Nonfiction & Biography

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot (Crown, 2010)

If one just scratched the surface, this would be the story of a poor, young black wife and mother, who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Amazingly, the cancer cells cultured from her biopsy (without her knowledge or consent) formed a line of cells that are still manufactured today in a multi-million dollar industry. However, reading this book is like peeling an onion. Its many layers relate not only Henrietta Lacks' story (and that of her family) but also stories about medical innovation, medical arrogance, poverty in the United States, and journalism.

I've not been a big nonfiction reader, but this book was a portal into NF enjoyment for me. Whether it was the topic, the author's ability to relate the information, or a combination of the two, this book blew me away. It's a contemporary, human story and worth consideration.

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee - Charles J. Shields (Henry Holt, 2008)

With the buzz about To Kill a Mockingbird's 50th anniversary (in fact, I'm discussing the book tomorrow on a local radio show), I thought this title might provide some nice background information about Harper Lee. I had purchased it a couple years ago when I was doing the YA selection. This book, in fact, is an adaptation of Shields' book for adult readers, Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee.

I enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. Through Shields' prose, I felt I really got to know Harper Lee - a private person who was bright, unconventional, and deeply affected by her Southern family and community. This book was never "juvenile" in tone or in its writing. It was true and respectful towards its subject.

If you liked the motifs and feels of the above books, a couple fiction possibilities are the following:

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt - Beth Hoffman (Pamela Dorman Books, 2010)

It's kind of formulaic with pretty predictable Southern characters. However, one can't help but like Cecelia Rose Honeycutt, who is surrendered to an elderly aunt by her father after her mentally ill mother is killed. The quirky relatives and neighbors do not disappoint, but issues that include parental neglect and mental health are not adequately addressed. Try it on audio book.

Mudbound - Hillary Jordan (Algonquin, 2009)

It's 1946, and Laura McAllan has given up city life to move with her husband and small daughters to build a life on a farm with no electricity and plumbing. Related in alternating chapters by Laura, her husband Henry, and other main characters, this is a gritty, sweaty, earthy tale about racism, ignorance, and tragedy.

A couple nonfiction recommendations include these:

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (Random House, 2002)

Originally published in 1966, this book chronicles the murder of a Kansas family carried out by two grifters and is also a study of their criminal psychology. Harper Lee, a childhood friend of author Truman Capote, was intimately involved in the research conducted prior to the publication of In Cold Blood. This book might also be a good RA recommendation for the horror book in my previous blog.

Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King and the International Hunt for His Assassin - Hampton Sides (Doubleday, 2010)

The author has "chops" (having written Ghost Soldiers), and this is an ambitious read at 500+ pages. It relates a fascinating narrative about MLK, a man obsessed with the civil rights movement and premonitions of his own death; and King's murderer, James Earl Ray, a man consumed by hatred. This book reads more like a novel than a work of nonfiction, which provided a great deal of the appeal. I think this book would appeal to younger readers as well as those (like me) who lived through this turbulent period of American history.

Hannah's List (Debbie Macomber)

This was a great opportunity to pick up a book that's getting a lot of play in public libraries right now.

One year prior to the book's opening, Michael's wife, Hannah, died from ovarian cancer. Hannah's brother presents Michael with a final letter from her, which was to be opened one year after her death. In the letter, Hannah shares her wish that Michael re-marry; in fact, she has chosen 3 potential mates for him. The 3 prospects, who had all been impacted by Hannah's life, are quite diverse. As the story unfolds, Michael navigates these potential relationships, trying to honor Hannah's wish list.

This was a quick, easy read with fast-moving action. Macomber moved the story along without unnecessary description or fanfare. I think this book could easily be adapted into a film project. In my mind, I was casting the parts as I read - Cameron Diaz should play Macy! Macomber's characterization seemed kind of unbalanced with some characters fully formed and some sketchy through the end of the book. I think I really wanted to dislike this book (and romance lit in general). However, this was a pleasant read with a believable story, which needed some "fleshing out" in certain parts. I will probably give another Debbie Macomber title a try.

If you enjoy Hannah's List, you might also try the following fiction reads:

Dream When You're Feeling Blue - Elizabeth Berg (Random House, 2007)

This novel, set in the "home front" during World War II, is typical of Berg's works - strong, fully developed women characters acting extraordinarily under ordinary circumstances. The narration is fluid and expressive without being saccharine.

Time Is a River - Mary Alice Monroe (Pocket, 2008)

This piece of contemporary fiction, like several of Monroe's other books, weaves powerful themes of nature throughout the plot. Monroe's women characters are genuine and complete; her language is true and sparse. The reader feels a real connection to the characters contained on the pages.

The following nonfiction reads might also be of interest:

Promise Me: How a Sister's Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer - Nancy G. Brinker (Broadway, 2010)

Brinker, a breast cancer survivor, penned this tribute to her sister, who succumbed to the disease. That sister was Susan G. Komen, and Brinker led (and continues to lead) a foundation that promises to "one day cure breast cancer for good." This book puts real human faces on this disease and shows the power that one committed person can make.

The Widower's Toolbox: Repairing Your Life after Losing Your Spouse - G. J. Schaefer (New Horizon Press, 2010)

This book has a niche audience but is a valuable addition to a public library collection. Working on the premise that men and women grieve differently, the author attempts to help men who've lost spouses identify and resolve the issues that may be overwhelming and, ultimately, help men move forward. This book's value to women readers might lie in its potential to shed light on the other gender's perspective under enormous emotion.