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.
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…
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…
Softly, as I Leave You (by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley)
Growing up with a mom who loved Elvis, I’ve long been fascinated by the Presley family. I thoroughly enjoyed Priscilla’s first memoir, Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between…
My Story (by Marilyn Monroe)
Growing up, I was intrigued by the life of Marilyn Monroe, particularly her untimely death and the tragic circumstances surrounding it. Macabre facts about people and places have always…
Stray (Shannon O’Brien)
I’m captivated by memoirs about individuals who embark on extraordinary journeys. Shannon O’Brien’s memoir, Stray: Breaking Free, Falling Hard, and Growing Stronger, chronicles her…
My Next Breath (Jeremy Renner)
I was introduced to Jeremy Renner through the movie, The Hurt Locker, which was fantastic. Since then, I’ve noticed his roles in other movies that I’ve also enjoyed. In 2020, I watched him…
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