What to read next: ‘A Gentleman In Moscow,’ two searing memoirs, a Western romance, and more
Our book recommendations this week run the gamut, including a short story collection about dating in Lagos, a fun Western romance, two searing memoirs, an indictment of America’s schools, and last but definitely not least, A Gentleman In Moscow in honor of the latest page-to-screen adaptation. For more books across genres, take a look at our Most Anticipated of Spring or our Best Books of the Month.
I’m not usually much of a short story reader, but this one, which was a big hit in Nigeria, piqued my interest—and I’m so glad it did! Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a collection of 12 stories about dating and relationships—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the ones that are all of those things. There are universal experiences here, including this line that made me laugh while nodding in solidarity: “The dating scene in Lagos is full of frogs and virtually no princes. I learned that the hard way.” I might not live in Lagos, but boy can I relate. These are not man-bashing stories, they are simply what is—the frustration and hope, happiness and tears, surprises both awful and wonderful, that come with trying to find the yin to your yang in this great wide world of people. Dip in and out or read the stories all at once—either way, this is a collection worth spending time with. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Perfect for spring, this steamy Western romance caught me by surprise with its tenderness and vulnerability. Ada Hart is ready for independence after the end of her short-lived marriage to a controlling man. But things get off to a sexy, yet rocky start, when the handsome cowboy she impulsively makes out with at a local bar turns out to be the client for her biggest renovation project—a ranch bed and breakfast in Wyoming. Weston Ryder (such a good name) is immediately smitten with Ada, but she refuses to consider what they could become. I wasn’t expecting the honesty of these characters as they struggle to overcome the fears and burdens of their pasts to build a future…hopefully together. It was a breath of fresh air, just like the incredible Wyoming landscapes that make me want to move out West. I had so much fun with this book and am mildly obsessed with the cover. I can’t wait for the next book in this delightful series! —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
Legendary activist and education writer Jonathan Kozol has written his 15th and final book, out this month—and he’s still as passionate as ever about improving America’s school system, especially for Black and brown students who he says bear the brunt of America’s moral failing to equally and properly educate children. Kozol rose to fame with his searing Death at an Early Age, which he wrote after spending a year as a teacher in Boston, and which won the National Book Award in 1985. Kozol “is just relentless,” the co-director of The Civil Rights Project at the University of California, Gary Orfield, recently told the New York Times. “He is angry and offended by the reality he sees going on and on and on. And nobody cares.” Kozol believes strongly in the importance of the public school system and argues for what he believes to be the single most important method to improve it: school busing. For anyone invested in our nation’s future, or the current state of schooling, An End to Inequality is a necessary and eye-opening read. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
There's nobody better than Amor Towles to create characters full of pomp and circumstance, optimism, and grace. So it's no surprise that the imitable Count Rostov is coming to the big screen thanks to Showtime/Paramount+ and the acting prowess of Ewan McGregor. With more than 2 million copies in print, A Gentleman in Moscow is one of my all-time favorite books. Under house arrest at the Hotel Metropol for writing an incendiary poem, Count Rostov is forced to find adventure within those walls as the Cold War swirls outside. Despite all of that, the Count lives an absorbing, adventure-filled existence, filled with capers, conspiracies, and culture. Like Kay Thompson’s Eloise and Wes Anderson’s M. Gustav in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rostov is unflinchingly (and hilariously for readers) devoted to his station, even when forced to wait tables, play hide-and-seek with a young girl, or confront communism. Towles magnificently conjures the grandeur of the Russian hotel and the vibrancy of the characters that call it home. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Kami was just talking about how much she’s enjoying the upcoming Renée Watson (skin & bones, May 7), and it reminded me a little bit of Roxane Gay’s Hunger. If you’re a woman in America, chances are, no matter your size, you probably have a somewhat fetishistic relationship with food. We obsess over having too much, too little; we use terms like stealing a bite and guilty pleasure—things that evoke shame, and are meant to keep our bodies in line. For those that fit that (ever narrowing) bill, congratulations! Clothes are designed to fit you, kale growers love you, and so does society. You bask in its glow. The rest risk being in shadow, which is exactly where Roxane Gay wanted to be. In this brutally honest and brave memoir, Gay recounts a childhood sexual assault that led her to purposely gain weight in order to be unseen and therefore “safe.” Gay warns at the beginning of the book that if you’re looking for a triumphant weight loss memoir, this is not it. But Hunger is a triumph nonetheless. It’s a story not easily told, but the telling set her free. And through Gay’s experience we learn one of the lessons she eventually did, that “all of us have to be more considerate of the realities of the bodies of others,” and more accepting of our own. —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
If you watched the screen adaptation of Shirley Chisolm’s remarkable life this weekend, starring Regina King, you may have been wowed by what a straight-talking, no-nonsense trailblazer she was. Even better than hearing her voice in snippets of a screen play is reading her in her own words. Unbought and Unbossed is a riveting memoir, recounting efficiently and with plenty of humor, stories of her childhood in Brooklyn and her career in Washington—notably her bid to become the first Black American President. Most striking is her boundless advocacy for women and minorities that underpinned every action she undertook, even when it was an uphill battle. There’s a reason this inspiring book has not been out of print since it published in 1970; this week we highly recommend you read it for yourself. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
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