November 02, 2023 at 5:48 PM

Here are the books, with Commentary, I’ve read and most admired in recent months, March-October 2023.

• This Other Eden by Paul Harding, fiction
• The Best of It. New and Selected Poems by Kay Ryan, poems.
• A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis, reflections on death and loss
• Just a Mother by Roy Jacobson, fiction
• Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, fiction
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, fiction
• Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo, nonfiction narrative
• Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself by Luke Russet, nonfiction narrative
• Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond, nonfiction
• Long-Term Success For Experienced Multilinguals by Tan Huynh and Beth Skelton, professional
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, fiction
• The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, short stories
• How to Love Your Daughter by Hila Blum, fiction
• Welcome to Reading Workshop: Structures and Routines That Support All Learners by Brenda J. Krupp and Lynne R. Dorfman, professional.
• Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity by Laura Meckler, nonfiction, racial history
• Up Home: One Girl’s Journey by Ruth J. Simmons, memoir
• Literacy’s Democratic Roots: A Personal Tour Through 8 Big Ideas by Thomas Newkirk, professional
• Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong, memoir
• Take What You Need by Idra Novey, fiction
• A Small Crowd of Strangers by Joanna Rose, fiction
• The Art of Gathering: How to Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker, advice, approaches, and wisdom

While I highly recommend all the books on the list, I want to call out two books of fiction and two books of nonfiction that especially impacted me. These are books that fed my soul and intellect and incited my emotions —for the beautiful writing, storytelling, and inspired thoughts a great book can bring us.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is, like her book Foster (which I call out in my March 2023 posting in “What I’m Reading,”) an exquisitely written novella, a short, beautiful work of fiction that touches the heart and soul and packs a wallop. Keegan dedicates the book to “the women and children who suffered time in Ireland’s Magdalen laundries.” Those horrifying places, run by Roman Catholic institutions, kept thousands of “fallen” young girls captive as they suffered a life of unimaginable cruelty and neglect including hard labor, physical abuse, baby kidnapping and worse. A small but crucial act of redemption by Bill Furlong-- a coal seller, husband, and father of five daughters--brings a modicum of relief and hope; his personal search for meaning leads him to do the unexpected, provide hope to a young woman suffering grievously. This is one of those books you will want to reread; as soon as I finished it, I read it again and savored it even more. For reviews and much more about the book, the author, and her body of work see Harvard Review Online, The Guardian, and 8 min. video of Claire Keegan discussing her writing process.

A second, standout fiction book is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This is an unusual book that has garnered heaps of praise and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Still, this is not a book I ever would have chosen without the glowing recommendation from my granddaughter Katie, a discerning reader in her mid 20’s. Because I already knew the book’s plot line was largely about gaming, I had no interest. Big mistake. The main characters in this book—Sam Masur and Sadie Green-- are so intricately  drawn and so gloriously human in all their quirks, nerdiness, struggles, and search for meaning in their lives, just getting to know them makes the book worth reading. Sam and Sadie became friends as children and went on, as adults, to collaborate in creating brilliant, fabulously successful video games. Their complex relationship, grounded in their shared passions, was intimate even as it was not romantic. I still think about these two characters and care about them, many months after finishing the book. A wonderful review by National Public Radio, heard on Fresh Air, notes: “It's a big, beautifully written novel about an underexplored topic, that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” See Zevin, her life, and writing history for detailed information on the author.

Moving on to nonfiction, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo is a remarkable book for illuminating the history of an enslaved, married couple—Ellen and William Craft—whose story of self-emancipation has previously been unknown to most of us. For their agonizing, and dangerous escape in 1848, from bondage in Georgia to hard fought freedom in the North, Ellen (who could pass for white) took on the disguise of a rich, disabled, white man; William posed as “his” devoted slave. The Crafts eventually joined the abolitionist movement and became sought after speakers whose story enthralled large crowds in Boston, Philadelphia, Halifax, and overseas. To ensure their long-term safety, they eventually settled in England and raised a family there. To go inside this harrowing and inspiring story--and for appreciating the detailed, sensitive, and riveting storytelling by Woo--see The New York Times Book Review. Ultimately, this book is an enduring love story of two courageous people who refused to accept the brutality and injustice of their lives and the lives of other enslaved people. Importantly, the author notes the veracity of her storytelling of the Crafts’ lives: “Every description, quotation, and line of dialogue comes from historic sources, beginning with the Craft’s own 1860 account, Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom.” (Overture, p. 3)

The most important and compelling book of these four celebrated books is, to my mind, Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond, Harvard sociologist and MacArthur “Genius.” His book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Evicted is the meticulously researched and reported story of the commonplace, brutal eviction by landlords in American cities—in particular, of single mothers, who were tenants in low-income housing. I’ve never forgotten this heartbreaking but necessary book for understanding how stable, suitable housing is a human necessity that is often impossible to come by as evictions for the poor generally lead to more sub-standard, squalid housing in a nasty cycle that often feels unbreakable.

In Poverty, By America, Desmond picks up on that theme and goes much deeper, challenging each of us to do our part to end the exploitation of the poor and to make equality of opportunity a reality for everyone. You can’t read this book without coming away somehow changed by it. The author convincingly argues that we have so much poverty in America because, as a country, we have deliberately chosen for it to be that way; we make it difficult for low-income families to access the support they need to live decent lives. For example, as noted in The New York Times Book Review, “Most notably, homeowners in choice neighborhoods and suburbs defend exclusionary zoning that bars affordable housing, keeping low-income families at a safe distance from their streets and schools.” If that seems like a cruel conclusion, Desmond has the facts, research, and data to prove his case. And those of us who teach in schools in economically challenged areas, know that to be the case. Some ways that Desmond encourages us to “empower the poor” include raising the minimum wage, expanding affordable housing opportunities, making it possible for the poor to move to high opportunity neighborhoods, and opposing segregation of schools.  Regarding segregation, Desmond quotes James Baldwin:

Ending segregation, at last, would require affluent families to give up some things, but what we’d gain in return would be more valuable.  We would have to give up the ways we hoard opportunity and public safety, but in doing so we’d also give up the shame that haunts us when we participate in the evil business of exclusion and poverty creation. . . (pp. 176-177) 

Poverty, By America is a must-read book that will change your thinking and, perhaps, even move you to action. Despite its tough subject matter and extensive research, it is not a difficult book to read; it’s elegantly written, and it’s a page turner.

Commentary: In Praise of Books, a Bookstore, and a Splendid Bookseller

Books are always on my mind—what I’m currently reading, what I plan to read next, and what was most memorable about the book I just finished. Most often, when I’ve finished a book I’ve loved, I let it linger with me for at least several days before I pick up a new book—to think about the characters, the story, the language, the influence the book has had on me. During the pandemic and now, with personal and political worlds in chaos, books helped make me whole again. Books became, and have remained, essential companions in challenging times. For at least some time each day, I could escape into pages, safer worlds that illuminated different ways of being, thinking, and knowing. I could allow myself to be seduced and inspired by words, stories, and living other lives through literature any time I desired. I could choose from the short stack of books I always have at the ready— to comfort, delight, inform, and settle me. 

Beyond reading books, a big part of my escape from a turbulent world included my writing a genre-breaking book, a book I hoped might soothe my soul and also give hope and inspiration to others. After teaching, coaching, and leading in underperforming schools in the U.S. and Canada for five decades—and having written a dozen books on literacy essentials—the what, why, and how of equitable, excellent, and joyful teaching for all learners, I wanted to write a personal and professional book about the intersection of teaching, learning, and living and how to live a good life despite the hardships and challenges we all inevitably face. The Heart-Centered Teacher: Restoring Hope, Joy, and Possibility in Uncertain Times (Routledge, Sept. 2023) is that book—memoir snippets, stories, approaches to teaching and living, and living with hope and loving kindness—even in tough times. 

Another piece of my escape was, and continues to be, a very special bookstore, Madison Books, a lovely neighborhood space which feeds my hunger for all kinds of books, mostly beautifully written fiction and nonfiction and especially memoir. I now order just about all my books through this independent bookstore and delight in knowing some of the money from sales gets funneled back into the community in the form of rent, wages, and so forth instead of going into the pockets of distant shareholders. (Madison Books, located in the Seattle area, is a member of Bookshop.org, a worldwide, online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.)

This marvelous bookstore in our small community has literally changed my life. It has become my place of tranquility and happiness amidst ongoing pandemic anxiety, dreary weather, and uncertain times. I visit the shop often—to peruse new books, pick up books I have ordered, and purchase books for myself and as gifts for others. Although the bookstore is tiny, about 400 square feet, it is wonderfully organized and somehow manages to have almost everything I am looking for. If not, the bookseller, most often the general manager James Crossley, cheerfully orders what I am looking for and gives me a call as soon as the book or books arrive. Over time, James and I have become book friends, which is a delight. I seek and trust his recommendations; we chat about what we are reading.

Having this magical bookstore close by is a joy. In fact, walking into Madison Books is like being welcomed home. It is my favorite source for buying, browsing, and thinking about books to read. In large part, this magic is due to James, who is the most well-read and thoughtfully-read person I know. He has been a passionate book lover all his life and considers himself fortunate to have found the job he loves— parlaying his love of reading to connecting people with books. James’ dignity, authority, and professional manner bathe the bookstore in an aura of calm, peace, and serendipity. Adventures just waiting to be had. Books waiting to be discovered. Books beautifully displayed, everywhere. 

So when my new book, The Heart-Centered Teacher: Restoring Hope, Joy, and Possibility in Uncertain Times was close to being published in September 2023, I knew I wanted a book party, not just a book signing but a celebration of all the hard work and all the people who had made the book possible. And I knew that the book event needed to be with James Crossley at Madison Books, and he graciously acquiesced. Especially now when the world is in chaos, it felt important to celebrate, and celebrate we did. 

James Crossley, Regie Routman, and Lauren Davis at the book party Sept. 30, 2023

My terrific editor and publisher, Lauren Davis, flew to Seattle from New York for the book party. I wanted to celebrate her for her brilliance, generosity, and our wonderful friendship which evolved over our 1 ½ year collaboration. I wanted to celebrate James for his gracious and graceful management of this beautiful bookstore and his comforting, knowledgeable presence there; my dear husband Frank for his loving and unwavering support, guidance and patience; family members who had been cheering me on; and dear friends who had championed my efforts. The celebration was a big hit, with lots of gratitude and love all around; it was a wonderful party. I could hardly wait to see James to thank him for making it all possible and to talk with him about the event. (You can enjoy a one-minute video overview of the event here.)  

The book party at Madison Books

When I walked into the bookstore several days later, I was taken aback when James told me he would be moving to another city in a couple of months. He explained his reasons, which were personal ones which made perfect sense for his optimal quality of life and pursuit of happiness. I chose my response carefully. I said how happy I was for him, that he’d made the right decision, that I would miss him, of course, and I wished him well. All of that is true and heartfelt, but I was also filled with sadness about his upcoming move. It is no exaggeration to say that he has been essential to expanding my book reading life and accompanying sense of wellbeing. While it’s a commonly held belief among many that most people are replaceable in the job they hold, in James’ case he truly is irreplaceable. Of course, I didn’t tell him that. I wanted only to show my support and happiness for him. 

And now, I am already missing him, this gem of a person who has enriched my life, brought books and order to a chaotic world, and who has become a cherished friend. I will always be grateful to him for his quiet steadfastness, gentle spirit, and generosity—and his passion for books and reading.

Regie Routman has more than 50 years of experience teaching, coaching, and leading in diverse, underperforming schools and classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of educators to create and sustain intellectual, joyful, and equitable school cultures where all learners can thrive. For full information on Regie’s books, articles, podcasts, videos and resources, go to www.regieroutman.org.