February Book Pick

 I have been waiting for so long to share this month's book pick and bonus pick.  Yes, we get two picks this month.  That is because on January 31 on FX there is a series starting that I cannot wait to see.  Let me give you a back story.

I have always been fascinated by Truman Capote, In Cold Blood is one of the best-written books I have ever read.  As brilliant as his writing was, the opposite is true about his personal life, it was an utter train wreck. He had a long-time boyfriend, Jack, but he often cheated on him.  Jack was so loyal, Truman just could not be faithful.  Truman also loved drugs.  Drugs to keep him thin, drugs to keep him going, and just drugs because he liked drugs and alcohol. 

There was a bright spot in his personal life, he was best friends with Babe Paley.  Babe was rich, connected, thin, beautiful, and did I say rich?  With the friendship of Babe came more women whom Truman called his "Swans".  Lee Radizwell (Jackie Kennedy's sister), Ann Woodward (she would murder her husband),  CZ Guest,  Slim Keith,  Gloria Guinness, and Joanne Carson (he would die in her home). Just Google these women, they were gorgeous!  Truman would write a book (unpublished) about these women, betraying them all.  In the end, only Joanne and Lee would still love him.  With just this little bit of info, you can just feel the drama and want to see how this will play out, right?  Well, you can!!!! Feud: Season 2 is all about the Swans and Truman.  The season premieres on FX on January 31 and the next day on Hulu.  

Now, I do believe you will want more info before this show premieres, this is where my book picks enter the scene.  Just like I am with Wallis Simpson, I read every book I can find about the Swans and these are two of the best.  I am going to give you a fiction and a nonfiction book.  The main pick is fiction and the bonus is the nonfiction.  

The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

This book is based on Babe Paley and the life she led with her husband, Bill (the founder of CBS).  It wasn't a good life for Babe until Truman entered lighting up her world.  Bill and Truman would become friends and Truman would take take of them both.  Why?  Because they paid for everything and had a social standing that Truman craved.  When Babe's life spins out of control Truman betrays her on a level no one thought possible.  

The Bonus book is the nonfiction version, where you will learn a lot about all the Swans.  In real life, there was a murder committed by one of the Swans, and wait until you read what happened to her!!!!  As a matter of fact, this book explains in great detail exactly how Capote betrayed his friends and why.  Capote's Women is very interesting and I had to keep reminding myself, this stuff is TRUE!!!!

I hope you enjoy them both.  

November Book Pick

 I had so much trouble picking the book for November.  Why?  Well, I try to pick a book that I read the month before and make it be one that I loved.  That is easy most months because I usually only read one great one a month, but this month was completely different.  During the month of October, I read 5 books that I wanted to share with people.  FIVE books that I think are worth your time.  I decided that I don't have to do the same thing that everyone else does, I can pick a TOP FIVE book pick and you can choose any of them and I think you will have a GRAND time.  

1.  Dave Grohl-The Storyteller

This book is all about rock n roll, but not sex and drugs.  This is a book to celebrate music.  A book that shows love, devotion, and a slight coffee addiction.  I loved every single part of this book and if I have to pick a favorite of all 5 this month, it is this one.  

2.  Taylor Jenkins Reid-Malibu Rising 

I love all of Taylor's books, and this one is even better than the last one (Daisy Jones and the Six).  This one features June and Mick and shows us their relationship and marriage.  We will then be transformed to the future where we meet June and Mick's kids and see how they cope with his stardom and mom and dad's choices.  I won't say anything else, except this one is hard to put down. 

3.  Jessica Anya Blau-Mary Jane

This is probably my second favorite of all 5 books.  This one shows us a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood.  She is a nanny for the summer to a doctor and his wife.  While working she experiences a whole world different than the life she has with her parents and feels she is living a double life.  Things keep getting stranger when she meets her television idol and her rock star husband.  

4.  Patti Callahan Henry-Once Upon a Wardrobe

I could feel the magic all around while reading this book.  Meg finds herself interviewing C.S. Lewis about how he created Narnia for her invalid brother, George.  George is a very creative child that draws pictures of the stories Meg tells him from the information she gathered from C.S. Lewis.  The tale is almost as magical as Narnia itself.  

5.  Laura Dave-The Last Thing He Told Me

I knew this book would be a type of thriller but had no idea how this book would twist and turn.  I am not sure what I can tell you that would not give it away. I will just say it is a book about a woman that marries a man.  This man has a child from a previous marriage and he is a widower.  I do believe that is all I can tell you, sorry about that, you just need to be surprised.  

On my monthly book shelf that I keep, I will record The Storyteller as the book of the month and the other 4 as bonus reads, but please don't let any of these pass you by.  

June Bonus Book Pick

 I don't normally pick two books in one month, but this one was so good, and most of you have extra time to read in June,  I added a second one.  I 100% admit that I picked this book because I love the paper flowers on the cover.  I thought they were beautiful.  

Then, once I started reading I realized I was loving the book.  

Flora and Jullian have been married for 20 years..... Which is a great feat in normal circumstances, but given that they are both actors it is a miracle.  They have one daughter, Ruby, who is just about to graduate high school.  Attending the graduation will be Flora's best friend Margot, who is an actress in a famous medical drama, and her real-life doctor husband, David.  Everyone is like a tight family until a wedding band is found in an envelope in the garage and changes everything.  I will tell you no more so it won't spoil a thing. I finished this one fast.  Enjoy! 

January Bonus Book Pick

 Hello, by now we are almost halfway through the month of January.  We are approaching inauguration day and hopefully seeing some snow (because I love Presidents and snow :) ).  I hope you have been reading (or are a waitlist) for my two January books.  Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson is the newly published book and then I chose a new classic, On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford too.  Both have a WWII storyline, but take place in two different parts of the world (Italy and America, respectively).  

I have chosen a bonus book in the event that you don't care for either of those, or you have already finished them.  This one is a complete departure from the WWII world that I usually read about because it takes place in the western United States in the 1800s.  

Outlawed is a book about the wild west, but not the wild west that we all know about.  This one starts with a woman named Ada.  Ada marries a local guy (not completely by their choosing, but they did like each other) and turns up to be barren.  According to the laws of Baby Jesus, a woman must reproduce or she is cast aside so Ada is dumped and sent off to find her own way.  She ends up in the wild, untamed west as a member of a gang.....a gang of girl crooks.  All the women in this gang are barren or outcast from society.  I am not going to spoil a thing for you, but I will say I never thought I would read a western book and enjoy it, but I sure did enjoy this one.