REQUIRED READING
The Woman in the Camphor Trunk Jennifer Kincheloe (f iction, Seventh Street Books)
It’s early 1900s Los Angeles (think ragtime and suffragettes, not necessarily in that order) and a socialite-turnedpolice matron is trying to solve the murder of a woman in Chinatown before all sorts of chaos ensues.
The Mother of Black Hollywood
Jenifer Lewis (memoir, Amistad) The co-star of the hit sitcom “Black-ish” tells her story with refreshing honesty, tracing her journey from poor Midwestern girl to one of the most versatile entertainers working today, racking up more than 300 ap-appearances for film, television and stage. Funny and candid.
Thank You for Your Service David Finkel (nonfiction, Picador)
The movie “Thank You for Your Service,” currently in theaters, is based on this book by journalist Finkel, which follows soldiers returning to the US from Iraq and the problems they face once home. A must-read account of postwar life. fe.
Queen Victoria’s Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages That Shaped Europe Deborah Cadbury (nonfiction, Public Affairs)
Sixty years into her reign, Queen Victoria had more than 30 grandchildren and big plans on making sure they were placed in strategic marriageses through-throughout Europe. To her annoyance, her grandchildren often had their own ideas.
No Saints in Kansas Amy Brashear (f iction, Soho Teen)
A reimagining of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” with a young-adult spin, this carefully researched work of historical fiction takes us to Holcomb, Kan., still reeling from the brutal murder of the entire Clutter family. Nancy’s tutor Carly Fleming, an outsider in the small town, is determined to learn the truth.
The Indestructible Man: The True Story of World War II Hero “Captain Dixie” Don Keith and David Rocco (nonfiction, CreateSpace)
The story of a little-known hero of World War II, Navy officer Dixie Kiefer, who played an important part in major WWII battles, having also served in WWI. In addition to his heroic exploits in war, he was a colorful character who referred to his crew as “Dixie’s Kids” and was known for his regular “cocktail club” meetings aboard his ship.