Just like we wish we could watch a show or listen to a song again for the first time, there are books I wish I could read again for the first time. Keep scrolling to relive memory lane with me!
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital: I have to give credit where it’s due – Sheri Fink’s book got me hooked on my now-favorite genre of books. I would love to read it again and experience the feeling all over again of realizing I really really really enjoy these types of books.
In Cold Blood: Having never heard anything of the Clutter murders prior to reading this book, the experience of reading it was intense, gripping, and suspenseful from beginning to end. Truman Capote, with his impartial writing style, relayed facts and details in such a way as to give a complete character illustration of everyone involved: from each of the Clutters, to the investigators, lawyers, and even the murderers themselves. Capote brilliantly combined the elements of a fictional murder novel with factual journalism and psychological analysis to show the moral dilemmas surrounding the act of murder.
The Great Gatsby: I’ll admit that it’s been almost 10 years since I read this book (I think I was a junior in high school). I loved the book and the movie equally. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters are well-drawn and the plot is engaging and fast-paced. Fitzgerald can set a scene so perfectly, flawlessly. He paints a world of magic and introduces one of the greatest characters of all time, Jay Gatsby.
Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America: A fantastic book that I’ve raved about before. Check out this blog post for why it was one of my favorite books I read in 2021.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City: Another great book that I loved. Oddly enough, I almost felt sad when I finished reading it – it’s that good. It’s a book that everyone should read.
Detroit: An American Autopsy: Charlie LeDuff is unflinching in his portrayal of two stories: his own and that of his hometown, Detroit. Leduff’s book is a combination of gritty reportage and personal memories with dark humor sprinkled in that tells his attempt to understand what has happened to his city. He writes about the horrors faced everyday by the Detroit Fire Department, the mismanagement of city funds, the scandal surrounding Kwame Kilpatrick, the blatant theft committed by city officials, and more.
All American Murderer: I watched the Netflix special and learned all about Aaron Hernandez, so naturally when I discovered that there was a book about him written by James Patterson I had to read it. This book put everything in order – his life from childhood to death. It was gripping, fascinating, and hard to put down. It was like watching a train wreck and not being able to look away. It makes you think about the victims and what their families lost.
On a separate yet somewhat related topic, I went on a quick trip to Traverse City this past weekend with my fiancé and of course I had to visit some bookstores. I’m a sucker for a good bookstore and a new book!
Until next time,
Thoughts From A Lefty 