The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

In 1592, a group of literary types including Christopher Marlowe and bookseller Bartholomew Harbottle gather at an alehouse discussing, among other things, the unlikely success of an upstart named Will Shakespeare.  In 1983, Peter Byerly finds himself working in the special collections room of Ridgefield University Library.  At his first touch of a first edition quarto printing of Hamlet, he is hooked.  He will find passion for two things there; the lovely Amanda and the world of old books.In 1995, Peter, now a successful book collector is living in the Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye in a cottage he had hoped to share with Amanda.  He is invited into the library of a local land owner to assess some items in that collection and what he finds sends him on a journey across the centuries.

In alternating chapters, murder is committed, forgeries are discovered,  and family feuds are revealed - all in the name of rare books.  This well researched work of fiction will leave the avid bibliophile either questioning or convinced of the existence of a great writer named Shakespeare.  Even if the thought of discovering the "Holy Grail" of antiquarian book collecting isn't on your bucket list, the fast paced mystery will be entertaining enough.

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates

 Subtitle: the solutions we have and the breakthroughs we need.  At some point way too late in the game, this very bright man realized a climate connection to all his efforts on world health and education and began doing the reading and research.  Kudos to the simple clear presentation of all that.  His solution to the problem - more R&D to find a way to remove the carbon we must continue to release if society is to continue to progress.  He does acknowledge that his lifestyle creates a large carbon footprint which he then hopes to balance with large offset donations to these projects.  Offsets always feels like the logic of indulgences in the early church - not really a solution.  I wish it were more hopeful.  

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict

Two young women named Clara Kelley left Ireland in 1862 for America. They never met but both were headed to Pittsburgh. One planned to stay with relatives until she could find a job and send money home to her desperately poor family.  The other already had a job offer as a ladies maid to the mother of Andrew Carnegie. One Clara died aboard the ship and the other assumed the job at the Carnegie household in her place.  Clara had no experience with this kind of wealth but her father had made sure she was well read which gave her enough imagined experience to step into this role.  It was her cleverness, independence and great curiosity that made her so attractive to the young Andrew.  As their friendship grew they learned much from each other which sent both down paths they has not anticipated.  Clara was not a real person but Benedict imagines the kind of interactions that would have caused one of the most ruthless giants of the gilded age, the real Andrew Carnegie, to give away his fortune mostly to promote education.  Maybe, maybe not. Either way it is a new lens for that time.
 

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

 This story of three good friends begins with a suicide. There seems to be no real reason why Noelle, a respected midwife, would take her own life.  The other two friends, Tara and Emerson, are determined to figure out why.  Their only clue, an unfinished note to someone named Anna saying, "...I'm so sorry..."  What did Noelle intend to confess?  What secret was she keeping?  The closer they get to the truth they must consider, "What would you do for a friend?"  An engaging read - something you might want to talk about after reading it at the beach.

Circe by Madeline Miller

Mythology as you never read it before. I knew nothing about Greek mythology so in the beginning I struggled trying to keep all the names straight. I even made a chart.  I eventually just fell into the questions of mortality, power, and belief.  What a fascinating story! Had an opportunity to attend a zoom presentation by the author - brilliant, funny, intense, convinced that the stories are still relevant. I agree.

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.

 This is a story of how a great loss resounds through literary history.  Hamnet was Shakespeare's son.  The father son relationship was frayed.  11 year old Hamnet was left to be the "man of the family" back home while Shakespeare lived the life of an honored playwright in London.  The relationship between Shakespeare and Anne/Agnes alternates between great love,  admiration for her strength and independence, and abandonment.  It was the time of the plague, of constant struggle and great tragedy.  If we are to accept O'Farrell's history, the tragedy of Hamlet was a way for Shakespeare to honor that son and acknowledge the debt he owed his wife.  I struggled with the omniscient narrator at first but once Anne took over as the primary voice, I was thoroughly caught up in the story.  Guess we will never tire of the Shakespeare mystery.

The Fortunes by Peter Ho Davies

This is really four separate stories all related to the Chinese-American experience. The first is told against the background of the gold rush and the building of the transcontinental railroad.  Ah Ling leaves his impoverished life in China for the "Gold Mountain"and becomes a servant to a wealthy man. The second story follows the career of Anna Mae Wong, a movie star who, although a great beauty, struggled to overcome racial barriers to her career.  The racially motivated  beating of Vincent Chin is the core of the third story. This story happened in our life time.  Did we notice?   Finally a young couple goes to China to adopt a baby girl and struggle with what it means to be hyphenated.  All explore the Chinese-American experience in various decades.  All are based are real stories.  There are positive moments but mostly the stories raise many questions about identity and the roots of prejudice.