BOOK REVIEWS
The Complete Letters of Vincent van Gogh
After twenty-six years on the shelf, I finally read The Complete Letters of Vincent van Gogh. Five pages a day. Jo’s labor, Theo’s love, and Vincent on the page—philosophical, fragile, and more alive than the myth.
The Ghost of the Cuban Queen Bordello (by Peggy Hicks)
A shopkeeper in Jerome pressed a signed book into my hands: Peggy Hicks’s The Ghost of the Cuban Queen Bordello. I expected a ghost story. I got a harder history—and a madam who was no one’s heroine.
Risen from the Ashes (by Patrick O’Brian)
Risen from the Ashes by Patrick O'Brian covers much of the same territory as the first West Baden Springs Hotel book I recently reviewed, West Baden Springs: Legacy of Dreams.
West Baden Springs: Legacy of Dreams (by Chris Bundy)
To celebrate my retirement in September 2024, my husband and I spent a few days at the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana. It’s a magnificent and unexpected gem tucked into…
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography (By Donald Spoto)
I previously read My Story by Marilyn Monroe, her unfinished autobiography that covers her life up through her honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio. Eager for a fuller picture, I turned to Marilyn…
Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet (by Thich Nhat Hanh)
I’m incredibly grateful for teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh and his generous willingness to share such profound wisdom. I’ve long admired him through videos of his teachings and have gently…
Alone on the Wall (by Alex Honnold)
I first became aware of Alex Honnold on a flight to Phoenix. My husband and I watched the documentary Free Solo and were immediately impressed with his extraordinary skill and bravery…
Mercury and Me (by Jim Hutton)
During the 1980s, I wasn’t a fan of Queen’s music, though I was certainly familiar with their hits, which played constantly on the radio. I instantly became intrigued by the band, especially…
The Fruitful Darkness (by Joan Halifax)
Joan Halifax is a fascinating Buddhist teacher I enjoy learning from, so I was excited to purchase The Fruitful Darkness: A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom on Audible. In…
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