REVIEW: Marilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail Crowther

 

Who knew that Marilyn had approximately 400 books in her personal library that she religiously moved with her to home after home? I certainly didn't know that the perhaps most famous icon of our time was such an avid reader.  And her association with writers certainly didn't stop with the written word - not only did she marry Arthur Miller, but through him and independently she met and interacted with numerous other writers of her time. Gail Crowther in this book delves deeply into Marilyn's personal collection and her impressive program to educate and cultivate her mind after dropping out of high school. She was hungry for knowledge and stopped at nothing to read and she read everything that she could get her hands on. 

Dr. Crowther did an immaculate, well researched deep dive into this topic.  She clearly thoroughly researched her subject and, apparently, had the support of the estate in researching and writing this book.  It contains not only information about her books, but tidbits about her life in the hopes of illuminating readers about who Marilyn was beyond the image that the studios forced her to portray.  Marilyn Monroe was clearly highly intelligent, intellectually curious and, sadly, particularly troubled.  The book itself is a fast and interesting read - it took me 2 to 3 days to read and moved quickly.  

I LOVE reading about and learning about what people read because I believe it offers us insight into them and their personality, interests and values. This book gave me insight into the person behind the facade, making the book a well worth read.  

Links I love

 

This week has been HOT here and we're experiencing yellow skies as a result of the Canadian wildfires.  From an exercise perspective, things are so much better.  I've been getting in regularly to lift 3-4 times a week (for a woman at my age, re-starting to lift helps my bones and making sure I have enough muscle and am not losing any). I've also been rowing on my erg 3-4 times a week and walking with my weighted vest.  I have always been active and being sidelined for a while has been really difficult for my mental health so i'm happy to be back.  I'm hoping to get up North for a few days to do a short hike. 

• Ten Japanese books to read this summer.
• A literary tour through the streets of Prague.
• 6 new novels that re-imagine the Indian family.
• Books if you are a language lover. 
• The best books on Stonehenge.
• Books about people just living. 
• Non Fiction books being loved by NPR staffers right now. 
• How to keep reading if you have a long summer TBR list.
• Are we living through the end of reading?
• Why making friends is so hard as an adult.
• What people are saying about Christopher Nolan's Odyssey. My copy is coming in the mail - I want to read it before I see it.
• What are the Emma Lion books and why are they having a moment?
• Three must read non fiction books for disability awareness month.
• 20 speculative fiction books to get you through 2026.
• 42% of women don't know that they're in peri menopause.
• There's a new Fourth Wing book coming out!
• Marriage and the maiden name. 
• Rhode Island codifies a right to read.
• Cozy horror is a thing.
• The small press books you don't want to miss this summer. 
• The best of modern true crime. 

Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store!

REVIEW The Children by Melissa Albert

 

This book has been all over the place recently and for good reason. In this novel, we follow Guinevere Sharpe, whose mother, Edith, is the author of a hit children's series of books known as the Ninth City series. This series of books has brought so much inspiration and joy to other children but Guin and her brother Ennis have different memories of the time period in which Edith was writing these books. Guin is preparing to release a memoir, however, that portrays her childhood as bohemian and blissful, filled with love an laughter.  This release occurs during a period when Guin is estranged from Ennis and her parents are long dead, having died in a fire that destroyed their home in Vermont (the same home that the Ninth City Series was written in). At the same time that Guin's memoir is being released, Ennis, a renowned artist, has released his new immersive art show entitled simply "Mother." This has caused Guin to begin her journey towards her past and reconnecting with her brother. 

This book got under my skin.  It was beautifully written and included a world that was seemingly peaceful and beautiful, but really was inhabited by dark magic and ghosts. The family was most assuredly a toxic and dysfunctional one, with passive aggressive snarking, probable alcohol abuse, dishonesty and infidelity, as well as neglect of the children. There were ghosts and supernatural occurrences and accidents that caused deaths. I simply couldn't put this book down and looked forward to each new reveal, wondering what would be around the next corner.

This tale about grief and family is one that I will never forget.  Read this one immediately.

REVIEW Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick

 

I've always liked Nathaniel Philbrick's books on American History - and I picked this book up because of the recent celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. This one didn't disappoint. Philbrick generally paints a picture of pre-revolutionary Boston and is focused on the siege and battle of the area in Boston that occurred until the British left about a year later. 

For a history book, this is a very quick read.  Philbrick obviously did a tremendous amount of research on this area of US history and relies heavily on primary sources (letters, journals etc), as he should.  I distinctly remember learning about and loving learning about the Revolutionary period in American History (superseded only by the Civil War and Reconstruction era - I know, I'm weird), but never in as much detail as Philbrick gives us.  Simply because it is chock full of details doesn't mean, however, that it is bogged down or slow - Philbrick has the unique ability to create a non-fiction history book that reads almost like a novel. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the actors - it was as if they came to life and I was experiencing their bombastic personalities in real time. I learned a lot about people like Phyllis Wheatly and Dr. Joseph Warren (who was one of THE leaders at Bunker Hill) that I never knew before. This, in and of itself, made the book worth it and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history.

Links I love

 

It has been a really hot week here. I finally was able to use the pool in our condo complex for the first time this summer and it was delightful.  I hope that everyone is staying cool!

• How we celebrated the Fourth!
• The best books on the United States. 
• From Lead Belly to Tupac: How Prison has shaped American music. 
• Here's how quickly the heat can dehydrate you.
• 8 microhabits that can help you lead a happier life. 
• 10 facts about Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera's relationship.
• The Founding Father that refused to celebrate Independence Day.
• This was good news, but with a cloud over it.
• Why small domestic details make historical fiction feel more real.
• Books that explore power dynamics in relationships with a large age gap.
• 6 things that people do differently in Finland, the happiest country in the world.
• 5 works of classical music that were written (relatively) quickly. 
• 7 Blockbusters from the 80's that still hold up. 
• The Disney animatronics heist of 2018.
• Mysteries set in grand residences.
• The best new books to read this summer, according to the millions. 
• The 2026 Harvey awards have been announced. 
• Best historical fiction books of the year (so far). And the best mystery, thriller and true crime books of the year so far. 
• Were officials biased in Argentina's win against Egypt at the World Cup?
• I'm looking forward to some of these books.
• The Saudi woman who is reimagining filmmaking.
• Is the end of reading here?
• I love that our governor did this.
• The true story of Laura Ingalls is WILD.
• How and why to cull your book collection.
• Celebrity book club picks for July, 2026. 
• 2026 Australian Jewish writers Award Shortlist.

I hope that everyone has a good week. I'm currently reading Marilyn and Her Books by Gail Crowther and listening to We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter, both of which are so good.

Please be sure to visit my PangoBooks store and to add me on Goodreads!

REVIEW Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy

 

I picked up this book after reading a memoir - I wanted something quick, fresh and intriguing and I wasn't disappointed.  This novel takes place in a quiet suburban town in Maryland. It's a town that feels familiar with all of us, but there's an undercurrent of tension that raises the hair on the back of your neck but you're not sure why. In one home is Klara and Troy.  There's something off about Troy and Klara never wanted the white picket fence that she has.  Mary lives across the street and is preparing her home to be sold as she can't stand to live in the home that has bad memories of her son and mistakes. Henry lives with his parents and watches people way too closely for comfort.

What I really enjoyed was the unique way that Murphy structures her novel. I didn't expect it to circle back on itself the way that it did but I ended up really loving it. The novel explores relationships, it's true, but specifically it focuses on mothers and motherhood. It asks the question: what influence do mothers have on the people that their boys eventually become? Can they truly change or significantly influence them? The mothers in this novel are constantly present, some would say overbearing or enabling, while the fathers are absent either physically or emotionally. The pacing of the novel is brilliant and is best described as a slow burn.  It is anything but boring, however. I also really enjoyed how things eventually came together - it was a satisfying conclusion. 

Definitely worth the read. 

REVIEW Truce Crime, a Memoir by Patricia Cornwell

 

Patricia Cornwell is best known, perhaps, for her mystery series featuring Kay Scarpetta, a gritty, forensic medical examiner who also solves crimes. This is a candid and forthright memoir about the author of those novels, starting with her seemingly Southern Gothic childhood and moving through childhood, college and her eventual success as an author.

I was very surprised about how much trauma she had suffered.  Her childhood involved trauma related to, among other things, her parents' acrimonious divorce (including a kidnapping by her father), sexual abuse at the hands of a local police officer and her mother's mental health.  In her adolescence, she suffered from depression and a severe eating disorder.  In detailing these events, Cornwell's prose is sparse and unsentimental. Her sentences seemed particularly short and detached (although I imagine it was because she was writing about and consciously bringing up some awful, awful things). Cornwell was tremendously and remarkably resilient and had a big supporter in, of all people, Ruth Graham (the wife of evangelist Billy Graham). 

Cornwell details her writing process, which involves a tremendous about of hands on research (such as going to a morgue or learning how to shoot a particular gun).  I enjoyed gaining insight into this author, but the writing and detail were no where like Margaret Atwood's memoir, Book of Lives.  

Links I love

 

Last week (the week before this one) was particularly rough for me. I was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation and all this other stuff due to a severe allergic reaction to the pneumonia vaccine. NEVER AGAIN will I get that vaccine.

This is a big holiday for our country!  Happy Fourth!

• I used to walk this easement all the time. 
• The most anticipated books by women of color being released this fall. 
• The New Yorker has an email newsletter: What We're Reading. 
• Archaeologists discover a wooden model of Stonehenge that seems to line up with the summer solstice.
• The must read biographies and memoirs of summer 2026. I'm always down for a good memoir. 
• Some Australian memoirs that look good.
• 5 classics that are also good beach reads. 
• The Star Wars movies, ranked. 
• Why does the country Turkey have a different spelling at the World Cup?
• The best American novels according to Barnes and Noble.
• The shortlist for the Ursula K. LeGuin Prize
• Inside the wild world of Roman Romance Novels. 
• 5 things that Princess Diana loved that might surprise you (may she rest in peace).
• 7 books that blur the line between reality and fiction.
• Margaret Atwood novels in order. 
• A new study shows that your brain prefers to read on paper.  Mine certainly does. 
• The US ghost town that occasionally rises out of a lake.
• 20 great US History books.
• The missing piece of the menopause discussion. 
• 7 common misconceptions about the Fourth of July. And some misconceptions about the Founding Fathers. 
• The Star Spangled Banner had four verses, actually.

Please do not forget to visit my Pangobooks store! I hope everyone has a good week!

REVIEW This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

 

I had listened to Isola, which was also by this author, and when I read the description of this novel, I thought I would give it a try.  I'm always drawn to stories about families and relationships and this book falls squarely in that genre.

This is the story of an extended Jewish-American family, headed by three matriarchs that are sisters.  The book begins with the death of the youngest of the three sisters. The remaining two sisters become split not only by her death but also by a feud about, of all things, a cake (hence the cover) and which threatens to extend until the both of them die. Goodman tells the story from different viewpoints as each chapter focuses on a member of the extended family as they are navigating their own personal dramas. The power in this novel is in the small moments - the conversations between the characters, the setup - as opposed to the overarching novel (which I guess is what makes it literary fiction). She did a magnificent job of getting us into the weeds in their relationships and made her characters believable, although not always likeable. 

I DID, however, find myself often trying to remember who was who and what their intricate relationships were.  It was often confusing and disjointed in transitions, but once I got a page or so into each chapter it quickly smoothed out.  There were so many characters it was almost too hard to keep track. In spite of this, Goodman does a masterful job in capturing messy and intricate relationships. Definitely worth the read~!

REVIEW London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

 

Go out and get this book. Now.  This book is a meticulously researched non-fiction book that reads like a novel. It is, in a nutshell, about the grim, seedy, scary Russian oligarch world of London and the 19 year old that gets sucked into it, ultimately perishing. 

Zac Brettler was 19 when he died. His parents were grieving and didn't understand why or how he died - he wasn't suicidal although everyone chalked this up to a suicide.  But then they learned that he was posing as the son of a Russian oligarch who meets these really sketchy guys that now want something from him (but what, question his parents) and why haven't the police truly, deeply and carefully investigated his death?  This book is Keefe's attempt to assist the parents try to figure all this out.

I loved this book. It's obviously meticulous in its research and the pacing is perfect, especially given the scope of what it is trying to cover. It drew me in so quickly that I read it at any moment that I could - waiting to pick my kid up, at lunch, waiting at the doctor's office - because I simply had to know what happened. A lot of the book has us in the seedy underbelly of London's financial world, and yet, I didn't shy away from it.  This made the book and the story all the more compelling to me. I had no idea such a world existed. And of course there is Zac's parents, who are absolutely, and rightfully, devastated by the loss of their son. It was hard to not feel terribly for them. They carried themselves with dignity and were treated the same way by the author.  

Such a good read. I look forward to reading Say Nothing.

Links I love

 

Things have been interesting around here.  Two Mondays ago, I got the pneumonia vaccine and it's been wreaking havoc on me ever since. In addition to the normal side effects where I felt achy for about 36 hours,  I have been dealing with a nasty site injection reaction that will not quit.  I actually was admitted to the hospital Wednesday into Thursday and was diagnosed as having a severe allergic reaction that has resulted in neuropathy in the arm that I got the shot in. Lucky me. I now will likely have to do PT to make sure that I don't lose all my strength and be sure to get to an ER if I can't use  my arms, or have severe pain or severe tingling or numbness. 

• Smells that defined summers in the 90's.
• Four family fueds that rival the Targaryens.
• Are elder millennial women ok?
• The non-fiction books that NPR staffers have enjoyed this year, so far.  And their favorite fiction books.
• The books that colleges are choosing for common reads in 2026.
• Gaslighting and self doubt - books that cause us to question the ones closest to us.
• How the Manson murders and Dominique Dunne changed LA True Crime.
• 40 Great new books you may have missed. 
• 15 great lakes for your summer getaway.
• Songs that were written by Prince that you didn't know about. 

REVIEW The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by

 

This book has been on many, many lists this year and so I thought I would give it a try.  I'm not sure what I thought it would be but it certainly wasn't a horror/vampire novel taking place in the early 1900's.

In the year 2012, the diary of Arthur Beaucarne, a Lutheran minister is found stuffed into the wall of a building that is being demolished. It chronicles a series of massacres, a transformation, battles and violence between the white settlers and the Blackfeet nation, whose culture is also very much a character in this book. Arthur becomes know as "Three Men" and he is the confessor to Good Stab who discloses many, many things.

If anything this is historical horror. The writing was perfectly fine and the characters very interesting. I found that I could easily picture things everything as they were occurring and in the area that it was happening in. However, I just simply couldn't get behind this novel. It wasn't very interesting to me overall, although the parts about the Blackfeet were very interesting. I enjoyed learning about them very much. The novel goes back and forth between Three Men, who is writing in his diary, and Good Stab who is narrating his confession, which was very effective - the premise is that Arthur is writing down the confession verbatim in his diary - but either one could have carried the story on their own. While I did not particularly rave about this book, I completely respect Jones' historical research into this.  He obviously worked very hard to gather a lot of details that he could put into his book and that is highly admirable and appreciated by me as a history major. 

While I did not particularly care for this novel, I'm glad that I gave it a shot!

Links I love

 

World Cup Fever has hit our household. I have a goal of watching every single match played during this World Cup, so I'm not getting much sleep during the next month. It is what it is. I love soccer! Last weekend, my daughter and I went to see Ty Myers - he's only 18!  I have an 18 year old son which made the whole thing surreal but the concert was so good. I got a pneumonia shot on Monday - which was good given the breathing stuff I had go on in April but my arm was a little bit bruised at the injection site and so sore.  Maybe that means it's working.

• If you plan to catch up on reading this summer, start with these books. 
• The ultimate summer reading list.
• 5 Gothic novels about cults. 
• Scottish fans have already won the World Cup.
• The buzziest book club reads of the year so far.
• Why is Wawa called Wawa?
• YA Book Prize 2026 shortlist.
• The greatest recurring fictional characters of all time.
• Books and Movies for Juneteenth (hell yeah for Freedom Day!).
• IndiePress top 40 bestsellers for Fiction. And Nonfiction.
• As a former goalkeeper, I love this guy.
• June book to movie adaptations.
• Labyrinth at 40 - David Bowie was apparently a workaholic.
• Ten reasons why the World Cup is the greatest sporting event.

Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store!

REVIEW: Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood

 

Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, authors of all time. This felt like I was sitting in a coffee shop with her as she talked to me about her life as it was very conversational. The Handmaid's Tale introduced me to Atwood, and it's one of my favorite books by her, followed closely by Cat's Eye. 

For a 600 page book, I moved very quickly through it - it took me about 5 or 6 days - mostly because her writing style was so conversational and she has had such an interesting life.  I also found myself chuckling at her acerbic wit. She did so much for Canadian writers during her life that I never knew about, that I was blown away. I also never knew that her parents were scientists who had the family split time between the Canadian bush (what we would term "living off the grid") and living in a more built up area. It was snarky, blunt and full of anecdotes that were so entertaining that I wanted to call her up and invite her out for drinks just so that I could pick her brain. 

This memoir was as close to perfect as any that I have read.  Definitely recommend. 

REVIEW: Countdown City by Ben Winters

 

When I start a series, I aim to finish it and so here we are! This is book 2 in the Last Policeman trilogy by Ben Winters and it was just as good as the first one!

Hank seems rudderless at the beginning of this novel but that doesn't stop him from putting his investigative skills to work in helping a family friend find her missing husband who left one night and never returned.  In pre-apocalypse dystopia, however, people leave all the time for lots of reasons (although the most popular disappearances are related to people chasing the items on their bucket lists). The backdrop?  An asteroid is hurtling towards the earth and will hit it in 77 days or thereabouts. The mystery in this one is definitely messier than in the first novel, which made this novel all the more intriguing. 

I started and finished this book in about two days - I simply absorbed it (which means it holds your attention and will make you want to keep reading to find out what the hell is actually going on). I enjoyed observing the crumbling of the world as the clock ticks down to impact and the questions that it poses about society: What would I do if I only had 75 days left before the meteor hits? Would I plan for possible survival afterwards or would I say "F*** it" and fulfill my bucket list dreams?  How would I treat my fellow humans? This is, perhaps, the best reason to keep reading this novel as it continues to explore how society is dealing with an inevitable act of mass destruction. 

Generally very well worth it and I can't wait to read the third!

Links I love

 

This week has been  tremendously busy week here. My son graduated from high school last Saturday so the entire weekend was filled with family and festivities.  I had my echocardiogram and Pulmonary Function Testing on Thursday, both of which appeared to be normal. It's SO WEIRD to see your heart pumping inside your body but also very cool to see the valves and mechanism.  It made me think that if I had gone to medical school, I would have been a cardiologist (instead of doing sports medicine or orthopedics which is what I wanted to do). Friday, my daughter and I went to see Ty Myers!  So much fun. 

It's starting to feel like summer here!  I alwasy loved summer when I was in school because t hat meant I could read for FUN all summer long and boy did I ever.  I got the bulk of my for fun reading done during summer time. The World Cup is also on 24/7 in this household.

1. This curse is super weird. Scary too.
2. The Nebula award winners have been announced.
3. Utah has banned its 35th book from schools.
4. Here are the winners of the Bram Stoker award.
5. 5 books to help you understand the World Cup.
6. Maternal rage is real but not something to feel badly about.
7. The best and worst cities for staycations this year.
8. What all the popular book clubs are reading right now.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
9. The best books you've never heard of for Summer, 2026.
10. A World Cup 2026 guide.
11. The end of books.
12. Esquire's best books of the year (so far).
13. New streaming movies and shows on Netflix based upon books.
14. Some books to read for pride month.
15. People has their best books to read for LGBTQ+ month and they're pretty solid.
16. Barnes and Noble announced their finalists for the Discovery Prize.
17. Mysteries and thrillers recommended by Presidents. 
18. Mysteries set in Hawai'i.
19. Here are the winners of the 2026 Women's Prize in fiction and non-fiction. 
20. June picks from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kirkus, the LA times, NPR, Star Tribune and USA Today.\
21. Summer pics from Kirkus, CrimeREads.
22. Indiana Jones at 45.
23. Why do soccer players wear pink shoes at the World cup?

I'm currently reading Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood and listening to Queen Esther by John Irving.  I think my next read will be The Martian by Andy Weir.

Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store. 

REVIEW: The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh by James Lasdun

 

Alex Murdaugh has been in the news lately and I thought that I would read another book that took us through what is shaping up to be his first trial, written by James Lasdun, a New Yorker journalist from England who takes us through his journey through the South to research this book. 

As you may, or may not know, this family was royalty in the Low Country of South Carolina for over 100 years. They were among the powerful civil attorneys and prosecutors in their area. But that all came crashing down when Alex is alleged to have killed his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. This was just the tip of the iceberg as he was purchasing drugs and embezzling millions of dollars from his personal injury clients.  Violence of this magnitude is absolutely unfathomable - he literally shot his son's head off. One of the hardest parts of the evidence for him was video from Paul's phone that puts him at the kennels with them minutes before the homicides are supposed to have occurred (and his corresponding lies - he wasn't there according to him). 

Lasdun does a masterful job of researching this book and meticulously unwinding the twine of Alex's lies.  He is also masterful in his portrayal of Alex - he essentially makes Alex out to be the kind of sociopathic manipulator that would rob you blind in a heartbeat while pretending to be your best friend. That being said, it didn't really add much to what has already been written about this case. 

Definitely worth the read and I'm looking forward to the next trial. 

Links I love

 

This is a big weekend for us! My son is graduating from High School!!!!  We're so proud of him but I'm also crying and a wreck.He's my oldest so there's a lot going.  Luckily he'll be attending school in state so he won't be so far away.

• Dishes that are popular because of TV shows. 
• Marilyn Monroe's library contained four hundred books.
• 5 thrillers set in Boston.
• This couple lives in a yurt year round.
• Ana Gasteyer talks about stuff, including her favorite books. 
• The Dyatlov Pass mystery.
• Serena is back.
• The best historical fiction of 2026, so far.
• Why reading is the best thing you can do for your brain.
• Marjane Satrapi has passed away at the unfathomably young age of 56.
• The healing power of a really good grudge.
• Must read cozy mysteries for the beach.
• The recent targets of book banning.
• Why we still need book festivals. 
• There's a new museum opening under the Lincoln Memorial. 
• Reading trends to look out for this summer. 
• Celebrity book club picks for June, 2026.
• 7 cold cases that still can't be explained. 
• Thrillers about marriage.
• Anthony Head, (Giles in Buffy) has died at the age of 72.
• Who knew that bedazzling is good for your mental health.
• This drink is good for heart health.
• Was Walt Disney really frozen under DisneyLand?
• Vintage photos of when the Knicks won the championship back in the 70's. 
• Sounds from the 90's that we Xennials all know. 
• AI is ruining children's books. 
• Brushing teeth before or after coffee?

I'm currently reading Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood and listening to Are You Mad at Me? by Meg Josephson (which I hope will teach me something that I can use!). For podcasts, I'm listening to American Scandal, Women and Crime, the TED Radio Hour and 99% Invisible.

If anyone has a favorite podcast please leave them in the comments. I'm always looking for more to listen to on my walks and during workouts. 

Please visit my PangoBooks store!

REVIEW The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

I read this for my book club - which is wonderful because I have been wanting to read it forever. This is an uplifting work of historical fiction about women who want more, decide to pursue it and support each other in these endeavors even as the America of the 1960's tells them they couldn't. It was so nice. 

The main character is Margaret Ryan and when we first meet her, she has won a writing contest from a women's magazine and is hired to write a regular column as a result. She is pigeonholed into writing what her (male) editor tells her, her husband is pissy about her not having more time for the care of the family (because why would he help?!) and her paycheck is actually less than minimum wage. The job also somewhat sparks the "Betty Friedan Book Club" (the first book they read is, you guessed it, The Feminine Mystique). There are three other women in the club - Charlotte, Bitsy and Viv. Charlotte is a woman who is prescribed Miltown, a tranquilizer, by her male psychiatrist and struggles in her marriage with her cheating husband. Viv was a combat nurse and is Margaret's best friend and neighbor.  Bitsy is an avid horse lover who wanted to be a vet and is also a neighbor. 

I loved that it addressed issues of race and class: Viv meets a black Army nurse who was barred from going overseas in WW2. Margaret is denied the ability to open a checking account without her husband's signature.  It's CRAZY. 

I LOVED this book. I wanted to be best friends and a member of the Betty's book club.  The story was thoughtful, warm, and very subtly insightful about how stifling the 1960's actually were. The characters were well written and showed a lot growth over the course of the book and I could not put this book down.

5/5 

REVIEW: The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers

 

There has been a lot of chatter on this book so I wanted to check it out for myself. I blew through it in like three or four days.  It was really great.

Cora and Sam meet in a baby group. Cora is married, happily she believes.  Her husband, however, seems to disappoint her at every turn - he spends his free time smoking a lot of pot on the porch while the kids sleep and that carries over into the bedroom. He's failing at work and so she's picking up the slack everywhere, and she's miserable while doing it.  Sam is married as well - to a high achieving spouse who is a lawyer and also believes he's happy, but is he?  It's almost like he is emasculated, or feels that way, right from the get go. So when the two meet at the baby group, they are instantly attracted to each other. Cora believes that Sam listens to her in ways that her husband does not. They become fast friends and then decide to bring their spouses into the mix. 

Cora, however, begins to fantasize about what an affair between them would look like. In that timeline, they are seeing each other while in the "reality" timeline, they refrain.  Things in that alternate timeline become super serious super fast. The timelines remain distinct at first, with the reader bouncing between the two, but then they blur together until there is only one timeline.

I really liked this book but it is INTENSE. Their relationship spans ten years of wishing and longing, until the trigger is pulled. The book is VERY readable and Somers has created real and flawed characters.  They are absolutely relatable.  SO good and the way that the timelines are slowly blurred is absolutely brilliant. Highly recommend. 

REVIEW: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 

This book took me, and the publishing world, by surprised.  Candidly, I wasn't expecting to like it and worried that it would be completely smarmy and self righteous. It was self published in 2025 but only really took off this year. The story follows Theo, an elderly man who travels to Golden, a small town in Georgia. He visits the local coffeehouse, where he sees portraits of the townspeople on the wall. The artist is also a local artist - said artist lives in Golden as well. Theo decides to purchase the portraits and distribute them to the subject of the portraits. With each meeting, he collects their stories and they are inspired by his kindness.

What I loved about this book is that it deals with several important themes:  the importance of slowing down and observing, being kind, loss and grieving and love among others and it does so in a captivating way. I loved Theo as a character - his background is very mysterious but what he does for the people he comes into contact with is very laudable and to be admired.  It's a timely reminder of the importance of kindness.  I did wish that there was some conflict or other tension, which would have made the book more interesting,  and I could have done with less of the religious stuff, but those were both minor, nit picky things on my part.

I flew through this book in about two days. Definitely worth the read and I may read it again to make sure I caught everything!

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I saw my pulmonologist on Monday - and I have an echocardiogram scheduled on June 10.  Hopefully nothing to see here but better to be safe than sorry. Yesterday we were in Worcester, MA for NEIRA's. My daughter's boat qualified but unfortunately my son's did not. 

Thank you to all our service members for protecting us!

• Goodreads has summer reading lists galore!
• What does Costco do with unsold appliances?
• Boston has its first non alcoholic cocktail bar.
• Why you dream about what you do.
• What's the best type of exercise to lower blood pressure? i'm also a fan of just minimizing or dealing with stress!
• The Guardian has published its list of the 100 best novels of all time.
• Horror books where the town is the main character.
• Taiwan Travelogue won the International Booker. 
• Family centered thrillers and mysteries. 
• The 2026 McKitterick Prize Shortlist.
• Having trouble focusing on your book? Try immersive reading.
• Why do planes dim the lights on takeoff and landing?
• Literary thrillers set in Italy.
• Why you shouldn't feel guilty for being well read. Is feeling guilty for this actually a thing?
• Why do different types of bottled water taste differently?
• Pizza Hut has a reading challenge. Here is the official link.
• The best mysteries and thrillers for Truce Crime podcast listeners (like me). 
• 25 books that capture this American moment. 
• If you're traveling to Kentucky, here is a reading list for you. 

Currently reading two books: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and Theo, Golden by Allen Levi.  Listening to To the Moon and Back (almost done!) and podcast - Your Own Backyard and Women and Crime. 

Please browse in my Pangobooks store. 

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Last weekend was REALLY busy!  We were at NEIRA's for rowing and, while no hardware ws brought home, our boats did really well and all of our rowers should be proud of that!

• I'm going to listen to this artist's music to see if I like it. 
• How generational sagas help readers to set roots. 
• Time Anxiety and what it is.
• The man who reads books for a living - I'm jealous.
• Ten thrillers set in the near future.
• This seems like a fun way to determine your next read.
• Why the Pope quoted Gandalf in his speech on AI.
• 19 books to read this summer.
• Books for people that are fascinated by museums.
• Songs inspired by True Crime cases.
• Spotify audiobooks is paying off.
• Best beach reads for this summer according to NY Times.
• Pacific Island historical fiction books.
• Summer mystery books.
• 7 novels featuring a book within a book.
• 5 takeaways from the new colorectal screening guidelines.
• New Yorker's best books of 2026 (so far). Esquire also has a list as does the BBC. 
• 5 mysteries set in the wilderness.
• Knox County, TN has banned Alex Haley's Roots.
• There's a 2700 year old ceramic Roman cup that has been found.
• Sharks have tested positive for drugs, including cocaine.
• Celebrity mugshots that became embedded in our culture.
• Oprah has a summer list up.
• Hudson Williams has pretty good taste in books. 
• May's bet reviewed non-fiction and fiction.
• The best books on soccer. 

Please visit my Pangbooks store!

REVIEW LA Weather by Maria Ampano Escandon

 

This 2021 book was part of Reese's book club - and I generally enjoy the books she selects. So I picked it up from my local library. This novel tells the story of the Alvarado family as they navigate major life changes - not one of the characters isn't experiencing a major shakeup. When we meet them, Oscar, the patriarch, has become distant, leaving his wife Keila feeling lonely and emotionally abandoned. This has prompted her to threaten divorce, which devastates her three daughters: Olivia, Claudia and Patricia. The girls convince their parents to give it a year before finalizing any decision to divorce. During that year, each member faces major life challenges that we navigate with them. 

Stories about families and relationship dynamics are stories that I'm drawn to. I'm insanely curious about them, so this book was definitely in my wheelhouse and satisfied that itch to some degree.  It wasn't the best novel that I have read that looks at these dynamics though. I felt like the characters were one dimensional and I had a hard time empathizing with any of them (except maybe Dani, who is Patricia's child). There was not a satisfying resolution for any of the characters except for Oscar and Keila, which was frustrating.  No one besides them seemed to actually learn anything or develop at all.  I did appreciate seeing how families were dealing with divorces, but that was pretty much it.  I mean, Escandon literally threw everything she could at this family in addition to divorce: gender/sexuality issues, infertility, cheating, stealing, cancer, you name it.  I found myself thinking: can we just pick like one or two big things and do a deep dive instead of barely scratching the surface on many things?

That being said, it was a pretty quick read, which was good.  

You can skip this one if you'd like!

REVIEW The Last Policeman by Ben Winters

 

I'm going to be completely transparent here - Ben Winters is a local author whose brother I occasionally try cases against.  So when I heard that Ben wrote this trilogy, I was excited to start it because not only do I love reading about places that I know about, but it's written by someone I'm connected to, albeit tenuously.

In this book, the asteroid Maia is on a crash collision with Earth and that collision can't be stopped. Society is falling apart but it's not as bad as you would think although there has been a significant uptick in suicides, people walking away from jobs and people walking away from families to do whatever suits them in the moment. Except for Henry Palace, a detective with the Concord PD who has responded to a suicide call at a local McDonald's.He quickly believes that this was a homicide, not a suicide. 

What I enjoyed about this book is its critique of society when everyone knows they're going to die and the questions it poses.  Henry, for instance, is trying to figure out why someone would commit a MURDER now of all times. I enjoyed how quick paced the novel was and its introspection - you're in Henry's head for the entire novel. He's likeable and a nerd at heart. I also like Winters' writing style - it's precise and quietly humorful (don't blink or you'll miss the humor). I also really enjoyed seeing how different people were reacting to the news that the world was ending - some were pursuing bucket lists, some adrift, some committed suicide and some just did what they loved or were plodding along. This was a great commentary about the value of life and time and the message that I got was that our time was limited so best to enjoy every moment you have.

Definitely worth the read. 

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I hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day las weekend! I have been experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety related to my health and my reading, among other things has suffered so I didn't have any reviews this week and I'm sorry for that. 

1. 6 Historical figures with powerful mothers. 
2. Why do museums make you tired.
3. What does the term "unc" mean?
4. Some dolls that took over the 90's. 
5. Jane Austen and modern detective fiction. 
6. 7 songs you didn't know that Neil Diamond wrote. 
7. The 2026 Edgar Award winners have been announced. The list is here. 
8. The best books on prophecy. 
9. I'm always looking for quick dinners. 
10. 5 historical figures that led double lives. 
11. Best historical fiction of 2026, so far. 
12. How substack became the new book tour.
13. This is a really old dental bridge. 
14. Women are more likely to struggle with these mental health diagnoses. 
15. 6 forgotten mall stores from the 90's.
16. These are some dark moments in kids' movies. 
17. Murdaugh's convictions were reversed (saw that coming!). The full opinion can be found here.
18. This is going to make your commute even worse.
19. 250 for 250 - a booklist from the BPL for the 250th birthday of America. 
20. Shakira is at the World Cup, again. 
21. The real world animals that inspired Star Wars characters. 
22. The Yogurt Shop Murders has been solved. 

I'm currently reading two books simultaneously - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and listening to To the Moon and Back.

Please visit my Pangobooks store! And have a great week!

Links I love

 

My week was a rough one - I was in the ER on Friday for chest pressure and shoulder pain.  Thankfully, not a heart attack, but the doctors are still trying to figure out what is going on with my lungs and heart. I had a CT scan with contrast and, aside from them messing up the IV the first time (resulting in contrast going under my skin), it was fine.  I have several nodules on my lungs, I'm inflamed and it looks like my right ventricle is slightly delayed/may be working a bit harder then the rest of my heart. This is really scary.

The rest of the week was fine! The weather is improving and we have had some nice warm days.  

1. "What if They Knew" - mental health workers in NH talk about their experiences with mental health treatment and in general. 
2. One of my new favorite podcasts. 
3. I found a new reading challenge.  20 books of summer has also been announced!
4. Some 90's gadgets that people still miss. I don't miss pagers.
5. Three Mexican foods that have ritual meaning. 
6. Slow and long checkouts at Walmart have shoppers down. 
7. A hobby that is good for the aging brain.
8. Some obscure travel laws that you didn't know existed. 
9. The winners of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize. There are many that I would like to read from this list.
10. Some ideas for dystopian books for you to read if you are interested.
11. Flowers or books - recommendations for mother's day. 
12. On making time to read the classics.
13. Some misconceptions about Cinco De Mayo that Americans still have.
14. 7 things about Star Wars that were inspired by real life events. 
15. 7 novels about dysfunctional but charming families.
16. The oldest cold case ever solved in Massachusetts. 
17. The burnout trap: why the women who never fall apart are the ones that need to stop. 
18. THe best and worst states for working moms. 
19. 5 books about matriarchs and motherhood. 
20. The Deep humanity of Project Hail Mary. 
21. Cozy and romantic mystery series.
22. Trips inspired by books and film.
23. Why it's deadly when older people get pneumonia.
24. Some Asian American and Pacific Islander horror stories you should read. 
25. Scottish bookstores take the high road and increase sales as a result.
26. What's new to streaming (LORD OF THE FLIES FOLKS!!) this week. Some other ideas for things to watch. 
27. Murky murders: the Murdaugh murders. 
28. Books about female migrant workers.
29. This guy fled Pompeii very long ago - guess how they found him?
30. This necklace was given to Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII.
31. What did dogs mean to the ancient Mayans?
32. The 20 most addictive books of 2026 so far.
33. Pugs and libraries? Yes please!

I have questions!  

What are you guys listening to for podcasts? And watching?

What reading challenges to you participate in?

Please visit my PB store!