I won’t show the cover. I won’t play the music score. I won't name the year. Too easy. The protagonist is often a metaphor for underlying tensions as the story depicts man vs nature at its’ purist. Any guesses?
As we enjoy the unofficial last day of summer and the 50th anniversary of the release of Jaws, I will share with you that Stephen Spielberg, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus, Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton, forever piqued my fascination with the ocean. I have loved this movie since 1975. I often quote lines in my everyday life. Thank you Peter Benchley. (1940-2006).
Check out The Arts section, NYT, 8/30/25 front page, “How “Jaws” Made a Template for the Modern Blockbuster” written by Rumsey Taylor and Eve Washington. A great read exploring a blockbuster’s development.
ttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/18/upshot/jaws-at-50.html
With all the excitement of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt filming The Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City this summer, one cannot help but smile. The New York City backdrop hosting cinematic royalty as they transform familiar corners into sets dripping with style emanates both glamour and all too familiar chaos.
Who is Miranda Priestly? Do we really want to be her? Meryl Streep’s character is widely based on the life of Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of American Vogue who recently stepped down. I discovered Anna, The Biography, by Amy Odell and it answered all my questions.
The book is an in-depth portrait of Anna Wintour, one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in fashion. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with colleagues, friends, and rivals, Odell pieces together Wintour’s journey from her early days in London to her reign as editor-in-chief of Vogue and a central force at Condé Nast.
What makes this biography stand out is Odell’s balanced approach. Rather than succumbing to myth or caricature, she humanizes Wintour by showing the relentless discipline and strategic brilliance behind the bob and sunglasses. At the same time, Odell provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the fashion world, revealing how power, creativity, and commerce collide on glossy magazine pages.
ISBN 978-1-9821-2263-8
Gallery Books
Simon & Schuster Inc
I found this gem in an upstate NY book store on a random work free Tuesday. The book cover photo reminded me of my life in New England passing by cottages on Rte 22 to Burlington and summer travels through the back roads in Greene County.
A very Modest Cottage, Teresa Surratt delivers a heartfelt, visually rich story of love, restoration, and creativity. The book chronicles her journey of rescuing a 1920s-era one-room cottage and transporting it across Illinois to be lovingly restored at Camp Wandawega, her family’s retreat.
My favorite pages are Teresa's fern facts and the photo history of the cottage. Enjoyed from page one.
I was looking through my collection last night and came across a book that I bought in 2013 at an event at the Mohegan Sun in CT. It brings back fond memories of the day. When I met chef Robert Irvine, he couldn’t have been more charming and inviting. I felt like we were old friends. I had never met him but he signed my book, “great to see you again”. As he was signing his book for me, my husband yelled to Robert “show me your guns”! Robert smiled, put down the book and flexed his muscles. Priceless moment! You see, my husband is a Marine and Robert served in the British Royal Navy so this short interaction was inevitable. The moment is saved forever hanging in my office and it makes me smile.
Robert Irvine’s Impossible to Easy is a no-nonsense cookbook that turns everyday meals into impressive, restaurant-style dishes. With 111 accessible recipes and a focus on planning and confidence in the kitchen, Irvine challenges home cooks to push their limits while keeping things practical. A great pick for anyone who wants bold flavors without complicated steps.
I may be bias but all of Robert Irvine’s books are great! And so is Food Network’s Dinner: Impossible.
ISBN 978-0-06-147411-8
William Morrow
Harper Collins Publishers
Stanley Tucci’s Taste: My Life Through Food is a delightful memoir that blends personal anecdotes, humor, and deep culinary passion into a richly satisfying read. Known for his roles in film and television, Tucci brings the same warmth and charm to the page as he does to the screen. This book is as much about food as it is about identity, family, and the joy of shared meals.
Tucci recounts his Italian-American upbringing, where food was the center of life, and family recipes were passed down like heirlooms. His stories are peppered with vivid memories—from his mother’s impeccable home cooking to his travels and on-set culinary adventures. Along the way, he shares personal challenges, including a recent battle with cancer that impacted his ability to eat and taste, making the book unexpectedly poignant.
The writing is witty and conversational, with recipes scattered throughout that feel like invitations rather than instructions. Whether he’s describing a perfect bowl of pasta or the chaos of a Thanksgiving meal, Tucci writes with genuine affection and appetite.
ISBN 978-1-9821-6801-8
Simon and Schuster
@GalleryBooks
In Accidentally on Purpose, Kristen Kish shares a powerful and deeply personal memoir about identity, resilience, and finding self-acceptance. From her early life as a Korean adoptee to becoming a Top Chef winner, Kish writes with honesty and heart. She opens up about her struggles with belonging, perfectionism, and coming out—all with a rawness that feels both brave and relatable.
More than just a chef’s story, this is a journey of becoming. Thoughtful, inspiring, and quietly profound—this memoir is well worth the read.
ISBN 978-0-316-58091-5
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
littlebrown.com
Just finished Camelback Mountain – The Road Taken and I’m still sitting with all the emotions it stirred up. It’s one of those books that quietly gets under your skin—part coming-of-age, part love letter to family, heritage, and the choices that shape us. The story follows Austin Walker, an Irish-American navigating his roots, his faith, and his own sense of belonging, from childhood through the messy, beautiful phases of adulthood. It’s deeply personal but feels incredibly relatable, especially if you’ve ever felt torn between where you came from and where you’re going.
What really struck me was how honest and human the writing felt—no forced drama, just life unfolding in all its complexity. There are moments that made me laugh out loud, others that brought tears. If you like stories about identity, redemption, and the quiet power of love and forgiveness, give this one a read. It’s one of those novels that makes you want to call your parents, hug your kids, and maybe even write down a few stories of your own.
ISBN 9798343703368
Amazon
Ina Garten’s Be Ready When the Luck Happens is a warm, inspiring, and candid blend of memoir and life philosophy from one of America’s most beloved culinary figures. Best known as the Barefoot Contessa, Garten steps away from the kitchen in this book to share the unexpected journey that led her from the halls of government in Washington, D.C., to building a food empire rooted in joy, simplicity, and authenticity.
From her early career working on nuclear energy budgets for the White House to the spontaneous purchase of a small specialty food store in the Hamptons, Garten tells her story with humility and humor. Fans of her television show and cookbooks will recognize the same down-to-earth voice and grace she brings to her recipes—only now applied to business, risk, and personal growth.
What sets this book apart is its honest exploration of the many pivots and uncertainties in Garten’s life. She doesn’t present success as a straight line—far from it. Instead, she emphasizes the role of preparation, intuition, and courage in being “ready” when luck appears. The title reflects a recurring theme: while chance may open the door, it’s confidence, curiosity, and hard-earned skill that let you walk through it.
ISBN 978-0-593-79989-5
Crown Publishing
Penguin Random House LLC
I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally
Keith McNally’s I Regret Almost Everything is a raw, fascinating, and unexpectedly moving memoir that reads like a long, confessional monologue delivered with brutal honesty and bone-dry wit. Best known as the iconic New York City restaurateur behind places like Balthazar and Minetta Tavern, McNally trades menus for memories in this deeply personal book—and the result is fantastic.
Told in a loose, almost rambling style that mirrors his self-deprecating tone, McNally offers a glimpse into the chaotic, glamorous, and often absurd world of New York’s restaurant scene—while peeling back the layers of his own psyche. He doesn’t shy away from his flaws; in fact, he leans into them, painting a portrait of a man who is both brilliant and broken, charming and impossible.
What makes this book so compelling is its honesty. McNally isn’t interested in polishing his image or romanticizing his past. Instead, he offers reflections that are at once hilarious and heartbreaking. Whether he’s recounting his romantic failures, his battle with a stroke, or his relentless drive to succeed, McNally remains unsparingly candid.
Fans of memoirs that stray from convention will find I Regret Almost Everything refreshingly unpredictable. It’s not a linear life story or a typical behind-the-scenes tell-all—it’s more like sitting across from McNally in one of his own restaurants, listening to him talk over a late-night drink. It’s messy. It’s human. And it’s utterly unforgettable.
Highly recommended for readers who appreciate flawed narrators, gritty honesty, and the complex beauty of a life fully (if imperfectly) lived.
ISBN 978-1-6680-1764-7
@simonschuster.com
Gallery Books
An Imprint of Simon and Schuster, LLC
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020