Category: Reading

What’s Ashley Reading?: Marilyn and Her Books

Marilyn and Her Books by Gail Crowther

First line: In Western culture there are few people more sought after than Marilyn Monroe.

Summary: Marilyn Monroe has fascinated the world since her film debut and over sixty years since her death. This year marks what would have been her hundredth birthday. In this new book by Gail Crowther, we get a look at one of the most important parts of Marilyn’s life, her books. Having been mocked as the dumb blonde who could not possibly read books like Ulysses, we actually get to see what books she owned and discussed with those around her. Marilyn had a love of reading and thirst for knowledge that reached into all genres, from literature to popular fiction to gardening and sociology. Told through an analysis of her interactions with famous writers, interviews with those who knew her and her personal library we see the reader behind the movie star.

My Thoughts: My interest in Marilyn Monroe started in high school when I read a book by her half-sister, Berniece, called My Sister Marilyn. It is a fascinating look into the personal life and real person behind the movie star persona. I found this book to be similar in that sense. Throughout we are shown a Marilyn who reads, discusses and loved acquiring books. At her death, she had a personal library of over 400 books. Like many readers, we have books we have not read or have started and not finished. Likely Marilyn did the same but the number of tomes is astounding. In the end notes, we are given a list of the books that were packed away and later sold at auction after Marilyn’s death.

While some chapters feel like speculation, the author also supports many of her claims with quotes from interviews. Many of the people that actually met Marilyn thought her to be an intelligent and kind individual. Unfortunately, today people still assume that the characters she played on screen reflect the real life woman. From everything I have read about her she seemed far from dumb. She was a trailblazer in many aspects of Hollywood. She spent years looking for security and acceptance.

It has been over twenty years since I read my first biography of Marilyn and I still admire her. With all the challenges in her life, she still persevered. After closing this book, I think it is time to start a Marilyn Monroe movie marathon!

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Land and Its People

The Land and Its People by David Sedaris

First line: The year my sister Amy was invited to play Mrs. Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the same year Hugh had his hip replaced.

Summary: In David Sedaris’ newest collection of essays he explores things from caretaking of his partner Hugh, traveling to new countries and the struggles of keeping up your Duolingo streak.

My Thoughts: I was so excited for a new David Sedaris book! I could have received an early digital copy from Netgalley but decided to wait because I would much rather listen to the audiobook. It was worth the wait. I was laughing aloud constantly. Coworkers probably thought I was crazy laughing to myself. Cars passing me on the roads might have wondered why I was smiling so big. It was all because of David.

A few of the stories I know I had heard before when he was work shopping them at his book signing. Hearing them again did not make them any less enjoyable. He has a way with bringing ordinary life to his readers in a humorous way. It is just outstanding. Who knew that a story about a dog bite could be so funny? David did.

If you want something to make you laugh during a road trip or on your daily walk, I would recommend all of his books but this one was lots of fun and real quick. Perfect for your summer TBR!

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Shippers

The Shippers by Katherine Center

First line: Mrs. Richmond’s wedding gown was itchy, for one thing.

Summary: After leaving her groom at the altar, JoJo Burton has decided she is going to finally break her cursed love life. With the help of her sister and her former childhood best friend, Cooper, she is determined to catch the eye of her teenage crush. Luckily, he happens to be attending her sister’s wedding cruise. However, with her sister busy with wedding details most of the scheming falls to her best friend. As they spend time together, she remembers all the things leading up to their falling out years before. JoJo hopes that this time together will help her and Cooper’s friendship but with each passing day, there seems to be something more between them. Will she need to abandon her plan or is she willing to lose Cooper forever?

My Thoughts: Again, such a wonderful summer read from Katherine Center. I had so much fun with this one. It took me back to the days when I spent summers outside with the neighbor kids until the sun went down. It was funny, charming and heartwarming.

The book begins on JoJo’s wedding day. She is stuck in a horribly itchy wedding gown belonging to her future mother in law. It seems like a sign and then her childhood best friend, Cooper, shows up to save the day! What a wonderful start to a rom-com, then add to it a cruise ship, former crush, a plan to seduce said former crush and a lot of miscommunication.

As readers, we watch her make mistakes when it seems so obvious to us what she should choose. However, while feeling exasperated with her choices I laughed along at the ridiculousness of it. In the end, everything always works out but the middle full of messiness kept me reading until the end. While sitting by the pool or enjoying a summer getaway this should be in your reading pile. It will make you laugh and remember your childhood summers spent with all your neighborhood friends.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

First line: All her life, Mebel Tanadi has always had a fear of – not so much death as much as situations that eventually lead to death.

Summary: Mebel expected her life one way, the trophy wife of a rich man. This was all going to plan until one day her husband of forty years decides he is leaving her for their much younger live in chef. Mebel cannot believe what is happening but she is determined to win him back. From what she gathers, he wants someone who will cook for him, meaning she should take cooking lessons. As luck would have it, a class is starting in just a few days at an excellent cooking school. Unfortunately, it happens to be in a small village in England rather than Paris.

Upon arrival, Mebel finds the school and her classmates to be more of a challenge than she first thought. As she struggles through the first weeks, she befriends a group of students who encourage her in her lessons and the changes in her personal life. With each passing day, Mebel starts to wonder if she has found what she has been looking for in an unlikely place.

My Thoughts: Like Sutanto’s other series, Vera Wong, this book is all about found families. This is one of my favorite things about the author’s work. She has characters that need each other but do not realize it. With these strong themes of friendship, there is lots of humor too. While I was listening, I was laughing aloud at Mebel and her antics. She starts the book as a trophy wife who only cares about facials, clothes and her lavish lifestyle but she transitions to someone who wants to be her own person and take care of those she loves. I found this to be such a fun story with a great message. I would highly recommend this for your summer reading list. It will make you smile all the way through!

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Caretaker

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

First line: The trail of muddy footprints led off the front stoop, tracked across the gravel driveway, and disappeared into the darkened woods.

Summary: Macy Mullins has bills to pay, groceries to buy and a younger sister to take care of. Unfortunately, the job market is not promising. Then one day she stumbles upon a job listing on Craigslist. Three days of house-sitting for several thousand dollars pay. What could be easier? All she has to do is follow the instructions and she will get a few weeks of relief. It all seems too easy until her first night. While trying to follow the rites she discovers that whatever inhabits the house is trickier than she believed. With each passing hour, the nightmare becomes more and more sinister. Will Macy make it through this weekend? Will the world survive if she cannot follow the rites?

My Thoughts: This book. Dang. I had to remind myself to relax while reading it. I was so tense. Clenching my jaw and muscles tight. I loved every minute of it.

I have been waiting two years for this book to come out. Ever since reading Kliewer’s debut, We Used To Live Here, I could not wait to see what he produced next. This one was just as good as the first. While I struggled with the main character Macy, I completely believed that this is how someone would react in these situations. As a reader, I wanted her to do certain things differently but who can say if we all would follow the rites precisely either. With each new threat, the tension ramped up. Nevertheless, I felt I could never fully trust what we were told. Is this all real? By the end, I was exhausted. It was so much fun and a thrilling ride!

I wish I could say more but I really do not want to give too much away. I could not recommend this one enough to horror fans. I wish I could re-read it again for the first time. Now I have to wait again for Kliewer’s next books.

FYI: Depression, self harm.

What’s Ashley Reading?: How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay

How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson

First line: I have spent a lifetime learning to operate a brain that vacillates between overthinking and total shutdown.

Summary: Jenny Lawson is a best-selling author who struggles with depression, anxiety and imposter syndrome. She fights with her inner demons as she uses her unique sense of humor to show that life can be hard yet beautiful. In her newest book, she shares tips and tricks to help readers find their way through the fog that we call life.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Jenny Lawson. I have read/listened to all her books, seen her at a Watermark event and follow her on social media. She is real and not scared to tell the world about her struggles. The way she is able to explain her mental health issues gives many people who deal with similar concerns hope and insight. It feels so refreshing.

I usually listen to her audiobooks because she reads them, which I feel enhances every chapter. It does not feel like listening to an audiobook but more a conversation with a friend. She goes off on tangents, emphasizes certain words or points a reader may not and her voice is one I can hear in my head whenever I read her blog posts. Like David Sedaris, her books are better consumed in audio format.

The new book she dives into tips and tricks she uses or has attempted in her journey with mental health. While not every tip speaks to me, some do and I loved hearing her advice. I laughed aloud at multiple points listening to her stories and anecdotes. I love her wit. If you are looking for a funny self-help book then Jenny is your person. She can talk about such serious problems but with a humor that makes it feel less oppressive. Give her a listen!

FYI: Lots of bad language.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Daughter of Egypt

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

First line: The saloon glows in the flicker of the candelabras and the low light of ornate wall sconces.

Summary: In the 1920’s the discovery of the century shook the world. The tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun was uncovered fully intact in the Valley of the Kings by archeologist Howard Carter and his patron, Lord Carnarvon. However, few know about the woman, who helped make this venture possible, Lady Evelyn Herbert, Lord Carnarvon’s daughter.

Having grown up surrounded by the artifacts and research of Egyptologists, she became fascinated with one person in particular, the first female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. As she travels with Carter and her father to Egypt, she hopes to find the lost tomb of this elusive pharaoh. During a time of turmoil between the British and Egyptian governments, they risked their lives to make this historical dig. When it comes down to a decision between her passion and her loyalties to her father, she must make a choice that will change her life and the world.

My Thoughts: Ancient Egypt is absolutely fascinating. Over the years, I have consumed as much as I can on the subject through documentaries and books. Last year I attended a talk given by former Director of Antiquities and world renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass. It was so interesting to listen to him talk about the discoveries he has made or is on the verge of making. Reading Marie Benedict’s new book I can completely sympathize with Evelyn’s passion in all things Ancient Egypt.

The plot is told in dual timelines. One follows the rise of Queen Hatshepsut and the other is Lady Evelyn Herbert. Through Hatshepsut, we see her rise to pharaoh of Egypt and Eve shows us how the one time ruler was erased from history by her successors. I loved learning about Lady Evelyn and her part to play in the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. In many descriptions of this event, it is only the men who are mentioned but now readers can meet the woman involved too.

Interwoven into the narrative is the question of who these artifacts actually belong to once discovered. Are they the property of the home country or the discoverer/colonial power? This question still plagues museums and collectors today. Many items are being returned to their homelands but there are still some that draw international attention including the bust of Nefertiti held in Berlin, Germany.

If you want something to entertain as well as inform then this may be just the book for you! It will make the reader think and likely lead them to explore more about the real history behind the novel. For more on Queen Hatshepsut and other queens of Egypt I would recommend When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Case of the Missing Marquess

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

First line: The only light struggles from the few gas street-lamps that remain unbroken, and from pots of fire suspended above the cobblestones, tended by old men selling boiled sea snails outside the public houses.

Summary: Enola Holmes, the younger sister of famed detective Sherlock Holmes, has lived her life on the family estate with only her mother as a companion. However, on her 14th birthday her mother mysteriously disappears leaving Enola to wonder what has happened to her. Using the clues left by her mother, she eludes her brother’s plans and escapes to London in search of her.

Along the way, she becomes embroiled in the case of the missing marquess and the dastardly villains who have abducted him. As she tries to rescue the young noble, she must also evade her older brother while also continuing her search for her mother. All in a day’s work it seems for a youngest Holmes sibling.

My Thoughts: A month or two ago I watched the Enola Holmes movies on Netflix. I enjoyed the star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham-Carter. Then recently I was looking for something short and lighter to listen to when I stumbled upon this. It felt like a perfect fit for my interest level at the time.

Having watched and read many Sherlock Holmes iterations, so I knew the feel of the Holmes-esque character. I liked both versions, movie and book, of Enola Holmes. She is smart, determined and resourceful as she tries to solve the mysteries before her. I loved how it introduces younger readers to clues and symbols in the art of detecting. For instance, Enola and her mother use the language of flowers to communicate in code. I can see this easily being a gateway into the more involved stories of Sherlock Holmes and other detective fiction.

Overall, it was an enjoyable listen. I may one day listen to more books in the series and see how they compare to the other movies. I would recommend this for teens looking for an engaging mystery series without too much violence or bad language.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Dead Mountain

Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

First line: It is nearly twenty below zero as I crunch through knee-deep snow in the direction of Dyatlov Pass.

Summary: In 1959 the Ural Mountains became the location of a mystery that has boggled minds for decades. Nine experienced hikers started an expedition meant to earn a hiking certificate but ended up claiming the lives of each member. In Dead Mountain a documentarian travels to the very location where the hikers died, studied their journals and photographs and spoke with some of the last people to see them alive. Told in a triple narrative interweaving the known moments of the hikers, the rescue teams efforts to find the students and the author’s visit to Dyatlov Pass over fifty years later. Through the reports at the time and advanced scientific knowledge, he tries to discover what happened on that fateful night.

My Thoughts: Years before I had watched an episode of Expedition Unknown where the host visited the site of Dyatlov group’s disappearance. Ever since seeing that it has been in the back of my mind as a wild mystery that I would love to learn more about. When I saw there was a book looking at the whole story I had to add it to my TBR list.

During our recent snowstorm in January, it felt like an appropriate time to pick this one up. From the very beginning, I was engrossed by the events in each narrative. I thought the way the author interwove all the different points and experiences together was the perfect way to consume the story. At first, I did not think I would care about the author’s trip but I came to find it essential because he was able to re-enact the trip and speak with people who were there in 1959. I cannot imagine how surreal it would be to retrace their steps.

Upon finishing it, I felt like I had more of an understanding of the mystery surrounding the hiker’s deaths. It is such a sad story but a fascinating mystery too. While it would be more interesting for aliens, Russian missiles or a yeti to be involved it is most likely something rather mundane. The conclusions reached by the author at the end seem more than plausible. If you love an unsolved mystery then you should try this. Maybe save it for a cold weekend in order to feel that atmosphere all around you as well.

The Blog Wants to Know: Feb. 2026

February is often a time to connect with a loved one, be it a friend, family member or partner. Whether you celebrate “the season of love” or not, this month’s blog question is sure to get you thinking.

This month, the blog wants to know:

If you could go on a dinner date (either romantic or platonic, your choice) with any character from a book, movie, or TV show, who would it be? What would you and this character talk about? What would you want to ask? Feel free to include more than one character if you’re struggling to narrow it down! 

Maycie, Public Support Services: Romantically — Hello Mr. Henry Tilney! He is my favorite Austen hero. He is snarky, smart and he is an “excellent judge” of muslins so you know you can trust him. 

Platonically — I think it would be very fun to have a night on the town with Merry and Pippin. You have to admit that they prove to know how to have a good time!

Kathy, Public Support Services: It would have to be Sean Connery and I would like to know what it was like growing up in Scotland and how he was selected to be the first James Bond.

Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services: One of my favorite books and films is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and the character of August Boatwright is such a gentle, motherly soul. She’s a beekeeper, a caretaker for her sisters, and a truly independent woman. Every word she says is pure wisdom. I’d love to talk with her and soak in all of her loving energy.

Kristy H., Public Support Services: My favorite person in the whole world is Jim Carey. Since as long as I can remember (all the way back to In Living Color), Jim Carey has always been my rock. Whenever I’m sad or lonely or need someone, he’s there to make me laugh. Never a dull movie! I feel my happiest when I watch him or hear his voice. I would just listen to him talk and talk about him and his day. He’s truly the best person to have a drink or laugh with.

Baya, Youth Services: Book-wise, I’m going to a mystery dinner with my pal Nancy Drew. I would also thank her for three generations of reading—my grandma, my mom, and me. Film-wise, I would love to have coffee at Central Perk with Joey and Chandler. Chandler’s sarcasm is funny, and Joey is endearing. I think they would be really great F.R.I.E.N.D.S to have!

Shane, Public Support Services: I would go with Geralt from the Witcher series. It would be difficult with this character, but I would just want him to talk about being a Witcher and some of his stories of slaying evil creatures. Maybe if we bring Jaskier along, he can do most of the storytelling, accompanied with fantastic music!

Annalise, Public Support Services: I think I would go on a platonic date with Fran Fine from the TV show The Nanny. It’s one of my go-to comfort shows to watch, and I’ve always loved her fun sense of style! So I’d ask her all about her outfits.

Now it’s your turn! Let us know which fictional character you would like to chat with in the comments below!

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