Good Reads & Views

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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How to Be Black by Baratunde Thurston
Nonfiction

What it’s about: In this lively memoir, Baratunde Thurston shares his “over thirty years’ experience being black.” While at times laugh-out-loud funny (he previously worked for The Onion), this book also shines a light on race in America. Thurston’s humorous yet honest accounts of his experiences—being raised by a single mother, responding to questions about his first name, and attending Sidwell Friends school and then Harvard—provide insight into what it’s been like for him to be Black.

Why you should read it: This book is not only the memoir of a comedian and activist, it also provides the viewpoints of a panel of Black people who respond to questions such as “When did you first realize you were black?” The panelists’ responses are by turns surprising, sad, funny, and frank.

For fans of: If you enjoyed Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, you’ll also appreciate this humorous but powerful look at race.

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Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Fiction

What it’s about: Washington Black is born into slavery and transcends it over the course of this lyrical, globe-encompassing novel. When Wash becomes the assistant to a scientific-minded adventurer, his life is transformed as he develops his artistic talent. But when the two escape Barbados to explore the world, they’re pursued by a slave owner who perceives Wash to be a runaway.

Why you should read it: While there’s world travel and suspense in this novel, the spotlight is really on Wash’s rich emotional life. If you enjoy literary novels about characters discovering their true gifts, while connecting with others and experiencing the pain of betrayal, this historical novel is for you.

Reviewers say: Publishers Weekly says, “Crafted in supple, nuanced prose, Edugyan’s novel is both searing and beautiful.”

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Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi
Nonfiction

What it’s about: While we used to have windows of time to simply notice the world around us, now most of us reach for our phones when things get boring. In this helpful and encouraging book, Zomorodi describes what we’re missing by logging on instead of occasionally zoning out.

Why you should read it: If your smartphone is connected to your person all your waking hours and you’re not totally happy about that situation, this book provides concrete exercises that will help you keep only the apps and uses that are best serving you. The author’s conversational tone and account of her personal experiences make this challenge friendly and approachable.

You might also like: If your goal is to reduce your social media use, also check out Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.

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