Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My step-daughter, Violet, and I are eagerly awaiting the release of the new television series "Daisy Jones and the Six," based on the book of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I think the production was delayed due to Covid, and it should be out in early 2023, and we cannot wait. In the meantime, we are keeping busy by reading other books by Reid, including her latest novel "Carrie Soto Is Back." Full disclosure: I love tennis, tennis players, tennis tournaments and even the food and wine they service at tennis events. My mom and I have been to Wimbledon three times, and one time each to the U.S. Open, French Open and Italian Open. So, diving into a novel about a legendary tennis player who mounts a comeback at 37 years old, is riveting entertainment for me. As the media is focuses on aging super athletes like Tom Brady and Roger Federer, it is nice to read a novel about one of their female counterparts. While a spectator at the U.S. Open, Carrie sits in the stands and watches her record shattered by a much younger player. This loss then propels her into action, determined to stage a comeback with the help of her coach and father, Javier. Anyone who follows tennis knows there are some legendary tennis romances, think Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. Reid provides a suitable player and love interest for Carrie as well, named Bowe Huntley. The story of how Carrie and Bowe try to remain relevant and stay in the game, scores another excellent read for drama by Reid. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout

I have only been to Maine once, for the beautiful wedding of my friends Gerda and John on one of the Cranberry Isles. I will never forget how beautiful it was, and how peaceful. But I also remember fighting with my ex-husband because he wouldn't let me stop and visit the L.L. Bean store. So a book about Maine and an ex-husband is right up my alley. There is something mesmerizing about Elizabeth Strout's writing, and her most recent book "Lucy By The Sea" is riveting. Maybe because it takes place during the very early days of the pandemic, or maybe it is because we know Lucy and her ex-husband William from other books. The characters and the plot seem like old, comfortable friends we just want to spend time with. I know many divorced people who spent time together during the pandemic, and even a few who moved in together to care for their children. Lucy and William have two grown daughters, with a whole host of problems, but they decide to move to Maine together to wait out the "terrible virus." As the world is falling apart, Lucy and William spend time together building a new, mature relationship. The longer she stays in Maine, the more Lucy stops pining for the life in Manhattan she left behind. Themes of love, loss, despair and hope all become intertwined in the conversations that Lucy and William have. You don't have to read the other books to enjoy this one, as it can stand alone as a time capsule of early spring 2020. But to truly appreciate the new relationship that Lucy and William form in this book, it helps to know their history and past relationships with other people. I hope this is not the last time we see Lucy and William in one of Strout's novels. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

I'm Glad My Mon Died by Jennette McCurdy

Most of you may have heard about this book, but if you have not here is the plot: Former child actress Jennette McCurdy writes a memoir about how her mother abused her while at the same time helping her to become a Nickelodeon star on "iCarly" and later "Sam & Cat." While teaching her own daughter such concepts as "calorie restriction," McCurdy's mother, Debbie, propelled her into a childhood plagued by anorexia, binge eating and bulimia. While difficult to read, because it addresses the mental health issues that Hollywood can too often perpetuate, the book can also spark humor in the middle of heartbreak. What is so brilliant about the writing is that the author does not look back on her traumatic life with adult eyes and the wisdom that comes with age. Instead, she reflects on her life through the rose-colored glasses of a child, who not only loved her mother but trusted her above any other adult. It was her mother, not Jennette, who had dreams of fame and fortune, and she force-fed her own ambitions into the naive mouth of her daughter. I heard the author recently on the Spotify podcast "Armchair Expert" talking with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman about her memoir. It is clear that she has done a lot of work on herself to overcome her mother's abuse, with therapy and group support. Thankfully, she has been able to shed her mother's dream of acting, and selected a new chosen profession. The call sheet for McCurdy now reads, "writer." To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown

I was in the middle of listening to this book on audio from the library app Libby, when Queen Elizabeth II died. As I continued with the book, I began to watch television coverage of the days before and then after her fascinating funeral. The stories in the book, as you can imagine, began to take on greater weight and importance for me than before her death. Much like the Netflix series "The Crown," Tina Brown's "Palace Papers" provides a behind-the-scenes look at the House of Windsor, otherwise known as "The Firm." The cast of characters have a long history with each other, particularly King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, and this book offers new insights and details. The narrative is full of secrets such as Princess Margaret giving unwrapped household items to staff for Christmas, Prince Andrews part in the Epstein sex-trafficing scandal, and Princess Harry taking at least three other women to Botswana before Meagan Markle. Brown, former editor at "Vanity Fair," "The New Yorker" and "Tattler," writes with an insider's eye for detail, and her tone is confident, newsy and witty. It remains to be seen how the death of the Queen will change the dynamics of the royal family, but one thing remains for sure: Our fascination with the young royals is only going to intensify, the closer Prince William gets to the throne. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly

On my bucket list of travel destinations is to see a concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, which was the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. Recently I saw that one of my favorite bands is going to play there New Year's Eve. I thought about it, but making the trip on a long weekend looked tricky and a little pricey. And I decided to wait, and was going to wait, until I read this book. Eugene O’Kelly, then the CEO of the accounting firm KPMG, was diagnosed in 2005, at the age of 53 with late-stage brain cancer. After a brief attempt to fight the cancer with radiation, O’Kelly instead decided to systematically orchestrate just how he would spend his last few months on Earth. He made a list of more than 1000 friends and then contacted all of them to "unwind" their relationships. He wanted to say goodbye to nearly everyone that mattered, in order to spend his remaining days with his family, including his sisters, two daughters and his wife, Corinne. He said goodbye to some people with emails or letters, others with phone calls, and some with in person lunches, dinners, or a shared bottle of good wine. Rather than sadness, most of these encounters brought Gene and his friends great, bitter-sweet joy. While unwinding his relationships, Gene spent the last three months of his life writing this book, which was published after his death with an epilogue by his wife. The book describes many lessons Gene learned in his 53 years and one of the most important ones, he said, is "move it up." If you have something on your list that you are wanting to do, but waiting, move it up. So after I read this book, I hopped on the internet and bought two tickets to see Old Crow Medicine Show at the Ryman Auditorium New Year's Eve. Gene's book was a profoundly moving read, and it inspired me into action and to move my plans up. When I returned this book to the library, I did so with a smile on my face, excited that someone else would check it out soon. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Everyone is talking about this book lately, and the astonishing thing is that it was published back in 2017. So the buzz is curious but not unexpected, considering this author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, published two other popular books, "Daisy Jones and the Six" and "Malibu Rising" more recently. I can only imagine that when people find an author they like, as I do, they begin combing back over the author's previous works to find more literary gems. "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is one extremely fascinating read, and will not disappoint fans of the other two books. Almost like historical fiction, the story of the fictional actress Evelyn Hugo takes place in a very specific time in Hollywood when inclusivity, gender, and race were spoken about only in hushed tones, rather than in the open. Spanning the 1950s until the 1980s, this story follows Hugo through her seven husbands, many movies, glamorous dresses and one incredibly close friendship. The narrative is smart, and bold, and far from predictable. It is really unlike any of Reid's other books because it exposes the secret side of Hollywood that so many other authors dare not explore. It is interesting to note, that actress Elizabeth Taylor also had seven husbands, well eight if you include Richard Burton twice. Perhaps Taylor's lengthy marriage track record inspired Reid's work. After reading this book, I think there are probably dozens of other rich tales locked inside the head of Reid, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Mean Baby by Selma Blair

I'm kind of a newbie when it comes to "Dancing with the Stars," having only ever watched two seasons. But I plan to tune in this upcoming season so I can see the brave Selma make a run for the Mirror Ball. Recently, I read her memoir "Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up," and I am now a big fan of hers. I don't know any other actor or person who grew up being called a "mean baby," but Selma was thanks to the scowl she wore as an infant. And after a bumpy start being raised with her sisters in a suburb of Detroit, her path into adulthood and acting was anything but easy, too. In fact, it is astonishing that she was able to carve out a career for herself at all, given multiple rapes, an eating disorder, alcohol abuse that began in the 3rd grade, and complicated relationships with both of her parents. But Blair seemed to have an inner strength and a belief in herself when no one else did. She started playing small parts in films and rose to be known for cult classics like "Cruel Intensions," "Legally Blonde," and "Hellboy." But then, almost at the same time she was becoming known as an actress, she was handpicked by designer Karl Lagerfeld to be his muse. The fashion world embraced her quickly as a cover model. Her rise to fame, sadly like so many others her age, was complicated by deep rooted addiction and darkness. And then, after ignoring pain and warning signs, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018. Her mother had taught her to ignore pain, rather than to investigate it, so she was not diagnosed until she was in her 40s. After failed relationships with Ahmet Zappa (Frank's son), and fashion designer Jason Bleick (the father of her son), she is continuing to act, write and now will soon take her spin on the dance floor. This celebrity memoir is intense and courageous and well worth the trip inside the life of Blair. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

I am 100 percent sure that I lived on the Russian River in a past life. From the first time I took a day trip there in 2007, everything about it felt not only lovely and exciting, but also friendly and familiar. I made a bee-line for the Coffee Bazaar one day without anyone telling me it was the best place for coffee and people watching. So it did not come as a surprise to me when this book suddenly appeared in my mailbox one day, without much warning. I read the first few pages and saw quickly that the plot took place on the Russian River, and I knew instantly it was a book for me. Stories about bookish people are what I love most, and when Macy and Elliot meet one summer after her mother's death, they quickly focus their new friendship on books. Macy's late mother left her dad with a laundry list of advice for raising their daughter. But it is Elliot who brings Macy out of her shell and back to life again. Childhood romances often fizzle as this one does momentarily, until grown ups Macy and Elliot meet again in a coffee shop in San Francisco one day. Love, loss, friendships and betrayals are not unique to young adult fiction, but in the capable hands of author Christina Lauren they are reminiscent of the Judy Blume books I loved so much as an early reader. Interesting to note: Christina Lauren is the pen named for the two co-authors: Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Together they have produced 18 New York Times bestselling novels. Diving into "Love and Other Words" is one way to keep the summer vibe going a bit longer. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

When Violas Davis was growing up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, her family was so poor that they called it "po," as if they didn't even have money for the extra letters. Her parents tried to raise their children inside a crumbling apartment, but they were always low on money and high on cock roaches. But from a very young age, Davis saw a way out through performing. She and her sister used to write and star in parodies of the game shows they saw on television, which made their family and friends laugh. The stage proved to be the lighthouse that was calling Davis' name. With scholarships and loans in hand, she went on to college and then Julliard, determined to make a name for herself. She might have spent the rest of her life as a mid-level working actor, if something magical had not happened to her. People like Shondra Rhimes started to see how special she was, and they encouraged her to rise up. She started to develop her own voice and that meant surrounding herself with people who appreciated her. Soon she was not just auditioning for roles, but others were writing parts for her. Her personal life began to improve, too.  After dating badly for many years, a fellow actor told her to manifest the husband she wanted to have. She said she wanted an ex-football player, from Texas who went to church. And, sure enough, she was on the set of a television show when she met her future husband, Julius. This made her realize that you can't just do the work, you have to do the work on yourself to in order to shine. Davis was able to take the pain and poverty she experienced as a youth and turn that into strength and power on the stage and on the screen. This memoir is an inspiring look into the life of one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

I am pretty savvy when it comes to recommending biographies. I can tell when I meet a person at a cocktail party what kind of biographies they might like or dislike. But when it comes to fiction I'm a little less self-assured. So I always take note when a friend recommends a fiction book that might be up my alley, especially someone who has known me as long as my friend Page has. She knows I work at a hospice, and books about death and dying are my jam. "The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot" by Marianne Cronin takes place in a Glasgow hospital, and chronicles the intergenerational story of two patients who meet in an art therapy class in the Rose Room. Lenni is just 17 years old and is suffering from a terminal illness, while Margot is 83 years old, and in the hospital for heart surgery. They form a friendship and realize together they have lived 100 years. They decide to paint a picture in their art class representing each year of their lives, and share stories and events that were meaningful to each. Supported by a cast of quirky hospital staff, like Father Arthur from the local church and crabby Nurse Jacky, the chapters of Lenni and Margot's lives are beautifully woven together into one rich tapestry. The fact that these two might not have met if not for their health issues, makes their bond even more magical. This marks Cronin's debut novel, and I look forward to see what she writes next. Thank you, Page ! To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Rebel Chef: In Search of What Matters by Dominique Crenn

 I just finished the Hulu series "The Bear," about a young chef from the fine dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop after a death in the family. Starring Jeremy Allen White who was Lip in "Shameless," the series is fantastic and reminds me how much I love to watch chefs in action. If you are a fan of the series "Chef's Table," you probably already know Dominique Crenn. If you want to get to know her even better, "Rebel Chef" should be the next book on your list. Adopted by a French couple and their young son from an orphanage when she was 18 months old, they raised her in a loving family complete with rich summers in Brittany. After college, she became a self-taught chef with no proper culinary school training. Sensing that France was a country of kitchens dominated by men, she moved to the Bay Area at 21 to work with famed chef Jeremiah Tower at "Stars" in the 1990s. Towers boosted her up rather than tearing her down. San Francisco warmed quickly to Crenn, and propelled her into a career working at hotel restaurants. But she dreamed of opening up her own restaurant, and that came true with "Atelier Crenn," which was awarded three Michelin Stars in 2018. She is currently the only woman chef in the U.S. with three Michelin stars. The menu at "Atelier Crenn" is offered in the form of a poem with each dish corresponding to a line of poetry. Crenn communicates with people through food, and her reputation as a chef is on par with many rock stars. Her book is both informative about her life, relationships, children, and struggles but is also illuminating about what it takes to become a top chef in America. I loved every morsel. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

The author Melissa Bank died last week at age 61, after a battle with lung cancer. When I read her obituary, it took me back to those days in 1999 when I read her book "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing." I loved everything about this book, from its seven connected stories to the quirky image on the cover of a women with rubber boots, a bulky red coat and a trapper hat. I will never wear a trapper hat, but I can appreciate the moxy someone has to wear one. The book was crafted as a response to the 1995 book "The Rules: Time Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right." In Bank's book, heroine Jane Rosenal wants love but does not want to play the games that modern dating requires. The stories follow Rosenal, from age 14 into her mid-30s, chronicling the men she meets along the way. When I read this book, I was already married with twin toddlers, but the narrative captivated me because it was so smart, witty and creative. When asked what this book is about, Bank once said, "Girl meets boy, girl loses self, girl gets self." Her assessment of her book continues to be so appropriate in today's on-line dating community. The themes of sex, love, relationships and workplace differences continue to be modern and problematic. After months at the top of the best seller lists when it was published, the book has been translated into dozens of languages and sold more than 1.5 million copies. I think the reason her book was so successful was not only because it was so well written, but also because it was full of heart and soul. I was sad to hear about her passing, but I hope my posting about “The Girls’ Guide” now will introduce it to a new generation of readers who might not have discovered it before. Charlotte, your copy is in the mail. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

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.