Well Rounded Stack
I love this list of books… nonfiction, medical fiction, historical fiction and contemporary fiction – something for everyone! And then, take a break and visit an emergency room through your tv with some great medical shows. You will realize how fortunate you are to be lying on your couch!
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
According to Mel Robbins, “Let Them” is what we should say to ourselves when others do not say, act or think what we want. She believes we waste so much energy worrying about what other people are doing, thinking, saying and how they perceive us, when we really should be concentrating on ourselves to become happier, healthier and more productive. We have no control over other people, but we do have access to our own emotions, thoughts and behaviors so why not make the effort to be the best we can be and not waste so much energy focusing on others. It can be a freeing feeling when you make the decision to not allow yourself to be stressed out on behalf of, or in response to someone else, and potentially life changing, too.
More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
A NYC college student with bipolar disorder and an interest in stand up comedy – this is Lisa Genova’s latest main character in her new novel, More or Less Maddy. With drastic mood swings and a roller coaster of emotions, Maddy and her family attempt to navigate the challenges of this difficult mental health diagnosis from different angles. As she struggles to come to terms with her identity, Maddy chooses to pursue a nontraditional path of late night comedy gigs, creating angst for her loved ones. Genova, a Harvard trained neuroscientist, can always be counted on to empathetically tackle complicated health issues in her storytelling, giving the reader a greater understanding and insight.
The Trade Off by Samantha Greene Woodruff
1920s… lower east side… Bea graduated college and wants to utilize her math skills and work on Wall Street. Back in that day, poor, Jewish women had no place in business or analyzing the stock market so Bea has to figure out a way to make her dreams come true so she and her twin brother execute a plan to reclaim the wealth their parents left behind when they fled Russia. With the excitement of potential prosperity, their ambition converts to fear as they face the immenent stock market crash. Things do not go as planned and Bea has to take matters into her own hands to save the family. In The Trade Off, author Sam Woodruff skillfully tells us a story of courage, perseverance and unique family dynamics.
Turkey sandwiches, swimming pools and zany characters who’s lives are all intertwined….this is what you can expect from author Marcy Dermansky! Rachel, a white college student has an affair with her Indian professor, Zahid. He then, has an affair with Rachel’s divorced mother, Becca when he moves in with mom and daughter for the summer. During that strange time he rents his apartment to an African American lesbian, Khloe, who works for Rachel’s dad (who is having an affiar with Mandy, a flight attendant). Khloe’s twin sister, Kristi had a relationship with the professor, Zahid in the past. And that’s not even half of it! Obsessed with Dermansky’s writing style, characters and humorous delivery after reading Hot Air and Hurricane Girl, I tackled Very Nice, an earlier book, and was thrilled to feel entertained once again!
TV for Medical Show Lovers
A big fan of ER, Chicago Med, Brilliant Minds, Transplant and of course, Grey’s Anatomy, I was drawn to these two shows and although they are very different, neither disappointed!
Complicated residents in this Miami trauma center engage in romance, tackle family issues and we learn of something big that happened between two characters as it is told through flashbacks. Fun fact, Dr. Harper Simms, sister of the main character who is in a wheelchair, is played by actress Jessie Yates. Yates is a graduate of Yale School of Drama, the first wheelchair user to graduate. I enjoyed the chemistry between the cast members and hope there will be a second season.
Be prepared to see bleeding, sweating, crying, peeing, birthing and dying in the 15 hours you will spend in the ER with Noah Wylie and his team of med students, attendings, surgeons, nurses and patients. As they treat patients, develop relationships with each other and tackle so many current issues that relate to ISES, vaccines, law enforcement, mass shootings, health practitioner burn out and more, you will be right along side them feeling all the feels. I binge watched with one eye…so bloody good!
And Save the Date for Book Nation Book Club 4/23 at 8pm on Zoom!
