Book Nook Cafe discussion

1- Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics-H.W. Brands

2- Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America-Rick Perlstein

✅3- 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in History--and How It Shattered a Nation-Andrew Ross Sorkin READ April

✅4- Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice-Virginia Roberts Giuffre READ February

✅ 5- Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches from a Changing World-Elizabeth Kolbert READ February

✅6- Things in Nature Merely Grow-Yiyun Li - READ February

✅7- The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon's Enduring Impact on America-Mark Whitaker - READ February

✅8-One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This-Omar El Akkad
READ January

9- Heartwood-Amity Gaige

10- Wisdom Takes Work: Learn. Apply. Repeat.-Ryan Holiday

Here is my 2026 Determination List !

Nine of the books are non fiction and Heartwood is the only fiction on the list.

Good selection, Alias. Best of luck in completing them all.

Thank you, Deb !

I'm looking forward to tackling it along with my Presidential challenge and our BNC 2026 book challenge. I tried to select books on a range of topics.

I did well with the 3 challenges in 2025, so I suspect I will do well in 2026. And this time I won't have a year long War & Peace to deal with !

Yes, W&P was quite an accomplishment this year!

Have fun with your challenge hunt.

I checked off two from my Determination List !

.✅6- Things in Nature Merely Grow-Yiyun Li READ February

✅7- The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon's Enduring Impact on America-Mark Whitaker - READ February

Alias Reader wrote: "I checked off two from my Determination List !

.✅6- Things in Nature Merely Grow-Yiyun Li READ February

✅7- The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon's Enduring Impact on America-Mark Wh..."

Congratulations, Alias! That's pretty heavy reading, but important reading.

Impressive, Alias, as it's only 8 days into the new month!

madrano wrote: "Impressive, Alias, as it's only 8 days into the new month!"

Thank you, deb.

I'm in a bit of a quandary.

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice---Virginia Roberts Giuffre

This book is on my Determination List. I've read about 25%. (100 pages)

The problem is reading what this poor girl went through is just brutal. I knew going in what her story was. However, this is so graphic.

Her father repeatedly molested her. Then he trafficked her to a neighbor. Then two other boys raped her. I just got to the horrific part where Epstein and Maxwell both abuse her.

I really don't know if I can read more. The book is 400 pages. I have 300 to go. I really hate to give up on one of my DL books. However, so far, it's just page after page of horrific things happening to this young girl. It's heartbreaking.

I'm debating if I should just read a bit more and see if the story line changes a bit since I am in the Epstein section.

Has anyone here read it? It's on the bestseller list.

Is it fair to sub in another book?

No one should read a book they don’t want to. It is fair to sub in another book. I also think at 25% there is no need to sub in another book. Mark it “DNF 25%” and consider it read.

Denise wrote: "No one should read a book they don’t want to. It is fair to sub in another book. I also think at 25% there is no need to sub in another book. Mark it “DNF 25%” and consider it read."

It's not that the book is poorly written or bad. It's just the graphic abuse is difficult to read. Maybe if it was shorter.

I don't have another book ready for me from the library. So maybe I'll give it another 25 pages and see.

Thanks for letting me off the hook, Denise. I will feel better if I have to DNF. If it wasn't one of my Determination List books, I wouldn't hesitate.

Alias, i agree with Denise, there is no need to continue with it if it's that disturbing.

And i thank you for this post, as i was thinking i should read the book for the sake of all this woman experienced. But maybe i just don't need that many details.

As for subbing another, i wouldn't bother. For me, i think you have given it a good try and "determined" you cannot bear further details. No need to substitute.

madrano wrote: "Alias, i agree with Denise, there is no need to continue with it if it's that disturbing.

And i thank you for this post, as i was thinking i should read the book for the sake of all this woman exp..."

I read some more last night as I didn't have a library book available to me yet. I'm at 46% It's a bit better. I wanted to read the book to be better informed since Epstein is a major news event.

On the positive side, this morning a library book I was waiting on came in. So I'll be able to take breaks from this book.

The beginning of the book which details the horrific childhood this poor girl suffered was just so terrible to read never mind live through it like she did. It's like she never had a chance for a decent life.

It's sad to think about so many children who start out in life like this.

I find it particularly upsetting when people one is supposed to be able to trust: parents, teachers, police, priests who take advantage of this power and abuse helpless children. It makes me so angry.

Also to know hardly anyone has gone to jail for this is also so upsetting.

It sounds as though someone could have edited the book better, so readers aren't blown away by the awful things which happened to her. Yet, as you note, there are many, many children for whom "this is life". I cannot imagine.

Your concluding sentence states it all, for me. Way too many get away with it, as far as the criminal justice system is concerned. A friend & i were discussing the topic, particularly of incest, and our time in South Dakota.

Our feminist group had a task force which spoke in rural communities on this issue. We were stunned when we realized how prevalent incest is. And the abused were the ones asking us to tell no one. They were relieved to say the words aloud and to know they weren't alone. It is so sad.

Almost as true today now, as it was in the '80s.

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice

The beginning 30% is pretty brutal. However, it's important to know what happened so the reader can understand her actions later on.

After the first 30% the book then moves on to her marriage, kids and the legal case against Epstein. I still have 100 pages left to read.

Thanks for the continued comments, Alias. I realized that i need to read this, or stop complaining about sexual abuse. This is a victim, speaking.

I finished reading this book from my 2026 Determination List.

✅4- Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice-Virginia Roberts Giuffre READ February

This is a memoir/autobiography by Virginia Giuffre. It was published in 2025 after her death at the age of 41.

Most people probably already know her name as one of the many young girls sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. I won't go into details. However, I wanted to mention that Virginia also was sexually abused at a very young age by her father. He then gave her to another man to abuse. Unfortunately, her mother basically turned a blind eye to what was going on. Virginia was sent away to a treatment center, marketed as a "tough-love" program. While there she was raped by two boys. After a start like this, Virginia never had chance in life. Everyone failed this poor girl.

The first third of the book is difficult reading. The rest of the book is about her marriage, kids, and the legal battle she bravely fought. It's important to read the first part to understand the rest of Virginia's actions. The book quotes a line from writher Helen Rosner. "Memoir is the art of shining a light behind you, picking at the stitches of your life to see how it was made."

She notes at the end of the book one of her sons friend and mom came to house for a visit. I thought this was an important takeaway.

"Realizing who Virginia was, she said, 'it's okay, we don't have to talk about it. It's probably embarrassing.'

I kept smiling, even though inside I felt an old twinge: Why should I be ashamed? I'd been a child when I was abused by adults. 'No, it's not embarrassing, ' I replied. And we should be talking about it. Because this is happening out there, and it's going to continue to happen unless we talk about it."

That is why this heartbreaking book is important to read.

In 2000, her father was a maintenance worker at Trump's Mar-a Largo club in Palm Beach. He got Virginia a job there as a locker room attendant. That is where Maxwell spotted her and lured her into the Epstein web.

In 2002 she fell in love and married. She told Epstein she wasn't coming back to the U.S.. She lived in Australia with her husband. Though she feared retribution daily if she spoke out about the abuse. She had three children.

Giuffre also had many serious medical issue in life. This included PTSD as she had to tell her story over and over as she tried to fight for justice in the courts. Still, she bravely tried to fight on until the very end. At this point she was also taking pain pills and tried to kill herself twice. Ultimately in 2025 she committed suicide.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text. 988

Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre

Denise wrote: "Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre"

If it weren't for Guiffre none of these people would be held accountable.

"Guiffre's family has since shared a statement thanking British police for taking action.

"At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty," Giuffre's siblings — Sky and Amanda Roberts and Danny and Lanette Wilson — said in the statement posted to Facebook."

https://people.com/virginia-giuffre-f...

Alias Reader wrote: "And we should be talking about it. Because this is happening out there, and it's going to continue to happen unless we talk about it."

That is why this heartbreaking book is important to read...."

I've edited the above because this is why i have requested the book from my library. I'm just naive enough to hope that if we don't let this Epstein crap drop, people might actually realize the trauma these women have experienced. IF we don't talk about it, we never will, as it's uncomfortable and easy to brush under the rug.

Thank you for sharing, Alias. What a tough completion of a prompt.

Denise wrote: "Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre"

Thanks to you & Alias for writing about this. My mind wonders to this particular man...did he just think he merited this? That, of course, women, even children, were charmed by the idea of a Prince? And then what of those sad females who believed in fairy tales where the Prince saved them? My heart breaks, thinking of their victims.

madrano wrote: "Denise wrote: "Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre"

Thanks to you & Alias for writing about this. My mind wonders to this pa..."

My concern is that now that we have the "bigger picture" stories coming out (e.g., Andew and trade secret documents) that the experiences of the victims will be lost in the shuffle.

Susan from MD wrote: "madrano wrote: "Denise wrote: "Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre"

Thanks to you & Alias for writing about this. My mind wo..."

I think you may be right. Sadly. The news devoted a lot of time yesterday to Epstein's relationship with Les Wexner, the man who brought us The Limited, Bath and Body Words, Victoria's Secret, and more. Democrats flew to Columbus to depose Wexner, now 88, at his New Albany mansion. Although Wexner has always said he had no idea what Epstein was involved in, he visited the island and other Epstein residences. Epstein even had Wexner's Power of Attorney for years and access to all of his money. Now, Wexner is trying to play the victim. I'm not buying it. You don't be best buddies with someone for decades and give them power over all your billions and not know what they are up to. And Virginia Giuffre said Wexner was one of the men Epstien offered her to.

Most of my family members live in central Ohio, not far from Les. They've taken me on drives in the area, but you can't see anything from the road, only his white picket fence and guard houses.

It seems like Virginia Giuffre really had no chance in life. Things seemed to always conspire to make her a very vulnerable woman. I really hope T. does not pardon Maxwell. I was so glad to read Denise's post that Andrew was taken into custody. Maybe there is some hope.

The very fact that young women can be groomed by lowlifes like Epstein and Maxwell shows me that children need to be given unconditional love (not approval) when young and a strong sense of their own self-worth.

Edit: your should have been young. Corrected now.

Bella wrote:

I was so glad to read Denise's post that Andrew was taken into custody. Maybe there is some hope...."

He has been released. Apparently that is what the law requires in England.

"after roughly 11 hours of questioning on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released "under investigation," meaning he was not charged, but the investigation into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein continues. This is standard UK law, where police must charge or release suspects within 24–96 hours."

"Prince Andrew paid an undisclosed, "substantial" amount to Virginia Giuffre in February 2022 to settle her civil sexual assault lawsuit out of court."

Alias Reader wrote: "Bella wrote:

I was so glad to read Denise's post that Andrew was taken into custody. Maybe there is some hope...."

He has been released. Apparently that is what the law requires in England.

"..."

Thank you for the update, Alias.

Isn't the same thing true in the US? Once in custody, the police must either charge or release a person? Here's what Google's AI gave me:

"In the United States, individuals taken into police custody without a warrant must generally be charged or released within 48 hours. This 48-hour period, often referred to as the Gerstein hearing window, requires a judge to determine if probable cause exists for the detention. Failure to meet this timeframe usually results in the person's release, though some jurisdictions may have slight variations in procedural rules (e.g., 24-72 hours)."

Although the Italian Constitution "guarantees" much the same, 96 hours, it isn't always put into practice, and one can wait more than a year or two for trial. Andrew's lucky to be in England. Lucky for Andrew, that is.

As for Les Wexner, who gave Epstein a billion dollars, if he really enabled him, I hope Les goes to prison even if he is eighty-eight. To my way of thinking, which I admit isn't always right by any means, one doesn't give another power over a ten billion dollar fortune unless one knows and trusts that person well. I am very slow to anger, but I am very angry with Les Wexner now. I know he gives a lot of money to charity (tax breaks) but that doesn't absolve his role in abusing innocent young girls whose only problem was feeling unloved, disrespected, or are simply too young to know involvement with Epstein could only lead to ruin and long-term suffering. These young girls did nothing wrong. Victim shaming needs to stop.

madrano wrote: "Denise wrote: "Prince Andrew has been taken into custody this am for connections to Epstein that may have involved Giuffre"

Thanks to you & Alias for writing about this. My mind wonders to this pa..."

I think he did feel entitled, Deb, because of his, at that time, status as a Prince of the UK and his mother's power as Queen, and a well-respected Queen at that. Andrew was her favorite child, he was spoiled. She contributed money to settle Giuffre's lawsuit against Andrew, The amount she contributed is debatable. Some say US$2.7 million, which was nothing to the late Queen. Sad. I feel for Virginia. I feel sad that I couldn't give her some of my "no one can make me a victim" mindset.

Man is the author of evil, most certainly, to my way of thinking. (I'm not asking anyone to agree with me.)

I'm sure Epstein etc. will be in the news a long time, so I guess maybe move further discussion to the General Discussion thread.
However, if anyone reads the book, I would be interested in your thoughts on it.

Getting back to my 2026 Determination List,

My next read for this thread will be

Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches from a Changing World by Elizabeth Kolbert

I'm excited to read this one as I've read her two other books and they were 5 star reads.

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future

Alias Reader wrote: "I'm sure Epstein etc. will be in the news a long time, so I guess maybe move further discussion to the General Discussion thread.
However, if anyone reads the book, I would be interested in your t..."

LOL--we really added to your original post, didn't we? It's tough to not have opinions on this one.

Thanks for the redirection, Alias.

I hope the next Kolbert book is as full of information as the last two.

#23
Susan from MD wrote: "My concern is that now that we have the "bigger picture" stories coming out (e.g., Andew and trade secret documents) that the experiences of the victims will be lost in the shuffle...."

Good point, Susan.

I should be ashamed to write this, but i hope those victims, the Real Reason the Files were made public, keep up the pressure. No One but them are the victims. And no one issue should push them aside, as much as editors/writers, presidents, politicians desire this.

Stay Strong!

I checked off another prompt. I'm halfway done with my DL !

✅ 5- Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches from a Changing World-Elizabeth Kolbert READ February

Wow! You're zipping along on this list. 😊

Thank you, Susan.

Kudos, Alias! You have half the list completed already!

Thanks, deb.

I checked off another book off my 2026 Determination list !

✅3- 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in History--and How It Shattered a Nation-Andrew Ross Sorkin READ April