The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

LLP #486 To say my niece is a fan of the television show "The Gilmore Girls" does not even begin to describe her devotion to the series. She has seen every episode at least three times,and continues to re-watch it weekly. She has "Gilmore Girls" wallpaper in her bedroom, which she put up herself. And, she has been to the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Connecticut, which is one of the towns which inspired the fictional Stars Hollow, where the TV Show takes place. In honor of Siena, I read this book "The Third Gilmore Girl" by Kelly Bishop. The actress is most well-known for playing the iconic Emily Gilmore, mother to Lorelai and grandmother to Rory. However, the irony about this role being her best known, is that she was in the original cast of "A Chorus Line" on Broadway, and won a Tony award for it. If you are a fan of theatre, you know that "A Chorus Line" is one of the most ground-breaking shows of all time, and those lucky enough to be in the original cast experienced something extraordinary. In addition, she did a memorable spin in the movie "Dirty Dancing" as Jennifer Grey's mother, as well as countless other movies and television shows. This memoir follows her six decades in show business, in which she began as a dancer in the chorus. Steadily working as a dancer brought her great joy, but making the transition to drama is what propelled her into a more lucrative and fulfilling career. She is a professional, a veteran of acting, and shares her words of wisdom on everything thing from movies to theatre and television, as well as the trials and tribulations of marriage, death and widowhood. Bishop's memoir is as charming and quaint as the town of Stars Hollow. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Tell by Amy Griffin

While I’m the first one to grab a summer read for the beach, I tend to favor a heavier books during the summer because I have more time to read while traveling on planes or riding in cars.  “The Tell” by Amy Griffin is a very heavy story about abuse and childhood trauma. What makes this memoir particularly different from other books in this genre, is that the author did not, for many years, remember her trauma. As a student athlete, she became a long-distance runner, thinking it had no relationship to trauma at all. She ran in her hometown of Amarillo, Texas, and later at the University of Virginia. Then she continued to run when she moved to New York to start her career, get married, and have children. She thought, initially, that she ran to stay fit and healthy, but she did not realize she was running, trying to flee, from something in her past she could not remember. The secret might have stayed buried forever had her husband not suggested she try MDMA psychedelic therapy. I have read about this kind of therapy, used sometimes to help provide support to cancer patients with anxiety and depression. But I had never heard of its use to help unlock a secret buried in the mind of an adult. After only one session with a trained MDMA therapist, Griffin remembers an extremely tragic and heartbreaking trauma that occurred when she was at school in Amarillo at the hands of a teacher. She bravely then travels down a road to not only heal herself, but help others who might have experienced the same abuse she had. The Tell is a difficult book to read, but by sharing her story, one believes Griffin is trying to help others unlock their own secrets, no matter how deeply they are buried. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Prolific storyteller Taylor Jenkins Reid has now turned her attention toward outer space in her new novel "Atmosphere." The U.S. space program has long been portrayed as a male-dominated world, both through its technicians and astronauts. The iconic male-movie-star space movies such as "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13" always come to mind when I think of space. My decades long love for Sam Shepard never wavers. "Atmosphere" explores, however, a different side of the space program, through the eyes of its female participants. Set in the 1980s, this novel explores the Space Shuttle program at a time in which Jeff's own dad Fred Morris was making spacesuit backpacks for NASA. The story's main character is Joan Goodwin, a physics and astronomy professor from Rice University, who dreams of the stars every night. She is happy in her life of academia until she sees a NASA advertisement recruiting women scientists. After being selected from thousands of applicants, Joan begins her training at Houston's Johnson Space Center, along side fellow scientists, pilots and mission specialists. As the candidates train to become astronauts, some become friends, and others become enemies. Life on the ground becomes more complicated than all the stars in outer space. "Atmosphere" was one of the most anticipated reads of the summer, and I enjoyed every page. Fast paced, with complex characters, it is a fresh look at the U.S. space program, full of triumphs, tragedies and heroes, both men and women. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Autism Out Loud by Kate Swenson, Carrie Cariello and Adrian Wood

Years ago, when my daughter was in elementary school, I used to sit in Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings with my husband, Bill, and discuss with public school officials the plans for our daughter's future. I always had a terrible time concentrating in those meetings, no matter how much I slept, or no matter how much coffee I drank that morning. These meeting were very important, and yet I could not focus. It was not until I read this book that I realized what was wrong with me: I didn't want to be in the meetings, so I was disassociating from them. It had nothing to do with how much I loved my daughter, or how proud I have always been of her. It the chalkboard, cringe-worthy drudgery of the IEP meetings that dragged me into a quicksand of depression, and made me lose all focus. For that reason alone, I loved this book, but there are about 100 other reasons, too. It centers around three women, from different parts of the country, each with a son, who have all been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Their stories are similar enough to bond them together, but also different in the way the diagnosis presents itself in each boy. The women are all fierce advocates for their sons, but also carry the stress and worry about the future. What will happen to their sons when they pass? Where will they live? Who will take care of him? Will this be a responsibly too heavy to carry for their other typical children? Honest, articulate and extremely educational, I think this book is a must read for everyone. It gives true insight into not only the resilience of these three mothers, but also the strength and character of their  sons. There is so much that the world does not know about autism, and this book is a great start in learning more about how to support children with it, and other disabilities as well. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Brothers by Alex Van Halen

We were racing to catch a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik, and we literally had 10 minutes to spare. The fact that we made the flight was some kind of miracle, perhaps only thanks to the German efficiency of the Frankfurt airport terminal. As I buckled into my seat, I put my headphones on, and began listening to this book, "Brothers" by Alex Van Halen. Suddenly another man strolled onto the plane holding this same book. I said "That book, I just started it. How is it?" "Great," he said, and smiled. "But I just like bands." Van Halen, the iconic American Rock band, was the group that defined hard rock and heavy metal in the 1970s and 1980s. "Brothers" is the memoir written by drummer Alex about his relationship with his brother and fellow band mate, the lead guitarist Ed Van Halen. Alex always refers to his brother as "Ed" or "Edward," rarely "Eddie." The brothers grew up in the Netherlands with a Dutch dad and a mother from Indonesia. When the boys were young, the family moved to Pasadena, California. Encouraged by their father's own love of music, they formed a band while in high school. They would play at high school parties and graduations, and drew big crowds even then. The more they played, the more they were able to build a reputation for themselves for their music, and Ed's legendary guitar solos. As their fame grew, so did their circle of famous friends which would include Ed's wife, the actress Valerie Bertinelli, and their lead singer, David Lee Roth. Their concert contracts introduced a famous clause that stipulated "no brown M&Ms" in the green room. Despite the fame and fortune, Alex and Ed were brothers who not only respected and admired each other, but who also took care of each other. With Ed's passing in 2020 at 65 from tongue and mouth cancer, Alex's world was left with a heavy sadness. This is an attempt to celebrate and mourn his little brother. This is a beautifully written book, suitable for fans of bands or those who just like a peek into a very special bond between brothers. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Mattie, Milo, and Me by Anne Abel

I am obsessed by this 71-year-old on Tik Tok named Anne Abel. She has something like 288,000 followers, and her mundane content is downright riveting. At first glance, people call her the "rich Manhattan grandma," but she has so much more going for her. She has anxiety, health issues, a good-as-gold-loyal husband named Andy, and a complicate relationship with her three sons and their wives. She is currently in France with Andy making content, including views of her gigantic room at the Peninsula Paris Hotel. The other day she posted a video from the infamous Cafe De Flore along the Boulevard Saint-Germain. She was drinking a hot chocolate, and Andy was eating a salmon club sandwich, and I hung on their every movement and word. She is not only an influencer but also an author. Her first book "Mattie, Milo and Me" is about how one day a UPS driver killed her beloved dog Mattie. Bereft, she did what everyone tells you not to do: She got another rescue dog right away. Milo, the new dog, proved to be nothing like Mattie. Milo was difficult, erratic and downright scary for Anne to manage. Despite toying with the idea of giving Milo back to the shelter, she sticks with him, and he sticks with her. You feel their growth on every page. Anne is an excellent storyteller but also a quirky person with enough anxiety for everyone who has it to identify with. One of the ways she keeps herself calm is through exercising daily, and another is through writing. I found this book charming, and a true insight in the way Anne's mind works. Her next book promises to be just as exciting. "High Hopes" will be released in September 2025 and chronicles the year she followed Bruce Springsteen's tour to Australia to battle depression, in lieu of entering a psychiatric hospital. Follow Anne on Instagram @annesimaabel  To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Like my dad, I have never met a wedding I didn't like. The drama, the rules, the complex family dynamics never fail to fascinate me. I don't even need to know the participants personally, I am just a fan of a good wedding story. So, when I found out Anne Tyler's latest novella was about a wedding, I could not wait to read it. "Three Days in June" follows the story of Gail Baines as she navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding. Like author Elizabeth Strout of "Olive Kitteridge" fame, Tyler creates socially awkward characters doing mundane things, and turns you into their biggest fans. During the course of the novella, Gail loses her job at a school, is forced to deal with her ex-husband and his tag-a-long cat, and is inexplicably not invited to her daughter’s bridal spa day. "Three Days in June" pairs the joy and anticipation of a wedding, with a group of people who are nervous and uneasy around each other. This book demonstrates that weddings are not just about the bride and the groom, but about the celebrants as well who come together to witness the nuptials, for better and for worse. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Zagreb Noir: A short story collection edited by Evan Srsen

If you are reading this on Thursday June 5, then I am in Croatia. I have wanted to go to Croatia for a long time, but other countries such as Thailand, Brazil and Argentina seemed more pressing. Now finally is the time for Jeff and I to see what so many of our friends have been talking about. We will be going to Dubrovnik, Hvar and Split, by way of Frankfurt. As I was packing before the trip, this book arrived from Amazon. I was surprised because there was no gift note, and I had not told that many people where Jeff and I were going on vacation. I could not stand the suspense. I logged into my Amazon account, and began a lengthy chat to uncover the identity of the sender. Finally, when the bot said, “The sender was Kathleen Marshall.” I now had my answer. My sister knows that I like to read a book set in the destination where I am traveling. This was a perfect gift. “Zagreb Noir” is a dark collection of short stories set in Zagreb, which is the capital of Croatia. The collection incorporates the Eastern European history of the county along with a modern perspective on what the city feels like today. Hopefully I am reading this book on the island of Hvar with a Rakija, or fruit brandy, in my hand under a blue umbrella. Zivjeli! To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

Recently a beloved nurse at my hospice passed away unexpectedly. It was shocking, even for a group of people who deal with death every single day. He loved theatre and travel, and was one of the best nurses I have ever worked with. He was only 60 years old. We had so much more to talk about. The same week he died, this book popped up in my Libby library app. "Memorial Days" by Geraldine Brooks is the story of how she learned of the unexpected death of her husband on the streets of Washington D.C. He was just 60 years old, too. These unexpected deaths almost seem like some cruel magic trick, which coincidentally collided in my life the same week. How was I to make sense of this? One minute the person is laughing, eating, working and planning for a future, and the next minute he is not. Sadly, there is no way to prepare for death, unexpected or anticipated due to illness. In the face of her grief, Brooks was not able to mourn in comfortable, safe and traditional way. Instead, she was faced with the nuts and bolts of death, which for her looked like frozen credit cards, cancelled insurance policies, and mountains of things to figure out as a fresh widow. The idea of actually going back to work, and writing for a living, paralyzed her. She was haunted by the life she had with her husband, which was robbed from her in a single phone call from a terse hospital employee. "Memorial Days" is her meditation on how she found a way to mourn her husband's death, and move forward with her own life. The grief will never go away but she finds a way to make it easier to hold. “Memorial Days” is a tribute to her late husband, as well as a testament to her own strength as a woman and a writer. As for my nurse, Patrick, we will miss you and you will never be forgotten. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed To Get Old by Brooke Shields

I think this is one of the greatest titles ever of a memoir. It says so much in such a sassy, ironic yet accurate way. How can we as a society, who treasures youth and fitness above all, allow an iconic child model and actress, and now super star, to age gracefully. That is the point of the memoir, growing old is difficult for everyone, especially someone who is in the public eye. The book provides not only humor, but also some realness into the life of Shields as an actress, mother, wife, businesswoman, and public figure. We see her fighting with her daughter over designer clothing, discussing sex as a 50-something-year-old, and even waking up to Bradley Cooper's face in an ambulance after she had a seizure. She is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, but you get the sense, after reading this book, that she does not take herself as seriously as everyone else does. "Brooke Shields is Not Allowed To Get Old" is a fast-paced fun read that not only gives us a glimpse into her life, but the life of so many mothers juggling careers, with kids at college, and a decades-long-and-successful marriage. She is now 59 years old and I would say, "Bravo, Brooke. Keep up the good work." To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld

In high school and college, we are routinely assigned short story collections to read. However, adulthood does not come with similar assignments. Far too may short story collections go unread in favor of soapier romances or more complicated historical fiction books with a movie deal. So here is a shout out to a new short story collection from novelist Curtis Sittenfeld. "Show Don't Tell" centers around the themes of marriage, family, relationships and all of the messiness associated with middle age. Take the cast of "Thirtysomething" and age them 25 years, and this cast will come to life. The characters are extremely relatable, and yes many went to prep school. If you don't know the person directly, you probably met her or him at your last college reunion. These people are either us right now, us yesterday, or us tomorrow. In the capable hands of writer Sittenfeld, we want to follow them anywhere just to see where they will end up. Smart, funny, well-educated and complicated is how the stories in "Show Don't Tell" paint portraits of our aging selves. We try to raise our children, take care of our parents and strive for love, sex and happiness in the middle of it all. This is a highly entertaining collection of short stories written by one of the best and the brightest of her generation. Here's to reading more shorty story collections this summer on the beach. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Oh my goodness. This is everything I want in a memoir. Money. Drama. Secrets. Lies. Weirdness on private jets and more! Lawyer Sarah Wynn-Williams, originally from New Zealand, lands her dream job in 2011 when she is hired to work in global policy and government relations at the rising social media company Facebook (now Meta). In the beginning, she believed Facebook was going to change the world for the better, socially and politically. Almost immediately Wynn-Williams begins working closely with Mark Zuckerberg, and later, Sheryl Sandberg. While working for Facebook she also gave birth to two children, but the stresses of her job and parenting seemed to mix like oil and water. The culture at Facebook demanded she have no outside life at all. She worked for the company until she was terminated in 2017 after a series of cringe-worthy misogynistic experiences and personal humiliations. In one of her lowest moments in the company, she is scolded during a performance review for not being fully available to the staff when she was not only on maternity leave, but also literally in a coma. From meeting with world leaders to gifts of sexy lingerie from her boss, Careless People is an insider's sneak peek into how a social media platform became one of the most powerful empires in the world. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter

My friend Bob from Northwestern told me to read this book, and I do not take recommendations from friends lightly. I see them as marching orders. He said this was riveting and he couldn’t put it down, and I found it the same way. “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety” was written by our 39th president as he looked back on a life well lived. Jimmy Carter died in December of last year at the age of 100, passing after his beloved wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in 2023. His four short years in The White House from 1977 to 1981 were significant but truly just a small portion of what his life was all about. This book explores his second and third acts, as well as his young life in the Navy and as a peanut farmer. Who knew about his career in the Navy as a submarine lieutenant who nearly lost his life twice? He writes about the influence his parents had on his life in rural Georgia, and how his marriage to Rosalynn became a true partnership that included incredible humanitarian efforts. After those four years in the White House, Carter was just 43 years old when he walked out having been defeated by Ronald Reagan. Carter had 57 years left to live, and that marks the longest retirement of any U.S. presidents to date. He did not spend those years watching television or playing golf. He dedicated his life to public service, and the establishment of the Carter Center in Atlanta which promotes human rights. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, and traveled around the world advocating for peace, the eradication of disease, as well as affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity. He is the only president who has ever lived to be 100 years old, and by all accounts he used his time wisely working long hours to help others. “A Full Life” describes a wonderful and admirable life indeed. Thank you, Mr. President for your service. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

How To Read A Book by Monica Wood

This is a book that seems to be on everyone's list lately, and I couldn't wait to dive in. A book about the power of books and second chances? Count me in. The novel follows Violet Powell, a 22-year-old who is released from prison after serving less than two years for a drunk-driving accident that killed a local Kindergarten teacher. While incarcerated, Violet was part of a prison book group guided by former English teacher Harriet Larson. To help Violet make the transition back into the world following her release, Harriet befriends her. When the two women cross paths at a local bookstore with Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, the story takes an even odder turn. Set in Abbott Falls, Maine, this is a story about how books can help heal people and, in their own way, strangers can heel each other as well. There is something so charming about this book that I didn't want it to end. When Violet gets a job working in a research lab with talking parrots, the feathered friends become part of the narrative, too. Violet's journey to getting her life back on track is inspiring, especially when it is encouraged by new friends like Harriet and Frank. You just want to praise them all for finding such kindness in this complicated, messy world. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Meant To By by Emily Giffin

I don't think I will ever run across a picture of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and not pause.Their love story is so well documented but that does not take away at least for me the fairy tale nature of their romance. Their courtship whipped paparazzi into a frenzy long before the Kardashians and Hailey and Justin Bieber were on the scene. They were American royalty, and their tragic death in that plane crash, along with her sister Lauren, is something I will never forget. But what if an author could bring them back to life, if only for a book. What if their story took a different path then the one we all are familiar with. "Meant To Be" is a work of fiction loosely based on the Kennedy love story but this time through the eyes of Joseph S. Kingsley III and Cate Cooper. Emily Giffin, a very prolific author who publishes a new book every two years, tells this story alternating between Joe and Cate's point of view. Joe's privileged upbringing is contrasted to Cate's more modest, single parent childhood. His life was expected to be one of achievements and victories, while not much was excepted nor anticipated from her. However, when she discovers modeling, doors begin to open for her. She meets Joe, who is on his own journey to create an identity for himself, separate from his affiliation with his famous mother and father. The fact that she had a posted of him in her childhood bedroom raises some red flags for him. But they are drawn to each other from the beginning. But can their love survive the press and the secrets from her past? "Meant To Be" is a charming romance and gives us a glimpse into the passion and the obstacles of the real life John and Carolyn. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

I have to be honest, this book made me very anxious. It made me want to crawl into my bed with a bag of corn Doritos and watch "All My Children." But sadly, the shows of my youth and my favorite salty snack are no longer available. Now we have smartphones and the internet, for good and for bad. "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt is a deep-dive into how smartphones, social media, and big tech have ruined the mental health of our children. Gone are the days of children riding their bikes and playing outside because they are now too busy inside making content for Tik Tok. The author outlines how the abundance of technology has caused our children to suffer from depression, anxiety, self-harm, as well as suicide. He makes a strong case explaining how this happened and also advocates for how to bring about change for the future generations of children to come. He says that the only solution is to protect our kids from a smartphone/technology based life. While I found this book educational, I also found it very myopic, failing to praise the benefits of technology. Where would my daughter Lily, who is disabled, be without her iPad? She would not be able to stay home alone, and thus not be able to experience true independence. She would not be able to stay in touch with friends nor relatives in other states. And she would not be able to be supported by a community of people who believe in her strength and faith. The iPad for her has been life changing. So "The Anxious Generation" is a book to read, and also a book to discuss and debate as well. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung

When I was young, there were not many female role models in the world of television journalism. Only three who stand out to me: Barbara Walters, Jane Pauley and Connie Chung. In a field plagued by not only misogyny but also overt racism, Chung became a trailblazer by being the first Asian woman to host the evening news on CBS. "Connie: A Memoir" is a witty, intelligent, deep dive into one of the true icons of network news. She is the youngest of 10 children, and the only one born in the United States. The others were born in China, where the only three boys in the family died young. Her parents put incredible pressure on her not only to succeed, but to succeed financially to support their own lifestyle. She was a hard worker but also an ambitious one. Despite being passed over by various men including Dan Rather, she never gave up or doubted her own worth. She just moved on, determined to play in a field dominated by white anchormen. Along the way she helped and encouraged other women, and became the inspiration for hundreds of Asian women across the nation who were named Connie in her honor. Her life behind the camera is equally interesting and includes insight into her long-time marriage to television personality Maury Povich, as well as their two daughters and one son. This book is not only a well-written memoir but also a historical analysis of the broadcasting business over the last five decades. Well done, Connie Chung. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

Live Fast by Brigitte Giraud

“We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” said one of my favorite authors, Joan Didion. It is a quote that so often is associated with not only Didion but also grief and loss. I thought about this quote as I was listening to Brigitte Giraud’s beautifully crafted novel “Live Fast.” Now this novel is not a pure work of fiction, rather is it based on an event that happened to Brigitte in 1999 in France. Her partner Claude crashed in a motorcycle accident on his way to pick up their son from school. He was just 41 years old, and the motorcycle did not belong to him. It was left in their garage by Brigitte’s brother for safe keeping as he went on vacation. In “Live Fast,” Giraud combs over the series of events that lead to the unlikely accident. Like a detective examining a crime, she goes over Claude’s workday as a music librarian, from the moment she found out he died, and through the type of Honda Fireblade motorcycle and its history of accidents. Heart-breaking, analytical, poignant and precise, the novel is clearly a therapeutic way for Giraud to work on her own grief, still fresh some 26 years later. What I loved most about this book was how matter-of-fact it was. There is no sugar coating the details of Claude’s life. There is only a retelling of the details of his accident. People come and go, and some die tragically. Claude’s body died, however, within the pages of Giraud’s book he will never be forgotten. His story, his life, and her love for him live on every time someone reads her book. To buy this book on Amazon click here.

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes

I am having a Frances Mayes renaissance. Best known for her book "Under the Tuscan Sun," I recently picked up her book, "A Great Marriage," which was published in 2024. With my beloved San Rafael library under construction, I had to hike into the temporary location on 4th Street to pick up this treasure. I had just finished this book when my friend, Nick, coincidentally gifted me a bottle of Mayes signature olive oil and then sent along her recipe collection, "The Tuscan Sun Cookbook." So, all signs are now pointing me toward Frances Mayes, and I'm loving her. The novel "A Great Marriage" was an excellent page turner. When Dara and Austin call off their wedding in North Carolina just days before the nuptials are to take place, everyone is confused. When Dara fleas to California and Austin returns to his family in London, everyone is disappointed. They were the perfect couple, who had a bright future together until a woman from Austin's past returns. Dara is sent reeling and Austin is heartbroken. They cannot bear to be in the same room together, and face what could have been. What I loved about this book was the characters and their ability to adjust to the situation. Life is messy, and it so often does not turn out how we planned it. But those that survive it, with grace and flexibility, are often those who can hang on to true love. Follow the author @francesmayes on Instagram To buy this book on Amazon click here.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda

I love anything Japanese. From clothing and food, to stationery and fashion, I just gravitate to anything that even has the hint of Asian flair. I love the country's organization, tradition, spirituality, and pageantry. So, when I saw this book, "We'll Prescribe You a Cat," I could not wait to dive, because it reminded me of a cat I once had named Tousle. When I met her, I was very reluctant, but the more I got to know her the more she changed my life. My suspicion of her was soon replaced by a very close relationship. In this book, the cat story starts in Japan. Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building in Kyoto, is the Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. It is a place that draws people struggling with their jobs, their families, or their lives in general. Each patient, from a child to a geisha, is prescribed a cat to help cure what ails them. The cat then showers medicinal properties upon its owner, and turns the person's life around. The power of the human-animal bond is celebrated and provides a transformative experience for all who are willing to take a chance on hope. A bestselling book in Japan, this book is just what the doctor ordered. To buy this book on Amazon click here.