“Upstairs at the White House” by J.B. West with Mary Lynn Kotzis
A memoir from the chief usher at the White House through six consecutive presidents and first ladies. He starts his employment with the Roosevelts and finds Eleanor to be a strong force of nature in accomplishing goals.
After President Roosevelt’s death, the Trumans brought a very different atmosphere to the White House. Along with their daughter, they were a close knit and frugal family.
The Eisenhowers were next. Though this president was very forceful, he and his wife were like high school sweethearts and entertained often. Mamie was not very welcoming to Jacqueline Kennedy. Having just delivered her second baby, Jacqueline was a very hands on mother, yet still managed to cleverly fund a renovation of the White House. She and the author remained friends after the assassination.
The Johnsons brought teenagers to the White House. Both those teenagers and President Johnson seemed to disrespect and take the First Lady for granted; however, after a beautification project, she gained confidence and demanded respect.
J.B. West was only with the Nixons for six weeks when he retired.
“Johnny Appleseed” by Howard Meens
Known for generations in story and song, there was a lot more to Johnny Appleseed than distributing seeds for new trees throughout the countryside. He was a vegetarian and an animal rights activist who wore a tin pot for a hat. He was a bit (or maybe a lot) eccentric, resisting the comforts of life and living a basically homeless existence.
The apples his trees produced were small and tart, but basically very good for hard cider. During the prohibition era, many of his trees were chopped down by the FBI in a move toward promoting temperance.
“The Rainbow Comes and Goes” by Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper tells the story of his mother, the very privileged Gloria Vanderbilt. She was a great-great-great granddaughter of shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. Her father died when she was a baby and her mother left her to be raised by her nanny, DoDo. She was given the moniker “Poor Little Rich Girl.” She lived her life choosing to be a positive person. She was an artist, actress, author and fashion icon.
Anderson Cooper said that writing this book and interviewing his mother brought them closer. This book is available at the GBCL.
“Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert
A visiting reader joined our book group and shared her latest read. Written in 1856, this classic was quite challenging because of the long intricately descriptive language that was customary in those times.
Madame Bovary describes the life of a very self-centered woman who lives beyond her means in order to escape the ennui of provincial life.
This book is available at the GBCL.
“Janis Joplin, Buried Alive” by Myra Friedman
Born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas, Janis was a shy child who grew into an awkward teenager. The girls were cruel to her. She was much more comfortable as “one of the boys.” She would join the boys for wild times in Louisiana.
She was not confident in her own talents and, even though she was a good artist, she became discouraged when she felt someone was better. She almost stopped singing when she heard Judy Collins sing. She moved to San Francisco and made history in the world of rock and roll.
“When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris
The title is derived from a sign David Sedaris encountered while in a Tokyo Hotel. It tickled his funny bone and prompted this series of hilarious vignettes, including his struggle to quit smoking.
If you need a good laugh, pick up this book or any of his other observations on life, including “MeTalk Pretty One Day.”
“Klee Wyck” by Emily Carr
Klee Wyck is a memoir by Canadian artist Emily Carr. Through short sketches, the artist tells ofher experiences among First Nations people and cultures on British Columbia’s west coast. The bookwon the 1941 Governor General’s Award and occupies an important place in Canadian literature.
“The Big Rock Candy Mountain” by Wallace Stegner
This is a 1943 semi-autobiographical novel by American writer Wallace Stegner. It follows the life of the Mason family (Bo and Elsa with their sons Chester and Bruce) during the early 20th century in the United States and Canada.
The fictional family in the book, like Stegner’s family during hischildhood, frequently moves to different cities in pursuit of various financial schemes that never work out. The novel also matches Stegner’s family history in some of the specific locations he lived, including Saskatchewan and Salt Lake City. The novel is named after the folk song “The Big Rock Candy Mountain,” which is about a mythical paradise.
“The Late Homecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” by Kao Kalia Yang
From the mountainous jungles of Laos to the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota, the heartbreaking journey of a family and a culture comes to life in words and images.
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the Hmong people, allies of the Americans, are the target of genocidal plots by the Viet Cong, Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge. To survive they must traverse the wild Mekong River to Thailand where many refugees spent many years. Kao was born in a Thai refugee camp.
A very compelling account of the what it means to be a refugee. This book was selected by the NationalEndowment of the Arts
Next Meeting of Book Break – August 14, 2026, 10:30 a.m. The topic is Fantasy.