Most of us in the USA just completed tax season - something we were recently reminded was the only certain thing in life besides death. That fact and a book on grief that someone gave us years ago (Karen, we finally gave it the attention it deserves - thank you), has us thinking about how hard it is to have good conversations about difficult topics - death, taxes/politics, and sexuality come to mind. In service of trying to help us all be better conversationalists and humans, we review three books to encourage us all do just that.

Bearing the Unbearable: Love, loss, and the heartbreaking path of grief by Joanne Cacciatore (2017).  A dear friend who was dealing with the unbearable death of her child said this book spoke to her like no other book could. She also stated that she wished everyone could read it before they had to use it either to deal with their own grief or support someone else's process. We skimmed it years ago, and for a variety of reasons delved deeply into it this past week.  She is right -- it would help so many if we all read this as part of being human. Why? Because we all need, as the author writes, "an emotional home for our feelings" and because "grief that is dismissed, suppressed, or silenced harms individuals, families and communities". Cacciatore does not chastise anyone for anytime we said or did the wrong thing when talking about grief. Cacciatore talks about how hard these conversations are because so few of us are taught about the importance of grieving, and its inevitability. If you fear that this book is completely depressing, it is not. Cacciatore talks at length about elements of healing and transformation that accompany grief. We hope you all can read it before you need to assist a friend's or co-worker's grief, and before you need to process your own. We also argue this book, while focusing on the extreme grief accompanying death, might help with dealing with the grief accompanying divorce or the end of a relationship or even moving from a community you love. (We add this with hope it does not trivialize grief emerging from death.) Maybe even read it with a loved one so you can talk about how hard grief is to talk about.

It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley (2021). Our amazing pediatrician (hello Dr. Michael Lyons) introduced us both to this book when all our children were young.  It has been updated to reflect gender neutral vocabulary, an expansion of LGBTQ+ topics, and social media advice.  Get it, read it, and then read it with your children before you think they are ready. You won't regret it.

The Centrist Manifesto by Charles Wheelan (2013). Using humor and years of research and learning from teaching at Dartmouth College, Wheelan makes his case for a new American political party - the Centrists. Whether you agree with his conclusion or not, this book offers great fodder for difficult discussions around politics in America. Perhaps it works as a way to talk respectfully because it offers something that has not happened - a new political party and a new voice for people in the middle of political discussions, a middle Wheelan argues most Americans actually land.  As Kirkus Reviews said when they discussed this book, "It’s a sign of the times that this sensible plea for moderation can seem so radical".  

And to inspire us all, here is an article about the positive aspects (e.g., greater connections with others) of conducting difficult conversations. Happy May everyone!

April brings showers, flowers, and an excellent opportunity to highlight the power and beauty of poetry. We bring three volumes to your attention today.

The Shared World by Vievee Francis (2023).  We had the privilege of hearing Francis read her own poetry, including some from this newest collection, on a cold evening in White River Junction, Vermont a few weeks back. To hear her is to be educated, entertained, and brought to a lyrical place that requires thinking anew about many things. In The Shared World, Francis discusses how it feels and what it is to be a Black woman in the world today; in doing so, she gives readers the great gift of better understanding. As Rebecca Morgan Frank says in her review of this collection for the Poetry Foundation, "longing for love and protection in a world that denies it permeates this collection".  We are all better for having read this volume of Francis's latest work (and any of her other books). If Francis is ever in your vicinity reading anything - including the phone book - do yourself a favor and attend her reading; you will not regret it. ~ Lisa Christie (and Lisa Cadow when she's able to read it)

The Woman I Kept to Myself  by Julia Alvarez (2011). For years I gave this collection to friends reaching milestone birthdays - 30, 40, 50. I don't know why I stopped. I need to resume this practice because when I recently dusted off my copy, these autobiographical poems still offered a road map for reviewing one's life and choosing anew to live it as best as one can. This collection explores multiple facets of Alvarez's life - as a little girl reciting poetry every night, her role as a sister anticipating her family's rejection, her life as a renowned professor; in doing so, as discussed on the podcast Code Switch, Alvarez provides "an acknowledgement that you're never all of yourself all of the time, and that so many of us exist perpetually in gray areas". This volume helps readers remember the gray areas where life often occurs and how to treat them with with respect and ideally joy. ~ Lisa Christie (and Lisa Cadow even if she never gave it as a gift)

Life by Donna Ashwood (2022). I should probably examine why I need to tell you all that this volume is definitely more of a self help book than the two poetry volumes discussed thus far. Is this need from my fear you will think I am not deep/intelligent or I am weak and require comfort? In light of the fact that the people who I have shared something from this book with, have in turn passed those poems along, this need to start with a disclaimer seems strange. And with that disclaimer out of the way, now come words about this book. I received this collection of Ashwood's poetry from a friend who knows I have been struggling through a seemingly never ending series of unfortunate events. Her gift of this volume and the poems within it have provided much needed help remembering I am not alone. Perhaps that is enough for any poem. We add it to this set of reviews as sometimes all one needs is a reminder they are seen; and, this book provides just that. ~ Lisa Christie

We are thrilled to report that on March 22, 2023 for the first time since November 2019, Pages in the Pub was held in person. This time we crossed the river into New Hampshire and held an incredible event at Still North Books & Bar. The presenters were fabulous, the books they recommended diverse and enticing, the setting inviting, and the money benefitted the Howe Public Library. As a fun bonus, the Book Jam briefly discussed the presenters books as part of the evening and wrote six word reviews for today's post. Thus, you all can see some of the presenters' unique talent at work, even if you could not join us in person.

Andy Borowitz was born in Shaker Heights, where he wrote made-up news for his high school newspaper. He moved to New York City in 2005, where he started writing made-up news for The New Yorker. His career demonstrates either a commitment to a genre or arrested development. You can find his New Yorker work here.
 
KJ Dell’Antonia is a novelist and former journalist and editor at the New York Times whose writing always inevitably ends up being about why the things we think will make us happy and solve our problems (Reality TV! Fame! Witchcraft! Genius athletic children!) never, ever do. She is possibly a witch and definitely has a book in her bag, and Shirley Jackson is her literary idol forevermore. You can subscribe to her newsletter by clicking here.
 
Peter Orner once ran for student council vice president under the slogan "Peter Orner Eats Salad." You see there was a new salad bar and the salad bar was popular, and so he thought...Anyway, he didn't prevail. You can find his personal writings here.
 
Sarah Stewart Taylor writes books and reads books and has way too many books. She is the author of the Maggie D'arcy mystery series, about an American police detective in Ireland, and also of a forthcoming series set in Vermont. Her new Maggie D'arcy mystery, A Stolen Child, will be out in June. She and her family raise sheep on their Hartland farm and she spends as much time in Ireland as she can. When she isn't reading, writing, or shepherding, you can find her moving her books around and coming up with excuses for her family about why she needs so many books. You can find her at www.SarahStewartTaylor.com. 

And now, the books they believe we should all read, divided into categories to make it easier to figure out what you are in the mood to read right now, add to your to-be-read stack, or give as a gift.

Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (2015). Poignant novel about friendship & jellyfish behavior.   ~ Selected by Peter.

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill (1964). Best kids book about politics ever. ~ Selected by Peter.

My Vermont Table by Gesine Bullock-Prado (2023). Vermont vibes. Local Ingredients. Fabulous Dishes. ~ Selected by Sarah

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (2022). People run hard from their happy endings. ~ Selected by KJ

Shy by Mary Rodgers & Jesse Green (2022). Hilarious, profane life of Broadway princess. ~ Selected by Andy

Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell (1992). No Better book about life in a city, any city. ~ Selected by Peter

Missing Presumed by Susie Steiner (2016). Lovable police detective. Real Life. Gorgeous writing. ~ Selected by Sarah  ​

​Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison (2022). Surprisingly un-glam life of reluctant werewolf. ~ Selected by KJ

Anywhere you Run by Wanda Morris (2022). Sisters navigating secrets danger. Jim Crow. ~ Selected by Sarah 

Writers and Lovers by Lily King (2020). Against the odds, waitress becomes writer. ~ Selected by Andy  

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher (2015). Screamingly funny, told entirely in letters. ~ Selected by Andy  

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (2022). Twisty family secrets with lasting impact. ~ Selected by KJ

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel (2023). Revenge misfires, backfires, makes everything better. ~ Selected by KJ

Small Things Like These (2021) and Foster (2022) by Claire Keegan. Irish. Lovely writing. Heartbreaking characters. Timely issues. ~ Selected by Sarah

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (2001). Canadian, small town pettiness, occasional wonder. ~ Selected by Peter

Forest Primeval by Vievee Francis (2015). Intense, moving, among America's best. ~ Selected by Peter

The Shared World by Vievee Francis (coming in April 2023). No 6-words. Added at event. Lucky us. ~ Selected by Peter

On Writing by Stephen King (2000). Priceless advice from our greatest storyteller. ~ Selected by Andy

​The Borowitz Report  (2004). Big book of socking news stories. ​~ Selected by Lisa

The Chicken Sisters (2020). Fried chicken feud attracts reality tv. ~ Selected by Lisa

In Her Boots (2022). Imploding daughter returns. Prank goes awry. ​~ Selected by Lisa

Playing Witch Card (coming in September 2023). She gave up on magic. Right? ~ Selected by Lisa

Still No Word From You (2022). Peter discusses writing he has loved. ~ Selected by Lisa

Maggie Brown & Others (2019). Novellas. Short stories. Magnificent one-pagers. ​~ Selected by Lisa

Am I Alone here? (2016). Living to read. Reading to live. ​~ Selected by Lisa

The Mountains Wild: Maggie D’Arcy #1 (2020). Maggie D'Arcy debut. Cousin Erin missing. ~ Selected by Lisa

A Distant Grave: Maggie D’Arcy #2 (2021). Combines Long Island, Ireland, and Love? ​~ Selected by Lisa

The Drowning Sea: Maggie D’Arcy #3 (2022). West Cork vacation home equals mystery. ​~ Selected by Lisa

In many situations, perspective is everything. We can choose to see someone's actions as a result of something we did, or as a result of something going on with them. We can choose to see someone's bad behavior as them having a bad day and/or struggling with hard things, or we can choose to think they are a jerk and/or that they purposefully decided to hurt us. The stories we tell ourselves about the reasons behind actions influence our reactions.

And, as Winston Churchill stated "history is written by the victors". So it is also  important to consider the source of any story one hears. Lately quite a few books that have made it off our "to be read stack" actively set out to highlight the importance of point of view as they rewrite Greek myths from the standpoint of someone we don't normally hear from in traditional tellings of myths. We review two of these books below.

Stone Blind by Nathalie Haynes (2023). This is Haynes's third novel based on myths, and somehow the first one we have read. In it, Haynes retells the story of Medusa, the youngest of the Gorgon sisters and the only mortal among them. When Medusa's beauty attracts the attention of Poseidon, he assaults her in Athena's temple. And, because of course she does, Athena takes out her rage that her temple was defiled on Medusa - giving her snakes for hair, blindness, and the ability to turn all she "gazes" upon into stone. Haynes retells the myths involving Medusa, her sisters, Perseus, Cassiopeia, and others in short chapters written from many points of view. We think Ebony Purks of INDIEbound reviewed this novel best -- “Stone Blind offers Medusa deserved sympathy, and asks: What makes a monster, and on whose authority? What does it mean to to have your authority stripped? And what does it look like when old stories get reclaimed through a little empathy?” Enjoy.

Circe by Madeline Miller (2019). According to Greek myths, Circe was banished to a deserted island by Zeus due to her ability, through her witchcraft, to transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods. But the best planned punishments go awry and islands receive unexpected visitors.  Eventually after crossing paths with many mythical heroes, Circe draws the ire of both men and gods. Miller recreates Circe's story from Circe's perspective - not those of the heores and gods she encounters and in doing so Miller creates a page-turning epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss. This is a tale that will have you rethinking what makes a hero/heroine, and why perspectives matter.

Today, we review one book and it's designed for kids (although we'd argue it's also for people who love books for kids and people who love kids). Only one, although it mentions many, many graphic novels so maybe it's technically many more than one. BTW, Happy Valentine's Day. 

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang (2023). This book for kids celebrates graphic novels while frankly and empathetically addressing the immigrant experience, how hard being the new kid in school can be, complicated family dynamics, climate change, how much betrayal hurts, and what occurs when you finally speak your truth and are seen. If you still need a quick plot summary, here you go... Ten year old Lina Gao finally joins her mom, dad, and younger sister in Los Angeles after years of living with her grandmother in China. Once in California, she discovers her parents haven't been exactly truthful about life in America. She learns how to navigate school and bullies with the help of an amazing teacher, a fun librarian, and some new friends. She develops new ways of communicating with her parents and sister, and ultimately helps the family grow a business in order to pay back rent on their apartment. Is she perfect? No, thank goodness. And we think you will love watching her learn to navigate her new life as you read this excellent novel for middle grade readers. As Booklist said in their starred review, "In this involving, realistic chapter book, a likeable character overcomes a series of obstacles while forging strong connections with her parents, her sister, and two friends. Yang...writes with a beguiling combination of clarity, simplicity, and immediacy in a new story exploring the practical and emotional challenges of immigration as experienced by children." Graphic novels mentioned in this include, but are not limited to, Smile and Drama by Raina Telegemier, one of our favorite graphic novelists for kids.

It is January in New England and while we finally have enough snow that the sunlight reflects delightfully everywhere, January is often not the easiest month to enjoy. As with a lot of life, what sometimes helps is to have something to look forward to. So today, we review two books that will not be out until April, because sometimes anticipation is an amazing cure for doldrums no matter what the weather. And for those who do not enjoy waiting, we review one book (chosen as it fits what we belatedly realize is an unintentional theme of love and heartbreak; think of today's theme as an early gift both for those who love and those who hate Valentines Day?) that you can read today.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (4 April 2023). The author of Prep (which produced one of the best book club discussions ever) and American Wife which made me rethink Laura Bush, returns with a romance novel. Romance novels are not my cup of tea - I can't remember the last one I read; and yet, this one found it's way to my bedside table and eventually my hands and brain. The main characters - Sally, a writer for TNO, a thinly disguised fictional version of SNL, and Noah, a gorgeous pop star who hosts TNO a year or two before our recent pandemic lockdown are relatable, even if their professions are not. They connect, breaking a rule Sally wrote into a TNO sketch - the Danny Horst rule - that theorizes "hot" men will not date regular women, but regular men regularly date "hot" women. And because there needs to be a plot for there to be a novel, they disconnect, and then connect again during lockdown, or do they? Sally and Noah don't seem contrived. Their funny TNO friends - Viv, Henrietta and Danny in particular - charm. And, the plot blends "boy meets girl boy loses girl ..." with pandemic retellings and Midwestern wholesomeness/cheesiness to a great overall affect. I was simultaneously entertained and casting the inevitable movie in my head. If necessary, forget you don't do romance novels and try this one; I am pretty certain you will be glad you did, even if your own life currently seems the opposite of romantic and you worry this might depress you more than your lack of romance already does. As the Washington Post has said, “Sittenfeld has an astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads.” ~ Lisa Christie

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith (11 April 2023). With a title lifted from the last line of her poem Good Bones, Maggie Smith has fashioned an incredibly moving portrait of a life in which a marriage disintegrates, and instead of skipping to the part where everyone is OK, she explores the extremely personal aspects of her heartache and betrayal. In doing so, she does not let her either ex-husband or herself off the hook for the ending of their vows and their life together. She spends a more than a few pages talking about how betrayal "is neat and ... absolves you from having to think about your own failures... Because no matter what else happened - if you argued about work or kids, if you lacked intimacy, or ... it is as if the other person doused everything with lighter fluid and threw a match." In her discussions, she does not absolve her ex for the betrayal, or whitewash either of their actions leading up to her discovery of his betrayal. She talks candidly about the affects of divorce on her kids and their need for privacy. She discusses therapy, poetry, emotional and physical affairs, how secrets harm everyone and are so hard to manage, and how the division of labor is not the thing that ends marriages, but it certainly does not help. If you ever wondered what divorce feels like, or if you would like to help someone you love who is experiencing the ending of a partnership or honestly any type of grief, or if you would like to see how someone manages to feel all the feels and not deny all the hurt still keeps moving, this book is amazing. Smith is a poet, so each word seems perfectly chosen. The "chapters" are short and easily digested. And even though the pain is not remotely circumvented, hope permeates the entire book. My advanced copy (thank you Allie of Still North Books & Bar) looks like a journal as I added a written conversation between Maggie Smith and myself as phrases struck home. Even if this seems depressing or somehow something you - a happily partnered person will never need, this book has wisdom and gorgeous prose for everyone. ~ Lisa Christie

Heartbreak by Florence Williams (2022). In keeping with today's unexpected theme of heartache and love, ​for those of you who need a book to read today (anticipation is not for everyone), and for those of you who enjoy books laden with scientific facts and interesting interviews with researchers and scientists, Heartbreak will not disappoint. In fact, this was declared a Smithsonian Best Science Book of 2022. Williams is a journalist by training and vocation, and when her 25 year old marriage unexpectedly (to her) falls apart (her husband may or may not be having an affair, but definitely does not want to be married to her anymore) she finds herself emotionally reeling and physically ill. So she turns to her profession and sets out to find a rational answer to her reactions to her heartache. In doing so, she finds herself rafting a river, hiking with survivors of sex trafficking, getting her genetic markers tested, speaking with experts in neurogenomic (had to look this up - the study of how the genome of an organism influences the development and function of its nervous system) research laboratories, and undergoing electric shock, among other things. She discovers that one often makes really really bad decisions in the pain of heartache, and the scientific reasons why. She explores loneliness, health, betrayal, love, joy, and life with candor, wit, and a lot of science. ~ Lisa Christie

Last week we finished two books that could not be more different; yet, we recommend them both. We hope one of them fits the mood for your next great read. And, if  they don't strike your fancy, please stay tuned for more options in our other reviews as 2023 progresses.

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman (2022). The third in this series is just as charming as the first; maybe more so as you now know and are invested in the main characters: Elizabeth - a possible MI6 operative, Joyce - former nurse turned narrator of the stories, Ron - the former trade union leader, and Ibrahim - a retired therapist. This time, they are investigating the disappearance of a TV newscaster whose body was never found, and of course a few other things such as romance. Read these if for no other reason than to enjoy time spent with 80something characters who are enjoying life to its fullest.  I agree wholeheartedly with what the New York Times wrote, "The quartet of aging amateur sleuths…remain wonderful company,” Enjoy! 

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (2022). It's Florence in the 1500s and Lucrezia, daughter of the grand duke, is happily living her life - painting, sketching, checking out her father's zoo, and basically ignoring her siblings while spying on court life. Then one of her older sisters dies, and Lucrezia is substituted as bride for her sister's fiance. The novel's question then becomes is her new husband the playful person he appeared to be in her father's court or a manipulative powerful man with his own agenda - one that does not consider Lucrezia's desires?  The portrait from the title is one Lucrezia sits for to preserve her image for posterity and comes to represent both her freedom and her confinement.  I will be honest, it took me a few pages to enjoy this tale, but at some point I was enjoying living in Italy many centuries ago and was fascinated by how things have changed and not changed for women, and contemplating the chasms that can appear between life partners, with or without malicious intent. As the Washington Post stated in their review of this book, "O’Farrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station . . . You may know the history, and you may think you know what’s coming, but don’t be so sure. O’Farrell and Lucrezia, with her ‘crystalline, righteous anger,’ will always be one step ahead of you.. . . O’Farrell [is] one of the most exciting novelists alive.”  Enjoy.

We have no idea if you make, keep, or disdain New Year's resolutions. And, it feels as if we could all use some fun, hopeful, inspiring, and perhaps gentle books to peruse as we think about how we wish to be going forward (and process the past few years). Thus, we take a bit of time, during Kwanza and in the pause between Christmas/Hanukkah and New Years, to share a few books we've found as we shopped our favorite indie bookstores during the holidays. Regardless of where you land on resolutions, we wish you all the best in 2023. Happy reading.

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury (2021).  This lovely book can be dipped into or read all at once with equal effectiveness. Big Panda and Tiny Dragon was created by British author and artist James Norbury to share ideas - mostly from Buddhism - that have helped him throughout his life. It would make an excellent housewarming gift or thank you gift for holiday hosts.

Hope Is A Verb: Six steps to radical optimism when the world seems broken by Emily Ehlers (2021).  This book addresses, with fun illustrations and encouraging words, how to get unstuck when the issues you are facing overwhelm everything else. Ehlers is an environmental activist and begins with the importance of making change and also not burning out. Then her six steps are actually tips that even those of us who are not trying to change the world can use.  A great book to pick up and put down when you feel, well stuck.

Keep Moving: Notes on loss creativity and change by Maggie Smith (2020).  A loving mediation on how to move through grief caused by any loss (death, illness, divorce, kids moving out of the home, new work situations). In the wake of her painful divorce, Smith started writing Twitter posts, inspiring thousands. This book collects them and would be helpful for anyone wondering what is next (probably best once they've had a bit of time to process the loss though as keep moving can be hard to hear in those initial stages of grief). The Boston Globe calls it “A shining reminder to learn all we can from this moment, rebuilding ourselves in the darkness so that we may come out wiser, kinder, and stronger on the other side.” 

Choke: What the secrets of the brain reveal about getting it right when you have to by Sian Beilock -- Beilock is both a renowned expert about the brain science behind human performance and neighboring Dartmouth's next (and first female) President. So, we were very curious about her book. In it, Beilock addresses questions such as 1) Why do the smartest students often do poorly on standardized tests? 2) Why did you tank that interview or miss that golf swing when you should have had it in the bag? 3) Why do you mess up when it matters the most—and how can you perform your best instead? We haven't finished it; but, we have a feeling her ideas about how not to crack under pressure will prove helpful going forward.

On a warm (for a Vermont winter) evening last week, we once again ushered Pages in the Pub into our holiday plans, and for a third, and we vowed final time, we met via Zoom.

Once again, the presenters - our fabulous town librarian Lucinda Walker; our town's terrific children's librarian, Erin  Davison; amazing booksellers Emma Nichols and Sam Kass; and the delightful Samantha Davidson Green of Junction Arts Media (JAM), did an incredible job of raising a lot of money for our beloved Norwich Public Library (thanks to the generosity of the Norwich Bookstore). They confined their Zoom reviews to 90 seconds and their written reviews to six words (harder than it sounds), and helped many of those attending finish (or at least start) their holiday shopping.

No matter what, they gave all of us a GREAT list of books to give and get (and maybe start reading today). ​ Just look below for their picks and reviews, and some great gift ideas.

We thank everyone who attended. We thank our presenters. We thank Dan and Whit's for donating a portion of wine sales for the evening. And finally, we thank the presenters! To easily shop from an indie bookstore, just use the Norwich Bookstore's online ordering page for this event.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (2021). Intersectional feminism, strong community, and murder.  ~ Selected by Erin 

Corner That Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner (2019). Political and petty nuns lack piety. ~ Selected by Emma

Riverman by Ben McGrath (2022). Turns out, freedom is very affordable.  ~ Selected by Sam

Goddess Pose by Michelle Goldberg (2016). Brisk Storytelling. Epic Adventure. Inspiring woman.  ~ Selected by Samantha

Shutter by Romona Emerson (2022). Riveting storytelling with murder & ghosts. ~ Selected by Lucinda

Verifiers by Jane Pek (2022). Old-school sleuthing for the internet age. ~ Selected by Sam

After the Fall by Dan Santat (2017). Facing fears and learning to fly. ~ Selected by Erin

Black Food by Bryant Terry (2021). Genre defying art, prose, and recipes. ~ Selected by Erin

It's that time of year -- gift giving, multiple festivities, and our annual Holiday Edition of Pages in the Pub.

Pages in the Pub is a lively evening of discussing and celebrating books with the Norwich Bookstore, The Book Jam, and the Norwich Public Library. Discover new reads and connect with fellow book lovers!

AND leave with a fabulous list of books to give and get.

With Thanksgiving only days away and gift giving season descending soon, we are reminded that people often put that right book in your hands when you didn't even know you needed it. Since this serendipity has happened often lately, today we share three books that found their way to us through the generosity and insight of others. We hope they help you find your next great book; and, Happy Thanksgiving.

Macando: Welcome to Elsewhere by Liniers (2022). On a recent Saturday, I woke feeling pretty bummed about my current life situation (no details needed; let's just say 2022 has been full of bleak events, thankfully balanced by incredible support from all sorts of people - THANK YOU ALL, and somehow with my extreme optimism intact - much to the chagrin of many). And in my bummed out state, I repeatedly circled the house trying to start my day. Luckily, this book that my amazing neighbors the Mccaulls gave me when our dog of 12 years died last month (one of the bleak events of 2022) caught my eye and saved my day.

Liniers was just what I needed on that Saturday. His cartoons are amazing, with their playfulness enhancing their insight. I am so grateful I picked it up that Saturday. It was the perfect thing to laugh over and cry with so that my day could proceed beyond its initial melancholy. ~ Lisa Christie

Freedom and Unity (2022). Our final example highlights  when our friend James Sturm of the Center for Cartoon Studies gave us a perfect book for that moment in time.  This latest volume enhances CCS's series of books that help readers understand complicated things: mental health, democracy, health, how we read. In their latest outing, the talented CCS team tackles Vermont's unique governing structure and state motto - Freedom and Unity. The book reminded me why serving on the school board is worth every difficult conversation. This gift's timing was perfect. Thank you James.~ Lisa Christie

Hello everyone, we have returned from our annual "gone reading" break with new books to recommend. For today, we limit ourselves to three: one YA, one for kids, and one with adults in mind. And, we close with a wish for a very happy and safe Halloween.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (2022). Ruta Sepetys never fails to introduce us to pieces of history we had not encountered before. Her latest novel continues this trend. This time, she tackles Romania in 1989. While communist regimes are crumbling in Europe, Nicolae Ceaușescu maintains a strong hold on life in Romania. Seventeen-year-old Cristian dreams of becoming a writer, and instead is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer in order to protect his family. Eventually, he risks everything - with encouragement from his grandfather - to unmask the truth and show the world what is happening in his country.  

Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt (2021). Mr. Schmidt returns to some of his tried and true characters and settings in this outing. As the story begins, Meryl Lee is sent to a girls' boarding school in fall 1968 to help her process her grief from her best friend's death. Matt is on the run from a criminal gang and lands in the same town as the boarding school. Of course their paths cross, and of course they help each other; however that does not take away from the power of this story of friendship, loss, and hope. BookPage gave it a starred review and stated, "Set in 1968, Just Like That is part of an outstanding series that began with Newbery Honor recipient The Wednesday Wars, and continued in Okay for Now, a finalist for the National Book Award." Enjoy!

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout (2022). We recommend this new novel for people looking for a way to process the pandemic, and/or book clubs.  We all experienced great trauma the past few years, and most of the books we've read so far might mention the pandemic, but do not make it a plot point. This book is the first we've read in which the pandemic and the characters' various reactions to the pandemic are the main point, basically driving the plot. In this novel, Lucy Barton from Elizabeth Strout's other books, moves from Manhattan to the coast of Maine with her scientist ex-husband who sees that the pandemic is something to be fled long before most people have even registered something life changing is coming for the world. The novel deals with the pain of isolation, being apart from loved ones, reckoning with past mistakes, the amazing possibilities forgiveness and love offer, and being newcomers in small towns - offering an opportunity to explore how differing social classes experienced covid-19. While this is probably not the greatest of Strout's works (the Kirkus review was not very kind), by the end, as the New York Times review stated, "Lucy’s done the hard work of transformation. May we do the same." The novel is short and reads very quickly. You will be reminded of aspects of the pandemic that you forgot; and, if you wish, offered an opportunity to process what happened to you as the world locked down.

So sorry, we forgot to let you know we are on our annual end of summer/beginning of autumn "gone reading" break.

We look forward to sharing what we found with you at some point in mid- to late September. Meantime, all of our recommendations are available on this site; so, click away, explore a bit, and find your next great read.

See you in Autumn.

Years ago, the Book Jam began as a dare and became a podcast recorded on a simple digital recorder purchased from somewhere we can't remember at this point. We recorded in the basement of our beloved Norwich Public Library; lucky for us, we both ended up on the board there and organizing their first ever special event/fundraiser as part of this "rental agreement".

The podcasting dropped off due to crazy schedules and other jobs; we began to blog and organize live events to raise money for libraries and other literacy organizations across New England instead.

Well, what comes around goes around or something like that.  We have jumped back on the podcasting bandwagon with a new, delightfully fun podcast called Shelf Help. The Book Jam serves as the organizer and host. Our local cable media service - CATV serves as our terrific and much needed moral and technical support (particular thanks to Samantha Davidson Green, Chico Eastridge, and David Eric). Shelf Help's fabulous, smart, funny, and sincere stars are the owners of our three superb local independent bookstores - Kari Muetsch of Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, Vermont (her co-owner Kristian Preloswki is our silent partner, but we hope to coax him on air soon); Sam Kaas and Emma Nichols of the Norwich Bookstore in our hometown of Norwich, Vermont; and Allie Levy of Still North Books and Bar in Hanover, New Hampshire. Truly -- they are amazing individuals, extremely well read (even if, as listeners learn, they are not reading as much as they'd like), and always recommend a wide range of great books to read.

On Shelf Help each week, these terrific booksellers answer real questions from listeners who need help finding the perfect book - or as we would say - needing help getting out of a Book Jam. To add your questions, just contact them on the social media platform of your choice, or email shelfhelpuv@gmail.com.

To help you find this stupendous resource, today we highlight and link to each Shelf Help episode and list the books recommended thusfar. We are thrilled to inform you all episodes can be found at CATV, Apple podcasts, Spotify, IHeartRadio, Stitcher, buzzsprout and other sites. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoy organizing and hosting these brilliant booksellers. And, we hope you subscribe using your favorite podcasting platform.  
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So without further ado, an introduction to some of the books recently recommended on Shelf Help.

The fabulous booksellers - Kari, Sam, Emma, and Allie - introduce themselves in Episode One by picking ONE (this is more difficult than it appears) book that is representative of them. Their picks include:

• Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson, selected by Emma
• The Dog Stars by Peter Heller, selected by Allie
• Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock, selected by Kari
• Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James, selected by Sam

Episode Three honors April’s poetry month with a selection of poetry from each bookseller. We hope you will be inspired to read each recommendation.

• Path to Kindness and How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews, selected by Sam (He could not narrow it down to one this time.)
• Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath, selected by Kari
• Constellation Route by Matthew Olzman, selected by Allie
• Twenty Ninth Year by Hala Alyan, selected by Emma

Episode Four discussed gardening as a means to help us all fully embrace spring and summer and beyond.

• Wild Design: Nature's Architects by Kimberly Ridley, selected by Allie
• Planting the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf, selected by Kari
• Vegetable Gardener's Handbook by the Old Farmer's Almanac, selected by Sam 
• Herbal Handbook by New York Botanical Garden, selected by Emma

May’s Mental Health Awareness Month provides the inspiration for Episode Five. We promise it is not depressing, but instead filled with hope, help, and healing. And one of the bookstore owners  - hi Kari - snuck in a second selection.

• First We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson, selected by Emma
• Body Work by Melissa Febos, selected by Allie
• All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, selected by Sam 
• Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson and One Friday In April by Donald Antrim, selected by Kristian via Kari

In Episode Six, each bookseller reviews a short book for those phases when you have a limited amount of time, or when your book club just needs a very quick read. In this episode, three of the bookstore owners had a hard time limiting their selections to one book, and they somehow independently picked two different books by the same author, implying Mr. Delillo is an expert with the short novel.

• Spear by Nicola Griffith, and Cosmopolis by Don Delillo, selected by Emma
• A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow, and My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, selected by Kari
• The Shame by Makenna Goodman, and​ Body Artist by Don Delillo, selected by Allie
• Why Karen Carpenter Matters by Karen Tongson, selected by Sam 

In Episode Seven, each bookseller describes one book that is either funny and/or "provides a superb balance between fun and thought" based on an instagram question from Karen.

• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman,  selected by Allie
• Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, and​ Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, selected by Kari
• Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood, selected by Emma
• Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong, selected by Sam 

For Episode Eight, each bookseller channels our inner Sam (whose enthusiasm over this question caused him to mention three books) as we discuss a question left for us on Instagram: "please discuss 'Ottessa Moshfegh-ish' literary fiction. Something grotesque and damaged but beautiful."

• The Changeling by Joy Williams, Oh! by Mary Robison, and​ Fake Accounts by Laurey Oyler, selected by Sam 
• Milk Fed by Melissa Brodeur, selected by Allie (and Emma)
• So Sad Today by Melissa Brodeur, selected by Emma
• Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt, selected by Kari

Episode Nine originates with an email from Cindy, “I am a first grade teacher and want to teach a unit on graphic novels. I have some graphic novels, but it is hard to find ones that are appropriate for little ones and that the reading level is not too challenging. Help!!" To assist Cindy, each bookseller discusses one book, ok maybe two or three. As a bonus, we highlighted the Center for Cartoon Studies located within a baseball throw from where we record.

• Comic book leveled readers by assorted authors, and ​Johnny Boo by James Kochalka, selected by Kari
• Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton, and​ Tea Dragon Society and Dewdrop by Kay O'Neill, selected by Sam 
• Wildflowers (and all Toon Books) by Liniers, selected by Allie ​
• Sir Ladybug by Corey Tabor, selected by Emma

Episode Ten means we had a chance to help our good friend Shari Altman, from a great book resource - Literary North. She posed the question -- "I am looking for strange and beautiful novels about middle age." We note that Shari is nowhere near approaching middle age; we then debate what defines middle age. Allie, Sam, Emma, and Kari recommend a few books in response to her query, including:

• House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, and​ Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette, selected by Kari
• So Lucky by Nicola Griffith, selected by Emma
• One DOA, One on the Way by Mary Robison,  selected by Sam 
• The Swimmers by Julia Otsuka, selected by Allie 

In Episode Eleven, booksellers answer an anonymous question from instagram in which one desperate listener asks for the "best ways to get out of a reading slump". For this question, Lisa adds an idea for the first time - Hunting and Gathering, a "fun to read" gem by France's best-selling author Ana Gavalda that Lisa Cadow recommended to her years ago to get out of a reading slump. And the bookstore owners spend a bit more time than in previous episodes offering general advice. Kari suggests reading short stories is a great way to get reading again. Emma reminds listeners that they don't have to finish a book; stop reading if you don't like it and feel no guilt. She also suggests that reading from a genre out of your comfort zone or rereading a favorite book can help end a reading slump. Sam adds when he is in a slump he often looks for "something where I know I'm going to get"; in his case it would mean picking up a mystery or fast paced nonfiction about things he is interest in learning more about. Allie was last to speak and just seconded everything everyone said before her.

• Kari singles out St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised By Wolves by Karen Russell, and then changes things up by also recommending a memoir, The Electric Woman by Tessa Fontaine.
• Allie believes that Sisters by Daisy Johnson will help anyone stuck in a slump.
• Sam chooses three books, The Verifiers by Jane Pek, Riverman by Ben McGrath, and The Sunset Route by Carrot Quinn
• Emma sticks with her advice to stick with what you know and recommends Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson

These and the other selections included in this show will help anyone who feels stuck trying to find the next great book to read.

Episode Twelve emerged when Tom used FB to ask the longest question we've received thusfar, "So I could use some advice! I sorta fell out of reading regularly for fun. Due to the events of the world, I've focused more on reading educational topics. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy. Some of my favorite novels are the Dune series (and prequels), and growing up I LOVED the Lost Years of Merlin. I got the book series The Magicians a few years ago and worked through that and really liked it. I'd like to get back into reading for pleasure again, but nothing has really gotten me super excited. Unfortunately, with the rise of streaming on TV it can be hard to get motivated to sit down and read. I'm trying to re-ignite my love of reading. Can you help?"  Of course we can help.  Discussed selections include:

• The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K.Jemisin and The Expanse Series by James SA Corey, selected by Kari
• Annihilation (or the entire Area X trilogy) by Jeff Vandermeer, selected by Allie ​​
• Wizard of Earthsea (or the series) by Ursula K. Le Guin, selected by Allie 
• A Deadly Education and His Majesty's Dragon: Book One of the Temeraire both by Naomi Novik, and The Wayfarer series, in particular The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, selected by Emma
• The Saga series, graphic novels by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham, selected by Sam 

In our final Episode Thirteen before taking a summer "gone reading" break, the booksellers tackle a question about great books for younger readers when the instagram handle courtpilling asked for "Middle Grade historical fiction set in 1700s-1800s". 

• Kari started us off with The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
• Allie wants everyone to read Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix,
• Lisa remembered two classics by Robert Lawson - Mr. Revere and I and Ben and Me. 
• Emma brought us to Philadelphia with Fever 1793 by Laurie Anderson  
• Sam finished our list with Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, which Lisa ​ seconded.

We hope you enjoy Shelf Help!

A recent newsletter by one of our favorite booksellers, Emma Nichols of the Norwich Bookstore, discussed romance novels and their ability to entertain even when our attention span is miniscule.  

We initially ignored her train of thought as we don't consider ourselves romance readers and yet...

And yet ... we recently found ourselves listening to two novels that we would best describe as "rom-coms" (think of Notting Hill, or Sweet Home Alabama, or any of Nora Ephron's movies - think When Henry Met Sally). And, Emma's note reminded us to share these two novels with you. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (2022). This is the most Nora Ephron-like of the two books we highlight today. In this novel, Nora (Ephron tribute or coincidence?) knows she is not the typical romance heroine. She is not the one the guy falls for. She is the one the guy is initially coupled with - the brittle, career-driven, bottle blond who is left behind for a wholesome, brunette or darker blond woman by the end of the movie (think of the women in The Parent Trap). But she adores her sister Libby and she has vacation days. Thus, she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for a sisters’ trip. Libby envisions this as a small town transformation for Nora. She even makes a multi-point list of things they must do while away to appeal to Nora's uber efficient personality. However, instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a rugged doctor from the list, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie, a brooding editor, from back in New York City, who she abhors.  You can sort of guess what comes next; but Emily Henry packs in enough twists to keep things interesting and writes with a festive flair that keeps pages turning. We recommend that you just enjoy this and spend a bit of time casting it in your head for the inevitable movie (eg Reese Witherspoon or Cameron Diaz would have been Libby in their 20 something years, not sure who'd be Libby now).

Forward March by Skye Quinlan (2022). This YA novel is a bit different from the rom-coms we grew up watching in the 80s and 90s, and we loved it for that fact alone. The novel swims with important representation of sexual identity, something that seems perfect to explore in YA as readers figure out sex, gender, love, and life. Forward March even throws in contemporary politics because the plot circles around the facts that Harper's (the main character) dad is running for President as a Republican, her mom is the headmaster of her prep school, and both of their conservative bents are, to understate the situation a bit, challenging for Harper and her friends of many sexual identities. Add an online dating app fiasco, and you have this great YA novel. If you don't trust us yet, School Library Journal had this to say about Skye Quinlan's debut, "Quinlan skillfully weaves everything together brilliantly into one very natural-feeling, heartwarming, and compelling story [...] A wonderful ace rom-com bursting at the seams with representation [...]"

As stated in our last post - Mysteries That Saved My Sanity - 2022 life has taken on a challenging bent for me, challenges which are briefly outlined in that post, so I won't repeat them here. And, when due to these items, I can't quite summon the energy for the great books we review, Netflix comedy specials (hello Taylor Tomlinson, Michael Che, John Mulaney and others) have come into play.

How does this train of thought help book lovers? Please stay with me  here ... these shows made me very, very open to Kari Meutcchof's (of the Yankee Bookshop) recommendation to read anything by Jenny Lawson during Episode Five of Shelf Help. Shelf Help being our new podcast developed with and starring the fabulous owners of three indie bookstores - Yankee Bookshop, Still North Books & Bar, and the Norwich Bookstore - where we answer questions from listeners about what books they need to read next.

​So today, the Book Jam reviews one of Kari's Episode Five recommendations and one other book we somehow found along the way. Both brilliantly manage to be laugh-out-loud funny and deal frankly with important topics (e.g., BLM, depression). We hope they help you laugh and think too. ~ Lisa Christie

Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson (2021). In honor of May's National Mental Health Month, Shelf Help's Episode Five featured books highlighting mental health issues. In Episode Five, Yankee's Kari Meutcchof mentioned Broken (in the best possible way) and described it so well it stuck with me. Thus, weeks later, on a recent road trip to help my parents move into assisted living, I listened, laughed, cried, and then laughed until I cried as Lawson narrated her thoughts about life in general, and then very specifically spoke honestly and descriptively about her mental illness (i.e., anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts) in a way only my good friend Kate manages in my real life through her work with Wafflenugget. Lawson's chapter on the difficulties navigating health insurance is so astute we passed it along to professors from the Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science because laughter is the best medicine, or at least gets your attention in new ways, and it might help these doctors help us. Normally, I would recommend starting with Lawson's first memoir so you know her life from the beginning; however, I believe Broken stands alone and can help us all deal with how the world feels right now. Thus, new fans can start with Broken, and existing fans discovering Broken will be thrilled to find Lawson navigating in blunt detail what her depression feels like and how her life has been upended over and over again as she survives, thrives, and embraces being broken. Both existing and new fans will be thrilled with Victor's continued support and humorous asides as Lawson navigates her difficulties head on (may we all be blessed enough to find our Victors). Broken offers laughter, hope, honesty, and very realistic relationship advice when we may all need it most. Please pick this up to read, or better yet, listen as she narrates her own thoughts so you can feel what it must be like to be in her very complicated head. (And thank you Lisa Cadow for in your day job; serving as a therapist to so many people in need of help is inspiring.) ~ Lisa Christie

Please Don't Sit On My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson (2022). In her latest memoir, Robinson, of 2 Dope Queens, shares humorous stories and heartrending tales, some of which may inspire rage and possibly action. She tackles white guilt, white activists,  allyship, and what it’s like to be a woman who doesn’t want kids when all straight, cis women are supposed to. She, in a very different way than Jenny Lawson (as described above), discusses how taking care of one’s mental health, which she clearly labels as currently being marketed as “self-care", requires a LOT of disposable money. I hope someone with an ability to affect change is listening to these astute women. Great to read it or listen to as Robinson narrates it herself. ~ Lisa Christie

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray (2022). KJ (see above) reviewed this in one of her newsletters and graciously agreed to pass it along to me when I asked her to share. If KJ's review hadn't enticed me, the back cover's description of Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie would have. This was just perfect (although I still have about 100 pages to complete, I'm assuming they will hold up). This novel features a house party, many of Jane Austen's characters, a murdered Mr. Wickham (relax, it's in the title so I didn't spoil anything), and plenty of suspects. Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of YA author Amy Vincent; based on this I may have to pick up her other works.  

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (2022). Jess is broke and broken and needs a new chance at life. She turns to her half brother Ben who didn't really say yes to her suggestion she crash with him for a bit, but he didn't say no. She arrives at his stellar Paris apartment from England only to find him missing. His neighbors are by turn helpful and suspects. Each day brings less clarity about what happened to Ben and what Jess needs to do with her life. Enjoy the eccentric characters in this building, the time in Paris, and the unexpected aspects of the plot. As The Library Journal said in their review, "Another well-paced, suspenseful locked-room mystery with shifting points of view.”  Thank you Jen for having a trip to Paris so I had an excuse to read this and then pass it along to you to enjoy while strolling France with your son.​

The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose (2022). I just downloaded this from our beloved Norwich Public Library's Libby site as an audiobook. I can not wait to immerse myself in it as I walk the dog, clean the house, and purge a ton of unwanted baggage. While I can not yet recommend this as I have not yet read it; I trust the booksellers who do love it. I can also recommend you explore your local library's free audiobook resources if you have not yet already; I think you will be pleased with what you find. Thank you Lucinda and Lisa and ... for running such a great resource for those of us here in Norwich.

It's almost summer, and it is definitely wedding season. We know a few twenty- to thirty-something couples who are headed to at least a dozen nuptials in the next few weeks. Their itineraries have us thinking about marriage, weddings, and of course books about marriage and weddings. Or, perhaps we are thinking about all this as we know many relationships need some TLC coming out of the pandemic; and, we hope we can provide some space for kindness and care. Perhaps we are just thinking about this New York Times article about the healing aspects of parallel play for adult relationships. Perhaps we are just romantics at heart and want you all to read about weddings and marriage. No matter the reason, today we review three options (two humorous fiction books and a memoir/self help book) to help you navigate your own wedding season, or relationship issues, or need for an entertaining tale, or...  

This is How Your Marriage Ends by Matthew Fray (2022).  Mr. Fray gained  notoriety for a 2016 article - She Divorced Me Because I left the Dishes by the Sink - that he wrote placing his inability to put dishes away as the root cause of his divorce.  Of course, that wasn't what really caused the demise of his marriage - dishes by a sink are trivial on so many levels. However, Mr. Fray argues that it was the disrespect represented by his inability to meet his wife's simple request that was the issue; ultimately it repeatedly illustrated that what was important to her did not matter to him. Not having dishes in the sink was important to her; his  inability to pick up his dishes dismissed her needs. That repeated dismissal made her feel unloved and unimportant; she chose divorce to no longer feel that way. Mr. Fray turned his need to figure out what happened to his marriage into a blog, which became that famous column, which became a career as a marriage counselor. He has now turned that career into this book, using a combination of his own marriage experience and stories from his clients. I am not sure the solution to divorce is to cast blame on men for their inadequate emotional skills, and you could read this book as doing exactly that. I also know that some - hello Harvard Crimson - have criticised the author for turning women into purely emotional, irrational humans (I am not sure I agree with this critique, and I see where that critique is coming from). And yet, there was something about the deeply personal aspects of this book that touched me; especially when I chose to read his complaint that we aren't taught how to be married as applying to all humans, not just cis-gendered men. This is a weird review, as I am not sure who I would recommend this to or that I can wholeheartedly recommend it; and yet I can't stop thinking about the stories he shares and the hope he provides that humans can learn how to be better partners. Maybe I just appreciate what appears to be an honest assessment of how his behavior caused his beloved wife (and son) to leave. And somehow with the world being what it is right now, that hope and appreciation seem like reasons enough to read it. Maybe buy it to read with your partner and figure out what your "dishes by the sink" item is so you can avoid at least that one pitfall. ~ Lisa Christie

State of the Union by Nick Hornby (2019). The author of High Fidelity and other funny books, turns his humor on marriage in this pithy book about matrimony. Specifically, he explores a marriage that is falling apart and the lengths a couple will explore to fix it. As the indie reviewers wrote "Unfolding in the minutes before their weekly therapy sessions, the ten-chapter conversation that ensues is witty and moving, forcing them to look at their marriage--and, for the first time in a long time, at each other." Note: Its shorter length might make a great book club book. ~ Lisa Christie (seconded by Lisa Cadow)

We realize we should not limit our reviews of poetry to April and National Poetry Month; and yet, we don't want this opportunity to go by without reviewing some poetry. So, here we go... some poetry for National Poetry Month.

The Woman I Kept to Myself by Julia Alvarez (2010). There was a time when I gave this to every woman I knew on their 40th birthday.  Why? Because these autobiographical poems explore so many of the emotions - wonder, anger, grief, and joy - associated with living a life, in clear, loving, and need we say it, poetic language. It is just a gorgeous thought-provoking collection to help gain understanding into one's own life and the lives of others. I am so grateful it is still in print. I hope you will be too. ~ Lisa Christie

One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes (2017). In this collection, Poet Nikki Grimes responds to poems from the Harlem Renaissance by using one line from selected Renaissance poems to craft her own words. She then places the two poems side by side for comparison and response.  The older poems include some from Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. The newer ones are all from Grimes. The book also includes superb artwork accompanying each pairing.  Would be a great addition to English classrooms as well. Enjoy! ~ Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

We add another collection of books by women authors to finish Women's History Month. We hope the diversity of topics and genres mean you all find something you wish to read, and that we are all reminded great women authors can be found everywhere.

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado (2022). I'll begin with the ending. I love the fact that this book does not leave you with a stereotypical happy ever after. I love that bad actions in this book have awful consequences, and at the same time not everything is bleak as a result of those bad actions. Bittersweet is a perfect ending for Maldonado's second YA novel. (Her first - Fat Chance, Charlie Vega was very positively reviewed by the Book Jam here.) I love the fact Maldonado allows her protagonist Kat, an aspiring photographer navigating high school, to be complex and even unlikeable at times. I like her; I like her friends/fellow photography bugs.  I enjoyed watching Kat figure out how to keep a friend a friend when he wants something more, and then her reactions as she discovers, well, maybe, she might, be bisexual. Who knew? She certainly did not up until a specific moment in time. I love Maldonaldo full-on tackles today's social media landscape and it's effects - positive and negative and indifferent - on teens. I love the fact the book also shows kids raised by people other than their biological parents - in Kat's case her grandparents. In short, I loved this sophomore book by a superb author I am quickly becoming a fan of. For those who need more than that, here is a quick plot synopsis -- Kat is frustrated by her lack of social media presence for her art, especially as all her friends have no trouble finding followers. Her solution - create Max, a college student with beauty, friends, and a life filled with adventure. The problem -- well too many to name here; but they all feel  realistic, and let's just say Kat's true life comes crashing down all around her.  Enjoy, and relax, I promised a superbly bittersweet ending! Note: I also think it would make a great parent-kid book club pick if for no other reason it opens dialogue about social media choices.. ~ Lisa Christie

The Chosen One: A first-generation Ivy League Odyssey by Echo Brown (2022). In novel combining her personal experiences as a first generation college student, and elements of fantasy and magical realism, Brown frankly explores a myriad of issues including grief, poverty, mental illness, racism, friendship, sex, ambition, self-worth, and ultimately a universal need for belonging. this sounds like a lot, and it is. And, in no way is this novel preachy -- perhaps the fantasy elements ensure that. Despite high academic achievement in her Cleveland high school, Echo Brown is struggling at Dartmouth College. (I noted the frequent shout outs to the warm bread loaves and honey butter at a local restaurant Molly's.) Her Dartmouth experience is not the Dartmouth of the recruiting brochures. She can't gain traction in her classes or relationships, and she is sliding into depression. Then in a series of magical reveals, she discovers she is one of the Chosen Ones and if she can accept this calling, things just might slide into place. I honestly don't know how to describe this novel; I can say it has left me thinking about many things for weeks after finishing it, making it an excellent book club selection. This novel feels honest and left me feeling hopeful because Brown is an excellent guide for navigating difficult issues well and (I hope) creating change. Note: it took a while for me to settle in to this narrative - have patience. ~ Lisa Christie

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping meaningful connection and the language of human experience by Brene Brown (2022). For me, this latest book by Brown reads more like a text book than her previous outings. And after struggling to dive deeply all at once, I am finding treating it like a textbook and reading a bit at a time has helped me think differently about all the feels I've been feeling lately (and there have been a lot). As we come out of covid pandemic restrictions and continue to deal with loss and fear and uncertainty, not to mention war, having language to describe all we are feeling can't help but assist us all.  ~ Lisa Christie

The Love Songs of WEB Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (2021).  Disclaimer -- I have not yet finished this award winning novel.  And, I am enjoying following Ailey Pearl Garfield as she unravels her experience of DuBois's discussion of the problem of race in America, untangles the truth about her ancestry, and comes to new terms with her identity. I look forward to continuing this journey. ~ Lisa Christie