Chinese Groove: A Novel by Kathryn Ma

When I first moved to San Francisco from Chicago in the summer of 1989, everyone I met was not from the Bay Area. For years, out of all the people I met, only my friends Jay and Sally grew up in San Francisco and attended high school here. So for me, San Francisco was a town that welcomed immigrants. It wasn't always easy to make friends here, but once you made one it was a friend for life. "The Chinese Groove" by Kathryn Ma is the story of an 18-year-old immigrant boy named Shelley who moved to San Francisco from China, with big dreams. After his mother died, his grieving father helped Shelley raise enough money for a plane ticket to California. With the knowledge he had distant family in San Francisco, Shelley thought they would welcome him into their homes. Despite not having a job, and coming from a family with little clout, Shelly was optimistic because he believed he had the "Chinese Groove," a special and magical bond with his ancestors. This is a quirky book with an infectious plot, all set in our 7-miles-by-7 miles town. San Francisco might be small, but we are full of personal stories, and Shelley's is a winner. Thank you, native Sally, for this recommendation. So glad we still live in the 94118. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead's Long Strang Trip

If given just a few bars of the most frequently played Phish songs, I can usually guess what that song is. After being with Jeff for more than 13 years, this is just one of my super powers. "Bathtub Gin," "Possum" or "Tweezer" I can get within mere seconds. However, that is for Phish songs, because the Grateful Dead is a whole other story. When Jeff and his friends were busy following the Grateful Dead in the 1980s and 1990s, I was still listening to Carly Simon, James Taylor and Jackson Brown. So, when I came across this audio book at my library, I decided to take a deep dive into the Grateful Dead. To be clear, this book opens with the death of the band's legendary front man, Jerry Garcia. The narrative follows what happened to the band after Jerry died, and how the band morphed into one band and then several different bands. The cast of characters is now quite familiar to me: There is Phil Lesh and his wife Jill, and their two sons Grahame and Brian in one camp. Then in the other camp is Bob Weir, his wife Natascha Munter and their daughters Shala and Chloe. Representing Garcia is a whole cast of colorful characters including his second wife, known as "Mountain Girl," and then and daughters Heather, Theresa, Annabelle and Keelin, and widow, Deborah Koons Garcia. This book is about music, touring, family, exhaustion and grief. At the time of Garcia's death, the group was not only a band but also a business that made millions of dollars in merchandising alone. The pressure to keep performing weighed heavily on all of them, but soon became too much. They had to find a way to continue performing separately, and that is eventually what they did when Lesh started promoting his "Phil and Friends" shows and Weir created "Dead & Co." I found the book fascinating, especially their final shows together on the "Fare The Well" tour. If you like music,or enjoy a behind the scenes glimpse into one of the most famous rock and roll bands of all time, this is the book for you. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told" by Harrison Scott Key

In honor of Valentine's Day this week, I am going to write about an insane book. And make no doubt about it this book is crazy, and even has the word "insane" in the title. This book reads like the pages of a soap opera, but the scary part is that it is true, and not fiction. "How to Stay Married" is the story of Key and his wife, Laura and their three daughters. Marriage is hard, and I don't think anyone who has been married more than a hot minute would disagree with that statement. But what about infidelity? Is that a deal breaker? Should it be a deal breaker? And if and when it happens, is it humanly possible to forgive and more forward? This is the landscape of Key's memoir which begins when he finds out his wife is having an affair with a married man "who wears cargo shorts, on purpose." Just that description should let you know that there is humor in this book, as well as pain. There is also a lot of talk of God, as both Key and his wife are devoted church goers. It is perhaps their shared faith that keeps Key from going crazy during this painful period in his marriage. The way his wife continues to go behind his back and see this other man, is baffling to me. Key's power to forgive her again and again is miraculous. But along the way he discovers, as most married people know, it is usually not one person behind the breakdown of a relationship. Key realizes that not only was she not loving him the way he wanted, but he was not giving her the love she so desperately needed either. Love, faith and forgiveness are all dissected in this book, and I found it quite entertaining. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

"Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond" By Henry Winkler

When I was 12-years-old, I was walking down the breezeway at my elementary school and a little girl I hardly knew came up to me. She said, "Can I have a sleep-over at your house Friday night?" And i said "Why the heck would you want to do that?" And she said, "I want to go to the taping and meet The Fonz." I said, "Beat it," and never spoke to her again. It was then that I knew my life was changing, and my dad would never have a normal job like a dentist or lawyer. But it was then that the world was changing for Henry Winkler as well. He would become one of the most recognizable faces in television during his 11 seasons on the show, and become more famous than he ever imagined. My dad created the character the Fonz and imagined him as a 6-foot-tall blonde with a motorcycle. But when a darker, and shorter, graduate of the Yale School of Drama came in to audition brimming with talent and charisma, Winkler was cast as Arthur Fonzarelli. "Being Henry" is his heartfelt and well-written memoir about not only his years on "Happy Days," but the many years after he left the Cunningham's garage apartment. The book depicts his time on the long-running sitcom as truly idyllic, but the years after he struggled to find his next chapter, confused whether it should be as a producer, director or actor. With his lovely wife Stacey always by his side, he produced the cult classic TV show "MacGyver," but still wondered whether he should be behind the camera or in front of it. He developed a love of fly fishing, and parlayed his own diagnosis of dyslexia into a popular series of children's books about a character named Hank Zipzer with Liv Oliver. He continued to be recognized as the Fonz everywhere he went, but wanted more. He wanted to act again and be admired for playing more than just one character. He had children, and even grandchildren, traveled, had many wonderful dogs but clamored for another good role. Bill Hader made his dream come true when he cast him as the acting teacher Gene Cousineau in the HBO series "Barry." Finally, in this role, Henry was appreciated for another wonderful character, and even finally won his first Emmy, after several nominations. This book is as warm and friendly as Winkler himself, while at the same time honestly exploring the downside of fame, too. I loved every page of it, especially when he mentions my Pop. To meet Henry is to meet a Hollywood veteran who has navigated show business and come out on top. He is one of the nicest men I have ever met, so please go and read his book and enjoy every minute. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Inspired by Kathryn M Ireland

When I am about to go on an airplane I am very picky about the shows I download for the flight. I don't like any TV shows with nakedness or kissing because it's embarrassing to watch while in a row with two other people, especially when I am in the middle seat. So I stick with cooking, reality or interior design shows. Recently I found a quirky design show on Netflix called "Million Dollar Decorators" that aired two seasons in 2011-2012. The show features a group of Los Angeles-based decorators who are not only colleagues but also friends. The break-out hit of the show is designed Kathryn M. Ireland. She is smart, talented, quirky and extremely funny. After the show concluded, I wanted to know more about her. I found this book she published in 2014 called "Inspired By." It's a coffee table book, where she interviews some of her friends and clients, and showcases their homes, and dives into what inspired them to design their spaces. We see a gentleman farmer's den, actress Donna Dixon Aykroyd's roaring fireplace, a chef's yellow kitchen, a grand dame's living room, a color enthusiast's studio and a fellow designer's lair. Through a series of interviews we find out about their childhood obsessions, favorite books, top movies, preferred cocktails and guilty pleasures. Ireland is like a breath of fresh air because she is confident and charming but also does not take herself too seriously. She has published multiple books since this one, and I'm eager for my library to bring more in stock soon. You can follow her on Instagram and learn more about her at @kathrynmireland To buy this book on Amazon click here.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

When Jeff and I were in Tokyo in December, there was one thing we could not believe: how polite and kind everyone was. Yes, they also were wearing the nicest clothing we have ever seen, but underneath those designer suits, was a caring community. In a bout of confusion at the metro, when we tried to put the receipt into the ticket reader instead of the ticket, two separate people rushed to our aid to help. Two complete strangers offering help without being asked just because they are so kind. Tokyo is an amazing place, and our visit made me want to read more Japanese fiction. "What You are Looking For is in the Library" by Michiko Aoyama and translated by Alison Watts is an incredibly charming and thoughtful book. The premise is intriguing: Does a librarian have the power to recommend a book and change a person's life forever? In this case, the librarian is Sayuri Komachi, who has read every book, on every shelf, in her library.  She assesses all of her patrons and tries to pair them with the exact book that will suit them best. Set in the fictional neighborhood of Hatori, the library is a place that connects the residents to each other and the world. When Komachi asks each patron what they are looking for, she does not mean just for today but for the future and forever. Sweet, charming, thoughtful but with the absence of being overly saccharine, "What You Are Looking For is in the Library" Is a tribute to the gratitude and kindness of the people of Japan. They take the time to take care of themselves, as well as each other. Japan, I will be back one day, and I can't wait. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

In the fall, my friend Jennifer handed me this book and said "I want you to read this so we can talk about it." This is my favorite kind of challenge, and it never gets old. I accepted "The Marriage Portrait," a hard cover book with its beautiful and haunting cover, and got to reading. I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but give me a novel about a messy marriage and I'm there. O'Farrell, the author of the award-winning "Hamnet," turns her eye, this time, onto the world of Renaissance Italy. We meet the 16-year-old duchess Lucrezia de' Medici in her home in 1550's Florence. As the third daughter of the grand duke, the family's attention is not on her, and she is free to wander around the palace and live an artistic life under the radar. But everything changes for Lucrezia when her older sister dies after being betrothed to another duke, the ruler of Ferrrara, Modena, and Reggio. His name is Alonso and Lucrezia now must take her sister's place at the alter with him. Alonso seems to be a fan of the arts and music, much like Lucrezia, but the more she gets to know him, the more she doubts his honesty and motives. Other members of his family and the palace further confuse her. Who can she trust, and who wants her gone? One thing is clear: Lucrezia's job, despite her young age, is to produce an heir to protect the future of both her family and Alonso's. Based on real life characters, "The Marriage Portrait" is a well-written deep dive into the arranged marriages and secrets passages during the Italian Renaissance. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Unscripted: "The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy" by James B. Stewart and Rachel Adams

When I was in the 5th grade at Oakwood, I had a Paramount Studios T-shirt that I wore often. The light blue shirt showed the Paramount logo, a snow-covered mountain against a clear sky. Paramount is where my dad worked as a TV show runner. In those days, I pictured Paramount as a playland, much like Disneyland, where the cast of "Happy Days" would roller skate, ride bicycles, eat ice cream and play basketball. However, my images of Paramount were from the mid-1970s, and the next 50 years of Paramount would morph into something very different. "The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy" by James B. Stewart and Rachel Adams is the inside story of what became to be known as Paramount Global, the multi-million-dollar entertainment empire owned by Sumner M. Redstone and his family. The cast of characters smacks Shakespearean and includes the 90-year-old Sumner, his loyal but independent daughter Shari once married to a Rabbi and the head of CBS, Les Moonves once popular but soon to fall from grace. This book dives deep into the world of private planes, sexual misconduct in the workplace, lies, bribes, and many power struggles inside and out of the office. Stewart and Adams are journalists so they approach this story with a trained reporter's eye. What reads like a season of "Billions" or "Succession" is a real-life saga that is so surreal it is hard to believe it is true. Supported by dozens of examples of bad behavior, "Unscripted" is a shocking testament to the abuse and corruption of power in the entertainment and business worlds. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

For my 60th birthday in December, my brother sent me a list of the years I have been alive, paired with a book published in each year. When I saw the list, I thought, “What a lovely and thoughtful gift from Scott!” It was just like something my dad would have done. The list included some of my favorites, such as Helen Fieldings' "Bridget Jones Diary" and Joan Didion's "Play It as It Lays," and also this special book "The Hours" by Michael Cunningham. Inspired by the work and life of Virginia Woolf, "The Hours" gives us a glimpse into a day in the life of three women. Despite living in three different decades, the women are bonded by their quest to find meaning within one single day. The book, published in 1998, was made into a movie in 2002, with Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman. Searching for happiness, while also plagued by darker thoughts, the women weave their way through a single day, reflecting on the fragility of human life. Cunningham's book is both rich and haunting simultaneously. Recently Cunningham published a new book called "The Day." This time, instead of three women, Cunningham shifts his focus to observing a family, I assume all in one glorious day. I look forward to reading that book next. Thank you @actionpix To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Monocle Travel Guide Series: Tokyo

On our trip to Tokyo, Jeff and I had different jobs. He was in charge of mastering the Metro, Japanese Rail Line, and the Monorail, which he did brilliantly. I was in charge of restaurant reservations and sightseeing destinations. The three guided tours we did (the Tsukiji fish market, the after dark tour of Shinjuku, and the sushi making class), I booked on Travelocity, and they were all outstanding. I have never met such kind and caring tour guides. For the rest of our sightseeing, I relied on this book “The Monocle Travel Guide Series: Tokyo.” This book was recommended to me by @colorful_london and @Hayden_Victor. To be clear this book is hard to find because I think it is so coveted. When I looked for it on Amazon at first it said it was $400. But a few days later Amazon told me I could buy a used copy for $11, so I jumped at the chance. The book is smart, chic, savvy and a hipster guide to Tokyo. One of the best sections includes a walking guide of some of the parts of Tokyo you don’t hear about on Tik Tok – such Yanaka, the oldest part of Tokyo that was not bombed in the war. Had it not been for this book, we never would have gone to Yanaka, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We followed the route map and visited the cemetery, a rice cracker store that opened in 1875, many beautiful temples, secret restaurants and a beer garden. We even bought our daughters some handmade knit bags in a gift shop that only took Yen. Thanks to Page and Hayden, I am now a big fan of the Monocle series and can’t wait to follow their route maps through another city soon. Bangkok see you in 2024.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

If you are reading this on Friday, then it means I have made it to Tokyo to celebrate my 60th birthday. Hopefully I am eating a lot of sushi, getting thousands of steps each day, and checking out a lot of convenience stores. "Convenience Store Woman" was a big hit in Japan, and a lovely little book you can read in a day. It is the story of 36-year-old Keiko Furukura, who lives in Tokyo, and works as a clerk in a store. By the time she was 18, and about to start working at the store, she knew she was different. As a child she described herself as "lacking" and "an exception." She missed social cues, felt awkward around people and never fit in. But when she started working at the "Smart Mart," suddenly it gave her life purpose. Within the walls of the store, she followed the employee manual and knew how to act, what to wear, and what to say to customers and colleagues. The job made her feel like a "normal person." But despite her contentment, her family and friends begin to pressure her to find a husband and a career beyond the convenience store. Keiko hatches a plan to let a man move into her apartment to get her friends and family off her back. Think of this as the Japanese version of Eleanor Oliphant. Keiko's quirky view of the world is heartwarming and defiant in the face of people who just want her to conform. The order and clarity inside of her convenient store helps keep her calm, and makes sense of the chaos in the outside world. I found this book witty, poignant and delightful from beginning to end. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Diary of A Tokyo Teen by Christine Mari Inzer

I am getting ready to go to Tokyo soon, so I am reading books about Japan, and novels written by Japanese authors. "Diary of a Tokyo Teen," by Christine Mari Inzer is a graphic/comic book-style memoir, and a true gem. Inzer was born in Tokyo in 1997 to a Japanese mother and American father. The family left Japan in 2003 and moved to America. The summer before she turned 16, Inzer traveled to Tokyo by herself, to visit relatives and learn more about the country. In this book, she documents her time in Japan, illustrating the fashion, food, sights, and people she encountered. Whether she is eating fantastic sushi in the fish market, shopping for hip clothing in the Harajuku, or hoping for a geisha sighting in Kyoto, Inzer's narrative notes and pictures are fantastic and fun. Quirky things like the fancy toilets seem to stump and amuse her. While Japanese by birth, her eye is through an American lens and her observations about food and culture are curious and charming. Some might think why would I want to read a travel log by a teenager when I am not a teenager? For the same reason I love the comics of Roz Chaz who writes about her family and domestic life. The pairing of words and drawings to form humor is a challenging task, and both Chaz and Inzer are so talented at it. I was happy to see that Inzer continues to write and draw, and you can follow her on Instagram @christinemaricomics She has a new book coming out in 2024, and I'm excited for that, too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama

The footage from the Rosalynn Carter's funeral last week was fascinating. There was a poignant speech by daughter, Amy, about the love between her parents. There was a warm and very funny speech by her grandson describing her sense of adventure and humor. And there were six first ladies sitting in the front row: Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hilary Clinton, and Jill Biden. This is probably the most diverse group of First Ladies, but the one I was watching was Michelle. She is just my favorite. I love her confidence. I love her style and I love her realness that can only be described as "bad ass." Her second book, "The Light We Carry" is just as good as her first book "Becoming." There is one take away in which I always marvel about Michelle: She had the best mother and father. Every story about them shines off the page. With parents like Marian and Fraser, it is no wonder Michelle is practical, no nonsense, and balanced. She shares stories and wisdom from her life as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and First Lady. We again hear her gems such as "starting kind," and "going high," but we also get to see her life after her time in the White House. She talks about how learning to knit during the pandemic brought her a calm peace of mind she had never experienced before. The book is a terrific read from beginning to end, and has a companion interview on Netflix with Oprah that brings the stories to life. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

I love everything about airports. I love the busy travelers, rushing with excitement. I love the wine that you can order, even with brunch, without judgement. And I love the bookstores. When I was in high school it was tricky to wait to buy a book at the airport, but now every airport has a bevy of impressive titles to choose from. As I made my way through several airports this fall, I kept seeing this book: "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover. What looks like a best-selling, popular fiction novel turned out to be something much deeper. The spark for the novel came from the author's own life, and her abusive father. She took the pain she suffered as a young adult, and wove it into her heroine, Lily Bloom. When I read Blake Lively will star as Lily in the film version of the story, I was intrigued even more. After growing up in Maine and watching her dad abuse her mother, Lily is determined to go to college and make a new life for herself in Boston. When she opens her own flower shop, and falls in love with a surgeon named Ryle, she thinks she has finally set her life on a course for success. However, the pain she has witnessed in her past, she soon discovers, can be found in other people beyond her father. I read this entire book during a weekend in Seattle, and could not put it down. Airports are great places for page-turning books, and this one is a winner. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal

It is beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving. The other day I came home from yoga to find my husband on the phone with his sister, Jen. They were engaged in a lively planning session about brussels sprouts, corn-dish, peas and mashed potatoes. I love any talk of food and recipes. So, this slight book "The Cook: A Novel" by Maylis de Kerangal jumped out at me from the library because of its tiny size and delicious looking cover. The book is a meditation and coming-of-age story of a young, self-taught chef named Mauro. Narrated by an unnamed female, who may or may not be in love with Mauro, we see the chef travel to Berlin, Thailand, Burma, and other spots over a 15-year-time span. We get a sense of the mundane, and the exhilaration, of what it is like to be a chef, working your way up in the profession. Despite the highs and lows we see Mauro come back time and again to his love of cooking, and passion for being a chef. This is a book that one can read in one afternoon, and then perhaps follow it up with the latest season of Hulu's "The Bear."  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act by Anna Kloots

I once dated a man who did not like it when I read a book in bed, and so I stopped. This is wrong for so many reasons, and if you know me, you know that one of my greatest joys is reading a book in bed. But back then, I wanted his approval, so I pushed down my love of reading, and turned off the light. In "My Own Magic," a memoir by Anna Kloots, she shares a similar story of when she put aside her dreams and aspirations to marry a magician. After meeting him at 19, she fell head-over-heels in love with a much older man, who also happened to be from her hometown in Ohio. She gave up her life in London and New York, to support him on his magic show tour, first across the United States, and then Europe, and beyond. At first, the glamorous life of being the wife and assistant to a famous magician was exciting. They traveled the globe, performed on cruises, and always seemed to be packing their suitcases for another adventure. However, their marriage was all smoke and mirrors. Not only did the magician not respect or nurture her, he steam-rolled right over her, always putting his ambitions and opinions first. Anna, the younger sister of talk show and fitness star Amanda Kloots, began to feel invisible in her marriage until her husband came right out and asked her for a divorce. It was then that she could no longer be invisible, and had to carve out a new identity for herself. She soon took her love of travel and turned it into a career. She packed her bags, moved to Paris, poured herself a glass of champagne and got on with the rest of her life. I have been following her on Instagram since 2020, and I found her memoir, and her posts always inspiring. I can't wait to see where she travels to next. You can follow her too at @annakloots To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love by Laura Dern, Diane Ladd with a foreword by Reese Witherspoon

The other day I ran into a woman at my church, and I had not seen her in more than 10 years. We started talking like old friends do, and she gave me updates on her three boys, which I was thrilled to hear about. When I was talking to her, I was struck but the realization that I will never know what it feels like to be the mother of a son. It made me a little sad, and a little curious, that I will never know that relationship. Instead, I was meant to be a mother of daughters, and that continues to make me happy every day. With two daughters, and two step-daughters, I only know girls, and that fact reminded me of this beautiful book: "Honey, Baby, Mine" by Laura Dern and her mother Diane Ladd. The idea for the book came about when actress Ladd was diagnosed with a life-threatening respiratory illness, and a doctor prescribed short walks to increase her lung capacity. Her actress-daughter, Laura, decided to go along on these walks, to support her mom. The conversations on these walks are the fabric for this honest, and deeply personal book. It is a rare gift for a mother and daughter to have the uninterrupted time to talk about such things as marriage, love, divorce, ambition and legacy.  Dern and Ladd take the time to cover them all, sometimes agreeing, and sometimes even disagreeing with each other. With photos, recipes and family stories, these two give us a glimpse into their bond, and the powerful lessons shared between a mother and daughter. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Recently we welcomed a new member into our Morris family when Jeff's nephew, Tyler, married Annie Williams in Columbus, Ohio. I have never been to a more joyful wedding. Everyone was so happy, including the two best men who said it was the best day of their lives. I liked Annie from the moment I met her on a beach in the Outer Banks on a summer vacation several years ago. She set up a beach chair next to me,and opened a Jodi Picoult book. Annie is a big reader, which I was thrilled about. But I had never read any Picoult books at that point, so thus began my deep dive into the work of this prolific author. "Wish You Were Here" is the story of Diana O'Toole, an art auction associate with a rising career. She has not only a promising job but also a doctor/boyfriend named Finn, who she is seemingly crazy about. When a planned romantic vacation to the Galapagos gets delayed by his job, she decides to go on the trip alone. Then Covid hits, and she gets stuck in the Galapagos on lock down. The early days of Covid are still very fresh for many of us. I can still remember stories of patients on ventilators, many who died. This novel explores how the virus, and its lock down, not only changed some lives temporarily but other lives permanently. There are many twists and turns in this book that make it well worth the journey. I look forward to reading more Picoult books, and spending more time with the new Mrs. Annie Morris. To buy this book on Amazon click here #ad

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

The violence, the horror, the terrorism and the fear coming out of the war in Israel is difficult comprehend. The pictures of the young people killed at the music festival, and the stories of small children being murdered is what is most shocking. The fact that such evil exists in 2023 is unfathomable, and I pray that peace can be found. But the fear will forever remain. The fear in the hearts of the children reminded me of this powerful book, "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng. The author did not expect to write this story about a little boy searching for his mother in a dystopian world. But then the pandemic happened, and she saw anti-Asian racism rear its ugly head in America, because of the rumored origins of the Covid-19 virus. As the child of a mixed raced family, Ng felt the need to speak up. She pivoted her narrative in an effort to expose a world in her book which legalizes racism and outlaws dissent. Ng set her main character, Bird, and his librarian father in Cambridge, Mass., in a claustrophobic world much like the "Handmaiden's Tale." In an article in "Time" magazine, Ng said she hesitated to write this book because it would be political, and it would put her "out there." But sometimes the boldest step one can make in the face of fear, is to become part of the conversation. Ng infuses Bird with the desire to search for his Chinese American poet mother, when others have told him to forget her. Bird flies in the face of fear in a quest for love and acceptance. A beautiful sentiment, especially during this horrifying time in the world. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

I am frequently the most romantic person in any room. A nurse at my hospice believes this is because my father directed too many romantic comedies. And that is true. When you grow up seeing Richard Gere dance with Julia Roberts in your backyard, you tend to skew romantic. So, I always like to recommend a good romantic book, and this one is a winner, loaned to me by my friend Fran. Nora is a screenwriter for a romance channel, much like Hallmark. It is a job that has supported her two children and husband, before and after their divorce. When one of her scripts gets chosen to be a major motion picture, her life as a small-time television writer changes. When the director opts to shoot the movie in Nora's own home and backyard, her worlds collide. Enter Leo Vance, the famous and handsome star of the movie. The two become fast friends, and when the movie is over, he does not want to leave. He offers to pay Nora to let him rent a room in her cottage. At first glance, this might seem like a routine romantic comedy, but I found the relationships complicated, messy, entertaining and refreshing. Nora and Leo are grownups with responsibilities, not young adults, and that makes it more interesting. If you are a romantic, or looking to add a little romance to your week, check out "Nora Goes Off Script." To buy this book on Amazon click here.