Partly because I've been traveling a fair amount, and partly because books are a form of escape for me to stop dwelling on how much I miss my kids, I've been reading a lot. So here's a roundup of books I've recently read/listened to and enjoyed (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!):
Stella didn't love this little dog park - she looked at me like "can we go now?" 😂😂
Maisie Dobbs* - I was enjoying this series anyway, but it's earned a special place in my heart like all books that give me an insight into me that I can't stop thinking about.
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success* - I haven't finished this yet but I already love it for the insight it's given me about myself (hmm, do I sense a theme to this post?) and for the positive view it provides of the universe.
A Gentleman in Possession of Secrets* - The Lord Julian books* are one of my favorite series of all time, and the most recent installment just made me eager to read the next one.
Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries* - I enjoyed Maddie Day's Country Store mysteries*, and her Cozy Capers series is similarly pleasant.
Aunties series* - I love Jessie Q. Sutanto's quirky Vera Wong series*, and her 3-book Aunties series is delightful in its complete absurdity (not unlike the uncomfortably hilarious Finlay Donovan series*).
The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance* - I love watching sports so it was fascinating to explore just how much of athletic excellence is genetic.
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space* - I was in elementary school when the Challenger blew up and I remember my dad telling me about it when I woke up. We had been so excited to see Christa McAuliffe in space, plus Ellison Onizuka was a Hawaii boy, so the mission felt special to us and its loss was devastating. Even though I was so young, I remember the villainizing of the O-rings and the disgust at the failures throughout what was supposed to be a multi-step safety check. It was good to replace the blurry info from my childhood with a clear understanding of why it went so wrong. (It's also helping me understand the challenges that SpaceX faces right now, since I recently read that they were experimenting with different tiles.)
Sealed with a Hiss* - I enjoyed the latest book in Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy series* as much as the first.
What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures* - This was a book on climate change that sought to be positive, which I appreciated, and it gave me a new perspective on climate change and possible solutions that I haven't gotten from other sources. I learned about Earthjustice, whose motto is "Because the earth needs a good lawyer." Through them, I've already sent a dozen emails to various government authorities urging them to do what's right instead of what's profitable.
Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis* - From What If We Get It Right?, I learned the term "disasterology" and listened to the audiobook by that name. Disasterology is a branch of emergency management, and this was a pragmatic, informative view of what actually happens after a disaster (and how they can be prevented in the first place).
MENU PLAN FOR TWO - Oct. 13 - 19, 2025
Monday - Leftovers
Tuesday - Hoisin Glazed Salmon
Wednesday - Anchovy Pesto Mozzarella Grilled Cheese
Thursday - Sheet Pan Ratatouille with Crispy Chickpeas (still getting around to this)
Friday - Lentils with Burrata and Breadcrumbs
Saturday - Sushi Bake
Sunday - Baked Polenta Squares (maybe this week 😂)
If you don't have a New York Times subscription to access their recipes, you might be able to get one through your local library - Angelenos can
go here.
Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter!
