Staff Picks

by Toscana Staff

"One book that has always stuck with me and always recommended is The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum. To many, he is considered a hack who mass-produced novel after novel, but The Osterman Weekend was riveting! Though I must say, the movie adaptation was awful and not worth your time; it doesn't give the book justice!" -Mark Gatchell, Lifestyle Director

"It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff is a great read if you are looking to become not only a more effective leader, but also a servant leader. His stories about how he turned his ship around to make it the best run ship in the Navy is truly inspiring. " -Nicole Careaga, Community Manager

"Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds, because who doesn't like a story about chickens making salsa?" -Daniel Renteria, Maintenance Supervisor

"I have been a huge fan of Stephen King’s work since I was about 12 or 13 years old. I was one of those kids that read the book under the covers with a flashlight after being told to go to bed. It’s hard to pick a favorite, although a couple times I read a book, then rented the movie to see where the differences were. Of course, the book it always better! I did that with Pet Cemetery and Misery. I love these kind of scary books that you can’t put down as you NEED to know what happens next!" -Saffron Caudle, Community Patrol/Admin

"My favorite book is called The Greatest Salesman In The World by OG Madino and I enjoy this book because it teaches you to apply discipline and action to your life so you can possess true happiness. " -Jackie Hernandez, Night Manager

"My favorite book is Generation Kill. It was written By Rolling Stones Journalist Evan Wright who was imbedded with the Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. I like a couple things about this book. One is that I was in the that unit and knew some of the guys that were in the book, so it cool getting to read about the stories I heard first hand. Another thing I like about this book is that it is a first-hand account of the real life of a Marine in a combat situation and shows the things they have to deal with on a daily basis, from medal-hungry officers to boot privates who have no idea what they are doing, and it also shows the Marines in the their true nature which I love because we really were a different breed. " -John Raabe, Assistant Community Manager

"One of my other favorite books is Cant Hurt Me by David Goggins. It’s about a man that has a tough childhood that overcomes the odds to become a Navy SEAL. After his time in the armed forces he became a ultra-marathon runner which is distances of 100 miles or more. He also talks about why he thinks we only use 40% of our capabilities and how we can reach our full potential. " -Wade Longworth, Administrative Assistant

"My favorite book would have to be Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth Series. The book series is a favorite of mine due to how the concept of magic is applied along with the intrigue of morality and how the characters conduct themselves. Each character is alive and has a sense of purpose, while the story is sharp and written in a way that it flows smoothly. I would also note that this book series is NOT for children, but adults, as it contains graphic and explicit material. " -Joshua Oakley, Gate Attendant

"So my favorite book is The Tea Rose. Its actually a series of three books by Jennifer Donnelly. I like the books mainly cause its about a young female that lost everything and came from nothing in the 1800s, Yet she was able to make something of herself. " -Laura Taylor, Gate Attendant

"My favorite children’s book is I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt. One of my favorites to read to my little girl, about a mother’s unconditional love. I still occasionally sneak a note into her lunchbox that says, “I love you little greenie”!" -Chris Reeder, (Former) Assistant Community Manager

"I've never been one to have the patience for sitting down with a book. While the Harry Potter Series will always have a special place in my heart, though, "Red Scarf Girl" by Jili Jiang made a significant impact on how I see the world, when I was in school. It's a pretty eye-opening historical memoir that details what it was like to be a child during the start of the Chinese cultural revolution in 1966. " -Katie Lucas, Concierge Director

"One of my favorite books is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. I’ve always loved a great showdown between good & evil and this has plenty of that going on. An emotional roller coaster that does a good job tying up loose ends of the franchise, while also rewarding long time fans of the series. Action packed from start to finish and I really couldn’t have asked for a better finale to the series. " -Chet Sanders, Gate Attendant

"The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney is one of my favorites from my childhood. The stories are funny, but meaningful and the doodles add to the overall feel of the books truly being a "diary" for Greg to express his thoughts and adventures. " -Tyler Driscoll, Maintenance Technician