Biography
By Brooke Barbier
John Hancock, the American revolutionary and president of the Second Continental Congress, is probably the most famous of the Founding Fathers, while also being relatively unknown. In many ways, as the author suggests in her new biography, Hancock’s signature is more famous than the signer. Hancock is the influential revolutionary hiding in plain sight, and Ms. Barbier has done a tremendous job placing him directly in the spotlight―a place the down-to-earth, yet wealthy merchant preferred.
Theater
By Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea
Dame Judi Dench may be the best Shakespearean actresses of the late 20th century. This book is a remarkable overview of her career. It began as an oral history project, but Ms. Dench and Mr. O’Hea realized it had wide appeal. The result is a lively, frequently hilarious, and always entertaining discussion of Shakespeare by two outstanding thespians. It offers insight into both Shakespeare’s work and Ms. Dench’s career. She explains why Shakespeare remains relevant today and why she continues to love his works.
Novel
By John J. Miller
Non-Fiction
By Batya Ungar-Sargon
Economically strapped restaurant workers, truckers, and others from across the United States share their struggles and hopes with the author. After combining these narratives with data and formal studies, she concludes that for these laborers achieving the American Dream is becoming an impossibility. To change this scenario, the wealthy must listen more attentively to working- class men and women, and respect their labor and skills. This book is an excellent place to make that acquaintance.
Classics
By Walter Van Tilburg Clark
It’s Nevada, 1885, and a posse bent on revenge arrests three men for murder and cattle theft, who plead innocent of all charges. The men are lynched, and their execution rocks the lives of all involved.
From that point on, this 1940 novel tackles mob psychology, the blindness brought on by vengeance, and the meaning of justice and individual responsibility. Here is a tragic tale befitting our own time when online mobs go after individuals without regard for facts and truth, often with tragic results.
For Kids
By Gary D. Schmidt, Elizabeth Stickney, and Jane Manning
Wilson, a friendly, wooly, and smart sheep, finds himself lost and far away from his farm. He taps into his resourcefulness and follows the recognizable sounds he recalls to make his way back. A fun read-aloud or beginning chapter book, “One Smart Sheep” is an enjoyable read that celebrates independence, self-reliance, and the warmth of home.
