Tag Archives: Books

Summer Reading 2024

21 Jun

It’s that time of year again, when you can curl up with a good book in the hammock, on the beach or on your sofa. I’ve curated a treasure trove of sites where you can visit and choose the perfect book for your mood.

So, let’s start with the popular “celebrity” sites. Oh yeah, O is for Oprah. So, click here for her complete list. Her 106th pick is Familiaris by David Wroblewski.

Reese Witherspoon has been recommending books since 2017. Click here for Reese’s list. I’ve personally read many of her choices. Most recently, I read First Lie Wins, Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Tom Lake, and Yellowface. I’ve enjoyed them all.

Next up is GMA Book Club featured on Good Morning America. My personal book club will be reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, and I heard it’s terrific. Click here for GMA picks.

Read with Jenna is another popular book club. Click here for Jenna’s choices. She is always so animated when she talks about books on NBC.

If you are on Facebook, there are many reading groups where you can find interesting books . Here are some Facebook groups: Friends and Fiction, Renee’s Reading Club and The Girlfriend Book Club.

I also check out the The Good Book Fairy and listen to The Bookcase Podcast with Charlie and Kate Gibson.

If you haven’t heard of Zibby. Let me introduce you to her. Just click here. She’s latest force in the book world. She’s an author, a podcaster, a book publisher and an owner of a book store. Here’s a photo of me and Zibby (right) at a book talk in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

For book reviews, my go-to-person is Maureen Corrigan on NPR. When I listen to her reviews, the books become alive.

But summer reading would not be complete without mentioning the podcast Books, Beach & Beyond with bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books. Hilderbrand is the epitome of summer reading with her books set in Nantucket, and her author interviews with Ehrenberg are just as captivating.

Happy Summer Reading!

Fire Island Read and More

29 Mar

If you’re heading to Fire Island or you just want a beach read, On Fire Island by Jane Rosen is the prefect choice. I had the opportunity to meet authors Jane Rosen and Zibby Owens, author of Blank, at the recent Bagel and Book event at the JCC in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

What’s unique about On Fire Island is that the narrator is dead. As the narrator observes her spouse, family and friends from the afterlife, Rosen weaves in a story of community, overcoming mourning and humor. Yes, there are losses and grief, but the hilarious scenes, and the poignant prose make it enjoyable, fast-paced and uplifting.

In the photo below, I’m with Jane Rosen (right) and Zibby Owens in the middle. Owens is the author of Blank, about writer who has writer’s block and the twists and turns in her hectic life. Amazon describes the book as “a hilarious debut novel about family, friendship, success, and exhilarating self-(re)discovery.” Owens is an author, book publisher, podcaster and so much more. At a later date, I will devout an entire blog to post to her.

At the event I ran into some attendees with Detroit roots. What a pleasure to speak with the mother-daughter duo of Linda Warner (left) and her daughter Amanda Warner. Amanda met Zibby virtually through her podcasts.

Both novels On Fire Island and Blank are worth reading.

Amazon Bookstore: It’s Not Online!

23 Jun

While I was in Chicago last week, I visited the Amazon bookstore — a bricks-and-mortar store.   Amazon, the king of online purchasing, now has a storefront. How ironic!  The store was packed. There was a coffee shop –just like Barnes & Noble — and lots of books to browse. I also noticed all the Amazon tech products like Alexa and Kindle. It has a wide range of merchandise for all ages, including some toys. (Again, just like Barnes & Noble.)  Will this strategy work?

For sure, I will not give up my loyalty to independent bookstores, which are having a resurgence. Check out this article on Indie Bookstores. Authors Emma Straub, Ann Pachett, Jonathan Lehem, Jeff Kinney, Louise Erdich and Judy Blume all own bookstores. The New York Times featured a profile on the authors and their recent book suggestions here.

My favorite local bookstores are: Bookbeat in Oak Park, Mich., Barbara’s Bookstore in Chicago, and East City Bookshop and Politics and Prose, both in D.C., Palm Beach Bookstore and Classic Bookshop, both in Palm Beach.

What’s your favorite independent bookstore?

 

An Interesting Dinner Party

28 Feb

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If you’re looking for a fun and fast read, check out the The Dinner Party by Brenda Janowitz. I recently met Janowitz and heard her speak about the book. It’s about a family anticipating the upcoming Passover dinner; however, it can resonate for any family gathering. The story deals with an overbearing matriarch preparing to impress some guests who are wealthy and might possibly join the family as in-laws.

The relationships between the siblings and the parents are poignant and stressful. Forgiveness, disappointments and expectations unfold throughout the novel with a tender tone, but overall the book is laugh-out-loud funny.

 

Janowitz is as funny and endearing as her book. She left her high powered law career to become a novelist. It turned out to be a great choice.

 

Cuddle Up!

7 Nov

jpeg Meterologist Chuck Gadica visited Beaumont’s Children Hospital the other day to read to the children. He brought along his book “Tommy Starts Something Big.” In the book, Tommy’s bear is called Cuddles. Tommy realizes that Cuddles can bring happiness to others. He asks his Aunt Suzi to make more bears, so he can give the bear to special people who might need to cuddle. Gadica created the fun phrase “Cuddle Alert” to describe cold days and nights in his weather forecasts. He came with  Grace Centers of Hope who help needy children with their Hands of Hope Center.

Cuddle up all!

 

Soulful Books about Detroit

2 Aug
 HSDCORRECT
Writer Bill Morris shares his 10 Best Books about Detroit on the Daily Beast. Here is the link to his picks from Elmore Leonard to Phillip Levine to Loren Estleman.
Momentum Books, the book division of Hour Media LLC, publisher of the city magazine, Hour Detroit,  publishes books on the city too.
I have not read Heart Soul Detroit yet, but I know the author Jenny Risher is a talented photographer.

 

 

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