Clearing the Air by Tim Smedley

Being Friday, there were more climate protests today and new books related to environmental issues continue to appear. One is CLEARING THE AIR by Tim Smedley which was shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize. In the prologue, Smedley notes his initial surprise when he started to learn more about “the most immediate environmental issue of all: the air we breathe.” He certainly does cite disturbing statistics: “In late 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that outdoor air pollution caused over 3 million deaths worldwide; by 2018, the WHO revised this up to 4.2 million.” Smedley’s work tends to be rather UK-centric, although he adds graphic examples from around the world, like describing half-marathoners running in Delhi, India while wearing face masks or Beijing, China citizens complaining of persistent coughs. Smedley argues that air pollution is gradual, persistent and largely invisible so humans are less inclined to take drastic action. Hoping this will change, he notes that “modern science is starting to reveal what our eyes cannot see: an anonymous killer born from the cars in our driveway and the industrial processes used to make the products in our cupboards."  Offering chapters split between Origins (e.g., The Dash for Diesel) and the Fightback (e.g., Electric Dreams), Smedley concludes with an epilogue containing a Clean Air Blueprint for cities and for his individual readers. CLEARING THE AIR includes an index and provides details for a limited set of references.

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Another selection on the September LibraryReads list is THE WATER DANCER by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  Our students read and discuss Coates’ award-winning Between the World and Me, but this is something very different, involving magical lights and superpowers. I was expecting more traditional historical fiction due to its Southern plantation setting and focus on the institution of slavery. Although Coates does use aspects of the historical period to explore the tension between duty to self (should one escape and make a better life) and duty to family, the novel also contains elements of fantasy and seems somewhat more akin to Colson Whitehead’s writing (our students also read The Intuitionist, for example). Wall Street Journal reviewer Sam Sacks says, "there's a lot of talk in this novel, but not enough tale." Coates extensively researched the Underground Railroad and speaks in the video below with PBS NewsHour’s Jeffrey Brown about the differences between history and myth:

Coates has an extensive tour planned; specifically in Chicago, he will be speaking at a FAN event to be held at Evanston High School on Friday, October 4 beginning at 7:00 pm. More info about Ta-Nehisi Coates and his new book is available from CBS this morning, NPR’s Fresh Air, and this New York Times review.  THE WATER DANCER received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett (Bel Canto) is the newest novel from this award winning author and advocate for books and reading. Spanning much of the second half of the twentieth century, this story centers around a dysfunctional family and is set primarily in Philadelphia and New York City environs.  Siblings Maeve and Danny depend on each other, even as young children after their mother leaves and their aloof father remarries. His second wife arranges to inherit almost everything including the family home. This changes the course of Danny’s life as he eventually studies to be a doctor and Maeve does her best to support him.  The character development is strong and while that may contribute to a slower pace, readers will be drawn in by a lingering sense of menace – will these two manage to overcome circumstances and realize their dreams?  

THE DUTCH HOUSE is a LibraryReads selection recommended for “fans of Anne Tyler and Anna Quindlen.” I concur with that comment -- this title is my personal favorite from the September list.  Definitely worth considering for book groups, THE DUTCH HOUSE received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.