Homeland Elegies – Akhtar is an incredible writer.  This book is a personal examination of America, race, prejudice, and immigration.  A must-read.

Transcendent Kingdom – If you have not read Gyasi’s first novel, Homegoing, read it.  Transcendent Kingdom is a story of family, addiction, history, and race.  A worthy read.  She is an incredible writer.

The Keepers of the House – Seven generations of a white Southern family’s long-buried secret comes to light.  A story of family, racial injustice and history.  Grau won the Pulitzer for this book in 1964

Kindred – A black woman from the 20th Century, who is married to a white man, is brought back in time to her slave-owning ancestor.  Butler uses science fiction to make us all wonder how could anyone be a slave.  An incredible read and certainly notable for this time although written in 2004.

The Book of Eating: Adventures in Professional Gluttony – Adam Platts first adventures as a kid in the global world of food to today.  He takes us through the history of dining from the 80s until now and how it is changed.  Definitely a worthy read as we start to think more about what is the future of hospitality going to look like.

Amazon – An incredible debut novel.  The story of a young woman exploring her life after losing her mother.  Set in Northern India with historical references to the religious issues that create havoc in that part of the world.  Great read.

Arbitrary Stupid Goal – A wonderful book that brings you back to the times when NYC was very different.  We kinda need to return.

Long Bright River – A thriller around drugs and family.  Quick summer read.

Notes from A Black Chef – Great read.  Hungry, competitive, driven chef.  Seeing the hospitality restaurant world through his eyes is a worthy read.

A Burning – Debut novel about how the criminal system works in India.  Rising from the poor to the middle class.  Great read.  Expect more from Megha Majumdar.

A Small Town – Unclear how this ended up in my feed but I read it.  A serious page-turner about a jail break out and the aftermath.  Not sure I could recommend it as it is so counter-intuitive to what is happening on the streets right now.  I want to believe most people are not that awful.

The Dutch House – I started this at the beginning of COVID and then put it down.  I couldn’t focus.  I returned and glad I did.  An interesting story about family, survival and the choices you make.