Good Reads & Views

Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: Imagine Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennet and Hamlet—all texting away on their smartphones. In this witty and whimsical book, you’ll get to spy on the text exchanges of famous literary characters. Reading some of literature’s most famous scenes played out via text message is both funny and thought-provoking. (Thank goodness they didn’t have smartphones back then!)

Why you might like it: If you enjoy books with quirky formats and razor-sharp humor, this book is for you. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for a book you can dip into; read a short segment now, then pick it up later to read another literary character's texts.

What sets it apart: This book delightfully blends modern technology, classic literature, and humor. Since it satirizes (and celebrates) the classics, you get to feel smart for getting the jokes, even as you laugh out loud.

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The Guide by Peter Heller
Fiction

What it’s about: A remote fly fishing camp seems like the perfect destination during a worldwide pandemic. But in this atmospheric and menacing story, it slowly becomes apparent that the fishing camp is one of the most dangerous places to be. A fishing guide gradually realizes that the strange rules at his new job are hiding something terrible.

Why you might like it: This novel is a wonderful blend of lyrical writing, an intimate character study, and a slow-burn thriller with an intensifying pace.

You might also like: Also pick up The River by Peter Heller, the prequel to The Guide. While you can read each book on its own, they’re more powerful when read together. For a similar slow-build of the strangeness of a new home environment, read Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas—the story of a school with unusual and increasingly menacing rules.

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Mrs. Lincoln: A Life by Catherine Clinton
Nonfiction

What it’s about: We often refer to her as Mary Todd Lincoln, but she preferred to be called Mary Lincoln. And that’s just one of the corrections to the historical record that you’ll find in this eye-opening biography. Learning about the complexity of Mary Lincoln’s life before, during, and especially after the White House years reveals a fascinating, talented, flawed human being who struggled with the enormous challenges she faced.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy reading about controversial historical figures, you’ll appreciate this book’s evenhanded and detailed look at Mary Lincoln’s life. While history tends to focus on the tragic events of her life, this biography also describes her political interests and strengths.

What sets it apart: Catherine Clinton investigates several of the reasons why history has treated Mary Lincoln unkindly: her mental health struggles have been characterized without sensitivity, and some early Abraham Lincoln biographers set the mold by writing about her scathingly. By addressing these issues, Clinton provides a more nuanced view of this famous but misunderstood First Lady.

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Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Fiction

What it’s about: In this compelling, character-driven novel, family secrets and hidden desires hide just below the surface. Lydia Lee was a gifted high school student from a loving family, and when she died mysteriously, her family was shattered. As the story delves into each family member’s past, you learn of her father’s struggles as the son of Chinese immigrants, her mother’s pain at giving up her career, and Lydia’s own inner conflicts and secret life.

Why you might like it: If you like novels told from multiple perspectives, you’ll appreciate the gradual unfolding of this story as you read different viewpoints. Also, if you prefer a strong sense of place, you’ll enjoy the way Ng carefully constructs the 1970s Midwestern setting.

Reviewers say: “Ng constructs a mesmerizing narrative that shrinks enormous issues of race, prejudice, identity, and gender into the miniaturist dynamics of a single family. A breathtaking triumph..." (Library Journal).

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Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers by Hannah K. Chapman and Lauren Burke
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Classic women authors take center stage in this inspiring, creative nonfiction graphic novel. Some of the authors are famous (Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Wollstonecraft), while others are less well-known but equally fascinating. Varied in tone—some segments are grimly atmospheric, while others are sprightly—this book zeroes in on the reasons why each woman defied the odds to became a published writer.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy learning the story behind the story, this book is for you. Also, if you like books you can briefly dip into, the episodic nature of this graphic novel will appeal to you.

You might also like: Lauren Burke and Hannah K. Chapman have a podcast called Bonnets at Dawn, in which they further explore the lives and times of classic women authors.

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The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask
Nonfiction

What it’s about: With in-depth research and a conversational style, Deirdre Mask takes the reader on a journey through streets and alleys and unnamed places. If, like me, you take street addresses for granted, this book will open your eyes to the reasons and systems that go into naming streets and numbering buildings—for better or worse.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy investigating thought-provoking questions related to everyday things, this informative cultural history will delight you. Mask’s research delves into topics such as what happens when someone doesn’t have an address and how addresses have been used for good and evil.

You might also like: The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt is another fascinating look at infrastructure that we take for granted.

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The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
Fiction

What it’s about: This creative and complex novel tells the story of Opal and Nev, a (fictional) 1970s musical phenomenon. After revealing early in the book that the group broke up after a horrible violent event, the story jumps back and forth in time to tell what really transpired. The music industry, facing racism, and the creative life all intersect in this engaging story.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy books written in an oral history format—where the story is stitched together from multiple participants who give their view in small snippets—then you’ll appreciate the way the truth is slowly revealed.

Reviewers say: Booklist’s starred review concludes: “A cinematic, stereophonic, and boldly imagined story of race, gender, and agency in art.”

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Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Before he ever starred in movies, Matthew McConaughey kept a journal. And lucky for us, he’s continued journaling even during his famous years. This self-improvement / memoir mash-up is entertaining, thoughtful, and inspiring. He tells outrageous stories about his growing-up years, the weird and wonderful tale about being an exchange student in Australia, and the up-and-down (and back-up-again) story of his film career. 

Why you might like it: If you like celebrity memoirs or self-improvement books—and especially if you like both—this book offers stories that will make you laugh, marvel, and think about your own life.

What sets it apart: McConaughey’s creativity and quirkiness infuse every word. My recommendation: listen to this one on audio. He narrates it himself and his intonations boost the humor. This is definitely one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to this year.

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Crazy Brave: A Memoir by Joy Harjo
Nonfiction

What it’s about: We know Joy Harjo as the Poet Laureate of the United States. But in this lyrical and poignant memoir, she writes about her early years: the difficulties she faced as a child with an abusive stepfather, the challenges of young marriage and motherhood, and the delight of discovering and developing her creativity. Harjo, a member of the Muskogee Nation, attended the Institute of American Indian Arts—and she writes movingly of the pleasures of the creative life amidst life’s clamor.

Why you might like it: If you appreciate beautiful and expressive writing, stories of strong women overcoming hardships, and poetic memoirs, this book is for you.

You might also like: Like Crazy Brave, Jill Ker Conway’s True North is a memoir about a young woman in an academic setting that provided an expansive place of learning. Also consider reading Just Kids by Patti Smith, another lyrical memoir about creativity.

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The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
Fiction

What it’s about: These frank and thought-provoking short stories and novella explore race, grief, and women’s lives. Even if short stories aren’t your thing, consider reading the title novella in this collection; it’s truly unforgettable. Imagine it was your job to correct historical inaccuracies in the world around you… and imagine your arch nemesis just kept cropping up everywhere. And that’s just the beginning.

Why you might like it: When I read a truly stand-out collection like this, I’m reminded of the power of the short story. Each of these stories creates a memorable world very quickly, and the main characters—all women—are complex and fascinating. It’s like reading seven short novels, each one nuanced and creative, and each one containing a whole world you’ll continue to think about.

Reviewers say: “Each detail meticulously builds on the last, leading to satisfying, unforeseeable plot twists. The language is colorful and drenched with emotion” (Booklist).

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