Weekly Highlights for Book Lovers
Passover and Easter
Okay, so turns out I’m hosting Passover this year. Kyle just ran to the store to buy meat to cook brisket. We left our seder plate in New York so a new Kate Spade one is on its way. Meanwhile, we’ve bought Easter baskets at John Kelley Chocolates for those in the family who celebrate — and just might have some gifted Jellycat stuffed animals (bunny here and carrot here). No matter what you’re celebrating next week, if anything, I hope you enjoy it!
Totally Booked with Zibby
This week spotlights history! FYI, we’re moving to three times a week!
Monday: Zibby’s Book Club Pick Allegra Goodman’s This is Not About Us
I loved interviewing Allegra Goodman several times on my show for her novels Sam and Isola. Her latest book This is Not About Us was a Zibby’s Book Club pick in March. Instead of a new interview between us, I’m releasing a fabulous conversation about this book that we hosted at Zibby’s Bookshop between her and bestselling author Nikki Ehrlich, The Measure. Enjoy!
Tuesday: Israel and Iran: History and Today, featuring Yardena Schwartz and Jonathan Harouroff
First, get the context for today’s political climate with Yardena Schwartz, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Then hear from Jonathan Harouroff in Unveiled: Inside Iran’s #WomenLifeFreedom Revolt. I guarantee you’ll feel more educated on current events after doing so.
Wednesday: The Harvard You Didn’t Know
Literary ingenue J.R. Thornton takes us into the posh world of Harvard College from dorm rooms and classrooms to parties and more when an outsider gets pulled into the ultra-elite establishment by his roommate Lucien and has to decide whether to live by his moral code or go along with the plot.
Thursday: Finding Yourself
Join Blair Glaser as she journeys into herself and goes from NYC and LA to a special yoga retreat in This Incredible Longing: How I Found My Self in a Near-Cult Experience. (Shout out to Isabelle Fisher Krishana, her cousin.) If you’ve ever felt lost, start here.
Friday: Are Personal Essays Performative?
How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield is truly hard to put down. Three friends go in the woods where two of them plot against the third in a love triangle that shape shifts. Kat and I spoke about the book and the moved on to how she finds personal essays performative. (I mentioned that I write them!) Thoughts on our discussion? If you like the idea of hiking (even without moving from the couch), this is for you.
Events This Week
Thursday, April 2nd at 6 pm: I’ll be interviewing Wade Rouse at Zibby’s Bookshop about That’s What Friends Are For.
Otherwise I’m taking vacation with my kids!
Speaking of Zibby’s Bookshop, we’re famous! Check us out in the article by Ian Mohr in the Hollywood Post’s Page Six here!
Coming Soon
Don’t miss our two amazing Totally Booked: Live events at The Whitby Hotel in New York with fabulous authors!!
April 8th, 10 am - 2:30 pm (half-day passes available): Totally Booked: Live. Friendships, Setbacks and Secrets. Tickets here. New York.
April 16th, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm (half-day passes available): Totally Booked: Live. Humor, Self-Discovery and Love. Tickets here. New York.
Watch: The “Totally Booked” TV Show on JBS
New episodes every Thursday at 7:30 pm ET on the JBS network. Don’t miss the most recent episode with many contributors to anthology Midlife Private Parts, edited by Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez! Watch here.
Item(s) of the Week
I’ve worn this belt with basically everything all week long. Love.
Have a wonderful Passover and Easter with your family. Hope the brisket is delish!😉
Did Allstora cancel the bookclub? I kind of forgot about it and logged in and saw the book for April was sold out (so I still have points) but the name is changed. I saw Jordy’s changed, too.