Jenny's Reviews

This book reads like an old black and white movie. Think Bogart and Bacall. It’s everything you want in a smart, summer, beach read; tragedy, intrigue, forbidden romance, and dramatic endings. Each chapter keeps you rooting for Grace, cheering her on as she discovers who she is, what she wants, and how strong she really is. - Jenny

If you’ve ever struggled with who you thought you were in contrast to who life shows you to be, you will appreciate the stories of these three women. Set against the harsh and resilient sub-Saharan African landscape, Adrienne Benson uses this appropriate backdrop to illustrate the resiliency and courage of these women as they wrestle with cultural expectations, motherhood desires and disappointments, and the way we can use relationships to speak truth back to ourselves. - Jenny

As a lover of Indian food, I am so excited about this new cookbook written by Top Chef alum Preeti Mistry. It’s like getting the secret codes to the mind-blowing flavors and dishes she serves at her Oakland restaurant. Mistry’s “no rules” approach to southern Indian cuisine is an adventure in food that I’m ready to take on. First up will be the Manchurian Cauliflower with masala! - Jenny

Told in pieces of the past, present, and future, The History of Bees is is a beautifully written story about our relationships with each other and with the world we share. I will never again see a bee and have it not remind me of our responsibility to respect the balance of power in nature. Lunde's novel has illuminated the path of the bees and in turn has given us a beacon of hope for our future. - Jenny

This is a story about the pursuit for belonging, the strength of women, and the ability of love to transcend culture, distance, and tragedy—and somehow the ancient tea trees of the Yunnan province become the secret keepers and the story tellers. Lisa See shows us a virtually unknown Chinese village and the more known American lifestyle and makes us acknowledge that our sameness overwhelms our differences, and that our most basic need as humans is to be known. - Jenny