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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

I was completely swept up in this Malcolm Gladwell book.  I kept turning to whoever was around me saying, “Wow, this is utterly fascinating.  Did you know?” That’s the effect Gladwell has on his readers as he pulls headlines from the media and re-examines historical events that you thought you knew something about (or actually knew nothing about) only to find that there’s a whole new way of looking at those things that are not only completely fascinating but also food for thought on how to … [Read more...] about Talking to Strangers

Semicolon is one of the most surprising, enlightening, and inspiring books I’ve read recently. Only a dork would love a little book about the history of a punctuation mark, but this dork will gladly defend this book till the cows come home.  I’m not going to give all the juicy stuff away as I want you to enjoy every page. You simply MUST read it. And I will say that reading this book just might make you a better person. … [Read more...] about Semicolon

When I first read Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild, I knew that I had to add it to my repertoire of “in character” portrayals.  It was one of the most rewarding books I’ve ever brought to life. Her experience was so far from anything I could imagine doing—hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for months?  No. way. Then when I got turned on to Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things, I was absolutely stunned by her insights into people, her openness and willingness to be completely vulnerable in her stories, and her … [Read more...] about Lives of Girls and Women

The Other Bennet Sister (Plus more of Madge’s Picks) by Janice Hadlow

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)

The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova

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

Hamilton the Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

After seeing Hamilton in New York, I poured over the making of the musical in this gorgeous book detailing the play’s creation, from its inception to blockbuster, from Lin-Manuel Miranda lounging on a pool floaty thing while reading Ron Chernow’s tome entitled Hamilton on vacation one summer to creating a once-in-a-lifetime Broadway musical of now mythical proportions.
I mean, I’m trying to wrap my head around reading Chernow’s 700 page book and going, “Oh, yeah, I’m going to turn Hamilton … [Read more...] about Hamilton the Revolution

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

What if Hillary hadn’t married Bill? How would her life have been different? Would she ever have been elected president? That’s what this re-imagining of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life explores in Curtis Sittenfeld’s clever and entertaining novel about a Hillary that falls in love with  charismatic, brilliant (philandering), handsome Bill Clinton but doesn’t marry him. Imagine that! … [Read more...] about Rodham