Of course there are countless great books to read (when you’re on the edge), but I’m focusing on just three here with plans for more in the future:
1. The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead. If you’re looking for a pick me up during the current pandemic, this book is not what you’re seeking, but it is truly magnificent. This Pulitzer-prize winning novel is based on the true story of a reform school in Florida that operated for over a century, abusing and even murdering some students. Yes, your stomach will turn, but as you follow the life of Elwood Curtis, an academically-successful African American who is mistakenly taken to the reform school, you will be engulfed in magnificent prose and narrative. It’s a must read.
2. Where’d You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple. Forget the movie that got mixed reviews. This book is hilariously clever. Admittedly, I am biased because Semple wrote for Arrested Development, but even ignoring that pedigree, the book shines. The story follows a Seattle mom who disappears before a family trip to Antarctica. Oh gosh, the reflections about Seattle’s well-meaning, wealthy, liberal community are delicious. This one will make you laugh.
3. The Liar, by Ayelet Gunder-Goshen. This is a nuanced novel, originally written in Hebrew, about a plain girl who is overlooked by society, provoked by a verbally abusive man, and driven to make a false accusation. I was lucky to hear Gunder-Goshen speak in a webinar recently, and she is the bomb. She brilliantly asks, Are you 100% sure you are not capable of doing something awful?