In the Early Times: A Life Reframed by Tad Friend

In honor of this weekend's upcoming Father's Day, I would like to recommend Tad Friend's memoir, "In Early Times: A Life Reframed," a story about Friend's quest to get to know his dad before his passing. Friend, a New York Time's staff writer came to my attention because he is married to food maven Amanda Hesser of Food52. Her book "Cooking for Mr. Latte," is about how she courted her husband through food. It is probably one of my favorite romantic food memoirs. This time we get to see Friend and Hesser as a married couple, grappling with raising their boy-girl twins, as his father begins to decline. A true memoir about the sandwich generation, we see Friend struggling to face his father's mortality, as well as his own ascent into middle age. His father, who he called Day, was a historian and former president of Swarthmore College. Before his dad dies, Friend tries to mine his father's life for clues and unanswered questions, and is aided by the discovery of his dad's journal. The book reveals a softer side of his dad he rarely saw. What I loved most about this book is that as Friend finds out more about his father, he discovers more about himself as a man, father, son and husband. When we discover flaws about our parents, they are sometimes mirrors to the flaws within ourselves. And that revelation begs the question: Are these flaws meant to be fixed, or carried on for future generations? Friend's memoir is a messy and beautiful book for Father's day, or any Sunday when it's time to curl up and dive into a someone's life. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

On a romantic scale of 0-10, I am an 11. I want everyone to find a partner. I want everyone to find big love. And I want everyone to have someone who really cares about them to drive them to their colonoscopy. So when Curtis Sittenfeld's new book "Romantic Comedy" came out, I was first in line to read it. Sittenfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including "Eligible," "Prep," and "American Wife." This time she turns her sharp eye into the fictional world of "The Night Owls," a television show much like "Saturday Night Live." We meet a cast of comedy writers, featuring Sally Milz, a sketch writer who has sworn off love after a couple of bad burns. When Sally meets Noah Brewster, a pop-star guest host on the show, she wonders if her closed heart is such a good idea after all. "Saturday Night Live" is notorious for its cast-movie star crossed dating hookups. Think Colin Jost-Scarlett Johansson, Pete Davidson-Kim Kardashian and Ben Affleck- Lindsay Shookus. What makes the new relationship of Sally and Noah so interesting, is that it begins during the pandemic. I hope there will be many love stories that come out of our time with Covid, because it would be nice to remember this time on a happier note, rather than a tragic one. What the pandemic did for many of us is brought us together, despite our differences. Under normal circumstances, Noah and Sally might not have come together at all. But when they really get to know each other, their differences seem to melt away. An entertaining read that explores fame, beauty, humor and connection, I'm a fan of whatever Curtis Sittenfeld writes next. And Hollywood? If you are looking for a new property to turn into a movie, "Romantic Comedy" is the one for you. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

After Perfect by Christina McDowell

Elizabeth Holmes reported to prison in Texas this week, to begin serving an 11-year sentence in the Theranos blood-testing scandal. Her fall from grace reminded me of this wonderful book published in 2015 called "After Perfect" by Christina McDowell. The honest and raw memoir details the destruction of Christina and her family when her father goes to prison after being convicted in a case involving Jordan Belfort (known as "The Wolf of Wall Street"). Born Christina Prousalis, she grew up worshipping her father Tom Prousalis, and the perfect life he has built for his family. Then suddenly, as if overnight, the reality of their wealth begins to crumble. At 19, she drives her father to prison. Her family soon loses their possessions and their home. She runs from the wealthy life she had in Washington, D.C. and tries to build a new life for herself in Los Angeles. The lies her father told her begin to reveal themselves, such as the fact that he laundered money in her name to the tune of more than $100,000. As the lies surface, she spirals into the underbelly of L.A., and falls victim to a sea of drugs, alcohol and countless bad choices. Eventually, she is able to heal and build a new life for herself beyond her father's shadow, and change her last name from Prousalis to McDowell as proof. The book is full of nostalgic details from the nineties, and explores themes of love, family, money, betrayal, and greed. Her story began as a blog post attacking the glamorization of The Wall Street scandal. The blog attracted publishers and turned into a book deal for Christina. She went on to write a second book, "The Cave Dwellers," which was published in 2021 and explores the high society of Washington, D.C. Like Elizabeth Holmes, McDowell is not always the most likable person, but her journey is nonetheless fascinating to read and follow in order to see where she is headed next.. To buy this book on amazon click here.

Dying of Politeness: A Memoir by Geena Davis

Hollywood is a strange place to grow up. I can remember sitting in my high school parking lot, watching the daughter of a famous movie star drive her very own Porsche to school. The Porsche was orange, and the way she drove the stick shift with such confidence, made us think it was the goal for all of us. That is warped. So as the years went by I have come to believe that people who grew up outside of Hollywood, seem to navigate it better, almost with a more sane disposition. Case in point: Geena Davis. My friend Jackie sent me her book "Dying of Politeness" and I found the memoir entertaining, truly refreshing, and very funny. Davis is smart, poised, and elegant, but one of the best things is that she does not take herself too seriously. After years of being polite and walking on eggshells, she has learned to assert herself with confidence and humor. She just comes off as so genuine and real in a town where most people unfortunately do not. She grew up in Wareham, Massachusetts, the daughter of a teacher's assistant and a civil engineer/church deacon. At three she announced she wanted to be in movies. She went on to win two Academy Awards, and has worked her way up to being a powerhouse actress in such hits as "Tootsie," "Thelma and Louise," "Beetlejuice," "The Accidental Tourist," and "A League of Their Own." There are a lot of quirky angles to her as well: She is an archer. She once worked as a mannequin in the window of Ann Taylor. She was the tallest girl at her high school, topping six feet. And she has dated and/or married a cast of fascinating men including actor Jeff Goldblum, director Renny Harlin, and security expert and author Gavin de Becker. Since 2004, the actress has run the Geena Davis Institute on Gender Media which collaborates with the entertainment industry to create gender balance, foster inclusion, and reduce negative stereotyping. To find out more about her institute visit the website www.seejane.org To buy this book on Amazon click here.

"The Don't Panic Pantry Cookbook" by Noah Galuten

For some reason a lot of comedians are married to chefs. Jeff thinks it is because they have similar schedules. Think Amy Schumer, Debi Mazar, Neal Patrick Harris, Jerry Seinfeld and, one of my favorites, Illiza Shlesinger. Shlesinger is married to chef Noah Galuten. During the pandemic, hunkering down at home like the rest of us, the couple came up with the idea to film a cooking show. Amy Schumer and her husband Chris Fischer came up with the same idea for which they hired their baby's nanny as camera woman. While there are eight hilarious episodes in the Schumer-Fischer series, Shlesinger and Galuten filmed more than 230 episodes, all available on Youtube. "Don't Panic Pantry," published in 2023, is a book that has dovetailed out from the series. Galuten has loved cooking since he was little, when his mom was a waitress at a vegetarian restaurant in Miami. When his parents got divorced, he would soon be eating food from hippie markets in L.A.'s Topanga Canyon. This book is about good goals, rather than rules. He suggests things like -- make food you want to eat. Stock your pantry so cooking at home is easier. Eat less refined sugar, higher quality meat, and focus on fiber rather than protein. Such winning recipes include Goat Cheese and Veggie Scrap Frittata, Olive Oil Kale Chips, Pasta Fazool, Mom's Minestrone, and Chicken Milanesa. If you are not familiar with Shlesinger or Galuten they are both wonderful rising stars to watch. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Women Holding Things by Maira Kalman

In honor of Mother's Day, I would like to recommend this book, "Women Holding Things" by Maira Kalman. Years ago my friend Bob told me he always could spot a mother in an elevator. She was the one holding a brief case, purse, diaper bag, lunch box and stacks of important papers like a graceful gazelle. Woman carry a lot of things. I can still remember how it felt to carry a heavy diaper bag and two babies at the same time. I can still carry a case of wine of out of the supermarket, and I can still lift my heavy wheelie into the overhead bin on an airplane. And if pressed, I could probably still hoist a small wheelchair into the back of a Volvo wagon. "Women Holding Things" is a picture book and thoughtful narrative that explores the complex beauty of women's lives. A well-respected artist, author and designer, Kalman's pictures are simple yet very complicated at the same time. Women hold children, food, friendships, work, joys, sorrows, triumphs and more. The paintings feature members of Kalman's family as well as famous women such as Virginia Woolf and Gertrude Stein. Some of the things the women hold bring them joy, others tears. There are even a few men featured in the book such as Rainer Maria Rilke and Anton Chekhov. "Women Holding Things" is the perfect gift for Mother's Day, or book to give to a close girlfriend who carries a lot on her plate. Meditating on the modern folk-style portraits is a delightful experience. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra Jonas

At the beauty salon that I go to in Corte Madera, there is a phrase painted in large bold letters on the ceiling above the shampoo station. You can read it clearly as you are laying back in the chair getting your hair washed by a professional. The phrase reads: "You are a bad ass." Every time I see this phrase, I think of Priyanka Chopra Jonas. She is a TV actress, a former beauty queen, the mother of a preemie, a movie producer, a humanitarian, and, oh yes, she is married to Nick Jonas. In her thoughtful and revealing memoir, "Unfinished," we get to see what makes one of the most famous and recognizable women in the world tick. She grew up in India and later the United States, with a very supportive family. But one of the stories I like best about her is this one: She had a nicer bedroom than her little brother, so he secretly entered her in a beauty pageant with the hope that she could win the pageant, then move out of the house, all so he could get her bedroom. And that is exactly what happened. She won national and international beauty competitions that then lead to her global acting career. Despite her fame, she seems extremely dedicated and hardworking, no matter the job. I don't use these words lightly when I say, I found this memoir courageous and empowering. The endless encouragement she received from her parents is also another reason I loved this memoir so much. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Things I Learned from Falling by Claire Nelson

I am a walker. I walk with friends on my days off around the Presidio, or up and down Lake Street. I hike with my husband on the weekends in Dominican Heights or nearby Mount Tam. And I tackle the Fryman Fire Trail with my writing partner, Joe, every time I go to L.A. But I very rarely ever walk or hike alone. The reason is that I am scared I might fall, be out of cell phone range, and meet my untimely death in the jaws of a hungry coyote. Thus is the territory of Claire Nelson's beautiful written book, "Things I Learned from Falling." In 2018, Nelson fell 25 feet after losing her way in a deserted part of Joshua Tree, near Palm Springs. What began as a simple day hike, would leave her stuck in the canyon, with a shattered pelvis. She cried for help, under the scorching hot sun, for four painfully long days. That's the bad news. The good news is there is a lot of time to think, and problem solve while lying in the desert waiting to be rescued. Nelson's story is tragic, and exciting at the same time. She was able to not only get rescued but also plot a new course that would lead her into a better life. There are many lessons learned in this book, but the biggest one is that Claire Nelson is an exciting writer, and I hope she goes on more adventures soon. Only next time I want her to travel with a buddy. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of The Secret Service by Carol Leonnig

The other day my husband and I were listening to our favorite podcast, "Smartless," when suddenly my Libby library app took hold of the controls. My phone started playing my audio book, rather than the podcast. Jeff heard a few sentences and then said , "Is that Zero Fail by Carol Leonnig?" And I said "Yes, it is. Do you know the book?" And he said he knew about it, but he just didn't think a book about the Secret Service would be my kind of book. "There is no romance," he said. However, he was mistaken. This is exactly my kind of book because it was not only recommended by my friend Page, but also each page is filled with high drama. Leonnig's book chronicles the history of the Secret Service in America, from the Kennedy assassination through the Obama and Trump administrations. The Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author does a deep dive into the organization designed to protect our presidents. Leonnig has been covering the Secret Service for the Washington Post for more than 10 years. The organization was formed in 1865, In response to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, but it became more of an elite squad after the death of President Kennedy. At its height, the Secret Service proudly thwarted the attempt on the life of Ronald Reagan. However, with time the reputation of the agency was plagued by a prostitution scandal, White House break-ins, a toxic work environment, and leadership issues. To capture the history and inner workings of the Secret Service, Leonnig interviewed former and current agents, making the narrative a book you cannot put down. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney

For the daughter of a comedy writer, I have a very particular sense of humor. I do not like anything too zany, silly, or slapstick, or raunchy. I like my comedy to stem from real-life-messy-but true situations, usually romantic ones taking place in an apartment or house with walls, sometimes children. This is why the Amazon series "Catastrophe" checked all of my comedy boxes. All four seasons were created, written by and starred the platonic team of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. After we flew through the first season, Delaney and Horgan were on my radar and I could not wait for another season. Somewhere along my binging, I heard that Delaney had a child who was sick. As a mother of children with disabilities, this made me pause. It is that weird pit-in-my stomach feeling that took me back to those early years with my girls. My husband, Bill, and I used to sit in the waiting rooms of doctor's offices with our babies, praying for everything to be normal when it was not. "A Heart That Works" is the moving memoir of how Delaney, and his wife, Leah, and three sons delt with the illness of their littlest member, Henry. While filming "Catastrophe" in London, where the show it set, baby Henry was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As they learned to navigate the move to London from Los Angeles, they also had to juggle the new diagnosis and Rob's emerging fame at the same time. Through the trials and tribulations of medical offices and hospital stays, Rob and his family found support in the kindness of the nurses, doctors and friends they encountered along the way. Rob does not hold back from sharing the gambit of his emotions, including frustration, anger and despair. A courageous memoir from start to finish, full of grace and self-awareness that is rare in a couple facing a struggle with such a young child. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Flight by Lynn Steger Strong

“Succession" started up this week, and this will be the fourth and final season. I have never seen a show that is more divisive. People either love it or hate it. I, for one, love it. My siblings and I often talk about which characters we might be. I think Kathleen is definitely a Shiv. For those who like "Succession," the novel "Flight" by Lynn Steger Strong would make a nice compliment. The book takes place in December, and signifies the first time siblings Henry, Kate and Martin have gotten together since their mother, Helen, died. The three siblings meet in upstate New York at Henry's house, along with their children, and spouses. The elephant in the room is what to do with their mother's Florida home that they all grew up in, and have now inherited. The three-day vacation chronicles not only the Christmas festivities but also the complicated family relationships, and views on money. Like "Succession," the tension among siblings is complicated when they must decide what to do with a single shared inheritance. When a crisis occurs in town, they must set aside their differences and work to help a young girl in need. I found the story, and its characters quite fascinating. I look forward to more books by Strong, and more episodes of "Succession," too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage by Health Havrilesky

When I first met my husband Jeff, he said point blank: I don't want to ever get married again. I Iaughed, threw my long hair back with a giggle, and said right to his face: "Oh gawd no. I don't ever want to get married again, either." That was a lie. From the moment I first met Jeff, I knew he was my person, and I wanted to marry him. I just had to patiently wait another year - five times - for him to come to the same conclusion. "Foreverland" by Heather Havrilesky, is the story that details the anatomy of her marriage to a professor named Bill. Heather writes the "Ask Polly" advice column, and lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband and two daughters. She met Bill when he first emailed her to praise her column. The two then met in person, fell in love, got married, and have now been together 17 years. The book chronicles the highs and lows of their marriage, and is brutally, sometimes painfully, honest. "Marriage is a spectacle and everyone is invited to watch," she writes. She criticizes her husband "phlegmy" throat, and refers to him like "A heap of laundry: smelly, inert, useless, almost sentient but not quite." Their differences don't seem to be deal breakers, even when the possibility of infidelity and health issues are brought into the mix. Havrilesky's deep dive into her own marriage is witty, sometimes heartbreaking, but always fascinating. Marriage is complicated. Marriage is hard. But when you find your person, as this author has, you don't want to suffer anywhere else. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

I am never going to swim to Alcatraz, because I am a devoted yoga girl. I am never going to play beer pong, because I like Chardonnay. And I'm not going to go vegan, because I do enjoy the occasional slice of crispy bacon. So there are some challenges I'm not going to accept. However, a few weeks ago my friend Janice said, "I want someone else to read the book Kindred so we can talk about it." Challenge accepted. I ordered this book up from my library and was so surprised it was nearly nearly 45 years old. Billed as one of the first science fiction books written by a black woman, who combines slave memoir, time travel and historical fiction into a story you won't want to miss. The tale begins in California in 1976, where Dana, who is black, is newly married to Kevin, who is white. She is in her house when suddenly, her body and mind, are blasted back to antebellum Maryland. She sees a young white boy drowning, and is able to save him, only to find herself staring into the barrel of a shot gun. Her journey back and forth between California in the 20th century, and Maryland in the 19th century, sends Dana and her husband on a perilous journey, exploring differences in race, gender and class. For those who say time travel books are not my jam, I dare you to read "Kindred" and not be on the edge of your seat. Thank you Janice for the book challenge. We did meet to talk about the tale, and we are now looking forward to seeing the new series based on the book now streaming on Hulu. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Duke of Deception: Memories of My Father by Geoffrey Wolff

One of the joys of TikTok is Ann Patchett and her fantastic book reviews. Patchett, author of such books as "Bel Canto" and "The Dutch House," also owns a bookstore in Nashville called Parnassus Books. From inside the delightful walls of her bookstore, she recommends books using the upbeat phrase, "If you have not read this book, it is new to you." One of her recent recommendations was "Duke of Deception" by Geoffrey Wolff. Many people might not know that Geoffrey is the old brother of Tobias Wolff, who wrote the 1989 bestseller "This Boy's Life," which was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1950s, when Geoffrey was 12 years old, and Tobias was 5, their parents got divorced. In an unusual arrangement, Geoffrey went to live with his father, and Tobias stayed with his mother. Both living situations were disastrous, and l led the men to write two very sad memoirs. In this book, 1979's "Duke of Deception," Geoffrey grew up thinking his dad went to Yale and was a fighter pilot, and both turned out to be false. In fact, he was passed over for military service and was a professional con man, despite having gone to the University of Pennsylvania. In his quest to form a connection and bond with his father, Geoffrey is forced to come to grips with the criminal his dad became. Tragic and fascinating, the book is an excellent peek inside the anatomy of a family. A big shout out to the lovely Ann Patchett @parnassusbooksnashville on TikTok and @parnassusbooks on Intagram.  Keep those recommendations coming! To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Agatha Christie: An Exclusive Woman by Lucy Worsley

I love a deep dive into any writer’s life, but when I heard about this book I had to run. Dubbed as the definitive biography of one of the worlds' best known mystery writers, “Agatha Christie” by Lucy Worsley, is based on personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen before. Worsley guides us from Christie’s childhood in Southwest England, with her parents and two siblings, and into her marriage to a handsome pilot named Archie. While he was away at war, she worked in a hospital  pharmacy, where she kept lists of poisons in a notebook. A promising research job for any aspiring writer. Shortly after the birth of her daughter Rosalind, she was able to secure a publisher for her first book. Her marriage to Archie did not last long, as he left her for another woman. Shortly after she found out about her husband’s lover, Christie disappeared for 11 days. Despite her disappearance and the mystery that still surrounds it, she was able to marry again and move on with her life. She would go on to write  66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and the world’s longest-running mystery play, “The Mousetrap.”  I loved learning more about her life, and hope to one day read “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” which is supposed to be her finest mystery. She was a trend-setter not only for her writing, but for carving out a fantastic career at a time when women were discouraged from doing so.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When I was in junior high school, we had a wood-paneled station wagon and the seating went like this: Mom was always in the driver's seat, and dad was always riding shotgun, reading a TV script for work. Kathleen and Scott sat in the middle seat together, each with a window. I sat in the way, way back facing out. Every road trip, that was the seating chart. Every time we would head out the driveway, my mom would say "Don't read back there, Lori. You will get car sick." And every single time I would ignore her because the greatest thing to do was read a whole book, sometimes in one day, in the way, way back. The type of books I would read in one day were books just like "After I do" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. More famous for her books "Daisy Jones and the Six," and "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," this book is just as much a page turner. The story follows a married couple, Lauren and Ryan, who decide to break up in an unconventional way. They simply decide to take a year off from a marriage that is not working for either one of them. The separation comes with one rule: They cannot contact each other for any reason. During their year apart, they are able to turn the focus inward upon themselves, and explore what brings them personal joy and happiness when they are apart. Anyone who has been married knows that there are good days, bad days and even terrible days in any marriage. And in this story, Lauren and Ryan must discover whether it is better to live apart or together. This is a compelling read for anyone traveling in the way, way back or planning a beach vacation soon. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

I want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokpokki by Baek Sehee

My mom and I were big fans of the TV series "In Treatment." My friend Leah and I binge-watched the Showtime series "Couples Therapy" last year, and we are clamoring for another season. Jeff and I recently started watching the Apple series "Shrinking," and we cannot get enough of it. This is all to say I'm a big fan of following real, or fictional, people into their therapists' offices. I love people who are able to do the hard work, and find the light in the darkness. "I want to Die but I want to Eat Tteokbokki" by Baek Sehee was a best seller in South Korea. This intimate therapy memoir chronicles the relationship of a young woman and her therapist when she struggles with what she thinks is a little, "depression?" The author is a successful social media director at a publishing house when she seeks treatment for her anxiety and self-doubt. She finds herself exhausted and overwhelmed, and unable to hold down a meaningful relationship. At her lowest moments of despair, she finds happiness by eating her favorite snack: a hot, spicy rice cake, or tteokpokki. During the 12-week period when she meets with her therapist, the author tries to draw a road map that will take her away from pain, and towards happiness. Subtle and poignant, Sehee's book is a small gem, and comforting read for anyone who has ever felt unsure and unsettled. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

101 Essays that will Change the way You Think by Brianna Wiest

The other day I read that Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon were reading this book out loud, before bed. I do not know if this is true or not, but of course I had to run to read this book. "101 Essays that will Change the way You think" by Brianna Wiest is the most loved, and the   hated book spoken about on Tik Tok this year. Those who love it say it is the best self-help book they have ever read. They use words like "transformative" and "life altering." Those who hate the book take the author to task for being too young to write it (she was in her mid -20s, and is now 30), and also say the book suffers from being too repetitious, and fluffy. After listening to the audio book, I think that I fall somewhere in the middle. There are some real gems like this sentiment: Self-care is often a very unbeautiful thing - like sweating through a workout, or cutting off communications with a toxic friend. And I liked tips such as - keep a folder on your phone with happy moments that you can turn too when you are feeling sad. There are also lists of topics on success and encouragement. For example, 20 signs you are doing better than you think you are covers such basics as - you paid your bills, you have a job, you can buy a bus ticket, and you have one or two close friends. There are also blueprints for how to move deeper, including a section on subconscious behaviors that are keeping you from having the life you want. I think, depending on what age you are, this book gives back what you put into it. Wiest professes, you owe nothing to your younger self, but you do owe something to the adult you are today. Who can argue with that? There are dozens of young women holding this book on Tik Tok, literally weeping over their favorite book-marked pages. I wouldn't go that far, but I do smile when I open the new folder on my phone containing my happy moments to lift my spirits. Gratitude. Happiness. Fulfillment. Success. These things are not easy to obtain, and if Wiest's book helps even one person move forward with a happier, lighter heart, then I'm all for that. The only way to see if this book speaks to you is to check it out. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

From Napa With Love: Who To Know, Where To Go & What Not to Miss by Alexis Swanson Traina

My first husband and I had a lovely tradition. Each December or January we would drive to Napa and buy a case of Swanson Merlot. We would then share one bottle each month, on a special occasion, so the case lasted the whole year. Napa is a special place, and this tradition made us feel, ever so briefly, like Napa insiders. Last weekend, I went to Napa with Jeff, and I brought along this book: "From Napa with Love" by Alexis Swanson Traina. For many years, Traina served as the creative director of her family’s Swanson Vineyards. The winter months are a great time to visit Napa because the tourists have not arrived yet, the hotels are less expensive, and the restaurants have plenty of space. I took along Traina's beautiful book with us last weekend, and it felt like a treat to explore some of her recommendations. Her chapters include profiles, interviews and glamorous tips from some of Napa's notorious and elite, including designer Ken Fulk, Chef Thomas Keller, filmmaker Roman Coppola and her own husband, Trevor Traina. Whether it be sipping a class of pinot noir on the Napa Valley Wine Train, exploring Ox Bow market, enjoying a bowl of pasta at Bistro Don Giovanni's or soaking in a mud bath at Indian Springs, the pages of Traina’s book make any trip to Napa come alive. One of my favorite spots was the tiny, but jam-packed full of products Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Company in St. Helena. Their whimsical, zebra-striped linguini is so unusual, and would be great for a dinner party. My only regret: I didn't make reservations ahead of time at Castello di Amorosa. Oh well, just another excuse to go back to Napa again soon, toting Traina's book, again. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Boys by Ron Howard & Clint Howard

My brother Scott's birthday was this weekend. I bought him a sporty yet business casual, dark olive puffer vest and this book "The Boys" by Ron Howard & Clint Howard. I recently read this book and loved it so much. But full disclosure: My brother and I have known Ron since the 1970s when he starred in our dad's television series, "Happy Days." In fact, the last time Ron saw our dad he said he was eager to pay his respects to "Mr. Marshall." Mr. Marshall? Ron had known our father for more than 42 years but he still called him Mr. Marshall? Do you know why? Respect and decency. Ron and Clint were raised to not only be actors, but also fine human beings. The credit goes most to their father Rance Howard. An actor himself, Rance trained his sons like Richard Williams trained Venus and Serena. Precision and excellence was essential. They weren't just going to be working actors, they were going to be stars. Rance taught them to be kind, thoughtful and hard working assets to any television set or movie. In the dual memoir, Ron and Clint take turns reflecting on their time on "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gentle Ben," "Happy Days" and "Star Trek." Their parents, Rance and Jean, moved to Los Angeles from the Midwest to pursue their own careers. But when the boys proved to have more potential, Rance and Jean gave up their careers to support the children. The family of four lived in Toluca Lake, the same village my siblings and I grew up in. The town is charming and unpretentious much like the Howard men themselves. Their grade school and high school experiences were far from typical, but the lessons their parents taught them helped both boys navigate their careers, despite their highs and lows. To meet Ron and Clint is to encounter a very rare breed of old school actor, and to read their memoir is like taking a charming ride down two delightful careers in television and film. To buy this book on Amazon click here.