By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult tells the story – in different time periods – of two women writers, real life Emilia Bassano, a contemporary of William Shakespeare, and her fictional descendant Melanie Green, a modern playwright. Both struggle for recognition and combat the many prejudices against female writers. In fact, Melanie’s fellow playwright, a young black man named Andre, submits her play (about Emilia Bassano) to a contest and then must pretend to be Mel Green so as to get the play produced. Also bending to society’s dictates, Emilia’s life is one of proximity to the court of Elizabeth I as she (at age 13) becomes mistress to the Lord Chamberlin. Once pregnant, she experiences an unhappy marriage with a cousin and eventually, per Picoult’s telling, writes plays long attributed to William Shakespeare. Although given Emilia’s situation there are a number of sex scenes, Picoult’s many fans will appreciate the details of daily life in Elizabethan England as well as her exploration of the sacrifices women must make so that their voices can be heard. BY ANY OTHER NAME received a starred review from Booklist and was named to the LibraryReads Hall of Fame selections for August.

I recently read FOOLS AND MORTALS by Bernard Cornwell which is also set in Shakespeare’s time and tells the tale of his younger brother, Richard. Our book club agreed that the opening in this novel was too slow and that while the mystery surrounding stolen plays was diverting, we would recommend other works by Cornwell instead.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD by Randy Ribay (Patron Saints of Nothing, a National Book Award finalist) is told in multiple perspectives across four generations of a Filipino-American family. The earliest action takes place in 1930 Watsonville, California where Francisco, a recent immigrant, has to deal with violence, prejudice, and his disappointment at life in America. In 1965 Stockton, California, readers meet Emil, Francisco’s son, a dutiful student and hard-working employee at his aunt’s restaurant. He resents his labor organizer father and vows to make his own way. Then there is 1983 Denver, Colorado where Chris yearns to play football but can’t ever live up to the standards of his demanding father, Emil. Chris rebels as he discovers a love of history and pursues his own interests as a teacher. His son, named Enrique Lorenzo and called Enzo, grows up in 2020 Philadelphia, coping with anxiety, the pandemic, and continuing discrimination. Once again, Ribay offers so much to unpack – immigrant feelings, generational conflict, parenting styles, and plenty of anger. Students will relate to the stories of each of these characters as a young man and may be intrigued by the way the societal environment and the individual choices of each character impacts the next generation. The novel does flip back and forth between time periods and this may be difficult for some students, but EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD received multiple starred reviews, including from Booklist, Kirkus (“many heartwarming and heartbreaking moments offer deep insights into intergenerational patterns”), Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. The book contains a list of recommended resources, both print and online like Asian Mental Health Collective, Filipino American National Historical Society, Stop AAPI Hate, and United Farm Workers. Interested previewers can listen to an excerpt on the publisher’s website.

10 to 25 by David Yeager

10 TO 25 by David Yeager is subtitled “The Science of Motivating Young People” and is self-described as “A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation—And Making Your Own Life Easier.” I am honestly not sure how “groundbreaking” this text is, although it seems likely to make relationships easier as Yeager stresses the responsibility of involved adults to adjust their own mindset, setting high standards while intentionally becoming more aware of young people’s need for respect. Building on case studies and interviews with successful mentors, 10 TO 25 offers an important perspective and provides numerous helpful suggestions for working with the next generation. Yeager is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and has conducted research with Carol Dweck (Mindset), Angela Duckworth (Grit), and Gregory Walton (Ordinary Magic, forthcoming). His dozen chapters deal with taking action related to traits like Transparency, Questioning, and Belonging. The final section, called Putting It into Practice, includes specific “activities and pieces of advice” related to key ideas. Encouraging readers to keep a journal as they work through the exercises, Yeager notes that he uses these interventions in his own work and co-developed them with Rosalind Wiseman (author of Queen Bees and Wannabes). That section is an excellent summary and guide; it is followed by an extensive (roughly twenty percent of the book) series of notes and references. Booklist calls 10 TO 25 a “goldmine…” We have ordered this title and know it will receive much interest, especially at this high energy time of year as schools are opening.

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord by Daniel J. Levitin

I HEARD THERE WAS A SECRET CHORD by Daniel J. Levitin (This is Your Brain on Music) is listed as Notable Non-Fiction in the August LibraryReads selections. It is a very well-written and accessible book which explores the idea of “Music as Medicine.” Levitin, a neuroscientist, musician, and best-selling author, splits the text into sixteen chapters dealing with topics like music memory, attention, mental health, pain, and trauma. He offers, for example, an entire chapter which discusses Parkinson’s disease, describing it as primarily a movement disorder, and points out how sometimes the tempo of music can be a help. Another chapter is titled Music in Everyday Life where Levitin explores concepts like the benefits of having music playing at home on a regular basis versus the potential distraction effect of having music playing in a workplace. There, he notes, “the optimal use of music is to step back from your work, close your eyes, and listen to music before going back to work.” What is another fun application of music he suggests? As an icebreaker before a meeting or class – I have used this technique, and it definitely works. There is much to learn about music therapy, memory stimulation (watch the smiles music evokes at an assisted living facility), or recent laboratory research. Levitin shares it all and includes an Appendix about Types of Music Therapy, plus a Glossary, and a Notes/reference section which together comprise about twenty percent of the text. I HEARD THERE WAS A SECRET CHORD received a starred review from Kirkus (“Levitin’s story is a fascinating piece of work, written with authority, empathy, and occasional humor.”). A few related texts are reviewed here. For a sample of Levitin’s writing, please see his recent opinion piece in The Washington Post, titled “A playlist for peace talks.”

Believe in the World by Amy Gash and Elise Howard

BELIEVE IN THE WORLD by Amy Gash and Elise Howard is a surprisingly small book (roughly 5 x 7 or the size of a large greeting card), but it packs a big punch. Touted as “an inspiring and delightful illustrated collection of quotations” and subtitled “Wisdom for Grown-Ups from Children's Books,” this work offers hours of enjoyment and reflection. The authors, an executive editor at Algonquin books and a literary agent, have done an excellent job of updating the earlier collection, What the Dormouse Said. Including “classic” references (e.g., Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary) as well as more contemporary ones (e.g., All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai), the authors loosely group the quotes under five headings: How to be Good in the World, How to be Joyful, How to be Strong, How to be at Home, and How to Believe in the World. I love it, I love the quotes, and I love the mentions of favorite titles like Nancy Farmer’s The Sea of Trolls, Mitali Perkins’ You Bring the Distant Near, Christopher Paul Curtis’ Bud, Not Buddy, or Julie Andrews Edwards’ The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, to name a very few. I could go on and on. Put BELIEVE IN THE WORLD on your book shelf next to works like Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Gmorning, Gnight! and Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Better yet – enjoy searching out and reading the many, many high quality and hopeful children’s books referenced in BELIEVE IN THE WORLD. A new favorite quote: “This day will never, no matter how long you live, happen again. It is exquisitely singular.” ~Naomi Shihab Nye

That Librarian by Amanda Jones

THAT LIBRARIAN by Amanda Jones is a LibraryReads selection for August. Look at the cover – do you see a metaphorical caped crusader? In this text, Jones, an award-winning librarian and former President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, describes “The Fight Against Book Banning in America” and the harassment she endured after speaking out at a local public library meeting in support of keeping LGBTQ books in the collection. I had the privilege recently of seeing Jones on a School Library Journal TeenLive! panel with Debbie Levy, author of A Dangerous Idea about the Scopes Trial roughly 100 years ago. Sadly, those long ago attempts to restrict student access to ideas offer many parallels to today’s efforts to ban books. For example, much of this discussion is happening in small communities, but has a national impact. Both authors were stressing how together we can overcome these prejudices and how concerned citizens, especially librarians, authors, and book publishers, are working hard to protect young people and their right to read. Jones has been extremely brave in publicizing her story and her efforts to hold her detractors accountable in court. She says, “everyone in the United States should stand up for intellectual freedom and stand against censorship…” and offers suggestions (see especially chapter 15) for local action in your own community. Follett’s Titlewave offers a free, downloadable Reading Group Guide for THAT LIBRARIAN; one suggested eye-opening exercise is to list books that have had an impact on your life and then research whether they have been banned or challenged. Jones references many supportive groups, some of which are PEN America (exhibit coming soon to Austin’s Henry Ransom Center); EveryLibrary, and the American Library Association which offers resources at Unite Against Book Bans. Library Journal gave a starred review to THAT LIBRARIAN, calling it a “essential reading” and Booklist- in another starred review - said, “Jones is an inspiration to everyone combating book bans, and her memoir/guidebook should be available to all.” I concur.

Reunion by Elise Juska

REUNION by Elise Juska (The Blessings) focuses on three friends who are returning to Maine for their 25th college reunion which has been postponed for a year due to the COVID pandemic. Hope is the most level-headed, but she has struggled (“you can only do what you can do”) to meet the needs of her college age daughter, special needs son, and increasingly distant husband who faced the COVID challenges posed to a higher education administrator. Adam, a carefree spirit while in college, has become interested in environmental sciences and has two young boys, but his wife is sadly obsessed and afraid for the state of the physical world. Finally, there’s Polly who, as a single Mom, raised Jonah, a now 18-year-old troubled youth interested in nature and photography. Out of practice in social skills due to the recent lockdowns and having lost the closeness of their college years, Hope, Adam, and Polly find their relationship strained – especially when some long-ago secrets come to light. REUNION is an introspective reflection on what friendship means and the role of family. As Polly muses, “the past year had narrowed that knowledge to a fine point. Your child's happiness: the only thing that mattered and yet how little control over it any parent had.” Booklist says, “a delightful case for reconnecting with the people who knew you when you barely knew yourself.” 

What's Next by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack

WHAT'S NEXT by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack lives up to its subtitle: “A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service.” Fitzgerald played Carol on The West Wing and is known for her work as an actor, producer and social justice advocate (affiliated with organizations like Voices in Harmony and All Rise). McCormack, another actor, producer and activist, played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper. Together they have compiled a series of stories and interviews which cover the inception of the show, the casting decisions, various episodes and the many, many service projects supported by the cast. The provocative and excellent Aaron Sorkin television series first aired twenty-five years ago (9/22/99) and still has impact today, as described, for example, in this recent New York Times opinion piece. True fans (“wing-nuts”) may already know much of what Fitzgerald and McCormack share, they will love purusing this book and the many memories it evokes. I began happily re-watching the first season – the pilot is still amazing.

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE by Jo Callaghan is an impressive debut, being chosen as the winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Callaghan has created some memorable characters: Detective Kat Frank and Lock. The former is a recently widowed Mom to eighteen-year-old Cam who has had his own struggles with grief. Part of a pilot test, Lock can be activated as a hologram and is called an AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) who is overseen by Professor Okonedo with the goal to learn more about policing and determine to what extent AI can be helpful in that arena. Kat, with 25 years of experience and a well-developed “gut” intuition, has her reservations as do the other members of her team, DI Rayan Hassan and DS Debbie Browne. They soon learn that Lock does have skills (e.g., speed of reviewing and analyzing social media contacts) to contribute despite its lack of emotional intelligence. The team is assigned to cover cold cases and they begin to look at the disappearance of two young men. The story does get a bit dark, but the characters are wonderful and I would happily read Callaghan’s next mystery, especially if Kat Frank is involved. Fans of police procedurals will be enthusiastic readers (and perhaps viewers as The Independent says, “With well-drawn characters, believable emotions and an interesting premise, you can see this becoming a TV series.”).

Full Sped to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING by Beth Revis (Across the Universe) is a great mixture of sci-fi and romance. Readers meet Ada Lamarr whose spaceship has been damaged while she is attempting to loot another abandoned ship. It’s a very close call, but the vessel that comes to her rescue is looking for some important information and that mission is headed by government agent Rian White. Sparks fly and Ada takes some daring risks while implying to readers that she may know quite a bit of background about the government project. I listened to the excellent audiobook which is narrated by Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena. I especially liked her feisty voice which seemed to really convey Ada’s character. She reminded me of another space adventurer who dabbles in contraband: Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara from Andy Weir’s Artemis. FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING is a quick, action-packed read; the entire story takes about four hours on the audiobook so it is a perfect read for a short road trip or weekly commute. A trilogy (Chaotic Orbits) involving these characters is planned with the second installment, How to Steal a Galaxy, scheduled for a December publication.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Today is National Book Lovers’ Day and I am going to recommend one of my favorite book of the year so far: SANDWICH by Catherine Newman. The main character is a woman called Rocky who is dealing with life changes – the physical ones associated with menopause and the shifts in her identity as a mother, spouse, and grown child. She says, “Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other. Nikki here with me at the fulcrum. Don't move a muscle, I think. But I will, of course. You have to.” The story takes place at the home her family rents every year on Cape Cod and over the course of a week Rocky reflects on other years and the activities of her children Willa and Jamie, on the many joys and difficulties that motherhood brings. She faces some sad times, too: “I’ve heard grief described as love with nowhere to go.” But so many of her observations are heartfelt and hilarious (“she is long married to a beautiful man who understands between twenty and sixty-five percent of everything she says”); readers will be laughing out loud at her commentary and the family dynamics. SANDWICH by Catherine Newman was also recommended by Ann Patchett on PBS and is the Top Pick for LibraryReads in June. Plus, it received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Library Journal. This is one not to miss: “We keep showing up for each other. Even through the mystery of other people's grief. What else is there?” 

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

THE BRIAR CLUB by Kate Quinn (The Diamond Eye) is another excellent piece of historical fiction deserving its LibraryReads selection for July. Here, Quinn focuses on the inhabitants of a small Washington, D.C. boardinghouse in the 1950s and the efforts of one woman, Grace March, to create a community. Her Thursday night suppers feature a favorite recipe (e.g., Swedish Meatballs, Eight Layer Honey Cloud Cake) from one of the boarders. Chapters tend to focus on individual characters like a career-minded young women, Nora, who is being courted by a member of an organized crime family or a young mother, Fliss, who struggles with her emotions while her husband is stationed overseas. Another is an older immigrant, Reka, who loves art; plus, there is former baseball player Bea and the children (hardworking teen Pete and little sister Lina who learns to bake) of the rather strict and demanding proprietress. These “misfits” do fashion a family of sorts and pull together in surprising ways at the very end when violence strikes within the walls of Briarwood House. Quinn also offers commentary on class, on women’s rights, and on the politics – particularly McCarthy’s intimidating tactics – of the day and points to Margaret Chase Smith (Declaration of Conscience speech) as an inspiring figure. THE BRIAR CLUB received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.