Good Reads & Views

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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The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Nonfiction

What it’s about: From 1915 to 1970, nearly 6 million Black Americans moved from the South to the North in search of a better life. This poignant book follows three people who made this migration, and the author interweaves their individual experiences into the broader fabric of the time period.

Why it’s significant: The Great Migration was an important part of 20^th century American history, and this book blends history and personal experiences -- so you get to learn about this time frame while also gaining insight into the lives of a few of the people who made the journey. Wilkerson’s beautiful writing and evocative detail make The Warmth of Other Suns an absorbing read. If you enjoy reading narrative nonfiction that reads like fiction, this book is for you.

Book buzz: This book won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named one of the 10 best books of the year by The New York Times, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly.

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The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Sarah M. Broom grew up in the New Orleans that tourists never see—New Orleans East, where her family lived in the Yellow House, a shotgun house that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. In this coming of age story, she writes from the perspective of “the babiest” of 12 children, raised by a widowed mother who supported her family. 

Why you should read it: If you appreciate beautiful writing, this book is for you. Broom’s phrasing is often poetic, sometimes blunt, always original; her unique voice speaks from these pages. In this memoir about race and class, her matter-of-fact tone and lyrical writing make her story all the more powerful.

Book buzz: Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, this book was also named a Best Book of 2019 by the Chicago Tribune, New York Times Book Review, and Washington Post.

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Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

What it’s about: At an elite and secretive college, Ines—a student with a haunting past—tries to find her place among her brilliant and troubled peers. The strangeness of the academic program and the unusual rituals of the place gradually increase in intensity, which will keep you turning the pages.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy atmospheric stories infused with a mild and growing sense of eeriness, this book is a great choice for you. Also, if you’re looking for great debut novels by authors of color, pick up this book—it offers a compelling story, lush writing, and a beautifully evoked setting.

You might also like: If you like this book, also try The Secret History by Donna Tartt—another complex, quietly suspenseful story about students at a prestigious school.

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