This Will All Be Over Soon By Cecily Strong

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

The Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro

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

How Iceland Changed The World by Egill Bjarnason

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

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

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

Hooked by Sutton Foster

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

Unprotected by Billy Porter

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

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

We call them Fogs, Friends of Garry - those people who worked with my dad on his movies - 18 films over the course of 34 years. My siblings and I would only see The Fogs when we visited our father on his movie sets. Since his death in 2016, I have started following many Fogs on social media. And instead of making me sad, it makes me happy to see the Fogs progressing their careers in film and television. When they start a new movie, play, or TV show, I get excited for them, and swell with my dad’s pride. Recently one of the Fogs went on vacation to Cabo, and she brought along this book, only to find one of her traveling companions brought along the same book. They posted pictures of their twin reads on Instagram. Of course, I immediately had to read the book, to see what all the excitement was about. "The Silent Patient" is the first novel by Alex Michaelides, who was born and raised in Cypress and now lives in England. Set in London, this thriller opens with Alicia Berenson, a famous painter, who literally shoots her fashion photograph husband, Gabriel, to death in their home late one night. Following the murder, she is sent to a diagnostics forensics unit called The Grove, to be observed by doctors. After the shooting Alicia stops speaking, and the doctors try to figure out the key to her silence. Enter Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, who has studied the murder and longed to work with Alicia. While he interviews her friends, and notices the increasing worth of her art, he starts to piece together what happened the night of the murder. Both suspenseful and compelling, "The Silent Patient" is a good beach read in Cabo or just a good winter read for March. The twists and turns to the truth are unbelievable. I look forward to more books by Michaelides, as well as the future adventures of all the Fogs. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

My friend Leah and I were talking the other day on a walk, about how much we liked this book. And at the same time, we were wondering why some people disregard best-sellers like this as not worth reading. I think a well-read person should dive into a range of genres in order to experience the talents of as many different writers as possible. Kristin Hannah has written more than 20 novels, and I find her historical stories fascinating. She is best known for her international best seller "The Nightingale,” which focuses on two sisters during World War II. Her latest book, "The Four Winds,” follows a woman, Elsa Martinelli, and her two children as they struggle during the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression. The year is 1934, and Elsa is raising her children in Texas, with her in-laws, in the heat of a drought. Abandoned by her young Italian husband and her own parents, and unable to farm the land, Elsa and her children decide to leave Texas. Together, without much money or experience, they make the pilgrimage to California to search for a better life. I have to say the Great Depression is not a time period I have read a lot about, and I found it very meaningful to learn of the struggles and the courage it took to survive. According to many book reviews, Hannah's details are quite accurate. The novel deals with such themes as classism, living wages, and the formation of unions organizing and strikes. In particular, the story-line of the union organizers feels riveting, and also appropriate for the times in which we are living. Hannah is a former lawyer-turned-writer who lives in the Pacific Northwest, and she is a prolific writer to follow. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Master: The Log and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey

Sheryl, this one is for you. When I was a teenager, my parents made me play in a few USTA tournaments. I would make my mother sit in the car until I lost, and then I would run to my waiting getaway car. I hated the competition. I dreamed of hiking and doing yoga, where no one wins. As for tennis, I prefer to be a fan. My mom and I have now been to every Grand Slam, including Wimbledon three times. We have seen many players fantastic players over the years, and none perhaps, better than this elegant man, Roger Federer. "Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer" is a tribute to his game, and was written in collaboration with the champion, and long-time New York Times correspondent, Christopher Clarey. This reporter has been following Federer since his first started playing professionally. The book features a look inside Federer's early career, including his former coach, Australian Peter Carter, who died in a 2002 car accident while on his honeymoon in South Africa. Carter's death motivated Federer to exceed relentlessly. Another turning point was meeting fellow Swiss tennis player Mirka Vavrinec. The two first met at a tournament in Biel, Switzerland, and later at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2002, she retired from tennis due to a foot injury, and later the pair married  in 2009. They are the parents of two sets of twins. What I enjoyed about this book was the rare chance to see Federer off the court, traveling with his family. Rather than feel overwhelmed, or held back by the responsibilities of traveling the world with small children, he finds that the presence of his kids relaxes him, and enhances his performance. After winning 20 Grand Slam tournaments, he appears to be both a master of the game, and a testament to the powers of dedication and dreaming. To buy this book on Amazon click here

The Maid by Nita Prose

First, there was the non-fiction book "Maid" by Stephanie Land, which was turned into the terrific Netflix series. Now there is a new maid in town: “The Maid,” a recently published fiction book written by first time novelist Nita Prose. This new book is a suspenseful and very charming mystery, featuring hotel maid Molly Grey, who works at the Regency Grand Hotel. Much like writer Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant, Grey is on the spectrum, often missing co-workers’ intentions and misfiring her own dialogue during most social interactions. And, like Oliphant, Grey is a refreshing and delightful modern-day heroine. At just 25-years-old, she finds herself mourning the death of her beloved grandmother, while also struggling to live on her own for the first time. Suddenly, she is thrown for a loop when, while cleaning a room, she finds the dead body of a wealthy, well-known businessman. Very proud and also clearly proficient at her job, at the Regency Grand, Grey is thrust into the spotlight when the police mistakenly identify her as a murder suspect. While keeping a cool head despite the pressure, Grey is able to put together an unlikely group of friends in order to solve the mystery, and prove her innocence. This is an excellent book for those who enjoy a good mystery, and also a perfect read for those who have not read a good mystery in awhile. Author Nita Prose is a Canadian-based long- time editor of best -selling authors. “The Maid” represents her own time to shine.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Taste: My Life Through Food By Stanley Tucci

A few years ago, when I was packing my suitcase for Rome, my friend Jennifer told me about the best place to go for Cacio e Pepe. She said, “Cross the bridge into the Trastevere neighborhood, walk toward this pink restaurant called Trattoria Da Augusto, order the Cacio e Pepe and you will be in heaven.” I did, and I was, and I still am just thinking about it. I love travel tips about food, wine and exploring, and one of most entertaining tour guides to be featured on CNN during this pandemic is the great Stanley Tucci. He is an actor but also a foodie who has one of the fastest metabolisms I have ever seen. His waist seems to get smaller the more pasta and bread he eats. Recently I read his book "Taste: My Life Through Food," a memoir about how his parents' love of Italian food inspired his own. His two previous books, "The Tucci Cookbook" and "The Tucci Table" offer the recipes, but this book also provides recipes and an array of colorful, quirky, Hollywood-insider stories behind them. Known for his work in "The Devil Wears Prada," “The Hunger Games,” "Julia & Julia" and "The Big Night," Tucci's love of food and cocktails has the rich, indulgent feeling of a bygone era. We also get to see the more intimate details of his life, such as his first wife's death from cancer, and his own battle with tongue cancer. Now married to Felicity Blunt (Emily Blunt's sister), Tucci has five children and loves nothing more than making a home cooked meal for them all to enjoy. Tucci is just another break-out Covid star, and I think he deserves every “like” and “heart” emoji right now. You can follow him on Instagram @stanleytucci.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl

My wise friend Sally told me about a poem called, “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley, which describes what is it is like to give birth to a child with a disability. The poem depicts a parent feverishly packing for a big trip to Italy, gathering guidebooks, restaurant recommendations, maps and useful information.  And then, abruptly, the plane begins its final decent into Italy, until the stewardess says ,“Welcome to Holland!” Holland is beautiful, but the parent is unprepared for Holland. As mothers of children with disabilities, the poem has been a touchstone for us. I was reminded of the poem while reading Sarah Ruhl’s book “Smile: The Story of a Face.” Ruhl, a playwright, professor and essayist, had a play opening on Broadway, a loving doctor-husband and a little girl at home, when she gave birth to boy-girl twins. Following the births, Ruhl was shocked to discover half her face paralyzed. Once a stroke was ruled out, the cause was undeniable: Ruhl had developed Bell’s palsy, an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness. Doctors and family were quick to comfort Ruhl by telling her 90 percent of cases improve quickly, and recover fully. However, Ruhl soon found herself in the opposite 10 percent after the first year, and the second year and on into the third year as well. She busily tried to distract herself with her family and work, but she remained haunted by her inanimate face. The memoir finds her struggling to reconcile her feelings of sadness and loss with also acceptance and hope. She searches for answers from acupuncturists, chiropractors and neurologists but comes up empty handed. She can still write her true feelings on paper, but her face can no longer fully express her immediate emotions, feelings and reactions. “Smile” chronicles Ruhl’s quest to adjust and adapt to a change in plans, and it is beautifully and courageously well written. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

How Y'All Doing by Leslie Joran

Finally, progress! Just shy of two years after my local library drastically cut its operating hours due to Covid, this week the library fully re-opened. I triumphantly went to the library right before they closed at 6:50 pm last night, just because I could, and it felt thrilling. We have to be able to access joy wherever we can get it right now. Aside from books, I have found great joy in growing lettuce on our deck, in making needlepoint eye-glass cases for friends and in the shining-light that is Leslie Alan Jordan. He burst on the scene in the spring of 2020 when he first joined Instagram, and became an overnight sensation. After just one viewing, I was hooked. I started to look forward to waking up each morning at 6 am and hearing him say, "Leslie Alan Jordan reporting for duty!" or his catch phrase, "How y’all doing fellow hunker downers?" His memoir “How Y’All Doing? Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived” was published in 2021 and chronicles his story as a little boy from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who grew up to be a writer, character actor and singer. He is best known for his roles in “Hearts Afire,” “Will and Grace,” and “American Horror Story.” When his father died in a plane crash when he was young, his mother Peggy Ann was left alone to raise Leslie and his twin sisters by herself. After moving to Los Angeles in 1982, he fell into an abyss of drugs and alcohol problems, which found him once sharing a jail cell with Robert Downy Jr. However, after he entered recovery, Jordon was able to build an exciting career for himself in Hollywood. This book includes some excellent Hollywood tales about celebrities like Carrie Fisher, and describes what it was like to be gay at the beginning of the AIDS crisis. There is something infectious about the joy of Leslie Jordan. I dare you to watch one of his videos on Instagram and not break out in a big smile. How Y’All doing? To buy this book on Amazon click here.

"Oh William!" by Elizabeth Strout

"Oh William!" is the third book written by Elizabeth Strout that features the character of Lucy Barton. Previously seen in the novels "I am Lucy Barton" and "Anything Is Possible," Barton is clearly a favorite of the author. Pulitzer Prize-winner Strout is perhaps best known for her two books featuring another fan favorite, Olive Kittredge. In this new book, Strout takes Lucy on a journey in which she re-kindles her friendship with her first husband, William, after her second husband has died.  Like her other books featuring Lucy, "Oh, William" centers around the themes of family, loss, relationships and disappointments. Strout is a sparse yet impactful writer who eschews flowery language, and instead empowers her characters with the ability to speak like humans actually speak. There are awkward pauses and uncomfortable silences just like in real life. This is not a fairy tale but rather a look back on the relationship Lucy had with William, and the two daughters they raised together. When William's third wife abruptly leaves him, he turns to Lucy for comfort. The two then travel platonically to Maine together to meet William's long lost half-sister. The trip brings up memories they shared together, both good and bad. Lucy reminisces that William was one of the few people who really could make her laugh, and it is only after divorcing him, that she has come to realize his importance in her life. In turn, Lucy seems like a true gift to William, supporting him when he has lost his way. As a divorced woman, I found the healing that time brought quite touching.  "Oh, William!" is another must read Strout book, and a book infused with the quirky characters who inhabit her special island of literary fiction. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of An American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper & Katherine Howe

When Jeff's dad Fred passed away last year, he left Jeff many expensive (and apparently very comfortable) pairs of shoes from his collection, as they were the same size. I re-organized Jeff's closet to accommodate all of the new shoes. Now, every time I see the shoes, they remind me what a positive force Fred was. His children and grandchildren were so lucky to have gotten to know him so well. But imagine if you had family members whom you didn't know well, or had never even met. This is the territory of Andersons Cooper's new non-fiction book "Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of An American Dynasty." His mother was the entrepreneur Gloria Vanderbilt, and his father was Wyatt Cooper a businessman from Mississippi. Anderson, an Emmy winning journalist and author, was raised as more of a Cooper than a Vanderbilt. He did not attend lavish parties in seashore mansions, nor did he inherit great generational wealth. On the contrary, he hardly knew the Vanderbilt side of his family at all. When his father died young following heart surgery, Anderson spent most of his childhood worrying about money, and how his mother was going to support the family. This created a childhood filled with anxiety, instability and confusion. Shortly after having his son Wyatt via a surrogate in 2020, Cooper became curious about his mother's side of the family. He started researching some of his notorious relatives such as shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as The Commodore. William Henry Vanderbilt helped the family's fortune grow while Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt was on the Lusitania when it sank. Cooper's is a well-written book focusing on the perils and pitfalls of great wealth, and the more colorful stories from the Vanderbilt family. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Naturally Tan by Tan France

If I was left to my own fashion devices, I would just wear black all day, and call it a day. I do not have the skills to curate a chic wardrobe like Carrie or Charlotte in "Sex in The City." So, when I come across someone who is not only opinionated, but also knowledgeable about fashion, I sit up and pay attention. I want to learn about fashion's dos and don'ts, and Tan France is the perfect teacher. France, the fashion guru on Netflix's latest incarnation of "Queer Eye," has written a memoir that is as smart, witty, compassionate, and as caring as he is on the show. "Naturally Tan" follows his story from a traditional South Asian-Muslim family in Doncaster, England, to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he now lives with his husband (A Mormon cowboy) and new baby boy. Like the other kind and talented members of the "Queer Eye" family, France did not have an easy childhood. He did not know many other people of color growing up, nor did he know many gay young men. He always felt different, and was often bullied for standing out as different. In fact, he did not come out to his family until he was 34 years old. But he always saw his life as a journey in which he could reach his dreams if he was able to make money and retire early. His first luxury brand Kingdom & State was a big hit, and opened the door to other opportunities, including his new genderless outerwear line called Was Him. If you have ever watched the show you know what a fashion-wizard he is, whether he is advocating for a French-tuck shirt or a flattering bomber jacket. To read his memoir is to witness just how and why he has become the success he is today. I’m so excited to see France and the rest of the cast when “Queer Eye” returns to Netflix on December 31. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

My friend Kate took me as her guest to a terrific event in October at the Town & Country Club in San Francisco. The event was just my cup of tea. Two women, one from Random House and the other from Penguin Books, shared with us their favorite new titles for the coming year. “The Family,” the debut novel from Naomi Krupitsky, was highlighted on the Penguin list and I couldn’t wait to read it. Set in Brooklyn and Red Hook, New York, the saga follows the lives of two young women during the 1920’s into the 1940’s. Sofia Colicchio and Antonia Russo grew up together, literally living next door to each other since birth. Their idyllic friendship is shattered when, on a joint family vacation to the shore with their parents, Antonia’s father disappears. What the girls soon figure out is that both of their fathers work for the Italian Mafia, a job in which people often go missing without explanation. The girls stay close through junior high and high school, learning more about the pros and cons of living in a Mafia family. As much as they struggle with the violence of the association, they are also attracted to the camaraderie and life-style in which they are raised. Each girl watches her own mother with an eagle eye, to see if the same fate is in her future. When Sofia and Antonia begin dating boys in high school, the ties that bind them together become even more apparent. Their dreams of marriage and motherhood are soon entangled with the family business as well. “The Family” offers a fresh look at the New York Mafia from the young woman’s perspective, and the new angle is both fascinating and haunting at the same time.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

"Reckless: My Life as a Pretender" by Chrissie Hynde

Recently my husband and I went to backyard garage sale held at Terrapin Crossroads, the San Rafael-based music venue recently shuttered by the Grateful Dead's guitar player, Phil Lesh. It was one of the saddest garage sales I have ever been to because nobody wanted Terrapin to close. Since it opened in 2021, Jeff and I have seen so many terrific shows there, including our own wedding ceremony and reception in 2016 featuring the Phish cover band “Chum.” I loved everything about Terrapin, including its support of female performers Like Nicki Bluhm, The T Sisters, Mandarin Orange and Joan Osborne. When it comes to rock and roll, the woman who set the bar so high for me has always been Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. For more than 40 years, she has been the queen of the iconic band, The Pretenders. The singer songwriter published her memoir "Reckless" in 2015, and it is a great behind-the-scenes read about how a girl from Akron, Ohio, became a rock star. From "Brass in Pocket" to "Back on the Chain Gang," Hynde wears her signature leather jacket and long dark hair, projecting her own vibe of tough and sexy. Her stories are laced with some of the greats she worked with, including David Bowie and Iggy Pop, as well as those she lost such as her lead guitarist, James Honeyman Scott and bassist, Peter Farndon. I used to sing along to her songs on my Blaupunkt car stereo in high school, and have been fortunate to see her a few times over the years. And one of the things I love best about her, is that she is still playing rock and roll at 70 years old. Coincidentally, she will be live streaming an event on my birthday, December 26 from the Royal Opera House in London. To learn more about Chrissie, follow her on Instagram @chrissiehyndemusic.  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Maid by Stephanie Land

I read "Maid" by Stephanie Land shortly after it was published in 2019. It is the story about a 28-year-old single mother who begins working as a maid in the Pacific Northwest in order to support herself and her young daughter. Like the author David Sedaris, who also once worked as a maid early in his career, seeing the housekeeping profession through a writer's eyes is fascinating. Land writes about the relationships she has with her clients, many who would not recognize her if she was walking down the street. The book personifies the division between maids and their upper-middle class clients. While a sad read, the book really didn't come alive for me fully until I recently saw the Netflix movie of the same name starring Margaret Qualley and her real life mother, Andie MacDowell. Together, the book and the series "Maid," deftly illustrate how hard it is to fight your way back from a life of poverty while in an abusive relationship at the same time. Land, like Qualley's character, was on several different types of government assistance programs, but still was not able to support herself and pay her rent. Leaving a toxic relationship with the little girl's father was not viewed as smart, but rather reckless because she was taking her child out of a supposedly "stable two-parent home." The book and the series have us rooting for the main character to some how beat the system and carve a new life out for herself and her daughter. The promise of higher education looms in front of both women, like the golden ticket out of a very bad situation. I recommend reading the book first, and then watching the Netflix series. Together they capture a heartbreaking story but deliver a happy ending. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Going There by Katie Couric

The initial press I read about this book was so mean it almost discouraged me from reading it. But I’m very glad I ignored that chatter, and read this book from cover to cover. It is fast-paced, honest, exciting, poignant and a fantastic read. Katie Couric is an icon, a pioneer and a trailblazer, and her story is one we should all appreciate and applaud. The memoir details her professional life in front of the camera on “The Today Show” and later on “CBS Evening News.” In the book she also shares never-before told stories of her private life with her late husband, Jay, and their two young daughters, Ellie and Carrie. During her tenure on “The Today Show,” her husband Jay Monahan was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. We remember when she struggles to do her job, raise her young girls and support her husband through this cancer diagnosis that to her was almost too sad to admit and discuss privately. When Jay suddenly dies at 42 years old, Katie does an amazing thing: She decides to let cameras film her own colonoscopy to help spread awareness for early detection and prevention of the disease. While I was reading this book, I was also watching the latest season of Apple TV’s “The Morning Show,” starring Jennifer Anniston and Steve Carell. I could not help but draw parallels between the television series and the relationship between Katie and her former co-host Matt Lauer, and the scandal that brought him down. Katie deftly depicts the Matt she knew, and the Matt she did not know. The book also is quite a well-written chronicle of our history over the last 40 years, including military conflicts, 9/11 and the death of Princess Diana. Some of the most honest and open passages in the book are about Katie and how she starts to date again after her husband’s death. She describes her suitors, some favorably, and some not – like the famous television producer who broke up with her over text message. “Going There” is a terrific behind-the-scenes tour inside network TV news, and it is not to be missed. Lesson learned: sometimes you have to ignore reviews in order to be your own best critic. To buy this book on Amazon click here.