Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History

Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History by Steven Zipperstein, 261 pages.
The 1903 pogrom in a not-so-remote Russian town became a much larger story than other racially charged massacres of that time and place. Communications had sped up, and Kishinev was close enough to Europe that reporters could make their way there.  The stories that came out of the violent episode varied wildly. The town's newspaper publisher, apparently one of the main authors of the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and, obviously, a raving anti-semite, helped fan the flames of local rage by spreading rumors of blood-libel. Michael Davitt and Hayyim Nahman Bialik were sent in to cover the pogrom by Jewish newspapers, but Bialik ended up composing a poem that became one of the most enduring accounts with his poem, "In the City of Killing.",
Zipperstein debunks the long-held myth that the Jews of the town were too passive to fight back and tells the story of 250 people who gathered and fought off their neighbors over the course of the three-day pogrom.

Bluebird, Bluebird

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, 307 pages.

Darren Matthews, nephew of one of the first black Texas Rangers, and now a Ranger himself, is having some problems. His wife is upset with his career decisions, he's drinking too much, and he is currently under a semi-suspension for some questionable (to his superiors, anyway) actions. When a friend from the FBI calls to tell him about the killing of a black man in a rural Texas town, one that was quickly followed by the killing of a white woman, Darren hurries down to investigate. He quickly becomes aware of Aryan Brotherhood activity surrounding the case, and the whole thing becomes more complicated when he meets Geneva Weeks, and the dead man's widow. An interesting and exciting read.

Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller, 393 pages.
Miller's retelling of Greek myth and story from the point of view of the title character, the sorceress and witch, best known for her part in the Odyssey.
Circe, the daughter of the Titan sun god Helios and Perse, the nymph daughter of the Titan Oceanus, tells of her early years as a powerless nymph, seeking favor with her father, but at odds with her sorcerer siblings, Aeetes, Pasiphae, and Perses. Circe's explorations in magic, both for love and revenge cause her to be exiled to the island of Aiaia, and that's where she performs her best know tricks, pigs and such
In her telling, with her careful weaving of the known stories and the unknown bits behind it all Miller shows herself to be among the smartest, craftiest, and just the best of us. An inspiringly good story.

Ghost Boys

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, 214 pages.
Jerome is often bullied at school, but lives in a loving home where his parents try to keep him safe. An encounter with a racist, frightened police officer ends his life and begins his time as a ghost boy. African American children who had been killed out of fear or hatred of who they are. Jerome is tutored by Emmett Till, and in turn stays around to help Sarah, the daughter of the policeman who killed him learn to help her father.
An engaging book, not too raw to be suitable for middle-schoolers.
Includes an afterword, discussion questions, and further resources.

The Wall

The Wall Ilan Stavans, 123 pages.
Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities, Latin American, and Latino Culture at Amherst College, has written a number of novels, graphic novels, and works of nonfiction. He is quite a poet too. The poems in this collection, few in number, but deep and wide-ranging, cover walls (sure its right there in the title), borders, the barriers between brothers (though I think that whole brother thing was a metaphor for some of the other points that it took me a while to understand).
ALTO!
My
brother
and
I
grow up:
as
adults,
we
are
selfish,
venal,
even
mercenary:
suspicious
of
one
another

Really worth reading and exploring.

Lessons on Expulsion: Poems

Lessons on Expulsion: Poems by Erika Sanchez, 73 pages.

I read Sanchez's award-winning (award-nominated?) Young Adult novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter a little while ago, and it was good. The poems in this collection though, which explore many of the same themes and issues, the conflict between parents and children, between different cultures, sexuality and guilt, are even better. Sanchez's language is raw and beautiful and she paints vivid painful pictures. An excellent, excellent book. Plus a cool cover.

Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, 521 pages.
Zelie lost her mother during the Raid, when all of the practicing maji, the wielders of magic, in Orisha were killed by King Saran's men. The maji, their powers signified by their white hair, had been the rulers of Orisha throughout history and Saran feared them and their power. His quest to completely eliminate the maji threatens Zelie, her brother and her father. As Saran's plans unfold, his daughter Amari and his son Inan must decide where their loyalties lie. Overall, a great YA adventure story.

Failure is an Option: An Attempted Memoir

Failure is an Option: An Attempted Memoir by H. Jon Benjamin, 256 pages.
Books by comedians are a weakness for me. If I enjoy the author's other work, ususally stand-up or comedic acting, then I want to read their funny little memoir even though I know that I am likely to be disappointed. This time I was pleasantly suprised. Benjamin, the voice of the title characters in both Archer and Bob's Burgers, is a clever and competent writer. He is very funny too. in this attempt at a memoir, Benjamin chooses to work thematically, linking episodes and milestones in his life to specific failures on his part; flaws in his character. He is, as I have mentioned, funny about this. He's not apologetic, and often offers bits of his philosophy of failure to encourage in others. He says early on, "this is a polemic in favor of failure. It's an assertion that failure is an option, and even, at times, a viable prescription for a better life".
Like many comedic memoirs, we're not getting a whole lot of personal details, unless they're funny bits of failure; there are (I presume) bunches of lies. But it is all funny. Benjamn's tales of failing at every aspect of life, from abandoning a sleepover during childhood, to watching tv at his neighbor's while the house was being robbed, to curling up in a ball instead of participating in a three-way while at college are all hilarious.

Addendum: Christa pointed out that I somehow missed the car-pooping scene in the book and I have corrected that. I think that I am prone to passages in books that are poop-heavy, and for that I will not apologize.

Void Moon

Void Moon by Michael Connelly, 391 pages.
Connelly, best known for his police thrillers featuring Detective Harry Bosch, and his legal thrillers featuring attorney Mickey Haller, put together this intriguing and entertaining heist novel back in the waning years of the last century. Cassie Black, on parole from a Los Vegas casino job that went horribly wrong, is working at a Hollywood Porsche while trying to get her life back together. A sudden change in a secret (not that secret, it's telegraphed, but not talked about in the beginning of the book) from her old life threatens her long-range plans, and forces her back to a life of crime. She's trusting people from her past, people who know how much she lost. Some of them are on her side and some not so much.
A well-thought out plot, interesting characters, and great storytelling make this an enjoyable read. Michael Connelly, who writes a couple of excellent Bosch and / or Haller novels a year, could have been right up there with Elmore Leonard if he had the time and inclination.

Jewish Comedy: A Serious History

Jewish Comedy: A Serious History by Jeremy Dauber, 364 pages.

Dauber's history of Jewish Comedy has some hilarious moments in the first third of the book, and the author tells some hilarious jokes, but it is, as the title indicates, a little more serious than that and slows down and sobers up. An interesting read.

Before the Devil BreaksYou

Before the Devil BreaksYou by Libba Bray, 552 pages
The third in the Diviners series doesn't quite live up to the series debut. The book has a fair amount going for it, interesting characters and interesting situations among those, but its a bit repetitive and strained. The Diviners (there are seven of them now) have to stop a host of unquiet ghosts, based on an island asylum, from bringing the King of Crows back to power. Evie and Will have their same strained relationship, though Evie finds out more about her Uncle's past.Sam Lloyd finds out something of his own past, too.