Set against the fall of Imperial Russia, the aftermath of revolution and the emotional cost of survival, this character-driven story explores love, identity, grief and the burden of secrets carried across generations.
All tagged politics
Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses – M.G. Sheftall
A harrowing, deeply human account of the Hiroshima bombing told through the voices of survivors. M.G. Sheftall dismantles sanitized narratives and explores the lasting cultural, emotional and moral impact of August 6, 1945.
The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See
Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women explores the unique matriarchal culture of Korea’s haenyeo divers on Jeju Island, set against major 20th-century events like Japanese occupation and the Korean War. While rich in historical detail and cultural insight, the novel struggles to deliver emotional depth or strong character development. Best for readers interested in Korean history and women’s roles in wartime, but don’t expect a gripping fictional narrative.
Bad Gays: A Homosexual History – Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller
“Bad Gays” starts with a provocative thesis: queer history is too often told through sanitized narratives of heroism and progress. What happens, Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller ask, when we shift the lens to those queer figures who were not brave icons, but bigots, fascists, abusers or simply complicated people making morally gray choices in a hostile world?
American Wife – Curtis Sittenfeld
It’s a curious novel, blending fiction with recognizable realities, that made me care about a family I would have rather forgotten. So I’m surprised to say I’m glad I picked it up. Not because of the subject matter but because it proves Sittenfeld is one of the most fascinating writers working today.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
A chilling exploration of power, oppression and the fragility of democracy – far from light reading, especially given today’s political climate – even those familiar with the series will find the novel a more visceral experience.
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War – Erik Larson
As usual, Larson’s storytelling brings history to life in vivid detail, a rare skill in nonfiction, but here, the ambitious scope feels unwieldy – even for a pro. The concurrent narratives and numerous characters create a sprawling account, yet “Demon” lacks the cohesion and emotional depth that defined his best works.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio – Derf Backderf
Derf Backderf's "Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio" takes readers beyond the iconic photograph, offering a meticulously researched and haunting graphic novel about the events that occurred on May 4, 1970, between students at Kent State University and the Ohio National Guard.
Martyr! – Kaveh Akbar
Expectation: Writers jumping from poetry to fiction often struggle with pacing and characterization, so I expected an ostentatious mess.
Reality: Akbar's poetic prose and captivating characters shine through the non-linear structure, making “Martyr!” an engaging read despite its occasional superfluousness.
Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust – W. Jake Newsome
While not as well-known in the mainstream as the Pride flag, the pink triangle – the Nazi concentration camp symbol for prisoners convicted under Paragraph 175, the German law that criminalized homosexual activity among men – is an enduring and important marker of queer history that morphed from an emblem of shame into a symbol of activism.
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington – Alexis Coe
This is largely a Cliff’s Notes view of the American Revolution and fledgling democracy, which is honestly the right amount for most readers, while focusing on subjects often overlooked - Washington’s propaganda machine, political enemies, women and slaves.
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin
Let’s just say there are very few people - whether white or Black, believer or agnostic - who would not find his words difficult to stomach. However, Baldwin’s testimony is as urgent and necessary today as it was in the 1960s.
One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America – Gene Weingarten
I adored the premise of this book, and in many ways it is a love letter to journalism in its purest form. Weingarten is a gifted writer and researcher who was able to find marvel in both the mundane and monumental aspects of life on that day. Yet, as the chapters went on, the whole exercise began to feel tawdry and voyeuristic.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson
While it may be too in-depth for those seeking general information – honestly, it sometimes felt like reading a textbook – the editors, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson have compiled a primer on the vernacular, key issues and political lightning rods.
Banned Books: The World's Most Controversial Books, Past and Present – D.K. Publishing
This is a wisp of a book that could be considered a primer on the subject, but it never goes deep enough to make you feel like you’re learning something versus reading a listicle.
A Conversation About “Spare” by Prince Harry
By now the scandalous details and big reveals of Price Harry’s memoir have been well-publicized. Instead of rehashing elements that a quick Google search can provide to you, I invited my friend Heather - my go to source for info on the royals - to discuss the good, the bad and the interesting revealed in “Spare.” The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation – Natalie Y. Moore
While there’s a lot to unpack, Moore keeps things focused and entertaining - insomuch topics like this can be - with well-placed curse words and anecdotes. Often nonfiction books of this nature bog the reader down with deep history and details that detract from the broader message, but that’s not the case here.
Letters to My White Male Friends – Dax-Devlon Ross
Told in three parts — harm, heal and act — Ross uses personal experiences paired with historical context to explain how and why racial progress stalls, and why white men have such a difficult time accepting the fact we have privileges the Black community doesn’t.
Reprieve – James Han Mattson
Expectation: Teens trying to survive a haunted house where the actors can actually do harm.
Reality: A dark exploration of the horrors that lie within us and around us.
Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States – Samantha Allen
Some of the beliefs and opinions shared in “Real Queer America,” may be difficult for blue state or big city gays to fully understand. However, if you’ve been to the only queer space in a town where everyone congregates because there are no niche options, then you’ve experienced the queer community building Allen celebrates here.