What We Are Reading
When The Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990’s by John Ganz
"Looking for a book that was out of my comfort zone, I chose this, a political history of the early 1990s. It wasn’t a completely random choice—it was on several best books of the year lists and had overwhelmingly excellent reviews. According to this book the origins of the current divisive political environment can be found in the years immediately following the departure of Ronald Reagan from office. Everything that we today call unprecedented actually has plenty of precedence, says Ganz. In fact, change some of the names in this book and you would think you were reading news reports and policy speeches from 2024. (Some of the names don’t even need changing.) Why would you want to read that, you wonder? Well, knowing history helps you understand the present, and Ganz does an outstanding job assembling an insightful and fascinating narrative of a very, very eventful time. He offers a clear and balanced explanation as to why grievances spilled over into rage, and how the political messages of the time were tailored to feed it. This is an excellent choice for those wanting to know more about how the country arrived at this particular moment. It would also be a great choice for those who enjoy political or economic books, history, or even general nonfiction."
What's Hot This Month
It’s nearly February, so romance is in the air! Check out some of our favorite novels.
Featured Title
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
Victoria Christopher Murray has co-written several biographical novels with Marie Benedict to great success. Now she steps out on her own to write a fictional account of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, Jessie Redmon Fauset. As Literary Editor of The Crisis, founded by W.E.B. DuBois, she published the early works of the likes of Langston Hughes, Nella Larsen and Countee Cullen. But behind the scenes there was tension over a secret love affair with DuBois, her professional ambitions, and disagreements over the role of the arts in the world at large. It’s a thrilling story of an exciting time in American history that finally gives this trailblazing woman her due. Fans of historical fiction definitely won’t want to miss this.
What's New This Month
The new year brings long awaited new books from familiar authors such as
Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey, which is set in Ivey’s beloved Alaskan wilderness and inspired by
Beauty & the Beast. It also brings exciting debuts like
Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin, about a young neurodivergent girl’s obsession with a mysterious manuscript.
In nonfiction, Geraldine Brooks returns with a memoir,
Memorial Days, describing her grief after the sudden loss of her husband in 2019. And National Book Award winner, Imani Perry, returns with
Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People. It is a meditation on the color blue and its fascinating role in Black history and culture.
For More Reading Suggestions:
- The Most Anticipated Books of 2025 from LitHub
- The February List from IndieNext
- The Ultimate Best Books of 2024 List from LitHub
- The January Earphones Award Winners from Audiofile