Hatching Twitter: A true story of money, power, friendship, and betrayal

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Are you on Twitter?

A group of four guys who had previously failed at various start-up companies in Silicon Valley in the 90’s create a social network app that rivals Facebook in that it connects people from all over the world with little to no parameters and/or restrictions.  What could possibly go wrong?

Well, everything goes wrong.  From its conception, there has always been a power struggle among Twitter’s creators.  The general idea of Twitter was the result of an impromptu conversation in the front seat of a car between two guys after a night of drinking and partying.  From that moment on, it has been a push and shove power struggle between each of the co-founders that includes but is not limited to back-stabbing, lying, misleading, and cheating.

This is the story of a social network app that revolutionized how we communicate.  Twitter has played an integral part in connecting people around the world.  It has started wars.  It has ended wars.  It has represented the strongest forms of human connection.  It has broken up marriages.  It has affected the outcome of both national and international elections.  It’s fun.  It’s dangerous.  And, behind the scenes of the company whose net worth is billions of dollars, it is even messier…

Trigger warnings: Language, drug references

Why I read it: Recommendation from a friend

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

The Island

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Tom, his wife Heather, and his two kids Olivia and Owen are on vacation in Australia where Tom, a respected orthopedic surgeon, is expected to give a speech at a doctor’s convention.  Olivia and Owen are still mourning the unexpected and tragic death of their mother as they adjust to Heather, their new stepmom.  On an afternoon drive, the makeshift family stops at a roadside stand where they inquire about places to see Australian wildlife.  The two men who greet them also encourage them to visit their family’s island which is not only off the beaten path, but it is very much off the grid.  On the ferry ride over, Heather quickly discovers that her cell phone doesn’t work and, although they are only a mile from the mainland, they might as well be on a totally different planet as the island is completely isolated from civilization.  During their one hour “self-guided tour” on the island before they are expected back on the ferry, a tragic accident causes them to panic.  A series of very unfortunate events leads to the realization that they are not as alone on the island as they originally thought.  The inhabitants of the island operate under their own jurisdiction, and they have no intention of letting their guests leave alive.  An intense game of cat and mouse follows where the roles of hunter and hunted change with every turn of the page.  They must learn to listen to each other, listen to the land, and listen to their own instincts if they are to have any chance of survival.  However, just when you think you fully know a character in this book, well, think again.

Trigger warnings: Murder, unexpected death, violence, language

Why I read it: Recommendation from a friend

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

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I love Matthew Perry.  I loved this book.  I almost *really* loved this book (see my thoughts below in the next section.  They don’t contain spoilers).

It takes a lot of guts to open yourself up to a world that knows you, loves, you, and fully sees you as the hilarious Chandler Bing who can make you laugh until you cry simply by changing the emphasis of a random word in an otherwise insignificant rhetorical question.  He shares (and over shares) about his tumultuous upbringing, tumultuous rise to fame, tumultuous love life, tumultuous struggle with alcohol and prescription drugs…are we sensing a pattern here?  He begins telling his life story about the unstable family life into which he was born and continues by describing his childhood where he never quite felt like he belonged in his mom’s life or his dad’s life.  He catalogs his ascension to fame which was riddled with lots of opiates, lots of alcohol, lots of cigarettes, lots of women, lots of famous people, and lots and lots and lots of rehab.  His story is as difficult as a breakup with Janice (if you know, you know), but it’s his story to tell, and he does not hold back.  (READ ON BELOW…I don’t give spoilers here)

Trigger warnings: Language, drug use, sexual content, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle

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In the height of WWII in Britain, everyone was expected to do their part to support the Nazi defeat in Europe.  The war fundamentally and permanently changed England’s social hierarchy.  Germany’s Blitz on Europe didn’t distinguish between upper and lower class citizens as all people regardless of status had to share bomb shelters, and people were left figuring out their new roles in the reorganized ladder of society.

When Cressida Westcott’s upscale apartment and fashion design office were destroyed by a Nazi air raid in downtown London, she is forced to find a temporary residence in the countryside at her family’s manor.  As the black sheep of the family who refused to conform to her family’s traditional expectations, Cressida knew she was less than welcome to stay at the manor while her brother was alive; however, his recent death means that the manor is now under the management of Hugh, her nephew who splits his time between his landlord duties in the country and a political career in London.  Violet, her niece who is fully invested in the old way of life that honors English nobility and prides itself on royal bloodlines and strategic marriages, is more than happy to have her chic aunt stay with them.  During her stay, Violet introduces Cressida to Grace, a simple girl who is the vicar’s daughter and is engaged to a clergyman ten years her senior, and the rest of the local sewing circle which is made of a group of women who find comfort and camaraderie during their weekly meetings where they do their patriotic duty by sewing and repurposing old clothes to accommodate the fabric and clothes rations imposed during the war.  Grace’s impending nuptials prompt her to search for and find her deceased mother’s wedding dress which, to her disappointment, was disintegrating due to years of moths feasting on it in the attic.  As they, along with the rest of the sewing circle members, commit to working on the wedding dress to prepare for the big day, Cressida, Violet, and Grace, respectively, embark on a personal journey toward self-discovery as they each navigate their way through this unprecedented time in history.  Through their unique and individual experiences, they each realize that the only things of which they can be certain are life’s uncertainties.

Why I read it: My Book of the Month pick

Trigger warnings: N/A

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

Jacqueline in Paris

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Before she was Jackie Kennedy, First Lady of the United States, she was Jacqueline Bouvier, Queen Deb (debutante) in 1947, a product of a modest upbringing with divorced parents and an overbearing mother who is intent on finding her daughter a suitable and prestigious man with whom to form a strategic (and perhaps even loving) union.  In her prime courting years, however, Jacqueline is intent on spending a year studying in Paris where she can fully immerse herself in the culture of a war-torn country a half of a world away.  Her strong French heritage has always played a key role in her fascination with France, and she thinks there is no better time than now to go on this adventure of a lifetime.  Her time in Paris is one filled with learning, love, loss, confusion, fear, delight, wonder, and sincere appreciation.  With the Allied victory against the Axis powers being less than a decade ago, Jacqueline finds herself in a country that is slowly trying to pick up the pieces after fighting two, devastating wars in twenty years.  Her host family has their share of secrets surrounding their involvement with the Resistance, and Jacqueline quickly finds herself at the threshold of the world’s newest conflict involving Russia, spies, and nuclear weapons.  Young idealists who sympathize with Communist ideology challenge her democratic tendencies, and she is both fascinated with and confused by this struggle between two very different groups who both believe their way of thinking is the only way forward for France.  Jacqueline’s experiences are shaped not only by the political climate at the time, but also through the company with whom she keeps.  Her French and American friends and lover are all significant characters with whom she establishes such deep and meaningful connections that enables her to find out more about herself in 12 months than she knew about herself in the past 20 years.  When she returns to America following her coursework abroad, she brings with her a lifelong appreciation for France as well as the knowledge that would be necessary in the future as she accompanied her husband, the President of the United States, to France on diplomatic visits.

Why I read it:  My book of the month subscription pick

Trigger warnings: mild sexual content

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

We are the light

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Need some light?  Be the light!  And, never deny the presence of your guardian angel.

Lucas Goodgame is a high school counselor who survived an unthinkable tragedy that rocked the small town of Majestic.  A disturbed teenager, someone who Lucas had counseled at school, opened fire in a crowded movie theater assassinating movie theater patrons in an “every other” pattern as they sat in their seats.  Months after the unthinkable tragedy that took the life of his beloved wife, Lucas notices a camping tent go up in his backyard that is inhabited by none other than Eli, the younger brother of the killer (I know, it’s a weird premise…but oh so good!  Bear with me).  As they begin to rely on each other to mentally heal from intense trauma, both Lucas and Eli come up with the idea to bring together not only the survivors of the Majestic Massacre but the entire town through a collaborative project in a showing of strength and solidarity.  As they unite in their grief, they also unite in their commitment to move on and reclaim their friends, their city, and their emotional stability.  It is only when Lucas grasps the idea of his future beyond the haze of trauma that he realizes his grasp of the past is just as muddled, confused, and uncertain.

Trigger warnings: Violence, suicide, details involving a massacre, mild language, mild sexual content

Why I read it: It was my Book of the Month pick

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

Home Front

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Jolene was no stranger to tough times and heartache.  She was left to fend for herself when her alcoholic parents were killed in a car crash when she was 17, and the wounds from that traumatic time never fully healed; however, she was left with a certain sense of personal responsibility when it came to choosing happiness over despair moving forward in life.  All day, every day, Jolene chose happiness.  What once was an endearing quality that attracted Michael (her husband) to Jolene turned redundant and…essentially annoying…as the years passed by in their marriage.  They had hit a new low as a couple.  Their pre-teen daughter was struggling to survive middle school growing pains and friendship betrayals, Michael’s case load as a lawyer was growing by the second and, to top it all off, the spark that had once ignited their relationship eventually burned-out leaving Michael angry and Jolene hurt.  Amid her personal woes, Jolene served her country as a military helicopter pilot, but was currently in the Reserves when she received the call to serve alongside her best friend, Tami (also a pilot in the Reserves) in Operation Iraqi Freedom half a world away from her family.  As nobody in her family supports her and her chosen career, Jolene reluctantly leaves her family in turmoil as she serves her sworn military duty in fighting for freedom.   Michael is hardly prepared for life as a single dad, and his world is further turned upside down when the unthinkable happens.  It will take changes of heart, forgiveness, acceptance, and an unimaginable amount of strength and commitment to repair the damage of a broken resolve as well as a broken heart.

Why I read it: Recommendation from a friend

Trigger warnings: PTSD, substance abuse, mild language, war/battle scenes

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

Nine Perfect Strangers

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A group of strangers struggling in various aspects of life are voluntarily locked inside a wellness retreat that uses risky and unprecedented emotional and psychological healing techniques to reach an advanced stage of enlightenment.  What could possibly go wrong?

This book follows the experiences of nine people; some are related to each other, and the rest are single. Each character brings their own backstory, complication, mystery, and drama.  The one thing they all agree upon is trusting Masha, a corporate woman turned health guru, and her two young proteges with their collective journeys toward healing and enlightenment over a 10-day period at the Tranquillium House.  What starts as junk food detox meals and morning yoga sessions turns into highly emotional therapy sessions.  Things then take a very weird turn when Masha requires them to participate in truly disturbing activities all in the name of trying to achieve mental clarity, acute understanding, and universal acceptance.  When they realize their healing retreat is more dangerous than any of them could ever imagine, it may be too late.

Why I read it: Recommendation in a Facebook book group

Trigger warnings: language, sexual content, drugs, suicide

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

All I ask

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It’s all about the timing.

Tegan was the most well-known girl in her small-town high school.  She was beautiful, popular, and…frankly…quite mean.  True to the stereotype, she was dating the star of the high school team and, together with her trio of mean girls, they ran the school.  As luck would have it, she was assigned to be a math tutor for one of the “nerdy kids,” Derek.  Their first sessions were less than pleasant as they had very little in common, and Tegan was not ready to confront his brutal honesty when he called her out for being incredibly rude.  However, over the course of their years in high school, they became the best of friends.  It seemed obvious to everyone else that their friendship was turning in to something more, but, the timing; they could just never get it right.  They graduated and attended separate colleges while staying committed to their close friendship. Derek had a string of girlfriends, and Tegan was stuck in a dead-end relationship with her high school “sweetheart.”  Tegan was planning to break up with her long-time boyfriend when she discovered she was pregnant.  After Tegan announced her pregnancy to him, Derek realized that their relationship would never be more than a close friendship.  Their paths took different directions, and they grew apart.  He married another girl, they had a baby, and Derek and Tegan’s friendship ultimately dissolved after one devastating phone call.

Fast forward thirteen years, and Tegan and Derek’s fated paths crossed again.  After a horrific tragedy, Derek found himself back in his hometown and forced to confront Tegan who was still deeply hurt by the way their friendship ended.  There were so many obstacles they must overcome to repair their friendship, and even more drama awaited them when their two teenagers became enemies at school.  On their quest to revive their practically deceased friendship, they realized they both want more from their relationship than just a good friend.  It’s a race against their horrible timing to see if they can finally be who everyone thought they should be so many years ago.

  • Why I read it: Sent to me by a member of one of my book clubs on Facebook
  • Trigger warnings: Language, sexual content

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)

Winter Garden

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Well, she does it again.

Meredith is struggling.  Her oldest child is on her way to becoming a doctor, and her youngest child is beginning her freshman year of college.  This should be one of the easiest and happiest times of her life; yet, she is having a hard time adjusting to her role as an empty nester.  Her marriage, while strong in its longevity, is in a free-fall as it struggles to survive the inevitable changes experienced when the baby of the family leaves home.  She works overtime at her family’s orchard that was started by her father upon his return from serving in World War II.

Nina is struggling.  She works crazy hours in third world countries as a contracted photographer always looking for the perfect shot that accurately conveys the suffering unknown to many in America.  She is in a relationship, but it’s hardly stable as she finds it hard to commit to the idea of a seemingly boring domestic future that her sister, Meredith, has whole heartedly embraced.

Even though Meredith and Nina are sisters, the similarities between the two are few and far between.  It is hard to find any common ground except for the love and devotion they both feel for their father.  The girls’ childhood has been stained by the harsh words and actions of their mother, a Russian immigrant named Anya whose affection they have been deprived as she keeps them at a safe emotional distance and destroys their perception of love and acceptance through her emotional outbursts and confusing reactions.

To make things worse, their beloved father is terminally ill.  His dying wish is for his daughters to not only reconcile with each other, but also with their mother who seems to be stumbling mentally between reality and fantasy.  Their father insists the only way for all 3 girls to understand each other is for their mother to continue telling them an old Russian fairy tale that she recited to the girls as children complete with dragons, black knights, and other mythical creatures and structures.  Attempting to honor his wishes, Anya agrees to finally tell the conclusion of the Russian fairy tale, except, the girls are beginning to wonder if this story is more fact than fiction.  As Anya tells of unthinkable atrocities, the sisters are brought together to find out the truth about themselves, their father, and their mother whom they discover has secrets as deep as an ocean and as dark as a Russian winter.

  • Why I read this book: Recommendation in a Facebook group
  • Trigger Warnings: violence, tragedy, mild sexual conduct

My thoughts (may contain spoilers)