We don’t really like to talk about--DEATH. Even the word itself can suddenly cloud a conversation or cause someone to squirm. What makes death so difficult to talk about? That’s the subject of Warraich’s elucidating and provocative new book, Modern Death. Warraich writes, “The very nature of death, the mystery that surrounds it, breeds uncertainty. Uncertainty breeds fear, and contrary to general perception, never has death been as feared as it is today.” Warraich is at once doctor, scientist, … [Read more...] about Modern Death

Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve by Ben Blatt What makes a book great? Are the prize-winning authors really better writers? And what makes them better? In Ben Blatt’s book Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve, he sets out to answer these questions by applying a mathematical and statistical formula for examining the classics, bestsellers, and our own writing. He analyzed thousands of texts by loading them into databases and then letting his hard drive churn through them, seeking to determine if our … [Read more...] about Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve

So what does the story of Adam and Eve have to do with us today? Well, let me tell you, brothers and sisters, a lot. In Bruce Feiler’s fascinating and eye-opening new book, he re-examines the story--its impact through the ages--the authors, theologians and celebrities who have influenced our understanding of the original version in the Bible. Feiler’s book sheds light on how we have defined love based on that story, how we view relationships, marriage, and sex. Each chapter is more engaging and … [Read more...] about The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us

This book captured my attention from the opening paragraph to the very end! What a story and what wonderful storyteller Tinti is. It’s at once a coming-of-age adventure, a love story and a literary thriller focusing on the relationship between a father and daughter. Samuel Hawley is a gruff, gun-toting, bullet-scarred man who is attemptting to raise his spirited daughter, Loo, after his wife’s mysterious and unexpected death. I loved the alternating view points between chapters and the revealing … [Read more...] about The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley

I started reading Lilac Girls and I couldn’t put it down. Truth be told it’s not the best writing ever but it’s one of those historical fiction books that sucks you in and you end up loving it! It's the eve of WWII and the story alternates between three women--An American, a German, and a Pole. It’s a mesmerizing story inspired by the lives of real women. A guaranteed book club fave! … [Read more...] about Lilac Girls

Do you remember reading an essay in the New York Times a couple of years ago entitled: “You May Want to Marry My Husband”?  It was an incredible tribute written by Amy Rosenthal to her husband before she died at the age of 51 from ovarian cancer.  I know, I know, but she’s such a great writer and she lived life so joyfully that it’s worth revisiting.  So I was delighted when I finally got around to reading her book Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and found myself chuckling, laughing out loud, … [Read more...] about Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life

A brilliant book that captures the harsh realities and nuances of what it means to be an American in 2018 told through the compelling lives of characters who will both enrage you and hold up a mirror of our own flawed, vulnerable seeking selves.

 

Barry is the hedge fund anti-hero of the novel who has achieved it all, a degree from Princeton, despite his troubled upbringing, a multi-million dollar New York lifestyle, a beautiful wife, and, much to his dismay, a three-year-old son with … [Read more...] about Lake Success

Set aside enough time to finish Two Girls Down because it’s a page turner.  It’s every parent’s worst nightmare; two young girls disappear during a quick shopping trip to Target.  Their single mother, Jamie Brandt, is heartsick and distraught. Jamie’s aunt contacts Alice Vega, a famous California bounty hunter.  Within 24 hours, Vega arrives in Schuylkill County, PA. She needs a partner, someone who knows the local scene. Max Caplan, “Cap”, is her choice—once a local cop, now a private … [Read more...] about Two Girls Down

The subtitle of this book is “Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be,” and that’s what Rachel explores in 20 life-lessons she’s learned about how to overcome the falsehoods that left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy and how she moved past them.  With raw honesty and humor, she shares her personal stories along with practical and inspiring advice on how to combat the lies and misconceptions (that so many of us fall victim to) in order to live a … [Read more...] about Girl, Wash Your Face