Back when I could stay up later than 9:30 p.m., I occasionally watched Late Night with David Letterman. The late-night talk show ran for 33 years, from 1982 to 2015. Those familiar with the program may remember Letterman’s Top Ten Lists. The lists were regular segments…

Thirteen years ago – when she was 65 years old – Barbara Pagano stumbled on a longevity website. She plugged in her basic health information, along with her family’s diseases and history, and pressed submit. What popped up on the screen was her proposed…

This December I had some surgery and was laid up for a while. Because I knew my “taking it easy” wasn’t for an indefinite amount of time, curling up on the couch every day with my blanket, tea, and book was glorious. I read and read and read. And I started thinking…

For most of us – when we were younger – the holidays produced excited squeals and bright smiles and eyes shining with wide-eyed wonder. We marked off the days on the calendar, counting the sleeps until Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever big day we…

I love it when a friend or family member gifts me a book. With so many choices in bookshops and online stores, it’s a fun way to discover new authors or subject matter that might not otherwise appear on my radar. Here are a few favorites I’ve read recently…

In our younger days, I’d watch the older couples next to us in restaurants – and I’d vow we’d never be like them. Those folks who sat across from each other and ate their meals in silence…

Book clubs – both online and in person – offer camaraderie, thought-provoking discussions, and introductions to authors and books we might not otherwise discover. My online book group came together during the pandemic…

Browsing a bookshop not long ago, a bookseller raved about a newly released novel. She could not say enough good things about the book. So, I bought it. Well, despite her high praise and the hundreds of stellar reviews online, it was not the book for me…

I am a mood reader. Sometimes I like a mystery or a thriller. Other times, I crave historical fiction. But during the summer, when I’m heading off on vacation or a weekend getaway, I prefer a quick, fun read – a book that keeps me turning the pages…

A couple of weeks ago, I had some minor surgery. All is well, but I could not bend, stoop, lift, twist, or ride in a car while recuperating. The silver lining? These constraints gave me the perfect excuse to pull on my sweats, curl up on the couch, and read…