READ

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

MY CURRENT FAVS

Two things happened during my senior year of high school. I fell in love with Mrs. Rodriguez, my English Lit teacher, and Bill. Mrs. Rodriguez introduced me to the love of reading. At least once a week, we would grab our classic of the month and head for the shade of the Banyan tree. She so vividly brought the characters to life, especially Sidney Carter. She made every book an intriguing adventure to a new land. She changed and enhanced my life under that Banyan tree. Bill was my first “serious” boyfriend.” He was a sophomore at the U of Hawaii Manoa Valley. One day he surprised me with an excursion to the UH campus. We entered the main library, which was vast and breathtaking, and quiet. He whispered in my ear, “This is the world and everything in it at your fingertips!” Between Mrs. Rodriguez and Bill, my love of books and reading took hold of my life…And here are a few books I’ve recently read and enjoyed.

HORSE

Horse…Geraldine Brooks.    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/horse-geraldine-brooks/1140163161?ean=9780399562969

This is truly a remarkable book. The story travels through the South between 1850, pre-civil war horse racing, and enslavement to contemporary 2019 Washington DC. You will be captivated by the flow of the story and the history of the times. Kentucky was the capital of horse racing in the North and the South. The story follows the famous and stunning stallion Lexington. The characters will make you cry with despair and, two pages later, yelp with joy. It is filled with art and science, love and obsession. And our unfinished reconning with racism.

PANCHINKO

Pachinko…Min Jin Lee   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pachinko-min-jin-lee/1123889620?ean=9781455563920

Not to be confused with the game – pachinko, which is similar to pinball. This saga is compulsively readable as it follows two generations of a Korean family’s quest for belonging in Japanese-occupied Korea in the 1910s. Circumstances take the family to Japan, where they suffer endless discrimination, hunger, heartbreak, and renewal. The characters are beautifully realized as they navigate the challenges of new generations and the early to mid-twentieth century. 

CONFIDENCE MAN

Confidence Man…Maggie Haberman

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/confidence-man-maggie-haberman/1140985472?ean=9780593297346

How does a guy like Trump become President? After reading Maggie Haberman’s book, I can see the relentless pursuit of acceptance and love that drives him. It is ruthless, unforgiving, and 100% self-aggrandizing. Maggie Haberman brings insights through her chronicle of the mentors that shaped and defined him. You can see the menacing imprint of his father, Fred Trump, his devotion and mimicking of the vindictive Roy Cohn. And his overriding need to be looked at as indisputable and feared. 

Please leave a few recommendations in the comments. I would love to know what you read and loved!