The "Trump-Era" Required Reading List

I attempt to stay apolitical on this book blog, yet I decided it was time to share some books that will not only provide some education and provocative thinking, but also some salve to the souls for those of us profoundly worried about the direction of our country. Plus, I entertained myself by looking, and thinking back, over years' worth of reading:)

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carloton Abrams
Two of the great souls of modern times, being interviewed for days concerning the search for joy, this is palliative care for our wounded hearts.  Men of faith, who accept and love people of all faiths, as well as people who choose no faith, teach us that kindness and compassion will bring us more joy than money, power, and prestige. Could DT put this on his reading list?  Oh. that's right, he brags of not having read a book in years...sigh.






So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
A provocative and highly entertaining look at how social media bullies and wounds, how a person's reputation is destroyed in an instant, and even how the lack of shame provides its own protection. Our 'tweeter-in-chief' might want to actually pick up a book, this book, and receive some enlightenment.

Lexicon by Max Berry
A thriller that focuses on the power of words and how words are manipulated to seize power, control people, and yes, even commit murder.  It is a scary look at how fake news/words empower demagogues. Hmmm...let's be wary.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
If you have never read this classic, or you have not picked it up in years, you really should.  The parallels to today will pretty much freak you out.  It's a crazy plot line, spiraling in circles, satirizing WWII, government subsidy programs, the legal profession, the medical community, you name it - Heller skewers it. Think SNL on intellectual steroids!

Evicted  by Matthew Desmond
A deep expose on the housing issues in Milwaukee, that directly relate to issues of race and income inequality across our country today.  Heartbreaking, frustrating, infuriating, and ultimately extremely educational - highly recommend.

This is How it Always Is (fiction) by Laurie Frankel / Becoming Nicole:  The Transformation of an American Family (biography) by Amy Ellis Nutt
Two profoundly moving books that inform the reader on the powerful issues biologically, psychologically, socially, and emotionally on children and young teens who deal with gender dysphoria.  Our LGBTQ community needs love and support, not medieval laws that sanction them for close-minded reasons.

Grace:  A Novel by Natashia Deon / Beloved by Toni Morrison/ The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A reminder of the true horror and degradation of slavery, and the powerful women who rise above - a reminder that though the new HUD secretary stated that "Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery," NO, slavery was a nightmare for hundreds of years, an institution whose effects are still felt today.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
A deeply moving and engrossing story of an NYU law professor, the Equal Justice Initiative he began and continues to run today in Alabama, and the corruption of our justice system for those who are young, who are mentally handicapped, or who are people of color.  You will never look at our justice system with the same set of glasses again, and you will be persuaded on the critical need for reform in our country.

Blood at the Root:  A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips
The story of a county in Georgia who purposefully and consistently kept black people out of their county for over one hundred years - a good reminder of what happens when people look the other way, say "it's not my business,' who forget that we are all members of the human race.

Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
Yes, if you want to understand rural Ohio and how the Democratic party and the economy left them behind over the last thirty years, this is your book.  It will also make you howl with laughter, as well as want to pull your hair out.  Well worth it!

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult/ Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Yes, racial bias exists.  No, no matter how 'enlightened' we are, we are prejudiced in some way, shape, or form, regardless of what race, social class, or income level we inhabit.  And yes, the history of black people, both in America and Africa, still impacts our living history of today. Two different takes on the issues of race, both well worth it.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman
I read this one the week after the election and it was just what I needed to assuage my wounded heart: a young woman whose life turns upside down in an instant, crawls her way back to life through her own dogged strength, intelligence, and the ever-changing tides of fate.

An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir
A fantasy series where the lower class is kept uneducated, the rich and powerful employ "Masks" to keep the peace through violence and intimidation, and rebellion is the only escape.  A modern take on the Fall of Rome, this should inspire us all to be the heroes needed in the coming four years.

When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
A story of a middle-class Afghani family destroyed by wars and upheaval in Kabul, forced to flee and become one of the millions of refugees, this is a story of a mother who must choose life on the run or the death of her children.  It is a powerful story of how fear and anger creates racial hatred towards people who need our kindness and compassion. It's a good thing to remember when we hear about the possibility of a "Muslim ban" or see video on television of the horrors of Aleppo.

Heat and Light by Jennifer Haigh
A fiction book that delves deeply in how fracking impacts a mid-west community, this beautifully written novel will remind us of the need to protect our environment, that once it is gone it is not replaceable, that we must fight the climate deniers placed in the new cabinet, that our descendants' future literally depends on us wearing the super hero cape.

Harry Potter series, particularly the last three books by JK Rowling
Yes, I know...who hasn't read these?? But seriously, this is the ultimate hero's journey to defeat a truly evil, manipulative entity through greater intelligence, the loyalty of friends, and the power of love.  And besides, the females in the series are pretty much bad-asses, not just humans who should look beautiful so yes, go back and read HP - it will inspire you to pick up your metaphorical sword of Gryffindor and do battle for all that is good in our world.

December 3.0

I Found You by Lisa Jewell

Another fabulous thriller by Lisa Jewell (publication date April), you need to put this on your to-be-read list for 2017.  This time around, Jewell strings together three disparate stories with threads that ultimately tie all the characters together.  First we meet funky Alice, a hapless mother of three, who lives in a small English beach town, rarely ahead on bills and looked at askance by both teachers and other parents.  When she sees a bedraggled man sitting on her beach in the rain, she invites him into her home...and thus the mystery begins.  Suffering from amnesia, his memory comes back in bits and pieces as he infiltrates Alice's life.  At the same time, we are also told of Lily, a young woman back in London, newly married to an 'interesting' man who has gone suddenly missing.  Interspersed through these two stories is the tale of decades earlier, of a family tragedy in 1993, covered up and hidden away for all these years.  Jewell does a stellar job of slowly spooling out the details, giving the reader hints and clues, as well as a few red herrings.  Her characters are complex, with combinations of reality, naivety, humor, evil, and psychoses. If you're looking for a solid thriller to wile away a rainy day, this is a clear winner.

Gilded Cage by Vic James
The debut of a notable new fantasy author has blown me away. This book kept me up late at night, gave me a few goosebumps, and completely enthralled me.  The story takes place in England, yet an England that is rather unrecognizable.  A few hundred years ago, a law was passed that the aristocracy, the Equals who have Skill (aka magical powers), decreed that commoners owed the landed gentry ten years of their lives in slavery.  Fast forward to modern times, and we see a family who is embarking on their decade of enslavement, having secured a spot at the oldest magical estate in the land.  However, when the day of departure comes, their son Luke is stolen away to a slave city, known to be dangerous and lawless.  Thus the story begins.  Not only is the setting unique and creative, the plot line exciting and full of curve balls, but the characters are rich and deep.  The Jardine sons are each unique and complex.  Luke, the family's son relegated to the slave city grows into a heroic rebel and don't let the daughter, Abi, fool you into complacency about her 'weakness.' The magical aristocracy has intriguing depth, as do the rebels who must fight against them. The only negative about this book is that the second book is not written yet; I will be first in line, guaranteed.


The Dry by Jane Harper
After hearing about this book on different blogs and literary sites, I am thrilled that Net Galley allowed me a copy in exchange for a review.  Set in Australia, in the severe drought of the Outback, Aaron Falk returns to his small childhood town for the funeral of his childhood friend who had committed suicide after allegedly murdering his wife and six year old son.  The distraught parents ask Falk, a Melbourne police officer, to work with the local constable to prove that their beloved son could not have committed such a heinous act.  The side characters are well-drawn and fully developed: Raco, the big-hearted and highly intelligent police captain; Gretchen, the faded high school beauty with secrets from the past; Mal Deacon and his creepy nephew, consummate no-goodniks with an evil bent; Ellie, Aaron's lost friend and love whose death and subsequent scandal chased the teenage Falk and his father from their home; the small town principal who worked with the murdered wife and has some inner demons; and the friendly barkeep who, in the style of the wild wild West, protects and defends the 'good guys.' Debut author Harper peels back the layers from the two deaths, one from twenty years past and one from the present, and ties the characters together in both surprising yet thoughtful ways.  This book kept me up late, turning pages, trying to figure out 'who dunnit' and left me 100% satisfied.  I will absolutely reach for another Jane Harper book in the future - well done!

Class by Lucinda Rosenfeld
Infuriating, frustrating, thought-provoking are the first words that come to my mind with this new book due out in January (thank you Net Galley for the advanced release copy).  First, the topic is provocative and should provide your book club with some juicy discussion topics.  This satire revolves around Karen, an overly-involved mother of an only child, bleeding heart do-gooder who works for an NGO, distracted wife with a shaky marriage, and constantly stressed and anxious over society and its perceptions of her.  Many times, I wanted to strangle Karen, and her whiny brat of a child; they are not particularly likable, but I'm pretty sure that was the point.  Thematically, the idea of social class is woven throughout the book, highlighting issues of equity amongst schools depending on their neighborhood and racial make-up, exposing the true feelings of parents and what is 'right' for whose kids, making the reader see one's self in so many of the characters that it becomes disconcerting.  Rosenfeld uses plot devices, such as finding new friends at school, navigating snarky PTA parents, infidelity in marriage, even embezzlement, to highlight much deeper issues. On the surface, this could be just a book about a mom who would do anything, and I mean anything, to make herself feel better about society and the class differences that exist.  However, delve deeper and talk about these issues and you will have one humdinger of a book discussion.  The topic of social class is one that garners much less discussion and examination than it should; I appreciated the author's courage and creativity in dealing with this topic.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
On the New York Times best Thriller/Mystery book list of 2016, this first novel by British write Clare Mackintosh deserves every accolade it has received.  This was the biggest "mind-f#*%" I have read since Gone Girl, and let's face it, every thriller these days seems to be judged by Gillian Flynn's masterpiece of 2014.  Finally, finally, a book actually lives up to that one. Here's the very short synopsis, otherwise I would give too much away: Jenna, a talented sculptor in small-town England is involved in a hit-and-run that kills a child.  In order to escape the agonies of the death of her child, she runs away to Wales.  Enough said.  I read this book obsessively and refused to lift my head up from the page until it was complete and I felt fully sated.  Excellent writing, intriguing and complex characters, and a chilling completion.  Need a good thriller for a rainy day or a vacation at the beach, DO NOT MISS this one, trust me!




The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian
I have been a fan of Bohjalian for many years, with The Sandcastle Girls my personal favorite.  The ability this author has to explore a variety of themes and topics throughout his long writing history has always impressed me, moving from historical fiction, family drama, magic and surrealism. His latest book (publication date January 2017) is another of his very unique, at times disturbing, plot lines.  The book revolves around the idea of parasomnia, disturbances during sleep.  We meet the main players of the story, an 'ordinary' family in small town Vermont:  mom, who suffers from dangerous sleepwalking, having mysteriously disappeared from home weeks earlier; dad, a professor at a nearby elite college, finding comfort in a bottle and the keeper of secrets; Lianna, the oldest daughter who quits college to care for her family, desperate to find the answers of her mother's vanishing; and Paige, the youngest sister who doesn't seem to quite 'fit' in the family, with a private life of her own.  Throw in a hot detective named Gavin who Lianna is drawn to, and the story takes a strange turn.  As Bohjalian pulls in the idea of sleep sex surrounding the parasomnia, the ensuring  violence may be disturbing to some readers.  Ultimately, I did find the story fascinating, but it was not my favorite of his due to the inordinate amount of time given to the ideas of sex and sleep disorders, and I am not a prude when it comes to reading about the topic - it just was a weird turn for me.

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Ah, the world of competitive gymnastics in small town America...a place rife with jealousy, violence, and the worst collection of parents ever.  This book drew me in immediately, seeing some of the same parents I stood next to on soccer pitches, watching their daughter play, thinking she was going to be the next Mia Hamm; I quickly learned to avoid those parents.  Megan Abbott does a stellar job of examining motives and desires in this expose/thriller.  The story revolves around the Knox family, having entered their daughter into this competitive world as a way to help her heal from a terrible accident that shave part of her foot off when she was just three years old. As Devon ages, she is found to be a gymnastics prodigy, thus directing the Knox family into an ugly world.  Father Eric becomes heavily involved in the booster club, willing to do anything to advance Devon's chances for the Olympics.  Mother Katie tries to pretend she's just following Devon's wishes, but as we dig deeper, we see Katie's own ego surrounding her daughter.  The poor, lonely, left-out son Drew is an excellent example of what happens to the less-talented child in a family that revolves around the 'winner.' A hit-and-run death galvanizes this crazy gymnastic club and the crazy really comes out then.  Abbott does a fantastic job of reeling out the clues and keeping us turning pages; my only complaint was the ending. I don't need perfectly wrapped denouements, particularly when the final scene while frustrating may make sense, but this ending left me wanting some kind of satisfaction that never came.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Short-listed for numerous book awards this year, this is a lovely short book about a unique relationship post-Civil War.  Crusty, curmudgeonly Colonol Kidd travels throughout Texas, reading the news of the world to a news-starved populace.  Yet, when given the chance to earn a goodly sum of money, he takes it - returning ten-year old Joanna back to her parents after living four years with the Kiowa natives.  This young girl no longer knows the English language, has been fully integrated into the Kiowa culture, and has no desire to return 'home' when she considers the tribe her family.  As the elderly soldier and the rebellious  young girl travel together, a beautiful relationship begins to develop.  They battle bad guys, native tribes, and gossipy, interfering women together, with humor and courage.  Listening on Audible, this was a delightful, short story.

December 2.0

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Seattle author Laurie Frankel weaves a powerful story of a family built outside the expected social constructs of 'family.'  Mom is the breadwinner, an ER doctor, and dad is a writer, storyteller, and equal caregiver for their family of five, four boys and baby Claude.  Yet as Claude grows, Rosie and Penn see their child as a shy, withdrawn little boy, not realizing that an extroverted, giggly little girl is dying to be seen outside the biological boundaries and rules.  As the story unfolds, we see the struggles of the family to help Claude become Poppy, we hear the ongoing metaphor of dad's fairytale of Grumwald and Princess Stephanie as these characters help the children navigate life, and we become completely enveloped in this family as the scene changes from Wisconsin, to Seattle, and even to Thailand.  The pressure on all the family members to keep Poppy's secret becomes unbearable, resulting in far more than what is expected.  Fascinating supporting characters bring even more magic to this story:  the delightful social worker, Mr. Tongo, who helps Penn and Rosie see parenting in an often hilarious yet realistic way; the quirky four boys in the family and how they embrace not only their new sister, but their own social oddities; and my personal favorite, K, the medic/nurse/refugee in Thailand who puts Claude/Poppy's life in perspective with Buddha and the multiple lives we live.  As Frankel weaves the fairytale motif throughout this gorgeous book, I was in awe of her ability to show us the depth of this family; often I found myself thinking "Yep, this is exactly how a family sounds after an awkward school dance." Laurie Frankel has written a beautiful new book, coming out January 24, with an author visit at Village Books here in Bellingham on January 27. I will be in the front row, ready to applaud this incredible story of what makes us family,  and of the message to love and accept and not to judge and condemn.

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
Written in 2007 by a Canadian writer, this book won numerous awards and critical acclaims from our neighbors up north; the strength of the main character is breathtaking and inspiring.  Aminata Diallo is stolen from her African village in the 18th century, after watching both her parents killed by the slavers, and experiences the horrific journey overseas to the islands off South Carolina.  Working in the indigo fields, but taken in by the mistress and taught to read, Aminata has doors opened to her that are closed to the other slaves.  This sweeping historical fiction covers six decades of 'Meena's' life: her work as a midwife and scribe in Charleston, her escape to New York city, the exodus to Nova Scotia of the Loyalist slaves during the Revolutionary War, the new adventures to re-settle Sierra Leone by free men and women, and her work with the London-based abolitionists at the beginning of a new century.  Based on accurate and compelling historical accounts, Lawrence Hill creates a woman who is strong, intelligent, compassionate, loving, and the ultimate portrait of a survivor.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
If I were to just scratch the surface, this is not my kind of book.  It has guns, and I mean a lot of guns; it begins with a child shooting a gun, chapters about each of the twelve bullet holes placed on Samuel Hawley's body, and minute description of his large gun collection.  However, below the surface, this is a powerful story of a wounded man, both physically and emotionally, loyalty to friends and family, and the unending search for love in this world.  I honestly did not think this book would be as deep as it became; I was figuring a bang-bang, shoot-em-up thriller, but I was so wrong.  The story swerves back and forth in time, spooling out the story of Hawley's life through each of his twelve wounds:  his beginning steps into the criminal world, the marriage and loss of his wife, his complicated relationship with his daughter and mother-in-law, and his search for heroism.  Tinti is a talented author, who uses the threads of Hercules and his twelve labors, the desire to be heroic when one is riddled with flaws, and the call of not only nature but the wisdom in the stars to show each character the way home, both literally and figuratively.  Do not put this book down, do not skim the surface and think it is a thriller - dive deep and swim through this rich and exciting book.  It is well worth your time.

My Last Lament by James William Brown

I had such high hopes for this book; set during an interesting time period and dealing with a different side of WWII, it unfortunately did not live up to expectations. The main lead, Aliki, tells the story of her life through a cassette tape recorder, always beginning with her current life in her village and then proceeding backwards in time to the 1940's in Greece. Brown's characterization never delves deeply enough for me to care about Aliki, nor to understand her love for Stelios, the young Jew who hides in her basement, or her relationship with Takis, a neighbor boy with serious mental issues. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Brown to dive in, to force me to see these characters, to wish better for them, to want them to strive for more, to cheer them to survive, yet all I felt at the end of each chapter was "Meh." Not a reason to keep turning pages, unfortunately.