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.

They Came for the Schools by Mike Hixenbaugh

It seems fitting to honor the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision Brown v Board of Education (May 17, 1954) with a review of THEY CAME FOR THE SCHOOLS by Mike Hixenbaugh in which he writes about “One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms.” Hixenbaugh’s credentials are impressive: senior investigative reporter for NBC News, named a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and won a Peabody Award for his reporting on the battle over race, gender, and sexuality in American classrooms. His debut is extremely well-written, if disturbing, as he skillfully details a history of school composition and curriculum restrictions in the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, Texas, a Dallas suburb. By requiring large lots for housing, Southlake had essentially screened for wealth and race so that “three decades after Brown, America’s schools had effectively resegregated, perhaps not explicitly based on race, but according to wealth, geography, and social status.” Moving forward in time, Hixenbaugh recounts how a 2018 viral video with a racial slur prompted district officials to take action to establish a diversity program and the resulting backlash. Much of this has been presented in Hixenbaugh’s podcast: Southlake, critiqued here in Texas Monthly. His book also describes situations in Virginia, Florida and other states; plus, he chronicles the impact of national politics (and neighborhood PACs) on local school board elections and actions. There is a section on book bans: “without fail, parents leading this new phase of school board activism reported that they were merely fighting to shield their children from graphic sexual content that violated their family’s values. But many parents and activists were conflating references to gender identity and sexual orientation with sex and pornography.” Hixenbaugh is unflinching in presenting tough situations and the blow to quality teaching and to student well-being. His research is evident (roughly fifteen percent of the text is devoted to notes and bibliographic references) and this book deserves a wide readership.

Other commentary on THEY CAME FOR THE SCHOOLS:  The Washington Post review says, “This razor-sharp book is the masterful culmination of years of reportage.” And Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, remarking, “an extraordinarily detailed analysis of current conservative thought and political activity.” But the most succinct is from Booklist, “This is a frightening but all too real piece of reporting, and belongs in every library.”

All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S. A. Cosby (Blacktop Wasteland) is another fantastic mix of mystery, crime, and social commentary by this award-winning, gifted author. Cosby introduces Titus Crown, a former FBI agent who is now the Black sheriff in a rural Virginia community. In addition to all of the prejudice and bigotry he faces there is also a school shooting and gruesome discoveries about a serial killer. Like his other novels, Cosby offers non-stop action and an interesting, well-developed cast of characters – readers learn about Titus’s family (deceased Mom, Pop, and brother), former and current girlfriends, and a mix of co-workers, each with their own issues. We listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, including subtle changes in inflection and accent to represent different characters. ALL THE SINNERS BLEED received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, plus it was a LibraryReads selection for June. For yet another positive opinion (“a far better novel than Cosby’s earlier books” which, given their high quality is saying something) see Stephen King’s review in The New York Times. Highly recommended.

Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

A work of historical fiction set in the 1920s Prohibition-era, HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle) is an extremely well-written and emotionally impactful story about a feisty, young girl named Sallie Kincaid whose father, Duke, runs the local county in Virginia. He’s wealthy and his businesses include a bootlegging operation in which Sallie, a natural born daredevil, becomes an important player. There is much intergenerational squabbling, strong character development, and quick-moving action as Sallie is confronted with one moral dilemma after another. Featuring secrets, scandals, and family feuds, HANG THE MOON received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly, plus it was a LibraryReads selection for March 2023. Highly recommended.

Cozy Mystery stories ...

Here are a couple of additions to popular mystery series:

GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN by Rhys Bowen is yet another title in the Royal Spyness series involving Lady Georgiana.  This time, she and several family members are invited to be guests near Sandringham as the Queen celebrates Christmas.  A terrific blend of 20th century history (involving European politics prior to WWII), plus upper-class manners and holiday customs, this mystery brings Lady Georgiana once again face-to-face with a murderer. Someone takes a shot at the Prince of Wales, future King Edward VIII, and several employees are also hurt or die in suspicious circumstances while on the estate.  As the holidays near, look for GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN if you would like reading about “a cast of charming, quirky characters … [in a] lovely English Christmas cozy” (quote from Publishers Weekly review).

CLAWS FOR ALARM by Rita Mae Brown is A Mrs. Murphy mystery – actually number 30 in the series involving a dog named Tucker, and two cats, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy. I generally enjoy spending time with their owners: Harry, former postal worker, and her husband, Fair who is the local vet in Crozet, Virginia. However, it seems like Rita Mae Brown and her “co-author” Sneaky Pie Brown are sadly running out of ideas. The dialogue and text here felt repetitive and the story itself, involving the death of a local matriarch and subsequent squabbling by her adult children, was not particularly original or inventive.  Combining the modern day happening with a mystery set far in the past generally adds confusion encouraging the reader to focus on one storyline or the other. Earlier tales in this series are more engaging and worth a look. 

Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland

With starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Library Journal, RAZORBLADE TEARS is S. A. Cosby’s latest novel. Here, he introduces readers to two ex-cons, Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins. One is Black and one is White, but both were fathers. Their sons, Isiah and Derek, were married and brutally killed. The two men decide to leverage their underworld contacts and find out why and by whom. Revenge is in the air and so is some fabulous writing, like when Ike says, “I can get a gun if I need to. This is Virginia. They damn near sell them at Seven-Eleven.” Cosby is adept at interweaving social commentary, particularly about race relations and, in this novel, homophobia. One concern about this book is the amount of brutality and violence – be forewarned. Kirkus describes RAZORBLADE TEARS as “A lean, mean crime story about two bereaved fathers getting their hands bloody.”

Released about a year ago, Blacktop Wasteland is a fabulous mystery adventure story by the same author.  We were enthralled by the audio book (from Macmillan Audio and narrated by Adam Lazarre-White) during a recent road trip. Cosby’s main character, Beauregard "Bug" Montage, has left his earlier life of crime as a wheel man, but due to pressing obligations returns for one ill-fated attempt at robbery. The planning is fascinating and the double-crosses add complexity. One can’t help but care for the characters and be drawn into the story of their “professional” and personal lives. Blacktop Wasteland received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal; New York Times describes it as “A roaring, full-throttle thriller, crackling with tension and charm.” I totally concur and am recommending it highly.   

The Book of Lost Friends and Furmidable Foes

I have not yet read Lisa Wingate’s best seller Before We Were Yours, but I had heard positive comments so I was excited to read her newest work of historical fiction, THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS.  Set mostly in Louisiana, this novel alternates between events of 1875 and 1987. Just after the Civil War, recently freed Hannie disappears with Juneau Jane and Miss Lavinia, half-sisters whose father is Hannie’s former owner. It is a perilous journey with Hannie pretending to be a boy as the three of them travel West. Interspersed between chapters are reproductions from Southern papers of “Lost Friends” columns humbly and movingly seeking missing loved ones. Closer to modern day, the story features Benny Silva, a young teacher struggling to make school engaging for her students. She says, “Books were the escape hatch that carried me away during long lonely times …. Books made me believe that smart girls who didn’t necessarily fit in with the popular crowd could be the ones to solve mysteries, rescue people in distress, ferret out international criminals, fly spaceships to distant planets, take up arms and fight battles. … Books built my identity. I want that for my students.” I especially liked the modern story with Benny’s optimism and the work she did to help make the past relevant for the class and the town.  A LibraryReads selection, THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS will be welcomed by Wingate’s many fans. 

Another new book which alternates time periods (1788 and 2019) is FURMIDABLE FOES by Rita Mae Brown. Loyal readers will recognize this as another fun Mrs. Murphy mystery (book 29) featuring cats named Pewter and Mrs. Murphy, plus corgi Tee Tucker and a new wolfhound pup named Pirate. Harry Harristeen, best friend Susan Tucker, and other members of the Dorcas Guild are into gardening and beautifying the local church’s property until one of them is killed at a charity event. I generally like these light, cozy mysteries and read this one in an afternoon, but found it to be a bit disappointing.  My personal preference would be to stick to the modern story and that was reinforced in this case due to the historical tale of slave catchers that did not seem to have any real resolution.  From her references to many characters in the past, my impression is that Brown is trying to build two worlds: Harry’s in the present day and one in post-colonial Virginia. Frankly, that means too many details (there is a five page “Cast of Characters”) for the reader – looking for escapist entertainment – to track.