The Queen's Coronation by Jennifer Ryan

THE QUEEN'S CORONATION by Jennifer Ryan (The Kitchen Front and more) is a work of historical fiction set in early 1950’s Britain. Based in large part on reminiscences from her grandmother, Ryan has written numerous books set during WWII and I would recommend those over this latest. Here, readers will again find women building a community and supporting each other, but this book seemed to focus more on their problems and to be more repetitive than Ryan’s other novels. THE QUEEN'S CORONATION is still a good story involving Caroline, an assistant dresser to the Queen; Lucy, a beautiful aspiring singer who is taken advantage of; and Miranda, a self-centered, independent newspaper woman. Because of events in their pasts (an out of wedlock pregnancy, potential for stepparent abuse; and widowhood), each of these women struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy. Whereas Ryan’s books are often more about a group of women actively encouraging each other, this one seems to focus on the individual plights and the unhappiness and abandonment faced by Caroline, Lucy, and Miranda. Earlier works are more uplifting; this one compensates with some “inside” details on the coronation and the young queen as she, too, copes with 1950s gender stereotypes and expectations.

The May House by Jillian Cantor

THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor (The Hours Count) is a book about sisters and the week they spend together each year (“‘It’s my favorite day of the year,’ she called out. ‘May day!’”) at their Grandmother Vera’s house on the beach at Coronado Island near San Diego. The story is sometimes confusing because it skips around in time and shifts focus between Julia (the eldest, obsessing over rules and scheduling), Emily (big-hearted middle sister struggling to find a purpose in life) and Nora, (the youngest, pursuing an acting career despite opposition from their widowed father). Over thirty years, they experience personal and professional upheaval, including marital problems, parenthood for some, and an unrequited crush on next door neighbor, Nate, a local surfer. Given the sisters’ lack of contact during the year, THE MAY HOUSE is somewhat like the Alan Alda rom-com, “Same Time, Next Year,” providing opportunity for readers to judge the choices being made and to observe the characters’ growth. Still, they do care about each other: Julia muses, “Her sisters. She would never love anyone in quite the same frustratingly wonderful way that she loved Emily and Nora. They'd bickered their whole lives. But being sisters always transcended everything else. Their shared history, their shared trauma, their shared DNA. It was all irreplaceable.” Cantor drops plenty of hints about a not-so-secret secret that eventually emerges and propels the sisters forward, embracing the many blessings they have.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) is set in 1930s Oxford, Mississippi and the beginning is quite disheartening as Stockett describes life in an orphanage for Margot Louise (Meg) LeFleur, an eleven-year-old whose asides to the reader are reminiscent of those from Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce. Meg is intelligent, but scarred by being abandoned by her mother, called Charlie. And Meg struggles to cope with the abusive treatment at the orphanage. Things are a bit brighter (literally) when she meets Birdie Calhoun, poor sister to Francis Tartt, one of the local volunteers. Birdie is in town in hopes of much needed funds from her sister and the wealthier family into which she married. Sadly, it is the Depression Era, and no one is spared the ravages of poverty; that means Birdie eventually meets Charlie and, in an act of desperation, the two form a business venture. A LibraryReads Selection, THE CALAMITY CLUB is a tale of betrayal and also of loyalty; of strict social standards and also of acceptance due mainly to necessity; of sexual mores and women’s health. Book clubs will find much to discuss from this lengthy (656 pages) historical fiction novel which does drag in parts. Readers will develop affection and concern for Meg as well as Birdie - who is an especially likeable character - but their circumstances and the “calamities” they face are not.

The Flag Was Still There by McKean and Bennett

THE FLAG WAS STILL THERE by David McKean and M. Todd Bennett is a scholarly work which traces “A History of the American Experiment in Five Anniversaries:” 1776, 1826, 1876, 1926, and 1976. THE FLAG WAS STILL THERE received a positive review from Kirkus and praise from well-known historians like Douglas Brinkley and Walter Isaacson. However, it is fairly dense and would be daunting for our high school students, even those enrolled in AP US History. The reoccurring patterns (discrimination, nativism, corruption) and “inflection points” beg to be documented in a more accessible form – what interesting, informative, and necessary conversations they could prompt as the nation will soon be celebrating 250 years. Kudos to McKean, a former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, and Bennett, a professor of history at East Carolina University, for highlighting these key issues.

The Mountains We Call Home by Richardson

THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME by Kim Michele Richardson is a work of historical fiction subtitled “The Book Woman's Legacy.” It continues the excellent series which began with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, followed by The Book Woman’s Daughter. This time, readers find Cussy Mary, a young woman whose skin appears blue due to genetic factors, in jail for marrying a white man, Jackson Lovett. It is the early 1950s (prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving v. Virginia) so the partners are separated and imprisoned. This is a hard book to read at first as Cussy works long hours in the prison kitchen and laundry, amidst harsh conditions. Eventually, she and the readers find hope and some respite as she is assigned librarian duties and begins to transform life for other inmates through literacy and the escape that books often bring. Concerned with freedom and bodily autonomy, there are many sad aspects, including talk of lobotomies, a botched death sentence, and threatened abortion. This title is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection and for interested book groups, a Reading Group Guide is included which also explores rural vs. urban life and several social issues. Library Journal describes THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME as “a deeply satisfying companion novel … exploring injustice, belonging, and the transformative power of literacy with compassion and grace.” Kim Michele Richardson is herself passionate about literacy and has honored the Pack Librarians by founding an initiative called Courthouses Reading Across Kentucky, establishing Little Free Libraries across the state.

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

Somehow, I kept hearing about THE LOST BOOK OF ELIZABETH BARTON by Jennifer N. Brown prior to its publication and I am glad I was able to read a preview of this historical fiction debut. The story is set in two time periods, the 1500’s when Elizabeth Barton (a real person regarded as a visionary and saint by some) and 2023 when fictional academic Alison Sage has discovered a bound copy of Barton’s prophecies and is invited to an exclusive conference to discuss her research. From the beginning something seems off, but Alison is new to the professional attention and gladly shares with other professionals (Roger, Charles, Westley, Marla, Brian and Arjun) whose work tangentially relates to her own. They actually stay at a Manor House within walking distance of the priory where Elizabeth (The Holy Maid of Kent) lived. Brown alternates the time periods so as to provide background about the dangers surrounding the religious conflicts when Henry VIII was planning to divorce/annul and (re)marry. She also describes possible motivations and actions of the prioress and Elizabeth’s benefactors, basing her writing on texts, letters or sermons and families who lived at the time. It is a fascinating look at that period. Modern day Alison, however, seems a bit naïve especially when she rekindles a romance with a fellow scholar. THE LOST BOOK OF ELIZABETH BARTON received starred reviews from both Booklist (“Recommend to fans of Wolf Hall and all readers consumed with the treacherous Tudor times.”) and Publishers Weekly (“excels at depicting the manipulation of women across the centuries … . Fans of historical suspense will be wowed.”).

Save the Date by Mallory Kass

SAVE THE DATE by Mallory Kass is, as several members of my book club would say, “a palate cleanser.” Kass, who has written previous bestsellers as Kass Morgan, offers a romantic comedy set at a wedding in Maine as her adult fiction debut. The action revolves around three women: bride-to-be Marigold who discovers she still has feelings for an ex-husband; Matron of Honor Natalie who is suppressing long held feelings for the groom; and lawyer Olivia who is Marigold’s sister and out to find her own perfect match. It is all a bit ridiculous and fairly predictable, but as Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of romantic comedies with a Hallmark Channel vibe will enjoy this heartwarming tale.” Cute and undemanding, if a bit slow paced and full of fluff, SAVE THE DATE will leave readers smiling. Below is a great graphic summarizing all of the confusion; the fact that none of the characters are shown with faces simply confirms how little they know themselves and their feelings. 

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

THE FUTURE SAINTS by Ashley Winstead was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for January and deservedly so. This is a novel which deals with strong emotions shared through the actions of appealing characters. Hannah Cortland is the lead singer whose band is on its way down, due in part to the death a few months ago of their manager and in part to Hannah’s alcohol use and self-destructive behavior. In steps a new manager, Theo Ford, and the dynamics change rapidly as the band’s new and darker songs, along with some spectacular antics, build awareness and interest through social media. United in devastating grief, Hannah and the other band members (handsome bassist "Ripper" Ravishankar and gentle drummer Kenny Lovins) gradually accept Theo into their “found family.” Together, they push back against the pressures of sudden fame and corporate balance sheets, but not without some ruptures along the way. THE FUTURE SAINTS received starred reviews from Booklist (“emotional, unflinching story of grief and fame”) and Publishers Weekly (“readers will fly through the pages to find out whether Hannah will manage to tame her demons in time”). Highly recommended. 

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

MEET THE NEWMANS by Jennifer Niven is an adult debut for the author of some truly memorable young adult titles like All the Bright Places or Holding Up the Universe or, more recently, Breathless. Like her earlier work, this newest title probes feelings and emotions as the main characters struggle to define their own identities. In MEET THE NEWMANS it is 1964, and Del and Dinah along with their two sons, Guy (the steady, older one) and Shep (the rebellious and very popular musician) have been America’s TV family for well over a decade. Recently, though they are falling behind shows like “Flipper, Lassie, and My Favorite Martian.” The country, too, is rapidly changing, and these family members are very unhappy behind the scenes (“when you grew up in front of thirty million people, it was hard to have and keep something of your own.”). A serious accident sidelines Del who has been the leader while writing scripts and negotiating with the network and sponsors. The need to keep the show going and afloat prompts Dinah (having recently read The Feminine Mystique) to start writing and to change her character’s attitudes and actions. Guy wants to develop directing abilities and strives to acknowledge a relationship with a fellow actor while “bad boy” Shep (only 17) acts out. Although a bit slow at spots, MEET THE NEWMANS is an interesting look back at a time of transition for the country, the influential role of network television (The Dick Van Dyke Show ran That’s My Boy? Episode in 1963), and impact on the roles within a family. 

Winning the Earthquake by Lorissa Rinehart

WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE by Lorissa Rinehart is about “How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress.” Rinehart, described as a women’s historian, author, speaker and regular Substack contributor, is clearly enthusiastic about Rankin and her accomplishments. The text presents Rankin in a very favorable light while providing details about her 1880’s childhood in rural Montana and her subsequent work with the poor in New York and San Francisco. Rinehart makes a convincing argument that Rankin’s “formative years in Montana taught her that society functioned best when men and women participated equally. Her work in San Francisco proved that women led the way when it came to grassroots enactment of Progressive reform. [And] Her education … underscored the necessity of government regulation in bringing about holistic change on a large scale.” I already knew that Rankin was a pacifist and had served in Congress, but I did not realize that she was first elected to Congress in 1916, four years before the right to vote was granted to women nationwide. I also did not realize that she had voted against US involvement in both World Wars (believing that “you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake”) and that she was active (while in her nineties) in protesting the Vietnam War. This is a very accessible text brimming with details; with roughly a fourth of the book devoted to Notes. WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE received a starred review from Library Journal which said, “This superb biography of the first woman elected to Congress deserves a place on every public and academic library bookshelf.”

Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd

WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd is, according to the author, “Part memoir, part guidebook, and part reflection on the writing life.” She begins by quoting Maya Angelou about “Three things you need in order to write. First, you need something to say. Second, you need the ability to say it. Finally, you need the courage to say it at all.” Later sections of the book talk about playing with images, possible beginnings of a story, and references a Zen adage: “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; In the expert's mind there are few.” I also liked the chapter where Monk Kidd wrote about character development (“Love them, empathize with them, participate deeply in their inner lives.”) and four questions that she asks: Who is my Character? (followed by many sub-questions about her relationships, likes and dislikes, emotions). What does my Character want? Who and what thwarts my Character? How will my Character be different in the end? As Monk Kidd develops these ideas, she gives examples from her writing, such as Lily from The Secret Life of Bees or Ana from The Book of Longings; readers will have a richer experience if they have read her other works. I agree with her assessment that this text is more memoir and reflection than it is a manual for new writers, but it is interesting to share in her comments about the writing process which she has honed over decades.

Fly! by Steph Wagner

FLY! by Steph Wagner is subtitled “A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love.” Wagner has extensive experience in the financial sector, and she provides context by sharing her story “from private equity executive to stay-at-home mom, to single mother facing financial uncertainty, to successful businesswoman.” Wagner readily empathizes with her readers, saying, “If I, with my financial background, feel this lost and overwhelmed, how must women without that same knowledge feel when thrown into similar circumstances?” I found FLY! to be an excellent resource filled with numerous well-explained and action-oriented steps. For example, Wagner lists a series of questions to ask a potential financial advisor and also provides links to helpful websites. Wagner writes with a confident, but collegial tone. And she notes steps to take (have a will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and a medical directive, also known as a living will) and then provides definitions of each for her readers who may be less familiar with these documents. FLY! feels like a text which can be adapted to meet readers where they are – whether consulting an attorney at a major law firm or choosing a free online service – especially since she suggests evaluation criteria to use. This approach extends to a discussion and explanation of investment vehicles (Mutual Funds, EFTs, etc.) and other topics. The foreword provides my favorite description: “This book isn't just a guide. It's a road map. It's full of tangible steps, real life stories, and the kind of practical wisdom that makes you feel like you're having coffee with a really smart, really honest friend.”

What Next? by Jane Moffett

WHAT NEXT? by Jane Moffett is subtitled “The savvy woman’s guide to redefining retirement.” I had expected to see more about financial preparation for retirement, particularly when that is often such a trial for women. Moffett barely touches on that aspect; instead she has chosen to focus more narrowly on advising her readers on the importance of assessing who and what are important in their lives. As the publisher’s summary points out, she asks: “How will you fill your time in a way that has purpose and meaning, and how will you keep the sense of being relevant and valued?” The first four chapters deal with making the decision to retire, the contrast with earlier generations, women’s careers, and the impact of ageism. Then there are six chapters which correspond to “post-retirement” topics like a change in time and structure or re-assessing relationships. Moffett structures each chapter so as to first discuss the topic, then provide insight and perspective from at least two women, and then to include activities and exercises for the readers. Even though her perspective is primarily about retirement in the UK (who knew that men (65) and women (60) had different pension ages until adjustments to equalize them began in 2010?), she shares some universal observations (e.g., the blending of work and home boundaries and the negative impact on mental health) that would be helpful to everyone in this phase of life. Notes and an index are included.

Having It All by Corinne Low

HAVING IT ALL by Corinne Low, an associate professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School, is subtitled “What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours.” In her Introduction, Low says, “I reject the premise that the barrier preventing women from living optimally - or even just happily - is our failure to try hard enough to have it all or do it all.” She further states, “Women today face unsustainable demands on our time and efforts largely because economic forces have created an environment where gender roles have converged in the workplace and yet have not converged at home.” Low’s research seems to back up the idea that although men think they are carrying their weight, they really aren’t. So, how does one shift that paradigm without creating resentment or greater chaos in a relationship? Low seems to argue to take time for yourself and put yourself first which, of course, is difficult (perhaps totally unrealistic) to do as a parent. She encourages readers to delve into identifying their personal utility function and to explore ways (e.g., car-pooling) to free up more time. Low is a strident voice for women and her writing is research-based (approximately fifteen percent of the text is devoted to Notes); it’s just unclear how viable her action steps (e.g., levelling up vs. leaning in) really are. Family Action Network (FAN) recently hosted Dr. Low to speak about HAVING IT ALL. Learn more here:

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

ATMOSPHERE is the latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid (Carrie Soto is Back and Daisy and the Six; Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). Even though ATMOSPHERE received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal and was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for June, my book group was more enthusiastic about her earlier works. This latest story is set in the mid-1980’s and looks in detail at the second class of astronauts chosen to fly the space shuttles. I thought it would be much more about NASA, but instead, the story really focuses on the personal relationship between two female astronauts (Joan Goodwin and Vanessa Ford) and how in that era they have to hide who they are in order to keep their jobs. There's an exploration of motherhood, too: both for Joan’s sister (Barbara) involving her daughter, fifth-grader Frances, plus, another female astronaut, Donna, who's a new mother and struggling with discrimination. The plot actually spans several years from their recruitment and training to class members flying in space. The author flashes forward early in the novel so readers are aware of a dangerous accident on one of those missions and alternates time periods until both stories are resolved. The space rescue is moving and well-written; the rest, perhaps paralleling some of Sally Ride’s and her peers’ experiences, less so. Taylor Jenkins Reid does provide a list of suggestions for further reading which includes The Six by Loren Grush.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Bostwick

THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick (Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly) is one of my favorite books of the year so far. Bostwick has created another work of historical fiction, focusing on the early 1960s and the suburbs of Washington, DC. Four main characters form a book club and become close friends, calling themselves The Bettys in homage to the first book they read together, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Readers meet Margaret Ryan who aspires to be a writer and helpmate to her accountant husband, Walt. Charlotte Gustafson is wealthy, creative and unhappy, trapped in a loveless marriage to Howard. Viv Buschetti adores supportive husband Tony, but she yearns to put her nursing skills to work as she manages six (make that seven!) children. Bitsy Cobb is younger and less sure of herself (except for her love of horses) and is married to an older man, Kingsley, a veterinarian. Each woman faces questions about her purpose, a possible career, and the state of her marriage and family, especially relative to societal norms. As Bostwick writes, “They had been raised to believe that the road to a happy, successful adulthood was well defined but extremely narrow, and that deviating from the path was not only irresponsible but wrong, a quick route to certain disaster.” Yet, these four quickly grow to support each other and Bostwick delves into personal crises with historical details as background (e.g., remember “the underground currency of American housewives,” S&H Green Stamps? And who knew that a married women could not open a bank account at that time without her husband’s signature?). Facing adversity, these four women learn together to appreciate what Eleanor Roosevelt used to say, “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.” This would be a marvelous book group selection as there is much to consider and discuss here. Katherine Graham and other Washington socialites make cameo appearances. In its starred review of THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN Library Journal says, "Bostwick's latest is ideal for fans of historical fiction and those who enjoyed Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry, Kristin Hannah's The Women, or Kate Quinn's The Briar Club, which explore the historical roles of women and the challenges they faced within a society structured to define and limit their roles in and out of the home." Highly recommended.

Book groups may also enjoy some of the other selections that the Bettys considered: The Group by Mary McCarthy; Herland (1915) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute; short stories by Flannery O’Connor; Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis; Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates; Dearly Beloved or Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

The Liberty Scarf

THE LIBERTY SCARF by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan is a work of historical fiction set on both sides of the Atlantic during WWI. This novel has three parts and they all share the connection of a beautiful Liberty scarf. Thoughts of Liberty fabrics and the main store’s gorgeous building in London were some of the reasons I so liked this book. The heroines were strong women and self-reliant. In the first section, readers meet Iris who aspires to be a designer for Liberty, and Rex, a wounded soldier/architect. The second part is my favorite and features Geneviève Tremblay. Jenny, as she is called, is a telephone operator who faces prejudice in the States because of being a French Canadian. Ironically, it is her native language (and operator skills) which makes her especially valuable in the war effort in Europe where she meets Maxim, a vintner. The third part of the novel tells the story of Clara, a nurse, and Roman, a violinist.  The three stories connect eventually in December 2018 and combine romance and history; as the publisher says, THE LIBERTY SCARF is “a testament to the resilience of women and the enduring power of hope and unity in the harshest of times.” Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the thing with Feathers is an oft-quoted reference and there is reflection about having faith and courage to find a new path. The authors’ notes further explain their writing to celebrate unsung heroines like the telephone operators. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ann Marie Gideon; Gary Furlong; Caroline Hewitt; and Saskia Maarleveld; I would definitely recommend.

Betty Crocker Found Recipes

BETTY CROCKER FOUND RECIPES contains “Beloved Vintage Recipes Worth Sharing.” A few examples include Chocolate Chip Scones, Raspberry Almond Crepes, or Gumdrop Bread. The categories are Holiday Celebrations, Memorable Main Dishes, Warm from the Oven Breads, Irresistible Cookies and Bars, and Better than Ever Desserts. Each recipe has a brief accompanying vignette which identifies the time period (like 1950s Cheese Balls) and often includes consumer memory comments or even a photo of the recipe as originally published. Many recipes include photos of the food itself or of the ingredient packages (e.g., Bisquick) as they appeared in the past or even from cooking or research sessions at the Betty Crocker Kitchens. BETTY CROCKER FOUND RECIPES brought back so many wonderful memories, like my grandmother’s delicious clover rolls (see Refrigerator Roll Dough) or my Mom’s many baked treats (e.g., Salted Peanut Crisps). This is a terrific cookbook, filled with fun ideas to prepare and plenty of nostalgia, too. There are several pages about the history and evolution of Betty Crocker. For those still curious about how tastes have changed, The New York Times recently profiled “The 25 Most Influential Cookbooks From the Last 100 Years,” including titles like The Joy of Cooking, The Moosewood Cookbook, Jubilee, and titles related to the cuisines of Mexico, India and more. ENJOY!

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan features an old, possibly haunted, house near Awadapquit, Maine. The other main character, a young woman called Jane, used the abandoned house as an isolated refuge when she was a lonely high schooler. She soon left town for college and ultimately found a “dream job” as an archivist specializing in women’s issues at a Cambridge Library. Over the years, she introduces her future husband to the house when they visit her mother and sister, who work together in the resale field and both of whom struggle with alcoholism. Then, at 38, Jane ends up back in Awadapquit, with both her marriage and career in jeopardy due to her own overindulgence with alcohol (“Sometimes the tragedies of a person's life didn't happen neatly, single file, one at a time, but all at once, so that it was impossible to know how you felt about any part of the whole.”). At that time, the new owner hires Jane to learn more about the house’s history and her capable research was my favorite part of the book. Sullivan expands upon Jane’s findings about the sea-faring captain who built the house; she devotes entire chapters to his wife and her maid, giving each a voice in describing their lives. Readers also meet the next owner, a talented artist who experienced a family tragedy. And there are even sections on the Indigenous people who named the area. Sullivan has included numerous threads – spiritualism and mediums (“…bodily death is not the end of consciousness. It is merely the passing of the soul into another plane.”); the Shaker religion; abuse and misuse of historical artifacts; women’s roles over time; alcoholism’s impact across generations; and modern-day entitlement. Both The Washington Post and The New York Times (“This skillful novel makes the case that knowing what came before offers us our best chance to truly understand our connections to one another, and what we owe to the land we inhabit.”) also reviewed THE CLIFFS which received a starred review from Kirkus and was the July 2024 Reese’s Book Club selection.

The Politics of Gen Z and Polarized by Degrees

THE POLITICS OF GEN Z by Melissa Deckman describes “How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy.” Deckman, political scientist and the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, looks at voters born between 1997 and 2012 and their growing political participation. She cites interviews and research supporting the increasingly left-leaning activism of women and those concerned with LGBTQ rights; and also notes that young men in this age cohort tend to be more conservative. An entire chapter looks at “gendered spaces” in relation to issues like gun violence, climate change, and income inequality. Almost half of the book is devoted to an Index, Notes section and an extensive Methodological Appendix which includes data, statistics, and numerous graphs. Deckman’s text is an academic one that uses surveys, focus groups, and social science research to argue “the gendered political revolution is underway. Its roots are deep…” For an excellent overview and summary of her arguments, here is an interview with Deckman from PBS NewsHour:

 

In POLARIZED BY DEGREES, Matt Grossmann and David A. Hopkins have focused on “How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics.” Grossmann, Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University, and Hopkins, Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston College, assert that “a growing ‘diploma divide’ has rapidly reversed the traditional relationship between education and partisanship, now separating degree-holding white Democrats from degree-lacking white Republicans.” They note that the combination of trends like increased educational attainment and a leftward shift in American cultural norms “has also left whites without a college degree - who maintain relatively traditionalist predispositions, hold increasingly precarious economic positions, and perceive themselves as vulnerable to downward social mobility - open to populist appeals that promote resentment of, and mobilization against, members of the cultural elite like professional journalists, educators, scientists, and intellectuals.” I have included that excerpt both for content and as an example of the often-verbose style. Numerous scholars and students (see the acknowledgements) provided feedback and input for this text; researchers interested in this topic will find much to explore in the many Notes and detailed Index which together comprise about a third of the text. Recent political discussions do feel as though we do not have shared experiences or speak a common language so I just had to add the blurb for POLARIZED BY DEGREES from The New York Times’ Thomas Edsall: “essential reading for everyone trying to figure out what the hell is going on in American politics.”