Wrap It Up...Chapter One...True Stories
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Books For A Glimpse Into Another Persons Story…
My Christmas wish for you is this, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself.
May they provide an escape, a door into a world of wonder, a glimpse at an everyday hero’s inspirational tale, a reminder that laughter is indeed the best medicine, and that words and stories are sustenance for the soul, and in our darkest moments, a soft place to land.
Find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.
WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR – STANLEY TUCCI
A mouth-watering, delectable collection of meals, thoughts and observations all delivered with Tucci's indefatigably dry wit and inexhaustible enthusiasm for great food, and hilarious displeasure for bad food. Whether it’s duck à l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbecued at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and richness to his days. And to a lucky reader, this is a perfect way to share a meal with a writer whose stories are as sharp as the lemon tart he adores.
DINNER FOR VAMPIRES: LIFE ON A CULT TV SHOW – BETHANY JO LENZ
In the early aughts, after years of determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. While her career was about to take off, her personal life was slowly unravelling. What none of the shows millions of fans were aware of, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life as a member of a cult. A place she found as a lonely only child wanting to belong, a place that morphed into something more sinister than she could have ever imagined. Able to emerge after losing her autonomy, she is finally ready to share her story. Powerful and darkly funny. P.S. you might feel this is an odd choice for holiday gifting, but Bethany Joy Lenz has gone on to be one of the top actors appearing in the films of Hallmarks Countdown To Christmas!
MIRROR IN THE SKY: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF STEVIE NICKS – SIMON MORRISON
This reflective and expansive biography from a distinguished music historian showcases Nicks as an artist and songwriter, not as a celebrity. Stripping away years of tabloid gossip and hype that distorted her contributions and her craft. While it doesn’t shy away from Nick’s battles with addiction and relationships, it reminds us that as a woman musician she had to work harder and be better than the men around her. A sensitive and somewhat scholarly view of an artist and an icon. Be warned…the deep dive into her lyrics will have you searching your playlists!
And a few more…
For The Sports Fan…
There’s Always This Year – Hanif Abdurraqib
*Basketball provides a personal and structural meeting ground for wide-ranging reflections on the authors home life, the people he loves, the mythology of “making it” and the nature of performance and aspiration. All with agility and style! Much like the sport itself when well played.
For The Truth Fan…
The Knowing – Tanya Talaga
*The author takes the reader on a dark and complex journey to find her Indigenous great great grandmother, who disappeared almost 100 years ago. Searching through the labyrinths of church and government documents and exploring the larger culpability of Canada and the church in the manipulation of generations of Indigenous peoples. There is also a companion docuseries that I highly recommend.
For The Knowledge Fan…
Nexus – Yuval Noah Harari
*Rather than purely representing reality, information networks create new realities by tying together disparate things. The author explores this phenomenon from the Stone Age onwards, tracing the way information has been concentrated and disseminated over time by people, religions, governments and of course, technology.
