Am I proud that I watch The Real Housewives series? No, but I console myself by the amount of high quality reading I do so there’s that. Now that I got that out of the way, let’s get on to the god stuff: Not All Diamonds and Rosé is an oral history of the Real Housewives franchise. For some of you, just reading that is enough to make your eyes bleed (at least that’s ... Read More...
The Art of Bob Mackie
After a week of reviewing tense and scary novels I wanted to end with a book that was a sheer delight. As a child of the 70s I grew up with a now defunct form of television, the variety show. Two classics were The Carol Burnett Show and The Sonny and Cher Show. While their format may have differed, these shows had one thing in common, one thing that made them stand out. Bob ... Read More...
The Housewives by Brian Moylan
After the heavier posts earlier this week I’m happy to be back with a lighthearted review. If you’re not already aware, I’m a big fan of a lot of trashy reality TV shows. One of my favorites is the Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. So, imagine how happy I was to see Brian Moylan’s book, The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives. An entire book about the TV ... Read More...
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
I often talk about fiction that evokes strong emotion, but I’m not as likely to find it in nonfiction. Until now. Patrick Keefe’s Empire of Pain has left me angrier than I’ve been in a long time. The book’s subtitle should clarify things: The Secret History of the Sackler Family Dynasty. If you’ve never read Dopesick or any news on the opioid crisis in America the name Sackler ... Read More...
The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan
One of the main nonfiction backlist books I wanted to read this month is The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home by Denise Kiernan. I loved her book The Girls of Atomic City about the women in America who were part of the effort to win WWII. The Last Castle is about an almost mythical point in American history where money ... Read More...
Gatecrasher: How I Helped the Rich Become Famous and Ruin the World
Gatecrashing is more than just an art form; it’s a human right. It is the fifth freedom. After all, who are these good times for, if not for you? Ben Widdicombe is not a name you’re likely to recognize, but in his own way he’s had quite an impact on America. In fact, based on his book, Gatecrasher: How I helped the Rich Become Famous and Ruin ... Read More...
