The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was considering giving up on this book for the first 150 pages or so (out of 600) but then I finally got into it and ended up loving it. At first I thought it would focus on Penelope’s children who were unlikeable to different degrees, but finally, the story settled on Penelope- her present and her past during World War II. I loved the book. It was enjoyable and romantic without being silly or saccharine.

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A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger

A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a really interesting and responsible account of one murder that took place during the reign of the Boston Strangler, written by the author of The Perfect Storm.

Everyone should read this book: 1) as a reminder not to open the door to a stranger, ever, seriously, I don't; 2) to understand one account of how the grinding wheels of the legal system can trap a (potentially?) innocent person; 3) how systematic racism can be quiet, insidious, harmful to all, and deadly to many; 4) because the book is riveting generally.


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How I Got This Way by Regis Philbin

How I Got This Way by Regis Philbin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I borrowed Grandma Ruth's copy while visiting. It's a very untraditional memoir. Each chapter is basically an essay about meeting a famous person and the relationship that Regis developed from them and what lesson he learned from that person. Some were boring to me because I didn't know the famous person (who is maybe not so famous anymore). Some were personalities I did know but his analysis of the person lacked any real interest or bite (especially when the person he was writing about is still alive).

People he discussed that I actually know of include: Ronald Reagan, Bill Cosby, Dean Martin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kelly Ripa, Donald Trump, Joe DiMaggio, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Howard Stern, David Letterman, and his wife Joy Philbin. Notice how many of the people on this list are more "notorious" rather than famous? And yet he had very few negative things to say about any.

Of the people I didn't know about I found Don Rickles to be the most interesting and I'm glad I looked him up further online. He seems really funny.

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