From Washington Post book critic Ron Charles
Spring is finally here and there are plenty of great new titles to consider:
Knopf
Anne Tyler, one of America’s most beloved authors, has been writing about the joys and sorrows of family life for over half a century.
His new novel, “French Trinity”, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, a Baltimore couple, and their three children from the 1950s and through the decades to the era of the COVID pandemic.
It’s a story as familiar and reassuring as an old friend that may still surprise us.
Read an excerpt from “French Braid”
“French Braid” by Anne Tyler (Knopf), in hardcover, e-book and audio formats, available on Amazon and Indiebound.
annetyler.com
Here it is
“Mercy Street”, by Jennifer Haigh, explores the precarious state of legal abortion, and may be the latest abortion novel to appear before Supreme Court rulings on various challenges to Roe v. Wade.
At the heart of the story is Claudia, an experienced counselor at a reproductive health clinic in Boston. While helping women facing all kinds of challenges, the clinic is constantly surrounded by protesters and, unbeknownst to Claudia, some are planning a violent attack.
Read a snippet of “Mercy Street”
“Mercy Street” by Jennifer Haigh (Ecco), hardcover, large paperback, e-book and audio formats, available on Amazon and Indiebound
jennifer-haigh.com
GP Putnam’s Sons
When John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, he changed the direction of American history. But how did the well-known actor come to commit such a heinous act of violence?
In his dramatic historical novel, “Cabin,” Karen Joy Fowler re-imagines the life of Lincoln’s killer. He introduces us to Booth’s troubled father (once a famous actor) and Booth’s siblings, who are increasingly alarmed by his brother’s behavior.
It is an epic story that captures the unstable passions that plague the Booth family and the disagreements that set the nation on fire.
Read a snippet of “Booth”
“Booth” by Karen Joy Fowler (Putnam’s), in hardcover, large print, e-book and audio formats, available on Amazon and Indiebound
karenjoyfowler.com
Random House
In 1997, Britain handed over control of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. Karen Cheung was 4 years old when the move took place, and she has since experienced repression in Beijing against the freedoms enjoyed by Honk Kong.
In his new book, “The Impossible City” Cheung writes about the breakup of his family and his own struggle with depression at a time when his homeland was experiencing equally heartbreaking challenges.
It is an intensely personal memory that is also a cunning record of social and political unrest in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
Read an excerpt from “The Impossible City”
“The Impossible City: A Hong Kong Memoir” by Karen Cheung (Random House), in hardcover, e-book and audio formats, available on Amazon and Indiebound
karen-cheung.com
For these and other suggestions on what to read this spring, please contact your local librarian or bookseller.
That’s all for the Book Report. Until next time, keep reading!
For more information:
- Ron Charles, The Washington Post
- Subscribe to the free Washington Post Book World newsletter
- Review of the all-hip video book by Ron Charles
- indiebound.org (for orders from independent booksellers)
Story produced by Robin Sanders, Roman Feeser and Juan Torres-Falcon.
For more reading recommendations, see the following features from Ron Charles’ book report:
- The Book Report (February 6)
- The Book Report (November 28)
- The Book Report (September 26)
- The Book Report (August 1)
- The Book Report (June 6)
- The Book Report (May 9)
- The Book Report (March 28)
- The Book Report (February 28)
- The Book Report (January 31)
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