Your summer reading fun
Jim Higgins and friends offer suggestions for your warm-weather reading enjoyment.
Whether you’re on the road or staying on the porch this summer, a book can be your traveling companion.
❚ Here are some suggestions of new and newish books for summer reading, including ones with a Wisconsin pedigree. While these selections keep pleasure reading foremost in mind, some hard-hitting books are included.
❚ The Milwaukee Public Library encourages your children to join its Super Reader Squad for children 12 and younger, and its teen reader program for youth ages 13 through 18. In addition to the pure pleasure of reading, children and teens can earn prizes. Visit mpl.org/summerreading.
❚ If you live in a different community, check with your local library. It probably has a summer reading program, too.
Thanks to my colleague Chris Foran for contributing the pop-culture section, and to contributor Mike Fischer, whose previous reviews inspired some of these picks. Look for Carole E. Barrowman’s summer mystery picks on Page 3E of today’s Sunday Tap section.
Jim Higgins is the author of “Wisconsin Literary Luminaries: From Laura Ingalls Wilder to Ayad Akhtar” (The History Press).
Editor’s Picks
“Calypso,” by David Sedaris (Little, Brown). Humorous and serious essays on middle age and life’s downhill slide, as well as “Now We Are Five,” on the regrouping of the Sedaris family after his sister’s suicide.
“The Female Persuasion,” by Meg Wolitzer (Riverhead Books). In Wolitzer’s novel, a college freshman clicks with a famous feminist, plunging the freshman (and readers) into a fascinating story about mentoring, friendship and competition.
“The Monk of Mokha,” by Dave Eggers (Knopf ). A thrilling nonfiction account of how Mokhtar Alkhanshali overcame one onrushing obstacle after another, including being taken into custody at gunpoint multiple times, to revive the glorious coffee heritage of Yemen.
“Paris by the Book,” by Liam Callanan (Dutton). A Milwaukee mother and her daughters fall in love with the City of Light while looking for their missing father in UWM professor Callanan’s novel. A must for fans of “The Red Balloon” and the “Madeline” stories.
“Robin,” by Dave Itzkoff (Henry Holt). A compelling and unflinching biography of the remarkable comedian and actor Robin Williams.
“See What Can Be Done: Essays, Criticism, and Commentary,” by Lorrie Moore (Knopf). The frequently lauded fiction writer, who taught for three decades at the University of Wisconsin, delivers a generous collection of nonfiction, including some Wisconsin subjects (Steven Avery, the Scott Walker recall election and the Dictionary of American Regional English).
“Sharp: The Women Who Made an Art of Having an Opinion,” by Michelle Dean (Grove). A penetrating look at a sequence of writers from Dorothy Parker through Janet Malcolm who were renowned, sometimes notorious, for the pointed nature of their criticism, essays and fiction.
Fiction
“American Histories: Stories,” by John Edgar Wideman (Scribner). A blend of fiction, essay and imagination, calling on such figures as Frederick Douglass and John Brown.
“To Die But Once,” by Jacqueline Winspear (Harper). In the latest novel in a long-running historical series, kindhearted psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs probes the disappearance of a teenage apprentice in 1940 Britain, with implications for the war effort.
“Dread Nation,” by Justina Ireland (Blazer + Bray). In this alternative-history fantasy, dead soldiers rise up from battlefields, putting the Civil War on hold and requiring teens of color like Jane to learn zombie-killing skills. For ages 14 and older.
“The House of Broken Angels,” by Luis Alberto Urrea (Little, Brown). A big multigenerational novel about a Mexican-American family from a Chicagoland writer.
“If Tomorrow Comes,” by Nancy Kress (Tor). In this sequel to Kress’ sci-fi novel “Tomorrow’s Kin,” humans seeking answers arrive on the alien planet Kindred and are immediately plunged into conflict.
“Fight No More,” by Lydia Millet (W.W. Norton, out June 12). Interlocking stories about people with broken relationships and real-estate issues.
“The Maze at Windermere,” by Gregory Blake Smith (Viking). In this ambitious novel, Smith weaves together five different stories over three centuries, all in Newport, R.I.
“Space Opera,” by Catherynne M. Valente (Saga). The Eurovision Song Contest in space, with homage to Ziggy Stardust. That’s the gist of Valente’s comic novel, with the fate of humanity on the line.
“You Think It, I’ll Say It,” by Curtis Sittenfeld (Random House). Stories by the author of “Eligible” and “Prep” about otherwise intelligent people behaving cluelessly in relationships.
Brain Food
“The Art of the Wasted Day,” by Patricia Hampl (Viking). Hampl blends her own passion for solitude and repose with stories of the like-minded, including Gregor Mendel and Michel de Montaigne.
“Barracoon: The Story of the Last ‘Black Cargo,’ “by Zora Neale Hurston (Amistad). In 1927, Hurston conducted extensive interviews with Kossola, also known as Cudjo Lewis, 86, a survivor of the last slave ship known to have brought slaves to the United States. The short book Hurston wrote about his remarkable life is finally in print, with accompanying essays and contextual information.
“Basketball: Great Writing About America’s Game,” edited by Alexander Wolff (Library of America). An anthology of writing about hoops that starts with a piece by the founder, James Naismith, and goes through stories about LeBron James and Steph Curry. Jimmy Breslin profiles Marquette University coach Al McGuire and Marquette star Jim Chones; Marquette grad Charles P. Pierce explores Larry Bird as “The Brother From Another Planet.”
“Brown: Poems,” by Kevin Young (Knopf ). Young writes on a wide range of African-American subjects, including Hank Aaron, James Brown, De La Soul, and, of course, his own life.
“Creative Quest,” by Questlove with Ben Greenman (Ecco). Musician, producer and bandleader Questlove explores the creative process by sharing his creative process, with plenty of anecdotes.
“Frenemies: The Epic Disruption of the Ad Business (and Everything Else),” by Ken Auletta (Penguin Press). The Boswell of big media chronicles our messy media world, where algorithms and engineers matter more than “creatives.”
“The Gift of Our Wounds,” by Arno Michaelis and Pardeep Singh Kaleka with Robin Gaby Fisher (St. Martin’s Press). Kaleka, the son of a leader killed in the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shootings in 2012, and Michaelis, a former whitepower skinhead, describe the bond they forged working with students and communities on nonviolence and inclusion.
“Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too,” by Louie Anderson (Touchstone). The comedian and actor shares memories that reveal just how big an influence his mother had on him.
“Not That Bad: Dispatches From Rape Culture,” edited by Roxane Gay (Harper Perennial). Essays by Ally Sheedy, Gabrielle Union, editor Gay and other contributors on their experiences with sexual harassment and worse.
“Pops,” by Michael Chabon (Harper). A little book of amiable yet thoughtful essays about being a father and having a father by the novelist.
Visiting Authors
“Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon,” by Robert Kurson (Random House). Kurson, a UW graduate, chronicles the historic mission of Apollo 8, whose crew included Milwaukee’s Jim Lovell. Kurson will speak 7 p.m. May 22 at Boswell Books, 2559 N. Downer Ave.
“The View From Flyover Country: Dispatches From the Forgotten America,” by Sarah Kendzior (Flatiron). Sharply written pieces about life and inequality in middle America. Kendzior will speak 7 p.m. June 7 at Boswell Books.
“Meddling Kids,” by Edgar Cantero (Anchor Books/Blumhouse Books). Cantero visits Boswell Books at 7 p.m. June 14 on the paperback tour for his novel, a clever humor-horror mashup of Scooby-Doo and H.P. Lovecraft. Note: it’s not a novel for kids, unless they’re kids who dig the Necronomicon.
“Manhattan Beach,” by Jennifer Egan (Scribner). Egan visits Boswell Books at 7 p.m. June 15 in a ticketed event for the paperback edition of her novel about a female Navy diver during World War II. Bonus: She’ll be in conversation with Andrew Greer, recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his novel “Less.” Tickets: egangreer.bpt.me.
“Semiosis,” by Sue Burke (Tor). Humans colonizing the planet Pax grapple with the discovery that indigenous plant life is intelligent and may view them as a threat. Burke will speak at 2 p.m. June 16 at East Library, 2320 N. Cramer St.
“A Reaper at the Gates,” by Sabaa Tahir (Razorbill, out June 12). Third book in a powerful YA fantasy series about a violence-torn empire. Tahir will speak at 7 p.m. June 22 at Boswell Books. Registration is required: tahir.bpt.me.
Wisconsin Connections
“Don’t Make Me Pull Me Over! An Informal History of the Family Road Trip,” by Richard Ratay (Scribner, publishes July 3). Menomonee Falls writer Ratay blends personal narrative with friendly anecdotes about America’s love of road tripping. Ratay speaks at 7 p.m. July 19 at Boswell Books.
“Home of the Braves: The Battle for Baseball in Milwaukee” by Patrick W. Steele (University of Wisconsin Press). Steele, an associate professor of history at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, takes a fresh look at the ageold debate over why the Braves dumped Milwaukee for Atlanta, finding some familiar villains (changing baseball economics) and some new ones (Milwaukee County government, for starters).
“How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens,” by Paul Noth (Bloomsbury Children’s Books). New Yorker cartoonist Noth, a Milwaukee native, delivers an illustrated screwball sci-fi novel for middle-grade readers about a 10-yearold who made a deal with completely unforeseen consequences.
“Life on the Sun,” by Douglas Armstrong (Lexington House Press). In 1967, two journalists and a grieving woman are plunged into heated conflict over the suspicious death of an antiwar protester. Armstrong, a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter, will speak about his novel at 7 p.m. May 31 at Boswell Books, 2559 N. Downer Ave.
“Lost Milwaukee,” by Carl Swanson (The History Press). From a fatal steamship crash downtown to the notorious hatpin ordinance, Swanson spins graceful tales of the city’s weird past in a friendly voice.
“The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go,” by Amy E. Reichert (Gallery Books). In local writer Reichert’s new novel, the owner of a gourmet grilled cheese food truck is feeling sandwich-generation pressure from her elderly mother and teenage daughter. Reichert will speak at 6:30 p.m. June 12 at Menomonee Falls Library, W156-N8436 Pilgrim Road, and 6:30 p.m. May 15 at Books & Co., 1039 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc.
“Phyllis Tickle: A Life,” by Jon M. Sweeney (Church Publishing). Milwaukee writer and scholar Sweeney recounts the life of Tickle, a prominent Christian writer and the first religion editor at Publishers Weekly.
“Raising the Dad,” by Tom Matthews (Thomas Dunne Books). In Wauwatosa writer Matthews’ crisply written novel, both darkly humorous and serious, a surprising revelation about a patriarch disrupts an already challenged family. Matthews will speak at 7 p.m. June 12 at the Wauwatosa Public Library, 7635 W. North Ave.
“Somos Latinas: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists,” by Andrea-Teresa Arenas and Eloisa Gómez (Wisconsin Historical Society Press). Oral histories of community activists such as Daisy Cubias and Rita Tenorio. Arenas and Gómez will speak at 6 p.m. June 5 at the Mitchell Street Library, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
“Urban Ecology,” by Ken Leinbach (Morgan James Publishing). Leinbach, executive director of Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center, aims to educate and inspire with a book that’s part manifesto and part how-to guide.
Children and Teens
“Dog on a Digger,” by Kate Prendergast (Candlewick). In this wordless picture book, Dog rescues a puppy at a construction site. Prendergast combines pencil drawing with limited color in a pleasing way. Ages 4-6.
“The 5 O’Clock Band,” by Troy (Trombone Shorty) Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier (Abrams). A young New Orleans musician who missed his band’s rehearsal roams the city looking for its members, soaking up lessons on leadership along the way. Ages 4-8.
“Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School,” by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by London Ladd (Lee & Low). In this picture book, South Milwaukee writer Halfmann tells the story of a slave who taught herself to read and write, and then taught other enslaved people those skills. Ages 4-8.
“Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship,” by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illustrated by Scott Magoon (Candlewick). A black labrador who yearns to be a service dog bonds with an amputee woman who needs him. Kensky and Downes are married survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing and amputees. Ages 5-9.
“Dinosaurium,” by Chris Wormell and Lily Murray (Big Picture Press). An oversize delight that walks readers through what we know and conjecture today about dinosaurs. Wormell’s engravings give this book a wonderful old-fashioned feeling. Ages 8-12.
“Women Athletes Who Rule!: The 101 Stars Every Fan Needs to Know” (Sports Illustrated Kids, out June 5). Past and present stars get their due in words and photography, including Serena Williams, Althea Gibson, Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Wisconsin favorites Bonnie Blair and Hilary Knight. For ages 8 and older.
“Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!,” by Marley Dias (Scholastic). Dias, the teenage founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, delivers an inspirational book about activism and personal style. For ages 10 and older.
“Puddin’,” by Julie Murphy (Balzer + Bray). In Murphy’s novel, a fat girl and a popular girl thrown together by events begin to understand each other and themselves. For ages 13 and older.
“Children of Blood and Bone,” by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt). A powerful West African-inspired fantasy novel, widely praised for writing quality and nuanced characterization. For ages 14 and older.
Pop Culture
“Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story,” by Chris Nashawaty (Flatiron). Even if you’re not a fan of the slapdash 1980 comedy, Nashawaty, film critic for Entertainment Weekly, weaves a fun, in-depth narrative about the making of “Caddyshack,” powered by interviews with nearly everyone involved.
“Just the Funny Parts … And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boys’ Club,” by Nell Scovell (Dey Street). Scovell has one of the most impressive résumés in TV, writing for shows from David Letterman to “NCIS.” But her story of survival in that world — a world where women routinely were dismissed, harassed and intimidated — shows how much more she accomplished.
“Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968,” by Ryan H. Walsh (Penguin). The title suggests that Van Morrison’s seminal album “Astral Weeks,” recorded in Boston in 1968, is the book’s focus, but Walsh’s research into the world surrounding that project takes him, and readers, down a slew of captivating rabbit holes in this engaging cultural history.
“Hollywood Heyday: 75 Candid Interviews With Golden Age Legends,” by David Fantle and Tom Johnson (McFarland). Fantle, chief marketing officer for the United Performing Arts Fund, and movie writer Johnson have been chatting up movie stars and directors for more than 40 years. This new volume collects 75 of those conversations, from Eddie Albert to Robert Wise. If you love old Hollywood, chances are your favorite person is in here. Fantle will talk about “Hollywood Heyday” at 7 p.m. June 7 at the Jewish Community Center, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay.
“Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke and the Making of a Masterpiece,” by Michael Benson (Simon & Schuster). This exhaustively researched history of Kubrick’s 1968 classic “2001: A Space Odyssey” is the definitive story not just of the making of the movie, but of the worlds it changed along the way.
“Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution,” by Todd S. Purdum (Henry Holt). When it comes to stage musicals, there’s BRH – Before Rodgers and Hammerstein — and after. Purdum’s expert study of the unlikely partnership between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and the unlikelier revolution that resulted, keeps the human beings in view while surveying the richer landscape they reshaped.
“Paul Simon: The Life,” by Robert Hilburn (Simon & Schuster). Hilburn, one of the deans of rock music criticism, does the deep-dive journalism thing with this warts-and-all, but still generally positive, biography of one of America’s most important songwriters.
“True Stories From an Unreliable Eyewitness: A Feminist Comes of Age,” by Christine Lahti (Harper Wave). Lahti’s tale is less a memoir than it is an elliptical, compelling guide to the challenges of being a female actor in a sexist world while being true to yourself.
“Bruce Lee: The Authorized Visual History,” by Steve Kerridge (Carlton). If you don’t believe Bruce Lee was one of the most charismatic and visually arresting performers of the past half-century, this should convince you. A portrait of a self-confident artist battling past Hollywood’s obstacles — and outkicking foes including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a young Chuck Norris — to become one of pop culture’s most enduring heroes.
“Nobody’s Girl Friday: The Women Who Ran Hollywood,” by J.E. Smyth (Oxford University Press). Film historian Smyth highlights powerful women in Hollywood’s golden age, from Oscarwinning actresses (Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn) to unsung studio executives (Anita Colby).
“Major Dudes: A Steely Dan Companion,” edited by Barney Hoskyns (Overlook, due June 5). Hoskyns, the co-founder of Rock’s Backpages (rocksbackpages.com), collects more than 40 years of reviews and interviews with Steely Dan, for fans of the band, but also for junkies of the golden age of print rock-music writing.
Read a longer list of summer reading suggestions at jsonline.com/tap/books.