Fresh Water For Flowers by Valerie Perrin

Last month I was in Darien, Connecticut eating at an Italian restaurant, in the middle of a summer rainstorm. My sister-in-law's friend Kristine leaned across the table to talk to me. We both have voices that few can hear, and the rain made it even more difficult. But on this night, I heard Kristine clearly say: I have a book for you to read: "Fresh Water for Flowers." I was excited by the recommendation but even more thrilled because I had not heard of the book before. This novel centers around Violette Toussaint, the caretaker at the local cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Her co-workers include gravediggers, gardeners and a priest. They engage in lively conversation, around coffee, and sometimes with liquor they receive as thank you gifts from funeral goers. One day Violette gets a surprise visit from a man named Julien, who has special instructions to place his mother's ashes on top of the grave of a complete stranger. Violette and Julien then bond together to unravel the mysterious love story of Julien's mother. The story broadens to include a secret from Violette’s past, that she has been desperate to keep hidden from the world and her heart. A number #1 best seller in France, the novel has been translated for us by Hildegarde Serle. Violette's charm, quirkiness and heavy heart filled with grief, make for a delightful read for a rainy day, or any day at all. To buy this book on Amazon click here.


The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith 

My daughter Lily is on a cruise to Alaska with her dad this week. I am so happy for her to be on this adventure, cruising around such a beautiful destination. Her trip reminded me of this book, "The Unsinkable Greta James" by Jennifer E. Smith. This novel is about a young-woman who goes on a cruise with her father, albeit begrudgingly. The trip was supposed to be an anniversary present for her mother, Helen, and father, Conrad, but when her mother passes away, that plan is cancelled. Three months later, Greta decides to go on the cruise with her dad instead, in honor of her late mother. The only problem is that Greta's relationship with her dad is strained. The issue is that he does not approve of her profession as a working, and somewhat famous, indie-musician. While her mother was her biggest fan and supporter, her father is more conflicted about her seemingly unstable line of work. One of the best things about a cruise is the people you meet on board, and Greta meets a possible love interest, historian Ben, who is on board as a lecturer teaching about Jack London's "The Call of the Wild." During the week-long cruise through Alaska, Greta and her father must come to terms with their grief, and see how they might find a way to navigate their new relationship moving forward. If you like adventures on the sea, and a good father-daughter story, this is a great September book for you. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

 

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Calling all Daisy Jones fans! Calling all Daisy Jones fans! I have a new recommendation for you. "Once More With Feeling" by Elissa Sussman is an excellent summer read. I took it recently to Connecticut to visit my sister and brother-in-law, and I read it all in one weekend. The story begins years ago when a pop star named Katee Rose falls for Ryan, the member of a boy band called CrushZone. However, despite her attraction to Ryan, she cheats on him with Cal, who is also a member of CrushZone. Their relationship blows up both bands. When the dust settles, they all go in separate directions. Katee is shaken by the experience, and leaves her career behind. She goes back to her original name and mortal life as Kathleen Rosenberg. Flash forward to current times, when Cal is a respected Broadway director in need of a leading lady. He brings back a friend from summer camp named Harriet, who also knows Kathleen. When Cal insists Kathleen audition for the part, all three friends are brought back together again. Despite Kathleen's anxiety about working with Cal again, and starring in a Broadway musical, she accepts the part. Music, tension, love, Broadway, this book has all the right ingredients for a delightful read. I don't know for sure, but I bet Hollywood is already working on the casting for a mini-series. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Rough Draft by Katy Tur

I don't watch many network news shows, but Jeff is a loyal fan of several. So, when a friend told me about this book I asked my husband, "Do you know Katy Tur of MSNBC?" And he said "Yes, she is great, and she loves Phish!" And I said, "How do you know she loves Phish?" And he said, "Katy and another reporter, Jake Sherman, sometimes weave Phish titles and lyrics into their on-air reports." So, that is how Jeff and I decided to listen to Tur's audio book on our 9-hour round trip drive to Mount Shasta last weekend. This is her second autobiography, following the publication of "Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in America" about her 510-day coverage of the Donald Trump campaign. At his rallies, Trump often called out derogatory comments to Katy. This time she writes about a subject closer to home: Her parents, Bob and Marika, ran Los Angeles News Service out of the Santa Monica Airport in the 1990s. They were a pair of bad-ass reporters who flew their own helicopter to track down footage of sensational stories like the L.A. Riots, Sean Penn's marriage to Madonna, and the infamous O.J. Simpon white Bronco car chase. They then sold their footage to local new channels and eventually made a lot of money. From her bird's eye seat at the Santa Monica Airport, little Katy fell in love with the news. She started her career covering storms and crime in New York, but then worked her way up to the anchor desk, after dating another on air personality, that nearly de-railed her future. As her television career starts to take off, so does her romantic life when she is introduced in the makeup room to colleague Tony Dokoupil. Together they learn to weather work, travel, step-children, new babies and a host of other challenges, including Donald Trump. The most fascinating part of the book is the trajectory of Turs parents. I don't want to give it away but while trying to cover the news, Tur sees her parents become the news, which is even more intriguing. Tur's memoir is smart, witty and fast-paced. It is an enjoyable read for those people who watch the news on TV, or people like me who prefer to read it. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Recently Jeff and I went camping for the first time, together. I had been camping with other people and he camped a lot growing up. But in our 13 years of knowing each other, we had never shared a tent until this July. I worried this might put undue stress on our relationship. But it turned out to be better than expected thanks to my razor-sharp, pre-planning skills, and his ability to do just about everything a boy scout can do, including making steamed egg frittatas in the middle of the forest. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting new people around the campfire, and seeing what they were reading. We met a teenager from the East Bay who was reading the "Grapes of Wrath" for school. At first, I wanted to rip it out of her hands and give her a copy of "Bridget Jones Diary" by Helen Fielding. But then I paused for a moment, and remember that I really did like the "Grapes of Wrath" because it had real people in it. Previously I had read "Watership Down" and grew bored of the bunnies amorphized into people. I liked Steinbeck's tale of the Joad family, and their struggles during the Great Depression. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel published in 1939, showcases the Dust Bowl Migration of many families like the Joads traveling from Oklahoma to California. The story focuses in on the Joad family as they struggle to survive in a world of Haves and Have-Nots. It is interesting to note that the film version of the book ended upon a happy, more uplifting note. But the original text stands on its own as a memorable, tragic and poignant snapshot of the working class, and their struggles during the Great Depression. I'm glad they are still teaching this book in schools,and looking at the text from all of its different, dusty angles. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Leaving Atocha Station by Ben Lerner

Our recent trip to Madrid left me wanting more. We loved the Prado Museum. We enjoyed exploring the Barrio de las Letras. And we didn't come across a single tapa we didn't love. I'm still dreaming of the plate of little garlic shrimp from La Casa Del Abuelo. So, I came home wanting to read more books set in Madrid and found this one. "Leaving The Atocha Station" by Ben Lerner is a novel set in Madrid during 2004 but published in 2011. Lerner turns his pen on the main character Adam Gordan, a young American poet on a fellowship in Madrid. He is supposed to be researching the literary legacy of the Spanish Civil War. However, of course, he gets distracted by everything the city has to offer including museums, people and hard drugs like hash. His interest is in fitting in, or not fitting in, and that leads to comedy and amusing situations. When he witnesses the aftermath of the 2004 Madrid train bombing the narrative turns dark, and the fear of being an American abroad sets in. Both a comedy and a drama, "Leaving The Atocha Station" is a poetic meditation, and long slow walk through the vibrant city of Madrid.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

 

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

If you are like me, finding yourself missing the television show "Succession," let me introduce you to Jenny Jackson's "Pineapple Street." The story centers around the Stockton family, a group of old money New Yorkers centered in Brooklyn Heights. Some are married, some are not. Some have children, others do not. Some are likable and others are certainly not. The common thread holding them all together is that they are all downright quirky people. Like "Succession," they have money but that does not prevent them from being eccentric and bohemian, and that's the fun of the book. As their helicopter parents, Chip and Tilda, hover over their every move, the adult children Darley, Cord and Georgiana struggle with how to view their inherited wealth, as a friend or enemy. Should they follow their parents' example and embrace being the one percent? Or should they perhaps carve out a different path for themselves, despite their money. Families are messy and the Stocktons are no different. Looking for a read to distract your thoughts from your own family's stress this summer? "Pineapple Street" is the book for you. Take it to the beach. Take it on the airplane. Or just take it outside and read it in the sun, like I did. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Fault Lines by Emily Itami

I love everything about Japan: the food, the people, the fashion and even the supreme organization of the stationery stores fascinates me. So, tell me about a romantic tale set in Tokyo, and I'm there. "Fault Lines" by Emily Itami is the story about a housewife named Mizuki who seems to have a picture-perfect life. She has two beautiful children (one boy, one girl), a loyal, hardworking husband and a glamorous apartment. You would think she would be over the moon, but she is not. The tedium of marriage and laundry has left her beyond blue. Then one night, out on her own, she meets a restauranteur named Kiyoshi. They strike up a conversation and suddenly Mizuki feels seen and alive again. Their conversations begin innocently, and then turn into more. Suddenly Mizuki is living a double life, and instead of feeling bored, she finds each day interesting and exciting. But how long can she continue to live two separate lives? This is Itami's debut novel, and reviewers have compared her to Sally Rooney and Helen Fielding, and those references are quite accurate. She explores the themes of connection, romance, humor and wit, and begs to answer the questions "Why are we here?" and, "Who are we meant to be with? To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly

I love the quote "Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." Nothing could be truer than this sentiment paired with the recently released autobiography of Minka Kelly called "Tell Me Everything." You know I read a lot of celebrity biographies, but I don't think I have ever read anything as surprising and raw as the tale of Kelly's childhood. The majority of the book focuses on the time before she became a star on the hit show "Friday Night Lights." She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, raised by her single mother, Maureen, who was an exotic dancer struggling with addiction and financial issues. Sleeping in garages, and on friend's couches, little Minka always made it a point to get herself to school one way or another. Determined to survive despite neglect and abuse, she manages to rely on the kindness of her mother's friends to get through school. She was always polite, and well behaved, even when the circus around her was raging. Her world changes forever when she is able to put herself through nursing school, and get a job as a surgical scrub nurse. Her determination and grit are admirable when she had no one to rely on but herself. From the sound of it, she was an excellent nurse and probably could have had a wonderful career in medicine. But like all Hollywood stories, there is a turning point when she is offered a job as a model, and then an actress. Nursing has less sparkle and money than show business. When she is cast in the television show "Friday Night Lights," she makes the move to Austin, Texas, leaving her nursing career behind. What is so haunting about this memoir is her relationship with her mother. Despite the manipulation and complicated relationship with her mom, she keeps coming back to her, desperate for her love and approval. Instead of a nurturing relationship, the union leaves the actress beaten down and exhausted. Minka is not afraid to go deep in this book, and she has clearly made a lot of self-discovery along the way. Her memoir is a tale of survival and triumph, down to the very last page. To buy this book on Amazon click here.


Meet Me in Madrid

I have not read a lot of LGBTQ fiction, but I want to read more. In honor of pride festivals around the globe, I read this little gem, “Meet Me in Madrid,” by Verity Lowell. This book also seemed appropriate because I am in Madrid this week with Jeff. I hope by the time this LLP is published, I have walked more than 20,000 steps around the city each day. Jeff has never been, and the last time I was there, I was a rising senior in high school, traveling with my Spanish teacher, Emmy Lou Armstrong. Emmy Lou and I drank vino tinto out of jelly jars, toured the Prado and had the best time. This novel follows the love story of Charlotte and Adrianna, who meet for the second time during a snowstorm in Madrid. Adrianna was Charlotte’s graduate-school secret crush. When they meet again in Madrid, Charlotte is a museum courier, with loftier goals of becoming a professor. Meanwhile, Adrianna is much further along in her career as an art historian living in Madrid, embarking on a prestigious research project. Time spent indoors during a blizzard can seem glamorous. They have nothing but time on their hands, and work can, for the moment, be put on the back burner. But when the snow melts, Charlotte and Adrianna have to get back to their lives, and their careers. Both women are very ambitious, and might not be willing to compromise for a relationship. Can a long-distance “situationship" work? Will their careers ever place them in the same city at the same time? Will they ever mutually agree on what is best, not for themselves, but for them as a couple? “Meet Me in Madrid” is sexy, funny and page-turner of a novel. If you have not tried LGBTQ fiction, it is well worth spending time with "Meet Me in Madrid." To buy this book on Amazon click here.


Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

I have very good luck with the name Elizabeth, or derivatives of it. My childhood friend was named Barrie W. My pledge mother at my sorority at Northwestern was named Betsy T. My friend and neighbor Beth B. introduced me to my husband. And as if out of the blue, my walking friend Beth S. sent me this book. I have learned that any advice from a Beth is good advice to follow, so I read the book immediately. I listen to most of my books on audio, but what a pleasure it was to sit down with this big, glorious, peach-covered book and read it from cover to cover. "Lessons in Chemistry" is the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott, trying to build her career in the 1960s, in the all-male Hastings Research Institute. When she unexpectedly falls in love with another scientist named Calvin Evans, this throws a wrench into her career goals. She never expected to find a soul mate, but in Calvin she found her match. However, frustrated by her lack of promotion at the lab, Elizabeth's accepts an offer to become the host of a cooking show called "Supper at Six." Despite the traditional pairing of women and cooking, Elizabeth is anything but conventional. She speaks her mind and doesn't care when others disagree. An anomaly for the 1960s, Elizabeth's television show inspires other women to stand up for themselves as well. Funny, quirky, and really fascinating, this author is one to watch out for. After working as a copy editor, this is Garmus' first novel. Plans are now underway to adapt the book for television starring Brie Larson. Beth S. instructed me to pass this along to her friend Karen. I hope Karen enjoys this book as much as I did. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

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.