Historical Fiction: Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead

Author Colson Whitehead has finished out what has been called The Harlem Trilogy with Cool Machine, which started with Harlem Shuffle back in 2021. Ray Carney's story of being part of cons, both small and big, in the heart of Harlem comes to a close with the man more successful than ever, but having to face what he did to get there, and where he intends to go next.

The Situation: It is 1981, and Ray Carney has been named Sterling Furniture's Northeast Regional Dealer of the Month, the first black man to receive the designation. With the successful expansion of the furniture store, and the kids grown and out of the house, Ray has certainly entered a different time in his life. If it was not for his wife's difficulty in securing a loan for her travel agency, he would give up the crooked life for good. But then the opportunity to work with a criminal legend comes up, and it is just the thing for Ray to secure the money Elizabeth needs. 

The Problem: It is 1986, and Ray has had to do the uncomfortable thing and come to terms with some of the things he has done, and what kind of man he is. But even a willingness to reconcile his past does not mean the future will be smooth sailing. Still haunted by the death of his cousin 20 years ago, Ray is now compelled to help his cousin's son, who finds himself in a situation with the potential to end badly. Ray's longtime friend Pepper is there to help, as always, but getting involved means putting at risk all that he has built and done for himself and his family.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in and around New York City, with three different stories in 1981, 1983, and 1986. In fact, Whitehead dedicates the book to the city, which explores what the place was like during the Reagan years, with buildings being bought up and brought down, and so many being displaced in an effort to make way for new structures that do not at all match with the old ones. Furniture salesman Ray Carney is still a little bit crooked, and still very much his father's son, despite his desire to leave all of that behind and be the man worthy of the woman he married. As he and his friend Pepper do what they have always done, they must acknowledge that they are older now, things are changing, and luck can run out.

My Verdict: This is a great way to finish out Ray Carney's story, as well as explore 1980s New York City with all of its flaws and issues, while making it clear that the author still loves and reveres the place. Ray is a man now in a different stage of life, which automatically makes him reflective, and a little regretful over some of the things he has been a part of. I was wary of the idea of the book jumping ahead through time to tell three different stories, but the effect offers a view of a fast-changing New York City, something else that the protagonists must come to terms with. This trilogy is a must for lovers of Whitehead's work. 

Favorite Moment: The book is made up of three separate stories taking place in 1981, 1983, and 1986. In 1983, Pepper is introduced to the East Village art and club scene, and his confusion and disdain is fun to witness.

Favorite Character: Pepper is older and nearly brought to his knees by illness, but he is still a stoic fighter that nearly anyone would be a fool to try to go up against.

Recommended Reading: Also set in New York City, Brendan Slocumb's Symphony of Secrets is a different kind of historical fiction that moves back and forth through time.

Nonfiction: Catch the Devil by Pamela Colloff

The full title of Pamela Colloff's true crime book is Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast. Colloff chronicles the story of criminal and con artist Paul Skalnik, whose false testimonies would serve to help convict many, including one man who remains on death row today.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly follows two men, Paul Skalnik and Jim Dailey. The former is a con artist who was known to pose as a lawyer, a salesman, a real-estate agent, an undercover officer...many things. He would promise his victims something, always appearing to be a high-roller who could afford nice jewelry and property, before stealing from them. When he was caught, he turned to snitching, claiming other prisoners had confessed their crimes to him, leading to several men being convicted based on his word. One of those men was Jim Dailey, a man who was implicated in a murder in 1985, and remains on death row in Florida today. Colloff discusses a justice system that would allow this to happen, while examining the lives of both Skalnik and Dailey.

My Verdict: Personally, I find con artists to be much more fascinating than serial killers, and Paul Skalnik was a con artist whose luck seemed to continually run out before he somehow found some more, which would spell disaster for those around him, whether in prison or out in society. Colloff's account of the lives of Skalnik and Jim Dailey is as fascinating as it is devastating and frustrating, with the journalist leading the reader through ever high and low, though be warned, there are many more of the latter than there are of the former. Included are Colloff's personal interactions with Skalnik, and her own experience with his brand of deception that often served him so well. True crime lovers will appreciate this book and possibly be compelled to do their own research.

Favorite Moment: Hard to choose given the events of the book, but the author's personal accounts of conversations with Skalnik are particularly interesting.

Recommended Reading: One true crime book I still think about often is Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

Historical Fiction: Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

It is an interesting feeling to read a historical fiction book that was set less than 20 years ago in 2007, but that is what happened with Xochitl Gonzalez's Last Night in Brooklyn. Beginning in the spring, this story follows a young woman as she and her friends attempt to build their lives in Brooklyn and the surrounding New York area, just as the older buildings she grew up with are being bought up and torn down.

The Situation: Alicia Canales Forten knows two things: that she loves Brooklyn, and that she and James will indeed get married, eventually. The wedding has simply been postponed while James is in medical school upstate, and she begins her career at an ad agency. Besides, breaking off the wedding completely would mean upsetting a mother who has always wanted the kind of security, prestige, and recognition that Alicia could get being married to someone like James. But until that happens, Alicia is going to enjoy being young in Brooklyn, before gentrification fully takes over and prices her and her friends out of their homes.

The Problem: One of the mythical figures of Brooklyn is a woman know as La Garza, a fashion designer whose origin story is shrouded in mystery, and whose spontaneous parties are legendary. When Alicia is actually invited to one of these events - something that is pretty much unheard of - she has no idea how the next few months of her life will unfold now that La Garza is firmly in it. And as she learns more and more about the fashion designer, Alicia becomes less sure about her place in her own life, as well as what part she is to play in the increasing chaos.

Genre, Themes, History: This book has been labeled as historical fiction, as well as general fiction, mostly because of its focus on Brooklyn and the greater New York City area during the precise time leading up to the 2008 presidential election. People are debating whether the democratic nominee should be Hilary or Barack; native Brooklynites are watching old apartment buildings be torn down to make way for expensive condos; and local businesses are either being priced out, or outright bought. Against this backdrop, Alicia finds herself drawn into a life of ambitious artists and fashion designers and DJs and stockbrokers, all doing what they can to stay afloat, which sometimes means betraying others.

My Verdict: While I appreciate the focus on Brooklyn and the author's obvious love for it, the actual story was often hard to follow, and for me it was difficult to care about the characters and what happened to them. Alicia as a main character is hard to root for. La Garza is hard-working and self-made and clearly a great fashion designer, but her schemes and plots nearly make her a villain. Plus there is the cast of side characters, all with their own issues and faults, including the habit of using other people. And in the beginning, there is so much emphasis put on Alicia's mother and her need for her daughter to have her estranged father's attention, but the mother never really shows up as a character. It seemed like a missed opportunity that would have added more depth.

Favorite Moment: Near the beginning of the book is a description of a shopping cart race that is just as wild and dangerous as it sounds.

Favorite Character: None of them, not one.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Gonzalez's previous book, Anita de Monte Laughs Last. 

Young Adult Fiction: Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

Hard to believe it has been seven years since Sarah Dessen's last book was published, but it is true. There was a time when the author had a new offering every two years, like clockwork. But this year, readers were finally treated to Change of Plans, where a young girl must adapt quickly when her summer plans are dramatically altered.

The Situation: Finley has graduated high school and can only look forward to heading off to the same college as her boyfriend, Colin. Before that, there is summer, which includes a good few weeks with her mom, away from her dad, stepmom, and three half-siblings. Finley and her mom, Cat, have never been close, with Finley always wondering why her mom left when she was still so young. That question ends up being joined by several others when Cat announces that plans have changed, and they will be joining Cat's sisters, Finley's aunts, at their soon-to-be-sold family vacation home. Suddenly, Finley is surrounded by family members she never really knew, in a place she has never known.

The Problem: After a phone call from a vacationing Colin, Finely is now in an even more confused state than she already was. It is not enough that her aunts and her mom are trying to quickly sell the family vacation home, but her cousin is also getting married, the diner Aunt Kasey owns has never been busier, and now the conversation with Colin has Finley questioning her future plans. And there is still whatever has been going on with Cat: why she stayed away from her parents and her sisters, why she left Finley and her dad, and why she is suddenly wanting to sell the family home. By the end of the summer, everything will be different, including Finley.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set mostly in and around the small community where the family vacation home was built. Finley is a recent high school graduate who was initially prepared to spend her summer with her distant mother in New York, but instead was rerouted to spend it with family she barely knew. Finley quickly gets to know a whole host of new people, both family and otherwise, while also rethinking her time in high school, as well as her plans for the future. Dessen readers will be familiar with the author's common setting choice of a small vacation/resort-like community, along with a whole host of local characters.

My Verdict: There may come a time when I am no longer excited to hear that a new Dessen book is coming out, but that time has not yet come. After a seven-year hiatus, I was glad to pick up this book, and for the most part enjoyed what I found in the pages. Finley is the typical recent high school graduate looking towards an uncertain future, and her hopes and dreams and doubts are all relatable. The people she ends up meeting in this new small community allow for all the questions that would further her self-reflection and growth. If anything, the plot and storyline are a bit predictable, and the love interest part is a bit hard to believe, as well as uninteresting. Something about this book makes it feel like it is both trying too hard, and also not trying hard enough.

Favorite Moment: When Finley visits the Egg, her aunt's diner, for the first time, she jumps right in and helps after seeing how absolutely slammed it is, despite having no experience working in food service.

Favorite Character: Finley's Aunt Liz is a pillar of support and wisdom, without being intrusive. She has enough going on with her daughter's wedding, but is always available to help where she can.

Recommended Reading: Along for the Ride is still my favorite Dessen novel.

Historical Fiction: A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys

Seeing a new book available by author Ruta Sepetys is always exciting for me. Ever since I read her first YA offering, Between Shades of Gray, I have been a fan of this woman's work. And A Fortune of Sand is actually geared towards adults, focusing on a wealthy family who made their fortune in the automobile industry in 1920s Detroit.

The Situation: Marjorie Lennox has embarrassed her father once again. But given the state of the family, all of the gossip, and various open secrets, her latest adventure is not that big of a deal. As an aspiring clothes designer, Marjorie sees an opportunity to pursue the passion her father has never approved of when she spots a brochure for an artists' residency. With the help of two of her siblings, they all pretend that she is simply staying at the family cottage in another town, when in reality she is given her own small apartment in close proximity to other creative women, all funded by a wealthy and handsome man that Marjorie has longed to get to know for quite some time.

The Problem: Overall, the residency is a dream. A new sewing machine and dressing mannequin available on request. Pretty much any fabric Marjorie could want is brought to her. And the freedom to spend the days creating. Sure, some of the rules and restrictions are a bit much. And there is most certainly a strange air of mystery over the entire thing. Bernice the furniture maker insists the building is haunted. The playwright stays in her apartment never to be seen. And Ivy the artist has an obsession with all things Christmas. The more Marjorie attempts to find answers, the more she begins to question the situation, the benefactor, and even her own family.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in and around Detroit and Grosse Point, Michigan. The Lennox family is an automotive dynasty with a whole host of issues and secrets and scandals. For the most part, the story focuses on Marjorie and her time at the residency, but the third person narrator also often follows her older brother Graham as the situation develops with the family and their windshield business. Set in the 1920s, there is much discussion of the dangers of Detroit as the various automobile giants compete, and gang violence continues to rise. Marjorie's pursuit of the arts is frowned upon, mostly by her father, making the secrecy surrounding the art residency necessary. But other issues regarding women's rights are also brought up.

My Verdict: Narratively and structurally speaking, this book is a little bit of a mess, which is upsetting because the premise is so promising. A young creative woman gets the opportunity to take part in an exclusive art program against the wishes of her father, only for the program to not quite be what it seems. On paper, that interests me greatly. For me, the issues begin with Marjorie's fasciation with the program's benefactor. Something about it feels forced and fake. And Marjorie's family - with their over-the-top schemes and almost cartoonish personalities - is difficult to take seriously. All of the action feels like it is leading to a big, explosive conclusion, but what the readers get is a quiet reveal that does not solve much, or feel at all satisfying.

Favorite Moment: I liked seeing Marjorie create her dresses, including the ones she made for others.

Favorite Character: Marjorie's brother Graham is more than a little silly, but I appreciate his commitment to a cause, and he seems to genuinely care for his sister.

Recommended Reading: I certainly prefer Sepetys's YA books, such as 2022's I Must Betray You. 

Science Fiction: The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed

Hardbacks are wonderful, of course, but there is nothing like a solid paperback, and I was loving the feeling of Mahmud El Sayed's The Republic of Memory as I was reading it. Plus, the cover is as intriguing as the premise. After leaving Earth, the people on the Safina find themselves in the middle of a potential resistance, the consequences of which could keep the ship from ever reaching its destination.

The Situation: Two hundred years into its journey, and with 200 years still left to go, the Safina continues through space after leaving a doomed Earth behind. A crew maintains the ship, with Admin leading the charge, as they all head towards a new start on a new planet. One of the primary goals of the crew is to keep alive and maintain the ancestors currently in cryostasis, who will be awakened once the journey ends, and ready to begin their new lives. But while they sleep, generation after generation endures life on the Safina, and not everyone is okay with that.

The Problem: Some of the crew onboard the Safina have had enough, and several groups have formed with the aim of changing how things are done on the ship, and a few even believe the ancestors should be awoken now, instead of after landing. Iskander is in Admin, and as a translator, he enjoys his job as it allows him to make connections across the languages, cultures, and religions onboard. He is aware of the resistance, but would rather not be involved. He also wishes his sister Damietta felt the same. When a blackout occurs, Admin is determined to find the true cause, and those responsible, but the crew is ready for a change. And if the Safina is not soon back on course, none of this will matter anyway.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set on the Safina, a massive spaceship headed for a destination that should take 400 years to reach. In the early half of the book, the people onboard the Safina celebrate Launch Day, and with 200 years behind them, they have 200 years to go. In order to keep the ship running, there are of course crew that must maintain the ship; make sure there is enough food; monitor oxygen levels; and keep the ancestors in cryostasis alive. But with ever-growing resentment against the Administration, the Safina is on the brink of revolt. It is a time when Earth has been destroyed and left behind, but even life on a distant planet may be too much to hope for.

My Verdict: The world building here is incredible, and delightful, and to me, endlessly fascinating. The idea of life aboard a massive spaceship on its way to a destination that will take centuries to reach is beyond interesting. The story of the civilization living on the ship being on the brink of a conflict not only makes sense (because humans), but also raises interesting questions as to what would be the best way to make something like this happen. Things become less enjoyable for me with the focus on specific characters. Few of them are likeable, and at one point, the viewpoint of one annoying character is sacrificed and replaced with someone even more irritating. Regardless, a second book is promised for 2027 and I am curious to know the fate of the Safina.

Favorite Moment: At one point, Damietta's feelings towards her brother change, allowing for at least some growth and change for her character.

Favorite Character: Lebanon, Iskander's cousin, is doing his best, and simply wishes to do his job and one day get married, and continue his life on the Safina. 

Recommended Reading: Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan remains one of those books that I think about occasionally because of the ideas it presented. 

Contemporary Fiction: Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

For me, it is always exciting to see the announcement for a new book by Rainbow Rowell. Cherry Baby is about a woman whose life is in transition, as she waits for her husband to return from Los Angeles so he can pack up the rest of his things. Life and relationships are already complicated, and are made even more so when Cherry reconnects with a friend from before she was married.

The Situation: Cherry did not ask to be made into a character. She had no intention of ever being recognized by strangers who read her husband Tom's web comic, or who had seen one of the trailers for the upcoming movie adaptation. But that is what is happening, as people are recognizing that the character of Baby, from the Thursday comic, is undoubtedly Cherry, in all of her overweight glory. Maybe it would not be so bad if Tom were there with her. But instead, he is in Los Angeles, and Cherry is in Omaha taking care of the massive dog that he wanted. And while it may not yet be public that Cherry and Tom are getting a divorce, Cherry cannot imagine what it will be like to be recognized in public once that news breaks.

The Problem: For just one night, Cherry decides to leave the dog at home and see one of her favorite bands, not knowing that she is about to run into an old friend. A friend from before she met Tom. A man that used to date her best friend (a best friend who is now happily married with kids). Russ knew Cherry before the Thursday comic became what it is, and thankfully, he knows nothing about it. Now Cherry is getting a glimpse at what life could be like without Tom, even though he inevitably must return to Omaha to pack up his stuff as he and Cherry divide up their life. And then there are Cherry's four incredibly nosy and involved sisters to contend with. For Cherry, things are about to get more complicated before they have a chance to settle down.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set in and around Omaha, Nebraska, where Cherry works and lives. Through a third-person narrator, Cherry remains the primary focus as she navigates the possibility of divorce; reconnecting with an old friend; working full-time at a job she loves; a large family where she is the middle of five sisters; and her daily reality of being overweight. Cherry has always been fat, just like her sisters and her mom, and while it is not something she is ashamed of, it is always at the forefront of her mind. And the fact that the Baby character in her husband's comic looks just like her further complicates everything.

My Verdict: Ultimately, this is a novel about relationships and just how complicated they can be, whether it be marriage, family, dating, or even relationships with coworkers, and that is the part of the book that I like, or at least the part I found the most interesting. The actual plot of the novel was not my favorite, and many of the characters are hard to like. In fact, Cherry may be my least favorite of everyone that can be found on the page. She is someone that makes everything about her, including other people's decisions that they make for their own life. She is also wish-washy, and by the end I had a hard time caring about what she decided to do. 

Favorite Moment: I enjoyed the look at both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with Cherry's large family.

Favorite Character: Cherry's boss, Meg Jones, seems like someone I would not mind working for. She even likes Cherry's somewhat outrageous and maybe not always completely professional, but really cute, clothing choices.

Recommended Reading: My favorite of Rowell's books is still Fangirl, but Scattered Showers was a neat concept.