The Book Gayle King Couldn't Put Down (and 4 More Favorites)
O's editor at large shares what she's loving this month.
By Gayle King
Photo: Bruce Glikas/Filmmagic/Getty Images
Behind the Curtain
Hamilton tickets are even harder to score than one of Patti LaBelle's sweet potato pies on Thanksgiving, so I was over the moon when I learned that PBS is serving up the next best thing: Hamilton's America. The documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the two years leading up to Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical, revealing the blood, sweat, and tears that went into each song while also giving us the coolest lesson in American history. Says Lin, "I knew that Hamilton was going to change my life, but I didn't anticipate how much we'd help Hamilton's legacy in return." As they say in the show, "I am not throwing away my shot" to catch this fantastic film when it airs October 21, and neither should you.
Photo: Courtesy of Simon & Schuster
Written in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen rarely gives interviews (believe me, I've tried), so I couldn't wait to get my hands on his new memoir,
Born to Run. And as I suspected, the Boss doesn't disappoint. Springsteen opens up about his bouts with depression, his rocky relationship with his dad, and (twist!) how he thought his voice sounded like a cat with its tail on fire when he first heard himself on tape. That discovery pushed him to work on his writing and performing, which turned him into the legend we know and love today. Consider me rocked, Bruuuuce!
Photo: Kevin Sweeney/Studio D.
In Season
It's that time of year when it isn't cold enough for a full-on parka but even an Adam Glassman–approved sweater won't keep out the chill. New York & Company's knit puffer jacket is the best of both worlds. The lightweight coat comes in four colors—I like the sangria (
above)—and it's fitted on the sides, which means I can wear it without being mistaken for the Michelin Man. ($90;
NYandCompany.com)
Photo: Courtesy of Gayle King
Food for Thought
While covering the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, I was searching for a
great breakfast spot. The top suggestion:
Jack Flaps Urban Breakfast Shoppe. My pancakes were perfectly fluffy, but I couldn't help noticing how much my makeup artist, Laz, was enjoying his Meat & Taters Waffle. I asked him for a taste—and thank goodness I did. The waffle is made from mashed potatoes and cake flour, then topped with smoked brisket, garlic-sautéed arugula, candied yellow beets, and apple cider vinegar syrup. Sweet, sour, and salty spell delicious in my book.
Photo: Michael Tran/Filmmagic/Getty Images
"She did it for us—for all of us. And none of us have to do that ever again. We never have to be the first again."
America Ferrera's remark during a Democratic National Convention panel summed up how many in Philadelphia were feeling about Hillary Clinton's historic nomination. Regardless of how you view her politics, I think everyone should take a moment to acknowledge how great it is that 96 years after women gained the right to vote, we finally have the choice to elect one for president. What took so long?
From the
November 2016 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
