The Sentimentalist
Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance, was on my nightstand for months before I got to it. After a handful of people insisted it was a “must read”, I finally took it off the shelf last week. This book offers up a fascinating look at what it means to be truly poor and living in America…. read more
Colson Whitehead recently won the Pultizer Prize for his novel The Underground Railroad, and after finishing the book I can tell you it was well deserved. It had been some time since I read a book about slavery in the United States. This book immediately made me realize that while I understood all the horrors we… read more
I was recently talking to a friend about the challenges of parenthood – how very hard it is to find that balance between boundaries and indulgence. We concluded that the perfect equation was equal parts rules, structure, love, and acceptance. If we keep the leash too tight, requiring our children to strive towards perfectionism under… read more
Brace yourself. I am about to introduce you to the next big thing in literature, Georgia Hunter. Her first novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, is already receiving fantastic reviews. And having read an advanced proof I can tell you first hand that is is exquisitely written and heartbreakingly good. It took Georgia almost a… read more
This sweet book Never Take Shark to the Dentist: and Other Things Not to Do, by Judi Barrett, came home from the school library with my 6 year old this week. I often get requests from readers about books that are silly or funny, because they are great for when you have to read a book… read more
For week two of our six week “healthy living” series I am thrilled to feature the beautiful, talented and highly humorous chef/writer, Serena Wolf. She’s been busy on her food blog, Domesticate Me, since 2011, and this year she wrote her first cookbook, The Dude Diet: Clean(ish) Food for People Who Like to Eat Dirty…. read more
It’s been a while since I have blogged about a great book for kids. Today you get a double whammy. Spoon and Chopsticks, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, are absolutely precious and serious fan favorites over at the Pless house. Both books are told through the eyes of everyday utensils, a little spoon and a pair of chopsticks…. read more
This is the first of Richard Russo’s books I have read and it did not disappoint. As I read Nobody’s Fool a few people saw me reading and asked me what it was about. The best way to describe it is by saying it’s a detailed look into a sleepy little town that is down on… read more
It’s been fascinating over here to revisit all of my daughters’ favorites while also adding a few new ones to almost 2 year old JT’s collection. I had completely forgotten than young toddlers like to read the same book over and over. These are our favorites that are on constant rotation. Side bar – it… read more
I ordered When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi, when it was first printed last year, but held off on reading it until this summer. Knowing that it was a heavy read about a neurosurgeon who quickly and brutally loses his fight with stage 4 cancer I wanted to make sure I read it when… read more
