My daughter, the psychology major and recent college graduate, was fascinated when she first read Helter Skelter a few years ago. Despite the harsh reality of the subject matter, the murders committed by Charles Manson and his followers, there is something darkly intriguing about his cult and the devotion and obedience he engendered in his minions, most of them young, vulnerable girls.

I was equally intrigued by Emma Cline’s fascinating and extremely well-told new novel, The Girls, in which … [Read more...] about The Girls

Hope Jahren is a brilliant storyteller. She’ also a scientist who grew up in her father’s laboratory. In essence, her father taught her 42 consecutive years worth of introductory physics and earth science in that lab, nestled within a community college deep in rural Minnesota. Her father loved that lab, and so did she. While her childhood is captured in astonishing, vivid detail--one of the best writers I’ve encountered in a long time--it is her journey to become a female scientist, her love for … [Read more...] about Lab Girl

Growing up, Anderson Cooper really didn’t know much about his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and, oh boy, does she have a lot to tell. Wow, such an amazing life she led.  At the age of 91, Gloria begins a year-long, back-and-forth conversation via email with her son, Anderson Cooper, a conversation unlike any they’ve had before. We find out so much about both of them and, in turn, ourselves.

Gloria candidly describes her fascinating, yet difficult, life. Although born with a silver spoon in her … [Read more...] about The Rainbow Comes and Goes