PositiveLibrary JournalThis in-depth biography makes a good argument that Vadala is an unsung history maker.
Claire Dederer
PositiveLibrary JournalBy turns emotional and measured, this is a valuable meditation on some of the era’s most urgent cultural questions.
Kelsy Burke
RaveLibrary JournalBurke is critical of anti-porn adherents who employ scaremongering to bolster their movement, but her book is a balanced presentation of pornography sympathizers and opponents and the valid aspects of their arguments; she even highlights common ground between them. Key to Burke’s discussion are her stances that a person’s view of pornography is inseparable from their individual experiences, and that pornography can’t ever be fully decoupled from wider societal issues of gender, race, morality, and bodily autonomy ... A mature, thoughtful book about a complex and divisive topic. No matter their personal opinions, readers will likely find observations here to inform their thoughts about pornography’s creation and consumption.
Ken Auletta
PositiveLibrary JournalAuletta acknowledges Weinstein’s tremendous drive and effect on Hollywood and probes the psychology that might lie behind his actions. This gives his portrait of Weinstein vital depth. Well-researched and packed with detail—possibly too packed for some readers, who may find the thorough recounting of Weinstein’s assaults, boardroom wars, and trial procedures results in information overload ... As a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Weinstein name, Auletta’s volume is a critical text and worthy of sitting beside Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor’s She Said.
Linda Villarosa
RaveLibrary JournalVillarosa combines important studies on facets of Black health with historical facts and personal experiences...to prove the extent to which multiple levels of institutionalized racism impact the well-being of Black Americans. She even calls out her own previous misapprehensions of the topic, aiming to demonstrate the ease of underestimating this issue’s pervasive effects ... An eye-opening, heartbreaking study of the racism deeply embedded in U.S. medicine and society; critical for any reader interested in racism’s effects on quality of life.
Jeremy Denk
PositiveLibrary JournalInitially a short piece of the same title in the New Yorker, this expanded memoir plunges fully into the personal and professional delights and despairs of a life centered on learning and teaching music. In between Denk’s recounting of his personal history are chapters analyzing and ruminating on selected pieces of music...as illustrations of how melody, harmony, and rhythm build music that moves listeners emotionally ... Already noted for his skillful writing on music, Denk proves equally adept at memoir. Anyone with an interest in music will find this an excellent read; those with a good grounding in classical music or with time to listen and reflect on the pieces Denk analyzes will find this book even more rewarding.
Rich Cohen
PositiveLibrary JournalA fast-paced, clear-eyed view of a colorful character and a complicated father.
Molly Shannon
PositiveLibrary JournalWhile there are plenty of laughs to be found here, there’s a large dose of vulnerability as well. Readers might expect the memoir to focus on Shannon’s six-year Saturday Night Live stint, and it does cover her time on the show with fondness, but there’s less reminiscing about her castmates or behind-the-scenes details than anticipated. Shannon instead devotes the majority of the memoir to her unconventional childhood ... Scattered but often-absorbing recollection, tending more towards anecdote than introspection, and becoming most thoughtful when Shannon reflects on her complex relationship with her father and her mother’s absence from her life.
Jane Ridley
PositiveLibrary JournalRidley’s assertion, that George’s ordinary nature was not mere dullness, isn’t fully convincing, but she makes an effective argument that George’s moderate personality and skillful management were precisely what was needed to steer England through the early 20th century ... This detailed and weighty biography will most appeal to those with a grounded interest in British history and rulership.
Andrew Roberts
RaveLibrary JournalGeorge III of England: cold-hearted, cruel, and villainous? Not so, posits historian Roberts...in his new biography, which while decidedly sympathetic to its subject—sometimes to excess—nevertheless presents a convincing case. This is not the first revisionist treatment of the monarch...but Roberts\'s extensive use of primary-source letters, essays, and other personal documents recently made available by the Georgian Papers Programme offers much fresh evidence that George III was not the arrogant and vindictive tyrant portrayed in popular culture, but rather an intelligent and conscientious king whose idealistic goals were stymied by political frictions and the misfortune of mental illness ... Roberts keeps the lengthy text vivid and engaging ... A deep, expansive study not only of George III but also of the political and social complexities of England and the United States during his reign.
Billy Porter
RaveLibrary JournalHis fearlessness in discussing the darker parts of his past (including sexual abuse by his stepfather and being diagnosed with HIV) is remarkable, but equally as impressive is the narrative of his decades-long dedication to hone his talent and make a space for himself in a racist and homophobic entertainment industry and society ... This memoir, as exceptional as Porter himself, should please not only devotees of the actor and his work but readers interested in a story of perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.
N West Moss
PositiveLibrary JournalMoss’s meditations on questions her experience have raised are full of calm maturity and quiet humor and give this book an appeal beyond its expected audience ... This memoir is full of sensitive thoughts on childlessness and infertility. Moss’s contemplations on life in general will resonate with women who are seeking peace and meaning in their own lives.
Daniel Barban Levin
PositiveLibrary JournalLevin’s writing is powerful throughout: he doesn’t dwell in shame but rather finds a way to make peace with the past and move forward ... A poetic and intimate memoir of a harrowing ordeal. Any reader interested in the workings of cults or the experiences of people in cults will find this book worthwhile.
Eleanor Henderson
RaveLibrary JournalHenderson brings a novelist’s sensibility to this memoir of her 20-year marriage and the chronic illness of her husband Aaron; she weaves their history with measured prose and emotion in alternating strands ... An intimate, absorbing, and painful look at chronic illness in a relationship. Readers in similar situations will likely find it strikes a deep chord, but anyone who has endured difficulties in a long-term relationship will find much to ponder here as well.
Danielle Henderson
PositiveLibrary JournalHenderson’s personal journey, from wounded uncertainty to determined self-confidence, is moving, and her skill as a writer lets her balance the darker moments of her childhood with diverting recollections of all-day banishments from the house during the summer and catastrophic teenage trips to concerts in New York City. The narrative moves seamlessly from childhood to adulthood, and Henderson recounts her college years with a combination of fondness and regret. Ending with a chapter about the memory of her grandparents, she writes powerfully about the slow reversal of their roles, with Henderson eventually becoming her grandparents’ caretaker ... An honest account of an unconventional childhood, and of learning to accept the hard truths of loving people who disappoint you. Henderson’s debut is a treat for memoir fans.
Emily Midorikawa
PositiveLibrary JournalMidorikawa focuses her text on the women’s personal histories and activities before and during their Spiritualist phases. She only briefly touches on aspects of their later lives, including Woodhull’s fervent eugenicist beliefs and the Fox sisters eventually confessing to fraud ... Brisk and entertaining, this biography should draw the attention of readers interested in the social effects of the Spiritualist movement, or in 19th-century women’s history.
Isabel Allende
PositiveLibrary JournalThough her discussion of current issues occasionally missteps, such as her efforts to define gender neutrality, Allende’s fervor for the importance of equality and opportunity for women makes for an overall energizing read ... Those looking for in-depth stories of Allende’s earlier life will need to turn to her earlier works, but this passionate memoir presents a vibrant portrait of the current-day author and her thoughts on the future of women, and will be highly appreciated by fans of her works.
Christine Leigh Heyrman
PositiveLibrary JournalHeyrman’s previous experience writing on this era of evangelicalism gives her a noted assurance in navigating the complexities of this incident, and she infuses what might have been a dry recounting of facts and dates with effective levels of tension and emotion, making this not only a valuable book for scholars of this subject area but also interesting for a more general audience.
Justine Cowan
PositiveLibrary JournalThere are no easy resolutions in Cowan\'s story, but this title should appeal to readers interested in family histories and complex mother-daughter relationships.
Ruth Coker Burks and Kevin Carr O'Leary
RaveLibrary JournalThis is a powerful memoir, cowritten with author O’Leary, about personal responsibility and the too easily forgotten beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Burks’s spirited, straightforward prose balances the heartbreak of her story with just enough humor and toughness ... A must-read for anyone interested in narratives of front-line responses to the early AIDS crisis as well as personal accounts of kindness and determination.
Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
PositiveLibrary JournalA highly personal, complicated book, by turns blunt and poetic and full of thoughts on belonging and the lack of it, alienation, and the limitations of social convention and gender essentialism; not everyone will find Sycamore’s style or viewpoints agreeable, but readers seeking non-mainstream queer perspectives should consider this challenging but broadening read, which presents observations on connection and loneliness that have the occasional ring of touching on a universal feeling ... Those familiar with Sycamore’s writing and activist work will welcome this new installment; those unfamiliar but interested in exploring an unconventional angle on LGBTQ+ issues may find it illuminating.
Ruth Goodman
PositiveLibrary JournalWhile her explanations of subjects such as tree coppicing and coal transport may delve a bit too deep for casual readers, her lively treatment of how the shift to coal affected multiple facets of English life and her drily humorous personal anecdotes make this an interesting and enjoyable read overall. The book includes helpful illustrations to add context ... A fascinating, fun view of how far-reaching changes resulted from choices in household fuel. This will be particularly valuable for those interested in the unwritten history of domestic labor and \'women’s work.\'
Adrian Goldsworthy
RaveLibrary Journal... effectively deals with the gaps in sources of knowledge about both men as people, with Goldsworthy avoiding conjecture when possible and presenting famous rumors and legendary incidents as valuable examples of the myth-building around both men but not always verifiable historical facts ... The thorough and riveting narrative of both Philip and Alexander’s lives and accomplishments makes this an ideal choice for the general reader, with some fresh insights to offer to those familiar with the subjects as well.
Angela Chen
MixedLibrary Journal[A] thoughtful if occassionally unfocused look at what it means not to experience sexual attraction ... Later chapters explore wider topics of expectation of sex ... perhaps a potential fault for readers hoping for a more focused text ... Most likely to appeal readers of any orientation seeking a general text about asexuality and its place on the wider spectrum of human sexuality.
Kate Manne
PositiveLibrary JournalAn effective text on how women are affected by the assumed privileges of men, and the structural forces that enforce and uphold those privileges.
Darran Anderson
PositiveLibrary Journal... Anderson\'s personal and generational memoir eschews a straightforward narrative for a freer form of nonfiction ... A poetic and brutal reflection on the ways the unspoken past haunts the present, the construction of histories from fragments and secrets, and the physical, mental, and emotional traumas that result when violence becomes part of the daily landscape.
Douglas Boin
MixedLibrary JournalA serviceable study of Alaric himself, but more valuable as a resource offering a look at the Roman Empire midway through its fall.
Nikita Stewart
PositiveLibrary JournalEffective as a feel-good account of family and community working against adversity and the benefits of Scouting for girls and their parents, the book is equally valuable for its intimate views of homelessness and its day-to-day effects.
Maggie Doherty
PositiveLibrary JournalDoherty\'s overall galvanizing look at a little-explored conjunction of critical feminist voices should incite provocative historical context to current-day discussions around the need for more support of women\'s intellectual work.
Clement Knox
MixedThe Library JournalThe book’s quasibiographical approach provides an unusual but engaging way of addressing its central topic, though readers wanting a more clear-cut exploration of the subject will almost certainly find it too tangential.
Barry Levine
PositiveLibrary JournalRelying heavily on firsthand interviews, court reports, and other documentation (including President Trump’s own public comments), veteran journalists Levine and El-Faizy provide a comprehensive, yet thoroughly disturbing look at the president’s history and pattern of sexual misconduct ... While many of the most shocking incidents discussed here are public knowledge, the significant new material and the book’s usefulness as a single-volume source on the topic make this not only a critical current read but one likely to become even more important in the future.
Dustin Lance Black
MixedLibrary Journal... touching if unfocused ... This earnest memoir is somewhat overstuffed with discussions of religion and Hollywood; the greatest appreciation will likely come from readers interested in a heartfelt look at self-acceptance as well as the complexities of family or personal stories about mending divides between liberal[s] and conservative[s].
Ruby Lal
PositiveLibrary JournalLal\'s...examination of Jahan\'s life attempts to look beyond slanted historical opinions, legends, and fiction to form a more balanced viewpoint of her life. And while that resulting portrait still contains gaps—little record remains, for example, of Jahan\'s early life, and none of exactly how she rose so quickly and so high from the ranks of Jahangir\'s other wives—the author makes use of the absences to explore the upbringing of girls and the responsibilities of royal wives in the Mughal empire in general ... An excellent choice for popular history readers interested in women rulers.
