The best beach read is set at the beach. This book reminded me of the Dutch House with how warm the writing was to read. It‘s a great story about a family growing, bending but never breaking. It tells the story of a life well lived via a lot of flashbacks and memories - both good and bad.

This 1949 Japanese classic locked room mystery is finally translated into English! If you love Agatha Christie - you‘ll appreciate the twist at the end. It‘s short, a little traditional in parts, but overall a fun quick read.

Phil Elwood is the guy you are gonna love to hate! This is an amazing ride through the legislative - lobbyist - PR flywheel in D.C. Somehow he ends up babysitting Gaddafi‘s son in Vegas, advising terrorists in Western Africa and representing the government of Qatar. His stories show how the system works to spin bad news, push agendas and normalize weirdness. It‘s a fast paced easy to read memoir ( he‘s a likable guy despite his misadventures).

How did WeWork get so much money? How do firms decide what companies to invest in? What‘s it like to be in the room when buyouts and M&A deals are closed? Alok is the perfect guide and explains the different investments in easy to understand terms. Take a peek behind the scene of VC investments from one of its insiders.

A nice easy read that explains the evolution of book publishing from its beginnings to the modern era. Just enough facts and depth to keep it interesting. Interesting tidbits - “blurbing” was coined thanks to a book review satirist from San Francisco. Average self-published book sells less than 100 copies. One in 13,500 books becomes a “bestseller.” I loved learning about the consolidation of publishing houses, % of book royalties and agents.

Love love love these locked room mysteries from Lucy Foley. This one takes place at a wedding on an isolated island off Ireland. The groom is a TV survivalist and the bride is a social influencer. But everyone has secrets which come to light as the weekend festivities continue. A classic format - excellently executed. Cozy up with this one on a dark and stormy night ( or while drinking dark & stormies).

It‘s so cool to read this daily account of the early outbreak. Yes, there are cultural differences between how China and the US populations view the virus. But what‘s interesting is to see the thoughts, dreams, worries and more of someone in lockdown. It reminds me of Anne Frank‘s diary. An interesting read that‘s censored on Weibo.

This book started off strong and gave me flashbacks to being a newbie in college. But it got a bit slow 3/4 through. Basically, it‘s the story of a girl who goes to an exclusive school where they are conducting secret experiments with “plasma” which can suspend life. She learns to find herself, develop friendships and even picks up a shitty boyfriend along the way. All of that- plus some sinister stuff included. 🦠🧪🔬

My book club just started reading this book. It‘s pretty honest and raw - which I can appreciate after having taken a memoir writing class last year. So far this is a good post intro lead in ... “ what follows are stories about how I got caged- and how I got free.”

Dare I say... I enjoyed this book MORE than Handmaid‘s Tale? Lol maybe that‘s being forced to read HT in high school. This sequel is told from three characters POV, it really pulls the story together from the first book and answers lots of questions. I loved it! A must read right now with so many parallels. Coincidentally, one of the new corona drugs being tested was developed by a pharma company called Gilead! Omg 😳

Hamish MacBeth is always fun! A Scottish Highlands mystery that centers around a new neighbor in town who stirs up the local wives to improve their domestic arts. When she ends up dead, the plot thickens...

Super excited to dig into this sequel of the Handmaid‘s Tale. A good dystopian book is the perfect thing for shelter in place. 📚 🏡 😷

It‘s scary to see how this dystopian theocracy can originate from our current reality. The parallels are amazing. Hats off 👏🏻 to Atwood for pulling on a thread ( like puritanical Christianity) to show how it can manifest and become ugly over time. I‘m off to read The Testaments this week during our social distancing. #coronacation2020

My library TBR pile for the Corona quarantine in Santa Clara. We have 48 confirmed cases and half of them community spread. So I went to the library yesterday to stock up. 📚

I read about this book in NYT Book Review and I just had to order it. I can‘t wait to dig into this. A German‘s POV working for Amazon. From the first page, Heike is honest and raw. “From now on, that which kills us is our constant companion; that much I can say.” This is gonna be a crazy read.

It‘s been 20+ years since I‘ve read this book, but my feminist book club chose to read it next month. Bonus - Atwood is speaking in Santa Cruz. I‘m so excited! 🎉 I didn‘t appreciate the subtleties she baked into the dystopian story, but I sure do love them now. Enjoying my lazy Saturday read as I try and beat this sore throat and avoid the Corona craziness in my area.

Loved it! The story of four women who blazed a trail to become VC‘s. They never let the misogyny stop them from achieving. Truly inspirational and an easy read. It‘s one of the Silicon Valley Reads book selections.

Wow - lol everyone has had one of those days, but this story told by a murderer POV is fascinating. A quick short read. Could be named “Growing up - a sociopath‘s coming of age story” lol. Worth a look if you like these type of twisted tale.

The story of a nameless female narrator who grows up as a murderous sociopath. From the beginning of her first accidental murder when she was 12 to her ongoing urges, you get a first person POV on how a murderer thinks.

Best opening line ever... “Let‘s be honest: Who hasn't fantasized about shooting someone in the face with a hunting rifle?” The story of growing up from a murderer‘s POV.

You will not like Steve Jobs after reading this memoir. His coldness, inappropriateness and massive white male ego is appalling. Being rich and successful does not excuse piss poor parenting and shoddy behavior. Ugh I can‘t believe Lisa survived this. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 well done! So honest and literally made me cry and feel for her in my gut.

Omg I want to punch Steve Jobs in the face. Lol. Just kidding....but his parenting style and narcissism was not ok. Lisa tells the story of her wacky childhood with honesty and raw emotion. It really makes you feel for her - so sensitive and insecure while growing up with this psycho. Always trying to please and fit in while dealing with dysfunctional adults every day. Way to go girl! Your story is your truth!

Mischievous kids ARE fun! I loved this story about a woman who finds her purpose by taking care of two orphaned twins who can spontaneously create fire when they get agitated. Their differences is what makes them beautiful to the narrator - a misfit herself who finds vindication protecting these two rejected kids.

I really resonated with this book‘s narrator. It‘s about being different and how people can find their purpose in odd ways. It‘s about connections and family and finding love. It‘s a modern day fairytale.

Such a great story about a rudderless woman who discovers her purpose caring for two orphaned twins with the ability to start fires when agitated. I loved it!

An amazing modern day fairy tale about a slacker who finds her purpose caring for two strange twin children who generate fire when they are agitated. So beautiful and clever writing. You really identify with the ostracized narrator and how her experience helps her care for two rejected and isolated kids.

Got this one as an Xmas present from one of my feminist book clubbers. Can‘t wait to read it.

Oh Lordy! My book club chose this one for January. I hear from everyone that it‘s awesome, amazing and an instant classic. Pray do tell... is that fact or fiction?

Frankly Scarlet, I don‘t give a damn that this movie is 4 freaking hours! Lol the classic returns. Let me be honest, we giggled at the sexism and were appalled at the racism, but Scarlet‘s spirit just can‘t be beat. A timeless ‘tude for the ages! Lol.

What a quote! This book is going to make me cry a million times. A memoir of a blind immigrant orphan who grows up to be a daughter, sister, wife, mother and eventually a writer - all before dying from cancer in her early 40‘s. Inspiring and also poetic! Like a love letter to living....

Wow - this book! If you‘ve ever sat or endured a rape trial, it feels accurate at least to my prior experiences. Her honesty and courage is astounding. And her beautiful recognition of her mom‘s courage and struggle is really poignant and nice here. You do get through this.... Chanel Miller was so honest, you can feel it on the page as you read. It‘s tough, but puts a human face on the victim and allows you a glimpse through her eyes.

Started this audio book tonight! Wow talk about an eloquent ode to life. A blind, orphaned immigrant who lived to be a daughter, sister, mother and writer before she died in her early 40‘s. Her letter to her daughters on the paradoxes of life was amazing! How only through pain can you appreciate joy. I‘m crying....your crying....we‘re all gonna be crying. omg! ❤️ I love her honesty & attitude. My friends who lost family last year need this!

Wow - what a courageous book. I had a friend go through a similar trial while in college. The convicted rapist only got 2 months ( mostly wknd community service), but she had to endure years of pretrial motions, fear of seeing her rapist on campus and then the multiple expensive lawyer appeals. This memoir is the real deal - raw and honest - and amazingly eloquent. Well done Chanel - on (again) not being silenced as a victim. 👏🏻 I applaud you.

Smokey Joe ( cat) obviously doesn‘t care. My feminist book club is reading this book of essays. I loved them, even though Alida is a bit younger than me. Her spunk, wit and humor is perfect for all the usual topics - sex, feminism, weight loss, female friendships and safety. Her voice is honest and funny which makes it feel like having drinks with your girls. Well done millennials - you have your next Roxanne Gay - we‘re in good hands. 👏🏻

Short stories are amazing. This one oscillates between two separate points of view. A female friend of a male publishing executive accused of sexual harassment and the executive both share their stories. It‘s fascinating how they validate each other and justify the incidents from different POV‘s. Really highlighted the nuances of the me too movement.

Wow! Just loving this book...a modern fairytale about the never ending bond between a brother and sister. The writing is so rich and crisp you feel like you have a private window into the family‘s life. So much showing not telling and leaving things up for interpretation. Love it!

This book amazes me! She is spot on about how the evolution of technology affects the arts, community and what society values. I was hooked from the intro and highly suggest it. A thoughtful point of view about how to remain in society but focused on the right things.

Poriot is back and as cantankerous as ever in this new mystery set in London. He teams up with a young inspector from Scotland Yard to uncover the truth behind a double suicide and later three murders at a swanky hotel. I liked it!

A nice primer on how to set better goals and remove friction to make progress more attainable. If you want to exercise more, you need to make a plan for success. I usually hate these types of self-help books, but this one was clear, straightforward and useful. A great read if you plan on starting a new habit in 2020.

Sometimes a story helps people remember important life lessons. In this case, a promising young executive is failing at life and work because she is stressed. She loses her boyfriend and a major account before a ladies offsite. She learns the hard way that slowing down, being present and living your life with more meaningful purpose can help her become more successful and happy overall.

Louise Penny is a gem! I love listening to her books on tape. This one follows the three pines clan as they investigate a mysterious inheritance, Royal lineage and a murder. Meanwhile, inspector Gamache is also tracking down a dangerous street drug before it kills half of Montreal. Grab a mug of cocoa and some cookies to snuggle up with this cozy mystery.

What an amazing short story from Plath. A girl gets on a mysterious train and befriends another lady who helps her escape the ride. I think it‘s a metaphor for choosing to live your life and the fight you have to endure to make it back to living with purpose again.

Love is complicated. It‘s messy and can be conflicted. At times you can find it and then lose it with just a thoughtless word or inappropriate reaction. I loved this book because if followed a boy and girl who found and lost love, but always had each other‘s best interests at heart.

This book is a great short read. It‘s like a movie and the reader is the voyeur who gets to jump into a d out of several entwined stories all based on people coming and going from flights. The characters are great and the stories are just interesting and short enough to hook you before you jump into another.

Omg this one! We are a country of lazy masses. Lol. No. But seriously, it discusses how class has always divided our country. It rewires how you think about slavery and working class. Trash is just a way to classify a sub group of people who live on the fringe and usually do the jobs no one else wants to do. Trash has evolved over the years from group to group. Such a timely book to read and long one!

Super excited I made it through play #1. Super fun to see on stage with all the magic and clever theatrics. Also a great story about friendship and family and most of all acceptance. 🧙🏻‍♀️Lol and lots of people in costume representing their Hogwart‘s houses.

I‘m addicted to these book by Liane Moriarty. They are like guilty beach reads. Great characters, a solid secret and she‘s leads you right up to it. It‘s not fancy, but definitely fun.

It‘s hard to listen to all the ways women are disadvantaged by default of design. From medical care to bullet proof vests, some things just aren‘t designed for women in mind. The impact on income, status, mortality and more is just startling though. A must read to know the statistical risks we live with every day. fascinating...

I couldn‘t put it down. Such a brave story to tell about his torture and abuse at home that led to a lobotomy and later incarceration in mental hospitals. Worst part is...he was never crazy. Fascinating story based right here in my backyard of San Jose. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I‘m working developing a strategy to market voice actions /skills at work. I‘m so lucky to walk into the bookstore and find this gem. The future of conversational computing will blow your mind. 💻