2021 Book Reviews

Lisa Murray, Director: For fiction, I was absorbed in the Ishmael Series, by Daniel Quinn (Ishmael, The Story of B & My Ishmael) . It is impossible to give a pat description of what these three books are about, as they all explore modern animism in one way or another. All three explore modern society and its hypocrisy, ranging from world hunger and poverty and the disparity from the connection with all living species and our environment. Featuring a gorilla as teacher. Yes, it is fiction, but there’s a lot to think about in each of these thin volumes.

Maps and wayfinding are a passion of mine and I was thrilled to have a friend recommend Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World, by M.R. O’Connor. The book delves into how people have managed to find their way across the globe well before the advent of not only GPS, but paper or even primitive tools. Part neuroscience, part cultural travelogue, the title reinforced by love of exploration via natural landmarks and phenomena, paper maps, and word of mouth. I now understand why every Mainer has a well-worn copy of the Gazetteer in their vehicle!

A library patron recently recommended Everything Was Possible to me, as a fascinating look into the making of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Follies. She specifically found the process of pulling all the pieces together so quickly fascinating. Published in 2005, author Ted Chapin was a production assistant at the creation of one of the greatest Broadway musicals, Follies. He kept a journal of everything he saw and heard and was able to document how the musical was created. Now, more than thirty years later, he has fashioned an extraordinary chronicle. At a time when many of us are missing live theatre, this title will help you get your stage fix.

Peter Madeira, Library Board: No matter where you sit on the national political spectrum, The Room Where it Happened, by John Bolton is an excellent insider’s take on how the White House functioned during the eighteen months that Bolton was National Security Advisor for Donald Trump.  Bolton, who had worked in the White House for other Republican presidents (Reagan and both Bush’s) was stunned by the chaos and disorganization he saw during Trump’s tenure.  Decisions were always made with an eye toward the effect on the hoped-for re-election. Bolton was involved with challenging diplomatic issues as far ranging as Ukraine, North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Venezuela.  Many of these have had far reaching impacts on the United States diplomatic policy going forward. At over 500 pages it is not light reading but well worth it if you are interested in recent history, national politics and diplomacy.

Art Paine, Library Board: I have many to recommend, but I think I’d start with Lost Connections by Johann Hari.  It’s supposed to be a book about his own journalistic quest to learn and reveal everything about modern treatment of depression and anxiety. This from an author who had been using antidepressant drugs since the age of 17. He points out that the incidence of depression has steadily increased over the past 20 years, and gone ballistic during Covid. He’s come to the conclusion that SSRI drugs are hardly effective at all, and that people ought to stop blaming themselves and chemical imbalances in their brains, and begin realizing that the society around them is broken, depressing, and anxiety provoking. He proposes various fixes, but first of all he makes a good case that Big Pharma and drugs are no answer. It was a great book mostly for the view it presented about modern Western Civilization.

Amanda Crafts, Librarian: It is possible, if you had read a few of author Gary Paulsen’s obituaries when he died this past fall, that you might think that you had a knowledge of his early life. But Gone to the Woods- Surviving a Lost Childhood By Gary Paulsen, which was published earlier in 2021, fills in the gaps. Suddenly the reader is aware of exactly how his beginnings shaped the man and the author. Told primarily in the third person, Paulsen removes the emotion from his story. His story, however, in it’s stark retelling, will cause emotion enough in the reader. Paulsen’s books speak to his excellent storytelling, often encouraging reluctant readers. The Newbery Prize winning author of Hatchet and 200 other books aimed primarily for young readers has often focused on survival, exploration &  adventure.  The retelling of his own life story is no different; causing the reader to wonder how he survived such a chaotic and dysfunctional childhood.

During this Covid Crisis, I found comfort in another Pandemic Book. (Yes, there is an entire group of them!) Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is one of my favorite novels of all time, so it was not difficult to leave our current pandemic for the plague of 1666 in a tiny village in England. There is much to be thankful for in our present situation, especially compared to life and medical beliefs back then. This village understood that SOMEHOW the “plague seeds” had been brought to the village, probably from London. As a community, they decided to act for the good of the towns that were nearby and they quarantined themselves from any outside contact. It was eye-opening to see how human nature tends to react in similar ways, no matter what the scientific ”knowledge” is at any given time.

I have loved the work of Laura Amy Schlitz for years. She writes primarily for young readers and her books are very different from one another in their style. However, her newest, Amber and Clay, is completely unique. Set in ancient Greece and the surrounding area, the reader gets to know two children as they travel to new lands and grow into teenagers. These two stories are told separately, until the lives of the artistic slave and the tempermental daughter of a wealthy family, both of whom seem to be trapped with no options for their future, are woven together. Newbery Award winner Schlitz weaves the epic tale like a drama of the time, complete with Gods and Goddesses making humorous comments to the audience,  together with appearances of a Greek Chorus and rather unbelievable events.

Jory John and Pete Oswald have done it again! The Smart Cookie is added to their picture book collection of The Good Egg, The Bad Seed and The Cool Bean. The cookie, the main character of this story, most certainly does not feel smart, quite the opposite. After a school assignment that gets Cookie to see things in a slightly different way, Cookie’s view of themselves changes for the better. Everyone in this quartet of hilarious books, The Egg, The Seed,The Bean and The Cookie, ALL have views of themselves that kids will recognize…even as the characters learn that THEY are more than what they seem at face value. Kids love these books…and so do adults!