Maybe We'll Make It by Margo Price

My husband and I go to a lot of music festivals, and for a few years I have been hearing people rave about Margo Price. I finally got to see her on Mother's Day 2024, at the Mill Valley Music Festival. At the end of her set, she tossed out red roses to some of the mother's in the audience. Her music was not only about love but also about loss, and I wanted to know more about her. "Maybe We'll  Make It" is the deep-dive into her rise from a singer-song writer desperate to make it, to the point where she was a Grammy-nominated new artist. Like so many country musicians her story began when she gave up everything to move to Nashville. It was there in Music City that she met fellow musician Jeremy Ivey. Their on-again-off-again professional partnership later turned into marriage. There is nothing sugar-coated about this book. It has long tours, waitress shifts, drugs, alcohol and barely-scraping-by-to-pay-the rent moments. When all is said and done, one thing is clear: Margo Price is a survivor, and a musician to watch. Follow her on Instagram at @missmargoprice to buy this book on Amazon click here.

Save by a Blonde & a Chicken Pot Pie by Bob Spivak

I love food, especially comfort food. I love restaurants. I love foodies. And, I adore people who write books about their experiences in the restaurant business. This book checked all of my boxes. Full disclosure: this author Bob Spivak is my relative. He is the father of my brother's wife, Elissa, and I love Bob and his wife, Leslie. Bob is best known for starting the Los Angeles restaurant franchise "The Daily Grill," which includes the crown in the former chain, the Beverly Hills Grill on The Alley. I learned so much from this book about the Los Angeles restaurant business as well as Bob himself. Bob's father, Eddie, also owned restaurants in Southern California including Smokey Joe's and Redwood House. In high school, Bob struggled with dyslexia, but excelled in sports. So, he channeled his frustration with academic success into victory on the playing field at the high school where he met both his first and second wives. There are some wonderful stories here including the time he was carrying vats of soup in his car, and they all spilled over. Bob is the person you would most want to not only sit next to at a dinner party, but also to cook dinner for you. "Saved by a Blonde & A Chicken Pot Pie" is a winner, and even includes his most wonderful recipes, such as the infamous chicken pot pie. If you are looking for a delicious book to dive into, look no further than Spivak's memoir. To buy his book on Amazon click here.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

The summer has ended but it you want to read one more summertime book to transition you into fall, this is the one. "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman is the story of a family who visits Cape Cod every summer. Like so many close families, this story involves not only a husband and wife and their kids but also a set of grandparents. Rocky, the mother, always looks forward to her family's summer visits to the Cape. The cottage they rent is far from perfect, but so familiar even down to its bad plumbing. But this summer, with her parents aging, and her children growing up and falling in love, Rocky has time to reflect on her own aging process as well as her parents. Like any family saga, there is humor, sadness, joy as well as secrets from the past that might come up at the wrong time. For any woman in her 50s, this book will resonate about how families can be stressful, complicated and hopefully comforting, too. "Sandwich" is a book to read now, to make the summer last, or a book to transition you into the family holiday season. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos with Lisa Dickey

All eyes are on the race to the White House right now, so it is an excellent time to read a book about the President's infamous home office. "The Situation Room" by George Stephanopoulos is a great read that chronicles the crisis management room in The White House, and the 12 presidents who have used it. Stephanopoulos is not only the co-anchor of "Good Morning America," but he also is the former White House Communications Director and later Senior Policy Advisor under President Bill Clinton. The author has interviewed dozens of staff members who have worked inside the Situation Room, during every national crisis and disaster. The room is located in the White House basement. Created by President John F. Kennedy during the Bay of Pigs Crisis, the room has been shrouded in secrecy for more than six decades. This book opens the doors of the room and takes readers inside, explaining what it looks like, how it operates and who is allowed inside. I listened to this book on audio read by the author, and I found it fascinating. In this day and age of technology, to have a brick and mortar room be so important seems quite old fashioned but meaningful, too. From Vietnam to the Soviet Union conflict, and from 9/11 to tracking Osama bin Laden, "The Situation Room" is a treasure trove of White House history. Well done, George. Please write more books. To buy this book on Amazin click here.

Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston

Before I started working as an employee at my hospice, I was a volunteer. The supervisor encouraged volunteers to bring their own special skills to patient visits. One woman offered to cut their hair. Another man played the guitar for his patients. I offered to write my patients letters to give to their loved ones after their passing. I would interview my patients, take notes and turn their thoughts into letters for their spouses, parents and children. This felt useful, and helpful. Sometimes I wish I could have written more than one letter per family member, especially when they had young children, but we were racing against the clock. Fast forward 8 years, when a friend recommended this book: "Did I Ever Tell You?" by Genevieve "Gwen" Kingston. It is the true story about how a dying mother left letters, jewelry, and mementos for her young son and daughter to read when she was gone. Gwen's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer when she was 3 years old. Her mother lived another 8 years, and was able to fill two hope chests full of letters for Gwen and her brother, Jamie. The letters and corresponding gifts were tied to milestones such as birthdays, graduations, engagements and weddings. With each opened letter, Gwen and her brother are ushered along on the grieving journey, guided by the skilled hand of their mother. This is a beautiful book filled with love and sadness as well as hope and humor. It touched me as a hospice worker, and I know it will move others as well. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Every summer when I go to the Russian River, I like to read a whole book, and read it cover to cover in two days. There is nothing I like better than sitting in my reclining Tommy Bahama beach chair, reading a good book and watching the inflatable kayaks go by on the river. And the wine in plastic cups at Johnson's Beach is an added bonus to the reading experience. On my recent trip to Monte Rio and Guernville, I read this book; "This Summer Will be Different" by Carley Fortune. Judging from the wait time at my local library, this has been a very popular summer read. It follows the romance of Lucy who is visiting Prince Edward Island, and Felix, also known as Wolf, who lives on the Island. Their romance is off to a bright start until they realize they have a friend in common. Felix's sister Bridget is Lucy's best friend, and they have been forbidden by Bridget to fall in love. I have always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island, a Canadian province located north of Nova Scotia, and this book made me want to go even more. I even mentioned to Jeff while reading this book, "We are going to go to Prince Edward Island soon. I'm putting it on the list." This book was a super fun beach read, with some unexpected twists and turns. I have now returned it to the San Rafael library so other summer readers can get their hands on it too, before the summer is over. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Long Island by Colm Toibin

I loved this book so much, and I want everyone to read it so we can talk about it. "Long Island" by Colm Toibin is the story of Ellis Lacey, the main character in Toibin's best selling novel and later movie, "Brooklyn." It would be helpful before reading this book, to either read "Brooklyn" or see the glorious movie starring Saoirse Ronan as Ellis. "Long Island" opens 20 years after "Brooklyn," where we find Ellis now married to plumber Tony Fiorello, with two children. They live alongside his parents, brothers and extended family in a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island. The year is 1976, and Ellis is in her 40s, and has not returned to her homeland of Ireland in decades. Suddenly one day a stranger comes to her door, and tells Ellis that his wife is pregnant with Tony's baby. The man says that when the baby is born, he will place it on Ellis and Tony's doorstep, for them to raise the child. Thus begins a series of events that make Ellis decide to take a trip with her children back to Ireland. She returns to the town where her mother and brother still live, as well as the boyfriend she has left behind. I have never been to Ireland, but Toibin writes beautifully about Ellis and her trip back to her birth place. I loved seeing the modern woman she had become, return to a town where things are more antiquated. The writing is haunting, and the characters are rich. I was only sad when the book had to end, because I loved following Ellis on her journey. I do hope they make this one into a movie as well, as the story would be wonderful to watch played out on the big screen, too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

Paris is certainly flexing for the Olympics. I love seeing the parade of Eiffel Tower selfies gracing my Instagram account with pictures of friends and influencers. It reminded me of this book, "One Summer in Paris" by Sarah Morgan, which I listened to recently. I have been to Paris three times: Once with my first husband, once with my five-person Marshall family, and once with my mom to see the French Open. Each time was a completely different experience. It made me realize that part of the charm of the City of Light is who you experience it with. "One Summer in Paris" is the story of how two women come to form a friendship in Paris, in the most unlikely of circumstances. Grace is in Paris alone following a devastating fight with her husband, while Audrey comes to France to work in a book shop, without any money or knowledge of the French language. Both women, despite their age differences, are in Paris because they are running away from something at home. They form a friendship and end up saving each other. Charming, smart, creative and a tribute to the city itself, "One Summer in Paris" is a treat to read in between the nights spent watching the Olympics full of swimming, basketball and gymnastics. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg

I spend a lot of time in my car, and while I like my car, I do not like the silene that ensues when I don’t have an audiobook. So, one morning I was mining the available offerings on the free Libby library app when I found this lovely book, “Bits and Pieces’ by Whoopi Goldberg. While I have admired her as a comedian for years, I didn’t really know very much about her. She has won many awards and helms a popular talk show, but this book provides a glimpse into her upbringing. This book is about Whoopi, before she became Whoopi. Growing up in the projects of New York City, Whoopi was named Caryn Johnson and lived with her mother Emma and her beloved brother, Clyde. The family was very poor, but Whoopi and her brother did not know that. While their dad was absent, their mother treated them to trips to Coney Island, the Ice Capades, museums and Christmas mornings filled with presents. Despite the lack of money, magic permeated the relationship of Emma and her children. Eventually Caryn changed her named to Whoopi when she started acting. However, despite her rise to stardom, she stayed very close to her mother and brother even living with them in Northern California. But everything changed in 2010 when her mother died suddenly, and then her brother died 5 years later. The family unit that gave Whoopi so much energy and strength was suddenly gone, and she was at a loss as how to move forward without their support. This sadness and grief were the motivating force behind writing “Bits and Pieces.” She found that to write about Emma and Clyde, and share their story, was to honor their memory and their life together. They experienced tough times, but more than anything else, theirs was a house filled with laughter. At the end of the book, Whoopi provides advice on dealing with the loss of a loved one, and I found her attitude practical and spot on. For example, go through your late parent's belongings with a sibling or friend, not alone. “Bits and Pieces” is not only a memoir but also a guidebook to managing the loss of a loved one. Dealing with the death of both her mother and brother has enriched and informed Whoopi's future forever, and made her wiser, too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne

A few weeks ago, my friend Kate invited me to a book talk at Green Apple Books in the Sunset. I jumped at the chance when I heard it would be featuring Griffin Dunne. I had the publication date of his book on my calendar, because I couldn't wait to read his new memoir, "The Friday Afternoon Club." That evening Dunne spoke in conversation with Tobias Wolff, author of "This Boy's Life." In front of a very small, intimate group of people, the two men talked about Dunne's new book and how he came to write it. The book chronicles Dunne's star-studded Hollywood upbringing as the son of Dominick Dunne and Ellen Griffin Dunner, and nephew of Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunner. Growing up among famous actors and writers, along with his brother Alex and sister Dominique, his childhood seemed picturesque. However, everything changed the day his actress-sister Dominique, who starred in the movie "Poltergeist," was killed by her mentally ill-chef-boyfriend. Growing up in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, I remember very well the chaos around the Dominique Dunne murder trial. From Dunne's perspective, we get to see the stress it caused his whole family, and the injustice that his sister would be murdered when she was a young, rising star. Dunne coped the way he knew best, by acting in movies and television. He continued to work steadily even during the middle of the trial because it helped ground him. At the book event, moderator Wolff asked Dunne if it was hard to write the memoir, because it brought back so many painful memories. Dunne said no, he loved writing the book because it brought back to life his sister, parents, aunt, and uncle. He said the hard part was finishing the book, because he did not get to work with them every day. I loved the book, and so enjoyed meeting him in person. He was smart, funny, charming, and so well spoken. What a treat, if only for one book, to get to sit at the table with the Dunne family. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Somehow by Anne Lamott

My husband and I recently went to see Anne Lamott interviewed at the City Arts and Lecture series. The moment she came on stage I started to cry. I was just so happy to be seeing her again. It had been more than 32 years since I first saw her speak in a little church in Alameda with my friend Peter. I still find her just as fascinating. She has written 20 books, and I have read them all. "Somehow," is her newest book, and one I could not wait to read. Like her others, this book is a gem. She talked about aging: "Getting old makes me a better listener even as my hearing goes." She writes about her friends: "Janine is her PSS friend, Pray-Share-Shop and some days PSW, Pray-Share-Walk." And she talks about her faith: "I think Jesus would agree some people are incredibly annoying." This book also contains a new character, her husband Neal, who she married at the age of 65 after meeting him on a dating app. She says that Neal fell through the floor, and she finally feels safe. He is the man she had been waiting to wake up to for years. I just love everything about Anne Lamott, from her recovery to her faith, and from her sense of humor to her prolific writing. On my way out the door of the theatre, I dried my tears and felt incredibly lucky that I'm still in San Francisco, and so is Anne Lamott. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My New Life by Lyz Lenz

Whenever someone who I do not know well asks to meet me for coffee, I know they want to talk about divorce. Although it has been 15 years since I got divorced, I still have a lot to say about it. I'm no expert for sure but once you have done it, I think it is important to talk about the process to help others through it. That is the case of author Lyz Lenz who wrote this book, "The American Ex-Wife" about her own divorce. What is so interesting about this book is that Lenz takes the stance that divorce can be a very good, and even  enlivening experience, while the real problem is with the tradition of marriage. She believes it is the structure of marriage that is out of step, and out of date. Lenz, who is a reporter, dives deep into statistics about marriage and divorce, and the fact that 70 percent of people who file for divorce are disgruntled women. Lenz explores themes of power, gender inequality, and love and maintains they are all begging for a reboot to the notion of what marriage means. Her proposal is thoughtful, creative and very well researched. A unique and interesting read for married and unmarried people everywhere. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

This was the book that everyone had read but me. And now I have read it, and I am here to say I loved it. The plot of "Hello Beautiful," and the way it makes you fall in love with the characters is difficult to quantify because it is so rich and layered. It is a family saga that takes place in Evanston, with its ties to the Northwestern campus. This is a very personal place for me and my family, so that added another dimension to the narrative about the town set on the lake. Once I went to college there in the fall of 1982, I never wanted to leave. This story follows the path of Northwestern student William Waters as he meets and then marries a fellow student named Julia Padavano. In marrying Julia, however he is not just marrying a single woman, but rather the entire Padavano family that includes her parents and her three younger sisters. William gets to know each sister including the bookish Sylvia, the artistic Cecelia, and the maternal Emeline. William is thrilled to be welcomed into such a warm family because his own parents neglected and abandoned him. But his past soon haunts him, and bleeds into his marriage. The rift between William and Julia spreads throughout the Padavano family like a wildfire. The challenge is whether they can find their way back to one and another, or whether they will remain a fractured family forever. I was so sad when this book ended, and only wished I could follow the tales of the sisters on and on. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

I was shocked how much I loved this audio book. It's a riveting story of 20-year-old southern California nursing student who goes to provide medical aid during the Vietnam war. After her older brother ships off to the war, Frances "Frankie" McGrath follows in his footsteps by joining the Army Nurse Corps. Arriving in Vietnam in 1965, she is thrown into the middle of the war, where each day is a chaotic seen of wounded soldiers fighting to stay alive. Frankie forms long-lasting friendships with some of the men as well as the women who serve with her. Her two years in Vietnam are like a crash course in nursing, and Frankie is up to the challenge. The hard part is what she faces when she returns home from her tour. Her re-entry into California life is anything but peaceful. Protestors against the war plague Frankie and her fellow nurses. In a sexiest turn of fate, support services for Vietnam veterans are provided to the male soldiers but not the female nurses who experienced post-traumatic stress and long-lasting nightmares from the war. Frankie must find a way to re-connect to her conservative parents, and learn how to be a good nurse, outside of the hectic pace of war. I loved Frankie and her fellow nurses, and the battles they faced to save men off the battlefield. This book was not only a good read, but also very education in providing information on the medical staff that went to Vietnam. Finally, the moving descriptions of those men who returned after being prisoners of war is haunting. Hannah has written many best-selling novels, but for me this one is the best so far. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Death Valley by Melissa Broder

If you explored the California desert on foot, you know it can be a very confusing place. One minute you are on a road and have big rocks on your right and the next minute you are on the same road and have rocks on your left.  It is no wonder that many people have gotten lost in the desert of California. "Death Valley" by Melissa Broder is about a writer who escapes to the desert not to get lost, but to get found. The protagonist is struggling with a situation many people in the "sandwich generation" struggle with: Her dad is in the ICU facing probable death from an accident and her husband has a mysterious, undiagnosed chronic illness that is bringing stress on her marriage. So, she leaves her husband and father behind for a few days on an adventure in the desert. She checks into a Best Western motel, is suggested a hike by the front desk clerk, and sets off on an odyssey. Part reality, and part fantasy that includes walking inside a cactus, the heroine grapples with death, love, loss, creativity and addiction. She tries to make sense of the human life span while lost in the desert. If you have spent any time with a loved one in the hospital, "Death Valley" will speak to you. The anxiety, the fear and the uncertainty are all explored in this tight book. Melissa Broder is an author new to me, and I look forward to reading more of her work. You can follow her @realmelissabroder To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Best of Us by Joyce Maynard

I keep reading books and saying, "This is it!" "This is the book that has touched my heart to the moon and back and there will be no other." And then I listened to Joyce Maynard's memoir "The Best of Us," and I had to think again. This is a beautiful heartbreaking memoir about love and loss, and marriage and death. I have worked at my hospice for more than eight years now, and this is the first book that I think really brought to life what it is like to have a loved one be diagnosed with a terminal illness, and then the months and days that come afterwards. Many of you might know author Joyce Maynard from her previous works, but this is her most personal book to date. Years after her first marriage and divorce, she met a man on a dating app named Jim. They had so much in common. He was an athletic lawyer who was divorced, had children and loved live music and travel. They fell in love, got married and then a few years later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease is a one-way ticket for most people. From the day he was diagnosed, the couple not only fought the disease but also lived their lives to the fullest. He did the Whipple surgery. They danced. He went for chemo and radiation. They ate oysters, drank red wine and escaped to Guatemala. He entered hospice care at home, and they went to see a Bob Dylan concert. This book is the best example of living and dying that I can think of for any couple. Joyce Maynard is a treasure, and "The Best of Us" will remain one of my favorite books forever. Follow Joyce here @therealjoycemaynard To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half The Story by Jewlel

Before I read this book I knew three things about the singer-song writer Jewel: She is from Alaska, she wrote a song with the hilarious Steve Poltz, and she may or may not be dating Kevin Costner. With very little to go on, I dove into this book and was blown away. "Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story" is a fitting title for this poet and multi-award winning artist who spent most of her young adulthood living out of her car. Her childhood started out strong as she was raised on a homestead in Alaska, and became part of her parents' act. She was known for her yodeling, and they played in a myriad of hotels, clubs and bars throughout the state. However, when her parents broke up, neither one seemed to be able to care for her. Thus began her roller coaster ride that took her to Michigan, Hawaii and San Diego, where she tried to raise herself, and launch her career. By age 21, her first album had gone multiplatinum, but behind the scenes she struggled with anxiety, an eating disorder, fear, and the effects of childhood trauma. When her mother reappears after a long absence to shepherd her career, the financial effects are devastating. The comforts of singing and song writing seemed to almost feed her, and keep her alive, when she had no one else to support her. This memoir reminds me of the phrase, "if you can survive your childhood, you can survive anything." Jewel's story is as poignant and heartbreaking as her lyrics. I'm so happy she has survived to share her story and songs with the world. A brave and inspiring memoir like this should be read by many. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The End of Normal by Stephanie Madoff Mack

Riveting. That is what this book is. Sad, tragic and riveting. "The End of Normal" by Stephanie Madoff Mack is the memoir of a young widow who is left behind with two very young children following the suicide of her 46-year-old husband. That is plot, but the backstory is that her husband was the older son of Bernie Madoff, a financial criminal and mastermind behind the infamous $65 billion Ponzi scheme. Although Mark and his brother Andy worked with their father, they were never charged with any crimes related to their father's legal case. To the contrary, they were the ones who turned their father into the police. However, Bernie's years of illegal activity would cast shame on the entire family, including Mark's second wife Stephanie, hammered by many lawsuits from angry former clients. I found this book so compelling because it was not written by a reporter, but rather by an insider who was not afraid to talk about the inner workings of this dysfunctional family. We see Ruth Madoff mailing away her secret jewelry to family members. We see Mark's first wife Susan and his brother Andy bickering with her. And finally, we see her husband Mark struggling with mental health issues from the moment of his father's arrest. Despite efforts by the family to save Mark, he saw suicide as the only way out. He thought his young family would be better off without him, but they were not. Stephanie's memoir is honest, raw, and well-written. She admits she wrote the book to share her story, but also to try to make sense of this story for herself and her children. Anyone who has ever lost a friend or family member to suicide will feel her pain and also feel her frustration being related to this notorious Madoff family. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Manicurist's Daughter: A Memoir by Susan Lieu

I love memoirs about complicated families, and I especially love books set in San Francisco. This book "The Manicurist's Daughter" by Susan Lieu checked both of those boxes in a big way. When she was just 11 years old, Susan's mother went to a secret medical appointment on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, and a few days later her mother died. And the family never spoke about the death again. This is enough to make any child curious as to what happened, and Susan would spend the rest of her life trying to find out more details. The fact is that Susan's mother went to get a tummy tuck, and the surgery went terribly wrong. The surgeon eventually paid the family a small sum of money for his negligence. But those are the broad strokes of the story. The details are even more interesting: Susan's mother was a Vietnamese immigrant, along with her father, and her parents owned a chain of nail salons, in Emeryville and Santa Rosa. The plastic surgeon prayed on Vietnamese women in the Bay Area, promising to enhance their beauty. Longing for the mother she hardly knew, Susan commits to finding out ever last detail of her mother's final days, and hoping it will help her family heal. In this honest and very raw memoir, Susan ends up strengthening the relationships with her siblings and father, and teaching them all how to grieve. Haunting and beautifully written, Lieu's memoir is one to be treasured. To buy this book on Amazon click here

The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts

All of the Betsys and Beths in my life have always given good recommendations on everything from movies and books, to travel and fashion. So, when one of the Beths said she was reading this book, I wanted to read it too. "The Forgotten Girls" by Monica Potts is a memoir about how she was able to get out of her small Arkansas town, while her best friend Darci could not. This is their story, the story of so many young women in the Ozarks who are plagued by unemployment, teenage pregnancy, alcohol use, and drug abuse. I have to say that before this book the closest I had come to knowing about this region was the television series "Ozark." Darci in this book really did smack of Julia Garner's character "Ruth Langmore" in the TV series. The twist in all of this is not how Darci and Ruth remained stuck in the cycle of poverty, but how Monica Potts went to Bryn Mawr College and got out. After Potts graduates from college, she goes back to find Darci in order to write about their friendship. With a skilled writer's eye she combs over their childhood, looking for clues in their upbringings. Why did one go to jail and the other did not? Was it parenting? Was it determination? Or was it just luck? The story of their friendship is both poignant and tragic, but like "Hillbilly Elegy," definitely a journey into a different landscape. To buy this book on Amazon click here.