This Land is Your Land by Beverly Gage

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND by Beverly Gage presents “A Road Trip Through U.S. History.” Gage, an award-winning author who teaches American History at Yale, sets out to look at American history by visiting some key locations.  She begins her journey in the Philadelphia area where, of course, the Declaration of Independence was signed. From there, she pursues a rough chronology, visiting presidential homes in Virginia and later Nashville (Andrew Jackson’s adopted hometown).  Subsequent chapters inform readers about the Alamo and central Texas and then upstate New York (focusing on the early to mid 1800s when the Erie Canal and other events contributed to the “Silicon Valley of its day”).  Further stops include The Dakotas, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Alamos, Selma, and even Disneyland.  I found Gage’s writing to be relatively entertaining and even amusing at points. She has a talent for sharing many facts without overwhelming or boring her readers. Gage is right to comment upon negative aspects of American history (e.g., the ownership of enslaved people by many Founding Fathers, treatment of indigenous people, etc.) and I agree with her that “it’s possible to hold both sets of ideas—to know your history and still love your country. Americans can be patriots and critics, citizens and dissenters, all at once.” That openness makes our history more real and relevant, but she seemed to stress these aspects again and again which will be off-putting for some readers. The Wall Street Journal reviewer notes that “the book doesn’t quite deliver on its promise; this ‘warts-and-all’ look at the American past dwells, a bit predictably, on the warts.” Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, called it “a marvelous deep dive into the American psyche.” Hopefully, THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND does spark dialogue and reflection, while increasing interest in visiting many of these locales. By her own count, Gage visited “approximately three hundred historic sites, museums, battlefields, parks, monuments, and roadside attractions.” For added perspective, readers may also want to read or listen to titles such as The Great Contradiction by Joseph J. Ellis, The Agitators by Dorothy Wickenden, or The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior, but they should also look at the multi-page list of Recommended Reading that Gage has compiled.  In addition, her notes comprise approximately ten percent of the text.

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay

THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE by Katherine Reay is described by the publisher as “perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon.” Given that I enjoy their work (and Fiona Davis praised it, too) I truly expected to be able to recommend Reay’s latest historical fiction/mystery. The cover is beautiful and eye-catching, but the story moves slowly and the alternating narrators, young Lily and her boss, Diana, who work at London’s Tate Gallery, are not very engaging. Lily, especially, has issues of confidence and is constantly apologizing. Diana, though bravely battling misogyny in the 1970’s curation and art world in Britain, also struggles for recognition, especially from her older husband. They put on a terrific exhibition, but Lily naively (and publicly) calls Picasso’s Woman Laughing a forgery. Is it? Can she prove it? Will their careers survive? Why did she say that? Booklist calls THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE “[a] fascinating look behind the scenes of art dealings and the workings of the museum;” hopefully readers interested in that aspect (like the Historical Novel Society which recommended this title) will have more patience than I did. The audiobook is narrated quite well by Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld, but even listening at a higher speed does not really move the story along. 

I also just finished SOMEONE ALWAYS NEARBY by Susan Wittig Albert for a book group discussion. I was struck by the parallels since this, too, is historical fiction, about art, told by multiple narrators, and the younger main character apologizes profusely. Albert is writing about Georgia O’Keefe, and her “slave” (a term apparently used by O’Keefe), Maria Chabot. Chabot managed O’Keefe’s New Mexican properties for many years, apparently for little monetary reward. Once again, it is hard to understand the characters’ motivation. O’Keefe is described in third person and her thoughts about creativity and art are rarely shared. Instead, Maria relates a story (in first person) of exploitation for several decades beginning in the 1940’s. Albert clearly did a great deal of research; even though these women are not presented in a particularly flattering way, much of the book is based on the many letters between O’Keefe and Chabot. Albert also provides a list of recommended reading and her descriptions of the area rekindled my hope to visit New Mexico. 

The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati

THE SWEET BLUE DISTANCE by Sara Donati is a work of historical fiction set in 1857 which describes the many adventures and resourcefulness of Carrie Ballentyne, a young nurse and midwife. First, there is the sometimes harrowing travel – via train, riverboat, stage, and horseback – from New York State to Sante Fe where she has accepted a position with a Dr. Markham. Both along the way and once in Sante Fe, this young woman finds her beliefs tested as she faces hypocrisy and bigotry (against women and people of different races or classes). The book is quite long and Donati stresses this cultural bias to the point where her modern perspective almost overrides the historical one. However, the story’s action (many births and medical emergencies), elements of mystery, and a romantic subplot will likely keep readers engaged. With so much involved, the author provides a detailed list of the cast of characters and their families, a Spanish-English glossary, and a robust bibliography. Carrie proves herself to be very resilient, mirroring her own mother’s advice: “You are the daughter of strong women and equal to whatever challenges you meet. Missteps are inevitable, but you will find your way.”