Jen’s note: I bought a (signed) copy from the author when he visited back in November. I forgot about it for a while and then waited until playoff time to start reading it. Awesome trip down memory lane. Any Celtics fan GenX or older will love it! “From award-winning Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, an…
If you liked Jen’s recommendation of Watergate: A New History by Garret M. Graf check out her Watergate reading list A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures by Ben Bradlee This is the witty, candid story of a daring young man who made his own way to the heights of American journalism and public life, of…
Watergate: A New History – Garret M. Graf I’ve been a Watergate junkie since college and have consumed over the years, every book, documentary, podcast, and movie I could find on the subject. In recent years however, the stories behind these scandals have lost their appeal due to the extreme unlikelihood that we’ll ever see…
Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Tall of Boeing by Peter Robison A fast-paced look at the corporate dysfunction–the ruthless cost-cutting, toxic workplaces, and cutthroat management–that contributed to one of the worst tragedies in modern aviation Boeing is a century-old titan of American industry. The largest exporter in the US, it played a central…
A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris In this follow-up to his previous volume of diaries, Theft by Finding, the award-winning humorist chronicles the years 2003-2020, charting the years of his rise to fame with his trademark misanthropic charm and wry wit. The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich From one of our most innovative and…
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music – Dave Grohl Jen’s comment: Personal stories rather than a straight autobiography. Very personal and engaging. I’m only a casual fan of Grohl and his music – mostly because of the Foo Fighters connection to David Letterman – but I’m really enjoying it. “Having entertained the idea for…
House of Gold – Natasha Solomons “The start of a marriage. The end of a dynasty. It’s 1911 and Greta Goldbaum is forced to move from glittering Vienna to damp England to wed Albert, a distant cousin. The Goldbaum family are one of the wealthiest in the world, with palaces across Europe, but as Jews…
“A timeless murder mystery with the fascinating, glamorous Mitford sisters at its heart, The Mitford Trial is the fourth installment in the Mitford Murders series from Jessica Fellowes, inspired by a real-life murder in a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal… It’s lady’s maid Louisa Cannon’s wedding day, but the fantasy is shattered shortly after…
The Mitford Scandal – Jessica Fellowes (Also available in Large Print) “In the third book in the Mitford Murders series, lady’s maid Louisa Cannon accompanies Diana Mitford into a turbulent late 1920s Europe. The year is 1928, and after the death of a maid at a glamorous society party, fortune heir Bryan Guinness seizes life…
The Crown in Crisis: Countdown to the Abdication – Alexander Larman (ebook) “On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII brought a great international drama to a close when he abdicated, renouncing the throne of the United Kingdom for himself and his heirs. The reason he gave when addressing his subjects was that he could not…
Jen’s seasonal reading recommendations First Frost – Sarah Addison Allen “Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beat-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. But the Waverleys have enough trouble…
It hasn’t been a great summer reading year for me. Nothing has appealed to me and I can’t seem to stick with ebooks, so I re-read two favorites on my bookshelf that I’ve enjoyed in years past. One is filled with the magic of a special garden, the other captures a slice of summer on…
“Award-winning author Amy Stewart takes readers on an around-the-world, behind-the-scenes look at the flower industry and how it has sought—for better or worse—to achieve perfection. She tracks down the hybridizers, geneticists, farmers, and florists working to invent, manufacture, and sell flowers that are bigger, brighter, and sturdier than anything nature can provide. There’s a scientist…
Coinciding with the Harvey Weinstein trial, these are must-reads. Both are excellent reporting stories and rapid page turners filled with revelations that are at the same time disturbing, infuriating, and riveting. Add to that the backstory of surveillance and harassment of the reporters and alleged victims. If I had to pick one, I’d go with…
London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, but their nascent hopes…
Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon – Jeffrey Kluger “In August 1968, NASA made a bold decision: in just sixteen weeks, the United States would launch humankind’s first flight to the moon. Only the year before, three astronauts had burned to death in their spacecraft, and since then the…
“Jennifer Klinec is fearless. In her thirties, she abandons her bland corporate job to launch a cooking school from her London apartment and travel the world in search of delicious recipes and obscure culinary traditions. Her journey takes her to Iran, where she seeks out a local woman to learn the secrets of Persian cuisine.…
“In a career spanning more than thirty years, David Letterman redefined the modern talk show with an ironic comic style that transcended traditional television. While he remains one of the most famous stars in America, he is a remote, even reclusive, figure whose career is widely misunderstood. In Letterman, Jason Zinoman, the first comedy critic…
About Victoria: The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire: “When Victoria was born, in 1819, the world was a very different place. Revolution would threaten many of Europe’s monarchies in the coming decades. In Britain, a generation of royals had indulged their whims at the public’s expense, and republican sentiment…
The Time In Between was adapted into a Spanish-language series for Netflix (see trailer below). Jen’s notes: The series is a close adaptation of the novel, and filled with beautiful scenery and fashion. “The inspiring international bestseller of a seemingly ordinary woman who uses her talent and courage to transform herself first into a prestigious…
Jen’s comments: Just read this and loved it. Fascinating read for anyone who’s ever scoffed at the price of music CDs. Like the reviewer suggests, I’m really hoping for a movie. BookPage review by Edward Morris “The story of how the Internet brought the imperious music business to its knees has never been told more…
Jen recommends two fiction titles.
If you like the gore of 16th century childbirth, rich historical descriptions and strong female characters, these are the books for you!
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran – Rob Sheffield Author Rob Sheffield riffs on the songs that saw him through the rapture, misery and bewilderment wanting to understand girls and pays tribute to tunes that captured some of his best moments. If you’re going to revisit your youth, let Rob Sheffield be your guide. Nothing…
Garden Spells – Sarah Addison Allen “A pinch of marigold for affection, a dash of snapdragon to repel evil, finish with rose petals to encourage love, then let nature take its course. It may be the recipe for Claire Waverley’s successful catering business, but when it comes to working its magic on her own love…
Gone With a Handsomer Man – Michael Lee West Betrayed, arrested for assault with a dangerous Georgia peach, and framed for her fiance’s murder, Teeny Templeton’s battle to clear her name features a host of oddballs, Southern charm and poisonous recipes! [One of our patrons also enjoyed this title; read her review here.] The Easy…
The Perfume Collector – Kathleen Tessaro After receiving an unexpected inheritance from a complete stranger, newlywed socialite Grace Monroe must uncover the identity of her mysterious benefactor. Weaving through the decades from 1920s New York to 1950s Monte Carlo, Paris and London, the story Grace uncovers is that of an extraordinary woman who inspired one…