, most of the ingredients you can get at your local supermarket. Korean cooking, known for it fish sauce and grilled meats, takes on a new look and taste in the skillful hands of the soulful Molinaro. Follow her on Instagram @thekoreanvegan To buy this book on Amazon click here.

How Iceland Changed The World by Egill Bjarnason

My sister said the other day, "If I told your 17-year-old self that at 57 you would be kayaking on the edge of a glacier in Iceland you would not believe it." And that is true. At 17 years old, my princess self had more interest in buying expensive espadrilles and headbands than kayaking. But over time, our interests change and right now two of my passions are kayaking and Iceland. When Jeff and I went to visit Iceland in the summer of 2021, I had no idea I would fall in love with it. From the waterfalls and volcanoes, to the delicious sushi and warm people, it just felt like a magical place. I even fell in love with the popcorn at the N1 highway mini-mart. "How Iceland Changed the World," by Egill Bjarnason is a wonderful little book written by a local, that tells the history of the county. Iceland, a country that is 1000 times smaller than the United States, is quite a quirky and interesting country that, despite its small size, had managed to influence quite a few major events in the world.  This tiny little island in the middle of the Atlantic played a pivotal part in such events as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing and the formation of Israel. While this might seem like a natural fit for history buffs, I think it also make a nice book for anyone interested in traveling to Iceland. Of all the places I have been to in the world, Iceland is one of the few countries I would like to visit again. Jeff Morris please save the date: Meet you at the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon on August 6, 2026. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Last year my mother and I published her book "One Way Ticket to L.A.: How a Nurse from L.A. Found Love in Hollywood." If you had told my fussy, 15-year-old self that I could write and publish a memoir with my mother, I would never have believed it. Mother-daughter relationships are tricky that way. They are not static but rather morph and evolve over time, into often something better than anyone could have imagined. This is the territory of Michelle Zauner's beautiful memoir "Crying in H Mart." Growing up with a Korean-American mother and a Jewish-American father in Eugene, Oregon, Zauner didn't know many other Asian families. She felt lonely and different, and this pain was made harder by her mother's high expectations. Her happiest memories were traveling to Seoul with her mother where they would stay in her grandmother's tiny apartment, and eat traditional Korean food. She felt safe and protected within the walls of her grandmother's apartment, away from the rest of the world. After moving to the East Coast for college, Zauner's identity as a woman and a child sadly start to unravel when, at the age of 25, her mother is diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Trying on careers in both cuisine and music, she is not sure where her passions lie. She finds herself racing against the clock to connect with her mother, and learn as much as she can about her Korean heritage to inform her future. Food, motherhood, marriage, love and other themes are artfully explored in this book, which started as an essay in the "New Yorker." Now a successful singer-songwriter, currently with the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast, Zauner's poetic prose presents a moving view into the mother-daughter relationship. And my mom is pretty awesome, too. This year she is celebrating 50 years on the board of my elementary school, Oakwood. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Hooked by Sutton Foster

I am not much of a crafter but I developed one talent: needlepoint. When the lockdown first started in the spring of 2020, I immediately, almost intuitively, began needlepointing again, even though I had not picked up a needle in more than 20 years. I started needlepointing eye glass cases, and giving them to friends and family as birthday presents. There appears to be no stopping me now as I do one case after the other, trying to fit the pattern to match my recipient's personality. "Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life" by stage and television actress Sutton Foster is a testament to the therapeutic power of crafting. The two-time Tony Award winner, and star of TV's "Younger," has written a memoir that details how her early love of doing craft projects has helped her navigate the tricky waters of childhood, adulthood, relationships and the highs and lows of show business. Cross stitch was her early passion but she later expanded her repertoire into crocheting, collages and drawing. Despite an agoraphobic mother, career rejections, a tough divorce and later infertility struggles, Foster said crafting kept her centered and focused. Known for such Broadway roles in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Anything Goes" and her current role opposite Hugh Jackman in "The Music Man," Foster is like a refreshing antidote to the reality television stars who do nothing but shop and eat salad. She actually makes things with her hands every day, and give them as presents to her co-workers and fans. "Hooked" is a delightful read and hopefully will inspire others to get hooked on crafting, too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Unprotected by Billy Porter

I read a lot of memoirs, so my standards are high. I like a deep dive inside the mind of a person. Whether it is uplifting and inspirational, or tragic and heartbreaking, I want a story I cannot put down. I want it to be so memorable that if I ever saw the author, I would quickly identify myself as a forever fan! I realize this is one tall order to fill, but "Unprotected" by singer, actor, playwright and director, Billy Porter checks all of my required boxes in bold. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Porter had big dreams from the beginning, but those aspirations were never championed. In an attempt to "fix" Porter, he was bullied, sexually abused by his step-father and put down by his family and Pentecostal church. In the middle of this trauma, he saw singing and performing as his way out of the darkness. There is a moment in the book when he realizes that he has finally survived his childhood, and he can now get on with the rest of his life. He packs his bags for Carnegie Mellon University, ready to become a student of his craft. But that road into adulthood was not easy either. Even after he took his last Greyhound bus to New York City, rejection seemed to plague him, but never deter him. After small parts in a slew of Broadway musicals, he was waiting patiently for his lead role when he got the phone call. It was choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell with breaking news. Porter went to Jerry's apartment, where the door opened with two glasses of champagne. "It was always you," said Mitchell. Porter had won the part of Lola in "Kinky Boots," a role that would earn him the Tony award. Despite abuse, racism and rejection, Porter would ride his shining star into an award-winning career across all entertainment genres. "Unprotected" is a riveting read, and if I ever run into Porter, I will tell him how much I loved and admired his memoir.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.