Good Reads & Views

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 become 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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The Princess Spy: The True Story of World War II Spy Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones by Larry Loftis
Nonfiction

What it’s about: It’s a stranger-than-fiction, fast-moving true story: a young woman from a small town longs to contribute to the war effort during WWII—and gets recruited as a spy during a dinner party. After whirlwind espionage training, she’s off to Spain, where she’s assigned to infiltrate high society to uncover Nazi collaborators and spies.      

Why you might like it: Suspenseful and exciting, this book features charismatic international spies, romance during wartime, bullfighters, glamour, murder, celebrities, and Spanish nobility. (It’s not a spoiler to reveal that Aline married a Spanish count.)

You might also like: If you want to read more about the intriguing life of Aline, Countess of Romanones, pick up her memoirs. The Spy Wore Red covers the war years in Spain, and The Spy Went Dancing and The Spy Wore Silk take place during her marriage, when the CIA lured her out of retirement.

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Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
Fiction

What it’s about: In a blend of Gothic horror and current-day Hollywood story, this creative and quirky novel is full of surprises. When an author writes the story of two grisly deaths at a girls’ boarding school in the early 20^th century (death by yellow jackets), her book gets optioned for a movie. As the filming begins, eerie and inexplicable events haunt the set (including: more yellow jackets!)

Why you should read it: If you like your horror novels both smart and snarky, this is the book for you. This book is also a great choice for readers who enjoy clever footnotes in fiction, novels that alternate between two timeframes, LGBTQIA+ fiction, and stories told in layers.

Reviewers say: Kirkus Reviews says it’s “Creepy, meta, and a whole lot of fun.”

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Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Fiction

What it’s about: This literary novel explores the interplay among family, science, and faith. In her lab, Gifty researches reward-seeking behavior, in an effort to learn about the depression and addiction that have affected her family. Meanwhile, she’s drawn back toward the religious faith of her younger years.

Why you should read it: If you enjoy introspective and thoughtful novels, this story of a family who moved from Ghana to the United States will captivate you. The story of Gifty mourning her brother and caring for her mother is heartbreaking, yet hopeful. A perfect choice for book clubs, this own voices novel is character-driven, emotional, scientific, spiritual, somber, and heartening.

You might also like: If you enjoy reading about the lives of scientists, pick up a copy of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren—a lyrical and moving nonfiction account of a scientist’s captivation with her work.

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