Hello and welcome to ex libris (“from the library”), my monthly roundup of book discussion and recommendations. This work will be better with your contributions, so please feel free to chime in below if you’d like!
Titles I read this fall (not a complete list)
Ghosted: An American Story, Nancy French. You might sooner recognize Nancy’s husband’s name, David French. The Frenches have navigated the change in the conservative movement in the country from the very inside in 2012 until now, when they have been “ghosted” by many. This is Nancy’s story from her childhood, to her young motherhood, to her career as a ghostwriter (wink), to the present day.
James, Percival Everett. This novel reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim's perspective. Jim appears as a three-dimensional, intelligent, compassionate character in this retelling. The author tells the story of Jim’s enslavement without flinching; it’s a difficult, stark read, and very well done.
On Looking: Eleven Walks With Expert Eyes, Alexandra Horowitz. (The bookshop listing for this book has it listed under a different subtitle.) The author takes eleven city walks with people who excel in different areas, like geology (NYC is made up of so many different kinds of stone!), audiology (what do you gravitate towards hearing in a noisy city?), and typography (think of all those signs!). My favorite walk was with a blind neighbor, but runners-up were the walks with her dog and her toddler son. This is a nice reminder that the world has wonders we don’t even realize.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë. This was my third time through this classic; the first time I read it, I was fourteen. How can I hate one Brontë sister’s work so much and yet love the other? And yet, here we are. I truly enjoy Jane Eyre, and after having given Wuthering Heights a second shot a few years ago, I will probably never pick it up again.
Daytripper, Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá. I believe this is my first graphic novel entry to Ex Libris. Winner of the Eisner award, this beautiful book is shot through with themes of love, family, friendship, life, and death. Some language. I read it in one sitting and was glad that I did.
25 Great Sentences and How They Got That Way, Geraldine Woods. This one is for you fellow word nerds. Woods takes apart twenty-five sentences—plus many, many more inside each chapter—and examines what makes them great. As a bonus for you writer-types, each chapter has a writing exercise at the end.
The Wood at Midwinter, Susanna Clarke. Here we have a short story, easily readable in one sitting. Christmasy, magical, and mysterious in the same way you might remember the author’s other works.
How it Went, Wendell Berry. When someone asks where they ought to start with the Port William novels, I usually say Jayber Crow or Hannah Coulter. If they want something shorter, I say Andy Coulter. Andy’s story hits on all the classic themes of the others, but it’s a shorter, coming-of-age book. How it Went is a collection of more stories of Andy Catlett’s life.
Somethingism, Luke Cawley. One of the perks of my job is reading books before they are released. I read this title last month. Here’s the description from the website: “This book offers you the opportunity to begin to explore your own sense of more. Imaginative and thoughtful chapters reflect on our experiences, considering the possibility that our sense of something out there correlates to a someone who not only exists but can be encountered and known in the person of Jesus.” I’m excited for this release.
A note on purchase links: I’m a happy supporter of independent bookshops, so the links I provide will almost always go to my affiliate link at bookshop.org. For my local readers, I heartily recommend you buy them through our favorite, Goldberry Books, but you might have a shop closer to you. Of course, you can always find these selections on That Big Website That Ships Quickly, But Not As Quickly as It Used To, and Remember How They Sucked Us All In By Being a Bookstore to Begin With? I’m also a big fan of saving money and patronizing your local library. Happy reading!
Added a few to my (irrational) TBR. Thanks!