Weingarten is a long-form story writer for the Washington Post. I fell in love with his writing in this collection of his best work. I was enthralled by the final chapter where Weingarten enlists the help of Joshua Bell, one of the finest violinists in the world, to pose as a street musician in a busy subway station in D.C.
Weingarten wonders if people can recognize genius out of context and if people will make time for beauty.
Loved this book! … [Read more...] about The Fiddler in the Subway
A Washington Post reporter and his wife spend hours each day traveling to and from their jobs in D.C. With young twins, they feel the pangs of lost time with their children because of their commutes.
When Christopher does a story on the worst and best counties to live in America, he unknowingly sets in motion a new twist to his family's story. After publishing the worst place to live, that community invites him to come and visit.
Christopher is charmed, and when he returns home, he … [Read more...] about If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now
I'm reading this now! Here's what the inside jacket says:
"In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarefied bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, Shakespeare, and, particularly, their acting classes. When, within, this striving 'Brotherhood of the Arts,' two freshmen, David and Sarah, fall headlong into love, their passion does not go unnoticed--or untoyed with--by anyone, especially not by their … [Read more...] about Trust Exercise
An eighty-two year old retired professor and widower, Noah, finds himself having to take care of his estranged nephew's eleven-year-old son, Michael, whose father has died and whose mother is in prison.
Neither wants to live with each other, but due to circumstances, Noah is the only remaining option. Their adventure begins when Noah takes Michael to Nice, as Noah attempts to understand some puzzling photograph's that he's discovered from his mother's wartime years during the Nazi occupation … [Read more...] about Akin
Robert Iger has been the CEO of Disney for the past 14 years. He got his start with hard work and a bit of luck. He struck me as being an authentic person who has a lot to teach others about leadership and integrity. His book is chocked full of interesting stories and words of wisdom on what it takes to be a great leader.
Perhaps his biggest takeaway comes on the last page when he reminds his readers that "No matter who we become or what we accomplish, we still feel that we're essentially the … [Read more...] about The Ride of a Lifetime
Obama's A Promised Land sold almost 890,000 copies on its first day, beating out his wife's opening day sales. But will it last? I'm just starting to read it. What a man!
From the jacket cover: Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grass-roots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African … [Read more...] about A Promised Land
One of my absolute favorite poets. Poignant, relatable, and makes you laugh. Check out the poem "Cremation." … [Read more...] about Whale Day
When Jen asked, “What are you reading this summer, Mom?” I hesitated before saying, “Well, I just read Janice Hadlow’s THE OTHER BENNET SISTER.” She picked right up on that hesitation—“Didn’t you like it?” Actually I did like it, but did I like it because I’ve read SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE so many times? Hadlow has some of Austen’s sensibility—and her treatment of Mary Bennet is quite good. She develops Mary from the embarrassed piano player we see in P and P to … [Read more...] about The Other Bennet Sister (Plus more of Madge’s Picks)
I am so taken with this book that I just ordered one copy for each person in my immediate and extended family and am inviting them to a book discussion.
The author Maria Konnikova had never even played poker when she decided to enlist the help of one of the world’s premiere poker players, Erik Seidel, to teach her the art of the game.
A Harvard PhD in psychology, Maria had a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance in life had led to her interest in poker—in … [Read more...] about The Biggest Bluff