Hello, Cruel World! by Melinda Wenner Moyer

HELLO, CRUEL WORLD! by Melinda Wenner Moyer offers “Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times.” In ten chapters Wenner Moyer, a contributing editor at Scientific American and a regular contributor to The New York Times, looks at Coping, Connecting, and Cultivating, all presented in a conversational, non-judgmental and helpful way. Adam Grant writes, “[Moyer’s] book is packed with evidence-based, nonobvious practical advice for nurturing resilience, kindness, critical thinking, and well-being.” I certainly saw the critical thinking aspect in the entire chapter devoted to Information Literacy which is full of ideas (including discussion prompts), plus some organizations (Thinking is Power, Reboot Foundation, etc.) that I did not know as well as skills (e.g., lateral reading) school librarians have been talking about for years. Other chapters cover self-compassion, resilience, self-control, relaxing, empathy, friendships, curiosity/inclusion, plus financial and information literacy and managing social media. HELLO, CRUEL WORLD! is a text which parents – and educators – should consult and discuss. At the end of each chapter there is a summary of key points, and the author also includes 300+ citations in a separate section. As Wenner Moyer says, much of her writing is about “being intentional about our choices and the kinds of conversations we have with our kids. … I implore you to take the advice that feels like it will be a good fit and leave the rest.”  

Four Mothers by Abigail Leonard

FOUR MOTHERS by Abigail Leonard is subtitled “An Intimate Journey through the First Year of Parenthood in Four Countries.” And Leonard, an award-winning journalist, contrasts giving birth and raising a young child in Japan, Kenya, Finland, and the United States. Leonard cleverly shares events and policies, often providing important political background for each country. The personal stories, particularly conflicts with parents and partners, are compelling, although I did question how representative they were (especially the polyamory relationship in the US). Taken together, they point to the advantages for children in a nuclear family with two involved parents (and maybe other relatives as well), showing the impact of societal expectations and gender roles. This research should give other scholars and policy makers much to consider in terms of paid maternity and paternity leave, daycare availability and cost, other incentives (tax, etc.) for families, and both physical and mental healthcare. In its starred review for FOUR MOTHERS Publishers Weekly says, “This is an enthralling and kaleidoscopic view of modern motherhood.” Here is a recent interview with Abigail Leonard from PBS NewsHour:

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson

THE BUSYBODY BOOK CLUB by Freya Sampson is a really fun cozy mystery story with a delightful cast of characters. Nova (along with her fiancé Craig) has recently moved to a small village in Cornwall where she works in a community center. There, Nova runs a small book club whose members include the older and very opinionated Phyllis (and her dog smelly bulldog, Craddock), Ash (a teenager, trying to impress a classmate), retired farmer Arthur who cares for his wife, Esi, and the newest member, Michael. A great part of the enjoyment is how each references a favorite genre: Phyllis frequently invokes Miss Marple and Agatha Christie; Arthur cites the plots of romance novels, and Ash loves Star Wars and science fiction. Readers won’t be too sure of Michael’s tastes because he disappears early in the story – at roughly the same time that 10,000 pounds goes missing and a dead body is discovered. He becomes a chief suspect although plenty of theories are bantered about and the book club members have some harrowing adventures, even threatening Nova and Craig’s upcoming nuptials. A May 2025 LibraryReads selection, THE BUSYBODY BOOK CLUB is light and entertaining; there are some surprises and more obvious twists, giving readers an equal chance to smile to themselves, saying “told you so!” Also enjoyable: The Lost Ticket and Nosy Neighbors, both by Freya Sampson.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Kelly

THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB by Martha Hall Kelly (Lilac Girls) was a popular topic at our book club last week – everyone who had read a preview copy was independently recommending it. The story takes place primarily in 1942 (with some modern- day chapters, too). Two sisters, Briar and Cadence (lovely names) and their brother Tom’s girlfriend Bess are trying to run the farm after Tom enlists with the Army Rangers. Meanwhile, Martha’s Vineyard is being used as a training base for amphibious landings so some romance with a soldier is sparked. Suspense develops, too, due to rumors of a local spy and the presence nearby of an enemy submarine. The young women are distinctive and strong characters; the story reads quickly – highly recommended. Praised by writers like Charmaine Wilkerson, Adriana Trigiani, and Kate Quinn, THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for May 2025. In her Author’s Note, Kelly explains that Cadence is based on her own mother who grew up on Martha's Vineyard and other characters echo friends and family. In addition, Kelly references Books in Action by Cole which recounts the introduction of Armed Services Editions of books for troops during WWII; interested readers should also look for When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill, another non-fiction account filled with fascinating information about censorship and the publishing industry at that time.  

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin

DETECTIVE AUNTY by Uzma Jalaluddin (Ayesha at Last) is the first book in a new series featuring Kauser Khan, recently widowed older woman who returns to Toronto to help her daughter and the family. Called “Jack Reacher in a dupatta,” Khan’s heritage is South Asian and Muslim and there are frequent references to desi culture, including the numerous proverbial cups of chai as Kauser interviews suspects and attempts to solve a murder. Kauser is an appealing, sympathetic character although others (Kauser’s children, her friends, the dead real estate owner, his family, various business competitors) could have been more fully developed. No doubt that will occur (especially with the potential romance with a handsome solicitor) in future mysteries in this series. Jalaluddin writes that “Kauser Khan is my homage to community and second chances. May we all be involved by the former and gifted with the latter.” DETECTIVE AUNTY, although a bit repetitive in spots, received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus and is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for May. Library Journal says, “Recommended for fans of Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry books and Robert Thorogood's 'Marlow Murder Club' series."

Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones

ORDINARY TIME by Annie B. Jones is subtitled “Lessons Learned While Staying Put.” Reading this collection of story essays made me feel as though Annie Sue Butterworth Jones was a dear friend sharing her wise observations on life. Readers will learn that she is a talented writer and the owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. One of my book group members also says she “meets with her weekly” since Jones hosts From the Front Porch, a regular podcast about books, small business, and life in the South. In ORDINARY TIME, she writes about family, her dreams, marriage, best friends and so much else (the only section which seems to be oversharing is about religion and her crisis of faith). She offers numerous self-reflective insights: “playing was silencing the perfectionist inside me” or “I am a finisher. But life requires a lot of opening. And I am not so good with the opening, the starting of something new.” Jones herself describes ORDINARY TIME as “a collection of stories about a life rooted in place, the blooming of possibility that can happen there, but also the hardship, the loneliness, the longing for more.” I especially liked her comments on childhood, “our childhood obsessions like basketball or The Baby-Sitters Club can save us. They can remind us of who we were before anything mattered, … before everything felt heavy and hard. When life is overwhelming and challenging and our joy is stolen or hard to find, I think the things we once loved can bring us back, center us, make us whole.”

Her sections on books and reading are well worth re-reading and I wanted to note a couple of other quotes: “I wonder if this is why I love books. I can dip my toe into other lives without entirely changing my own.” and “I read books because, at their best, they make me better, more empathetic, more socially aware, more in tune to the stranger beside me. They help me imagine a better future, provide answers to my insatiable questions, take me to places I'll never get to go. I read books because they are an easy point of entry to relationship.” and “A love of books is the through line of my life, a hobby I can trace back to my earliest childhood memories and immediately weave through my middle school and high school selves ...” 

Links to explore ...

With the holiday weekend here, I wanted to share a couple of "reading related," fun ideas:

Video:  https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/free-for-all/ streaming online through July 27th is a PBS documentary which explores the American Public Library system from the “Free Library movement” in the 19th century to the present, “when many libraries find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the culture wars.”  30 second preview available. 

Summer Reading Guide for children … https://www.readingrockets.org/books-and-authors/booklists/summer-reading-booklists/summer-reading-guide-2025  from Reading Rockets which is such a FABULOUS resource. 

A Cyclist's Guide to Villains & Vines by Ann Claire

A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO VILLAINS & VINES by Ann Claire (A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants) finds the head of Oui Cycle, Sadie Greene, leading a group of older cyclists (the Silver Spinners) in Alsace. Nothing is ever easy for Sadie as a body is discovered and several members of the group are considered prime suspects. The local gendarmes are not big fans of Sadie and her group (pointing out that they have broken into a private residence, recreated a murder scene without police involvement, and confessed to murder), but luckily romantic interest (and police officer) Jacques Laurent arrives to run interference. These stories, while rather improbable, are light and amusing with some touristy background on French regions, foods, and wines. The mystery itself was puzzling and no doubt Sadie will soon be embroiled in another.

Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

I really liked the cover of CONSIDER YOURSELF KISSED by Jessica Stanley; finding it to be bright and happy, I was expecting to escape through a rom-com of some sort. Instead, I was disappointed by the characters and their actions. In its review, The Wall Street Journal says, “‘Lost woman tries to find herself’ is a familiar story, but CONSIDER YOURSELF KISSED is buoyed by fresh, funny writing and, pretty much without exception, a terrific cast of characters.” Unfortunately, I could not get past the “lost woman” aspect and found the main character, Coralie, to be a willing doormat, despite an initially promising romance with Adam, an English political journalist.  Granted, circumstances are difficult (Coralie has to return to Australia where her own mother is dying, the pandemic looms, etc.), but even Coralie acknowledges that “all the while, she was conscious of an argument going on inside her, between the part of her that loves Zora [Adam's young daughter] and would do anything for her and the part that hated being taken for granted by the adults in Zora's life.” The pattern repeats itself and readers may struggle to develop empathy for this character even though The New York Times says, “Stanley’s delightful novel reminds her readers of the joy, humor and even subtle hope that can be experienced during life’s lowest moments."