While I love to escape into a good fiction story, I spend a a lot of my time reading nonfiction. I love it because, even though the tale is constrained by facts, I still can be transported to different times and places and see the world through others' eyes. It has to be well-written nonfiction, though. No matter how interested I am in a topic, I don't want to read about it in a textbook. Narrative nonfiction - where the author becomes historian, scientist and storyteller - is the best kind there is. You learn while also being entertained. Below are a few titles listed on the HHS summer reading list that I really recommend.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel WIlkerson - I'll admit that it took me a while to pick up this book. I knew its topic - the "Great Migration" of African Americans from the southern to the northern states in the decades between the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement - was important. But I was afraid the book was going to be boring, or heavy; either way, hard to get through. I was so wrong. The author focuses on three families, exploring their lives in the South, why they fled and where they went, and what happened when they got there. The descriptions of lives limited, and often cut short, by poverty and racism in the South were heartbreaking. The stories of of the hopes people brought North with them, the opportunities they found and - more often - the obstacles they faced were eye-opening. The North was no shining star of freedom and equality, with housing and job policies set to restrict African Americans to low-paying jobs and crowded ghettos. The book helped me understand that many of the problems we have today - from crime-riddled cities to racial disparities - stem from the unfair and cruel practices of times past. All of history has contributed to where we are today, I know that. But a book like this makes the connection so obvious and hard to ignore. The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery - This book by a well-known animal researcher and writer has a mouthful of a title, and is promoted as focusing on the inner workings of the mysterious octopus. While it reveals so many interesting facts, it also tells us a lot about the researchers themselves, in particular those working at the New England Aquarium in Boston. The author spent many months there, learning from the experts and observing the marine life in the huge central tank. How many of us have gone there on field trips, likely mirroring the author's awe as we stared into the tank? I consider this book a love letter of sorts to the aquarium and to the scientists who study, care for and protect all of the wildlife we love. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - This book about a young lawyer fighting to overturn the wrongful convictions of African Americans has been adapted for young adults and made into a movie. In my opinion, any version is worth your time. The book shines a light on the many flaws of our justice system, from underpaid and under-invested public defenders to racist law enforcement twisting facts to fit their narrative to poor or mentally ill defendants who cannot advocate for themselves. If you're interested in social justice, racism, law enforcement or the law, this book is for you. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson - This author could write about the printing of the telephone book and I'd read it. He's just that good at spinning facts into engaging, fascinating stories. He's one of my favorites, and I've devoured his books: Devil in the White City (about a turn-of-the-century serial killer), Dead Wake (about the sinking of a ship that led the US into WWI), Isaac's Storm (a hurricane that destroyed Galveston, Texas), In the Garden of the Beasts (the buildup of Nazi power), and Thunderstruck (the hunt for a murderer aided by a new invention). This book follows the life of Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain in World War II, focusing on just one year - one in which France fell to the Nazis, England was nearly destroyed by months of German bombings and the United States was still trying to stay out of the war. Churchill is a mythic figure, quite a character, and this book highlights what it is like to lead a nation through tragedy. Becoming by Michelle Obama - This memoir by the former First Lady, half of the first African American couple to occupy the White House, is very moving. Reading how she overcame obstacles growing up and how she dedicated her life to helping others was inspiring. Learning more about the decisions that led President Obama to make his historic campaign was fascinating. The book also highlighted how much has changed since the 2016 election. Mrs. Obama is an accomplished, articulate, caring, funny and strong woman. While some may turn away from this book because of politics, I recommend it to anyone interested in helping others and improving our world. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - There are many books about people embarking on epic journeys in an attempt to overcome problems (Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Wild by Cheryl Strayed). This book is more about a guy who was curious about his abilities, the nature he was venturing into and the transcendent results many people claim from such a walk. The author, a humorist and essayist who has written on many topics including the history of the English language and living as an American in Europe, decides to take on the Appalachian Trail. The trail is a nearly 2,200-mile hike from Georgia to Maine, taking months to complete and disappointing many who try to make it the whole way. The book is informative - about the trail itself, what supplies and qualities it takes to hike it, etc - but it is also really funny. The author is someone we can all relate to and his traveling buddy is someone who'd be much happier eating takeout in front of the tv on his couch.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMrs. McHugh is a librarian and instructional technology specialist. She loves talking books and pop culture with her students at Hanover High School. Archives
February 2024
Categories
All
|