This week, we check in on our Book Club's discussion of The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson, an engrossing novel about a woman's fraught relationship with motherhood and the racial tension in her hometown.
Meanwhile, our First Impressions readers weigh in on Lan Samantha Chang's new novel The Family Chao. This bold and humorous modern-day reimagining of Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov centers around a dysfunctional family of first- and second-generation Chinese immigrants that owns a restaurant in Wisconsin.
We also have a new giveaway: Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World by Eliza Reid, with glowing reviews from Cheryl Strayed, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jane Smiley.
Thanks for reading,
Davina Morgan-Witts
BookBrowse Publisher
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The Kindest Lie
by Nancy Johnson
From the Jacket
It's 2008, and the inauguration of President Barack Obama ushers in a new kind of hope. In Chicago, Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy-League educated Black engineer, is married to a kind and successful man. He's eager to start a family, but Ruth is uncertain. She has never gotten over the baby she gave birth to - and was forced to leave behind - when she was a teenager.
Returning home, Ruth discovers the Indiana factory town of her youth is plagued by unemployment, racism, and despair. Just as she is about to uncover a burning secret her family desperately wants to keep hidden, a traumatic incident strains the town's already searing racial tensions.
From the Discussion
"The Kindest Lie is told with such an assured voice and graceful conviction. I thoroughly enjoyed and HIGHLY recommend this book." - sylviaann
"This is a timely novel about motherhood and race. I appreciate its exploration of how Ruth is pulled apart by others' expectations of her: the dutiful academic daughter, the wife and mother. Who among us has not kept a secret in the moment, only to realize later that we are stuck with the consequences?" - Julia B
"What I appreciated about this book was seeing all the obstacles, stereotypes and 'everyday moments' of life through the eyes of a Black woman and her family. (Everyday moments that are often unnecessarily complicated for no other reason than the color of Ruth's skin.) While Ruth comes to terms with a long-buried, traumatic event, she must also deal with the day-to-day trauma of being a Black woman. I could actually visualize the balancing act people of color experience daily in almost every interaction." - acstrine
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William Morrow. Novel. 352 pages. Paperback published Feb 1, 2022. |
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Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every 3-4 months. Here are their opinions on one recently released title.
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The Family Chao
by Lan Samantha Chang
"Families are always complicated, but even more so for second-generation siblings trying to navigate two worlds. The differences between old-world traditions and new-world ideologies often cause conflicts that drive us away but inevitably draw us back in. Ms. Chang's lyrical prose paints a picture of intense feelings and struggles that keeps us turning page after page. A deeply engrossing, yet dark portrayal of tradition vs. assimilation, family secrets, and awakening. A must read." - Susan B. (Hahira, GA)
"The Family Chao grabbed me right from the beginning. The story of the Chao family is a modern re-telling of The Brothers Karamazov and deals with multiple themes: family dysfunction, the immigrant experience in the United States, race, murder and mystery. The vivid descriptions, conversations and development of characters were so well-written that I got involved in the story and could imagine I was there. This book would be ideal for book clubs. After reading it, I am longing to discuss it with someone. Outstanding, Ms. Lan Samantha Chang!" - Diane S. (El Paso, TX)
"As a Chinese American daughter of immigrant Chinese parents who grew up in a household that straddled two completely opposite (and at times conflicting) cultures, I could absolutely relate to the Chao family. I personally found this book to be clever, astute, funny, and yes, delightful in the sense that reading it felt like I was sharing an inside joke with family." - Lee L. (Los Angeles, CA)
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Beyond the Book:
The Brothers Karamazov
The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang is a modern reimagining of the novel The Brothers Karamazov (1879) by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881). The plot of Dostoevsky's book centers around a family of three brothers — Dmitri, Ivan and Alexei (aka Alyosha) — and the murder of their father, Fyodor Karamazov. As Dmitri and his father have been in conflict over Dmitri's inheritance and their mutual attraction to the same woman, he becomes the prime suspect in the crime, and the end of the novel features his trial.
The Brothers Karamazov was not particularly well-received by critics when it was published. The Spectator wrote "the most carefully composed of [Dostoyevsky's] novels, the constructions seems often to collapse entirely; there are the strangest digressions and the most curious prolixities." Nevertheless, it is considered by many to be one of the best novels ever written, and numerous authors have cited it as an inspiration or favorite, from Haruki Murakami to William Faulkner. In a 2009 essay for The Millions, Lan Samantha Chang mentioned she was reading the book for the fourth time, and explained her fascination: "This book is so long, and contains such startling characters, and explores its message in so many ways, that I don't seem to be able to hold all of it in my head at the same time. So each time I reread it I actually do feel I'm rediscovering it, and each time I'm in awe of the work."
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W.W. Norton & Company. Novel. 320 pages. Published February 1, 2022
Readers' Consensus: 4.4/5, Number of Reader Reviews: 27
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For Members: The BookBrowse Review |
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The just-published issue of The BookBrowse Review is packed with new reviews and articles; plus author interviews, recommendations for book clubs and previews of notable books publishing soon.
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BookBrowse for Libraries
In addition to individual memberships, we also offer library subscriptions, so all patrons have full and free access to BookBrowse's premium content from anywhere at any time, simply by entering their library card number.
Here is a sample of subscribing libraries: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario; Latah County, ID; New Providence, NJ; Monterey County, CA; Jefferson County, CO.
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Secrets of the Sprakkar
by Eliza Reid
From the Jacket
Iceland is the best place on earth to be a woman - but why? Secrets of the Sprakkar is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of a tiny country that could lead the way forward for us all.
In Secrets of the Sprakkar (pronounced SPRAH-car), Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, examines her adopted homeland's attitude toward women - the deep-seated cultural sense of fairness, the influence of current and historical role models, and, crucially, the areas where Iceland still has room for improvement.
Reviews
"With warmth, wit, and insight, First Lady Eliza Reid explores the reasons why Iceland is one of the best places on earth for women, as well as the challenges still ahead in achieving full gender equity. Secrets of the Sprakkar is an illuminating, inspiring, and absorbing book about how a more equitable society could elevate us all." - Cheryl Strayed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wild
"I enjoyed it so much...Reid's style is amusing, her thoughts are honest, and the issues she discusses are becoming more important by the day." - Jane Smiley, The Washington Post
"Secrets of the Sprakkar is a fascinating window into what a more gender-equal world could look like, and why it's worth striving for. Iceland is doing a lot to level the playing field: paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and broad support for gender equality as a core value. Reid takes us on an exploration not only around this fascinating island, but also through the triumphs and stumbles of a country as it journeys towards gender equality." - Hillary Rodham Clinton
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Sourcebooks. Memoir. 288 pages. Publishing February 8, 2022 |
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With so many new books published every month, it's difficult to find the standouts, the ones which are really worth your time. This is why hundreds of thousands of readers rely on BookBrowse to do the hard work of sifting though the multitude of titles to find the most promising new books, with a focus on books that entertain, engage and enlighten. |
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BookBrowse Highlights is one of our four free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly.
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