Lose Yourself in the World of Books
A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History After a few years of being without a book club to lead (I still participate in my former club), I felt the nagging urge to start one that better suited my current tastes, nonfiction! Below is my review for the inaugural book, Isaac's Storm! Synopsis… Continue reading Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson
Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else In preparing for a weekday drive to my father's place two hours away, I went searching for a fairly short and entertaining book to listen to on the drive - enter Maeve in America! Synopsis From the Back Cover:Maeve Higgins was a bestselling memoirist and comedian in her… Continue reading Maeve in America by Maeve Higgins
A Sortabiography Given that we recently traveled to Doune Castle, the filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I wanted a bit more background on one of my favorite comedy troupes, the infamous Pythons. Also, please ignore the badly photoshopped photo, I have a bone to pick with Michael Palin's bookstore, Aberfeldy's Watermill Bookshop… Continue reading Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle
In continuing my war correspondent memoir/biography trend, I figured it was time I pick up Martha Gellhorn's Travels with Myself and Another. Those who know who she is typically think of her as Hemingway's third wife, but those who care about journalism, know her as one of the first female war correspondents, and inspiration to… Continue reading Travels with Myself and Another by Martha Gellhorn
A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies Bestsellers intrigue me. I don't read many, which seems to confuse bookstore patrons until I tell them that I read other books so that when they have finished a bestseller and want something similar, I have a recommendation for them. But… Continue reading The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone
The Life and Death of War Correspondent Marie Colvin I first came across In Extremis when going through front list (new release) publisher orders and, thanked my lucky stars I have such a good relationship with the rep because when I begged her to send me an advance copy, she happily obliged. And I think it is… Continue reading In Extremis by Lindsey Hilsum
I've slowly but surely been making my way through the four major Obama White House Staffer memoirs - first was Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?, followed by this one, next will be Thanks, Obama (my coworker Su's favorite), and last The World as It Is. Synopsis In 2012, Beck Dorey-Stein is working five part-time jobs and… Continue reading From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein
I've started reading again! In an effort to ingratiate myself with our publisher reps at the bookstore, I've decided to read an advanced reader copy a month BEFORE the book comes out AND write an "Indie Next" pick for it - this is the first! Downside, I read it back in July so my memory… Continue reading The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign This book is about pirates. I have been fascinated by pirates for a very long time. In conclusion, pirates. Read it. Just kidding - full review below! Synopsis The passion and violence of the age… Continue reading Empire of Blue Water by Stephan Talty
And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House Like my present obsession with the Royals (well, persistent obsession since I was 7 years old and Diana died), I've recently become entranced by the the American version, and no, I absolutely do not mean the Kardasians, but those who occupy… Continue reading Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco
Celebration of Books 