The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE by Mike Gayle is a soothing read centered around a young woman named Jess whose mother’s unexpected death ultimately causes some re-evaluation of Jess’s life choices as well as her definition of family. Along the way, she helps create the title museum after cleaning out her mother’s home and finding an old set of encyclopedias which meant a great deal to Jess as a child. This novel seems to tie in well with the holiday season as it includes quite a bit of reflecting on past events and on memories and feelings that everyday objects often trigger. Booklist recommends the “moving and heartwarming” title for fans of Rachel Joyce and Freya Sampson.

The Measure of Silence by Elizabeth Langston

THE MEASURE OF SILENCE by Elizabeth Langston is a work of historical fiction that merits broader readership. The story, set in Texas and North Carolina, spans multiple generations of a single family but mainly centers on life events for Mariah, and her granddaughters, Jessica and Raine. Mariah, who faces abuse as a child, comes of age in the 1960s.  November 22, 1963 is a memorable day for so many Americans, but particularly for Mariah who witnesses JFK’s assassination and the birth of a child. Langston uses flashbacks to describe those events and Mariah’s troubled childhood while also setting several chapters in the present day and highlighting work and relationship challenges for Jessica, a news producer, and Raine, a forensic accountant. The sisters are well-positioned to unravel a shattering family secret and readers will empathize with those involved. Deftly writing about forgiveness (“Good people do bad things, but their reasons matter.”), Langston also explores attitudes towards mental health in the 1960s, specifically PTSD and post-partum depression, and towards neurodivergence today. THE MEASURE OF SILENCE could function well as a book club selection and several thoughtful discussion questions are included.  

Loot by Tania James

LOOT by Tania James is an intriguing work of historical fiction originally published this past Spring and well-reviewed by The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor. It begins in India in the late 1700’s when a young man, Abbas, is apprenticed to a European clockmaker. Together they build a near life size mechanical tiger for Tipu Sultan, Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. Although the tiger (complete with sound effects produced by an organ hidden in its body) is shown mauling an English soldier, the unique artifact is plundered and shipped to England where another series of adventures begin. James readily transports her readers to a totally different place and time; the story, with implied commentary about colonialism, is quite absorbing. LOOT received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly (“At once swashbuckling and searing, this is a marvelous achievement.”). 

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

THE CURSE OF PENRYTH HALL by Jess Armstrong won the Mystery Writers of America/Minotaur First Crime Novel Competition and was a LibraryReads selection for December 2023. It is an extremely atmospheric mystery involving a gruesome death in the Cornish countryside. Young Ruby Vaughn is an American Heiress finding her way at the end of WWI; she has settled into helping an elderly bookseller and delivers some books to Ruan Kivell, a man her employer calls a folk healer and one whom the locals call the Pellar due to his extraordinary powers. When the Lord of the manor’s mutilated body is found, there is much talk of the return of a curse. Although they don’t believe in curses, Ruby and Ruan gradually uncover sinister secrets and past family relationships as they attempt to puzzle out what is happening. Library Journal praised this debut’s “elegantly crafted, supernatural-tinged plot” and gave THE CURSE OF PENRYTH HALL a starred review.

The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak

THE HELSINKI AFFAIR by Anna Pitoniak is an espionage thriller that begins with the disguised assassination of a US Senator on foreign soil. Reverberating through Langley, CIA stations in Europe, and between generations of the same family, the cause is partially revealed in some documents the Senator kept hidden. There appears to be a real threat to economic systems and democratic values, but family loyalty will also be tested. Amanda Cole is a relatively young and ambitious agent stationed in Rome. Her father, Charlie, currently working at Langley, has a checkered past with the agency – particularly involving his time in Helsinki when Amanda was just a child. Who should be trusted is a big question - there are spies, double agents, and maybe even double crossing double agents. The multiple time periods and multiple narrators add to the tension in this fast-paced adventure. Commenting on THE HELSINKI AFFAIR, Library Journal says, “Pitoniak does everything well in this twisty spy thriller that should please the most discriminating connoisseur of the genre.” 

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner

THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner is an exciting psychological thriller which will have wide appeal. With multiple narrators and multiple timeframes, Faulkner expertly builds suspense around the death of a nanny named Sophie Blake. She was judged to have drowned, but her mother doesn’t believe that and convinces Tash Carpenter, a freelance journalist and Mum to toddler Finn, to investigate. Tash’s inquiries seem to lead to some of her much richer playdate Mums (Claire, Laura, and Nicole ) and their families. With flashbacks to Sophie’s reaction to these same women, the menace really builds. Faulkner sets the mystery in present day London and explores questions of affluence, privilege, and social class as well as fidelity and marriage vows. Much darker than a cozy mystery, this often-scary, twisty novel is full of unexpected pairings, anonymous threats, and secrets. A LibraryReads selection for December, THE OTHER MOTHERS also received starred reviews from both Kirkus (“Faulkner is a pro at ever-so-gradually ratcheting up the tension”) and Publishers Weekly (“This one grips from start to shocking finish”).

More business books: Board Talk and Techlash

BOARD TALK is written by Kathryn Bishop and Gillian Camm who believe that “conversation is at the heart of board governance across the world.” They first offer six conversational techniques (like observing, listening, and questioning) with a reflection on each.  The heart of the book is the eighteen crucial conversations centered around topics like joining a board, talking about vision/values, and turning central ideas into action. They use models, checklists, and case studies to help readers tap into ideas about how boards operate. According to Bishop (a teacher at Oxford’s Saïd Business School) and Camm (an executive coach) they have an overall goal to “help you reflect on the nature of your board and your role in it, and to develop better conversations which will help you to perform your role well.” Obviously, the authors speak directly to the readers whom they assume are members of public, private, or voluntary boards around the world. Their expertise in education and training is reflected in the text’s use of bold font and bullet points, making it relatively easy for readers to extract and reflect on key points. Published by Alison Jones’ Practical Inspiration Publishing, below is an interview she conducted with the two authors of BOARD TALK where they explore concepts of psychology, mindset, and group governance:

BOARD TALK contains a list of useful information sources, notes, a bibliography, and a thorough index, including a reference to Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle.

TECHLASH by Tom Wheeler poses the question: “Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age?” Wheeler, a businessman and former (2013-2017) Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), highlights parallels between the late 19th century’s industrial Gilded Age the digital Gilded Age of the 21st century: increasing disparities in wealth and innovators making their own (self-interested) rules. Saying “a shiny patina hides the darker realities,” Wheeler offers a call to action. Consumer privacy certainly merits greater protection and a major proposed task is rewriting rules and regulations although it is admittedly difficult to picture current politicians having the will or means to do so. Wheeler observes that “solutions that were developed in the past – antitrust law and regulatory oversight– were unprecedented” at that time. He is extremely knowledgeable and devotes an entire section of his new text to “Reasserting the Public Interest” where he outlines proposals for establishing behavioral expectations for digital platform companies with separate chapters dealing with privacy, competition and “truth and trust.”  Although the average reader may find TECHLASH a bit too complex, roughly fifteen percent of the text is devoted to notes and an index which increases its usefulness for researchers and policymakers. They may also be interested in this recent McKinsey think piece on generative AI and government.