Weekend picks for book lovers, including America Ferrera's star-studded essay collection
What should you read this weekend? Paste BN’s picks for book lovers include "American Like Me," an essay collection with star contributors edited by America Ferrera, and new mysteries from Kate Atkinson and George Pelecanos.
“American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures” by America Ferrera; Gallery, 309 pp.; nonfiction
America Ferrera’s latest project is no movie or TV series but a star-studded essay collection.
“American Like Me” is filled with dozens of first-person stories by writers, actors and athletes. Contributors include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, Roxane Gay, Padma Lakshmi, Kumail Nanjiani, Michelle Kwan, Jeremy Lin and Ferrera herself.
In the introduction, Ferrera, star of NBC’s “Superstore,” writes about her first name and how she used to resent the “one smart-ass in class” who would turn to face her when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance – “…you know, ’cause my name is America,” she writes.
But the collection makes it clear that being American for people of color isn’t just defined by ugly moments.
“Hamilton” writer and star Miranda’s brief piece describes how on Three Kings’ Day, “the only Latino kids in our grade … are basically on par with Jesus.” His story tenderly looks at the “culture we ordinarily keep at home” as something beautiful and empowering.
“Insecure” star Issa Rae, who grew up in Los Angeles, writes a thoughtful, retrospective piece about childhood summers spent in Senegal, where “awkwardness got lost in translation.” She remembers the experience fondly, while keenly aware of the gender roles at work there and the pop culture “currency” she held by virtue of being from LA.
Paste BN says ★★★ out of four. “Filled with gems. … From some of the biggest stars in art and entertainment come funny, touching and complicated reminders that the word ‘American’ is wonderfully and endlessly undefinable.”
“Transcription” by Kate Atkinson; Little, Brown, 335 pp.; fiction
Having been struck by a car in 1981, Juliet Armstrong, lying in the road, flashes back to her days as a spy during World War II, which she spent involved in the complex game of flushing out England’s homegrown enemies.
Paste BN says ★★★. “A joy to read.”
“The Man Who Came Uptown” by George Pelecanos; Mulholland, 265 pp.; fiction
This Washington, D.C.-set tale revolves around an ex-con named Michael and a restless private investigator named Orzanian, whom Michael owes, unfortunately, a favor.
Paste BN says ★★★. “Pelecanos is a great storyteller … a shrewd, lean, martini-smooth suspense novel.”
“Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car” by Lawrence D. Burns; Ecco, 368 pp.; nonfiction
Burn, a former tech executive at General Motors and then consultant with the Google driverless car company (now called Waymo), argues that self-driving cars “will transform the way we live, the way we get around and the way we do business.”
Paste BN says ★★★. “The drama, ambition and genius characterizing the race to develop self-driving cars zoom into sharper focus in ‘Autonomy.’”
“In Pieces” by Sally Field; Grand Central, 416 pp.; nonfiction
The actress writes a memoir, mostly about her childhood and early career (including her relationship with Burt Reynolds), and takes on difficult topics including the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather.
Paste BN says ★★★. “Brutally honest, shockingly frank … a complex cri de coeur.”
Contributing reviewers: Grace Z. Li, Charles Finch, Nathan Bomey, Jocelyn McClurg
