Reported by Garry
The books brought to Nevermore this week ran the gamut from historical fiction to farce and romance to murder mystery. We always have a great selection of books to discuss!
Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving was the first book discussed this week. The author grew up privileged in a wealthy suburb of Boston. Sheltered and rather oblivious to the social inequalities around her, it took Irving years to realize why her efforts at inclusion and diversity were failing. In 2009, she had a life-altering moment that changed how she saw herself and her relationships. Our reader found this a well thought out, insightful book and recommends it to anyone who would like to reexamine their own position of privilege.
Alexander Hamilton’s Guide to Life by Jeff Wilser was the next book reviewed. This light-hearted but well researched biography of one of the most important figures in American history is laid out chronologically and discusses Hamilton’s approach to life with wit and heart, while still being historically accurate. Our reader is a big fan of Alexander Hamilton, and credits him with shaping the United States into the country that it is today. She says that this 336 page book is an easy read that examines and elucidates the life-approach of this influential Founding Father, and highly recommends it.
Our next reader took on the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This novel, first published in 1818 (and one of the first examples of science-fiction), tells the story of the young Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a sentient creature from harvested body parts. The book varies distinctly from the now iconic 1931 film starring Boris Karloff. Shelley’s literary “Creature” is intelligent, sentient and capable of discussions and existential reasoning. The story also takes place in a wider variety of locations than depicted in the film. Ostensibly about a scientist and the creature he creates, this novel raises questions about the nature of sentience, the responsibility of scientists for their creations, and the rights of self-determination of “created” life-forms; questions that, more than 200 years later, are becoming ever-more relevant. Our reader highly recommends this eerily prescient, immensely influential book.
The latest Frankie Elkin mystery, Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner is a thrilling read that our reader particularly liked because it was not “all wrapped up in a bow” at the end. Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who tries to solve missing person cold-cases. Her new case brings her to a rough Boston neighborhood, where she is searching for a Haitian teenager by the name of Angelique Badeau. Running into resistance from both Angelique’s family and the local Boston police, Frankie puts her own life on the line in order to solve the disappearance. Tightly written with an intriguing female protagonist, our reader quite enjoyed this modern day mystery.
An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed is the second in the Elderly Lady series by Helene Tursten that picks up immediately after An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good. Maud is an 88 year old living in Gothenburg, Sweden, who knows what she wants and will achieve it at all costs. This clever book intertwines six short stories about Maud’s earlier life helping to explain how she came to be the ruthless yet caring person that she is. Doddering when she wishes to be, and cunning and spry when it suits her needs, Maud is far more than meets the eye - a character that will devilishly stick with you for years to come.
Also mentioned:
The Ballad of Laurel Springs by Janet Beard
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
Trust Me by Hank Phillipi Ryan
Two Graves by Preston and Child
The Survivors by Alex Schulman
On Animals by Susan Orlean
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Bloodline by Jess Lourey
There is Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill
America’s First Western Frontier: East Tennessee: A Story of the Early Settlers and Indians of East Tennessee by Brenda Calloway
Seedtime on the Cumberland by Harriette Simpson Arnow
Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s First Frontier by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Along a Storied Trail by Anne Gabhart
I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America by Tyler Merritt
I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tube, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream by Richard Antoine White
The Heroine with 1001 Faces by Maria Tatar
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
The House Girl by Tara Conklin
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