The Library of Michigan’s annual list of Michigan’s Notable Books contains 20 titles published in the past year written by Michigan authors or that spotlight people, places and history related to Michigan.
Chelsea’s own Laura Kasischke has been honored again this year for her work with Keith Taylor on the anthology “Ghost Writers: Us Haunting Them, Contemporary Michigan Literature,” a collection of stories from Michigan authors ranging from true stories written by nonbelievers to fiction stories set in various Michigan locations.
Bonnie Jo Campbell’s excellent coming of age novel “Once Upon a River” also made the list. The book features a young girl who sets off on her own, Huck Finn-style, to create her own life and find freedom along a rural Michigan waterway.
Kasischke, Taylor and Campbell were all featured in the 3rd Annual Midwest Literary Walk last April – video of their readings can be seen at the event website: www.MidwestLiteraryWalk.wordpress.com.
Here is the complete book list with descriptions:
“Elly Peterson: ‘Mother’ of the Moderates,” by Sara Fitzgerald (University of Michigan Press): Michigan native Fitzgerald writes about a different era of the Republican Party in Michigan. Peterson’s story is a missing chapter in the political history of Michigan, as well as the U.S. This new biography gives full credit to one of the first female political leaders in this country, a person who helped open the doors to broader political participation and power for women.
“Everyday Klansfolk: White Protestant Life and the KKK in 1920s Michigan,” by Craig Fox (Michigan State University Press): Shedding light on this unsettling chapter in Michigan’s history, Fox explores the origins of the organization’s strong influence and popularity throughout the state during the 1920s, and demonstrates that their membership was bolstered by ordinary citizens.
“Fever: Little Willie John, A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and the Birth of Soul,” by Susan Whitall (Titan Books): Detroit’s Little Willie John lived for a fleeting 30 years, but his dynamic and daring sound left an indelible mark on the history of music. His deep blues, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll and swinging ballads inspired a generation of musicians, forming the basis for what we now know as soul music.
“Ghost Writers: Us Haunting Them, Contemporary Michigan Literature,” edited by Keith Taylor and Laura Kasischke (Wayne State University Press): This anthology is a collection of stories from renowned Michigan authors collected and edited by Taylor and Kasischke. The tales range from true stories written by nonbelievers to purely fictional stories that provoke the imagination. The collection is set in a wide range of Michigan locations that bring a sense of history and place to the tales.
“Hank Greenberg: The Hero Who Didn’t Want to Be One,” by Mark Kurlansky (Yale University Press): No baseball player has ever had a swing quite like the Detroit Tigers’ Hank Greenberg. His unique athletic ability made hitting a baseball look smooth and effortless. Though Greenberg was one of the first players to challenge Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record, he may be more remembered for a game he did not play, a 1934 contest with the New York Yankees that fell on Yom Kippur. Almost instantly he became a hero to Jews throughout America. Kurlansky’s concise book describes Greenberg as the quintessential secular Jew, and argues that to celebrate him for his loyalty to religious observance is to ignore the true man.
“Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life,” by Michael Moore (Grand Central Publishing): Oscar-winning filmmaker, best-selling author and vocal critic of the right, Moore tells his story of growing up outside of Flint. In a series of far-ranging vignettes Moore highlights stories from his early life that helped to shape one of today’s most controversial public figures. A deeply personal and honest account.
“In Stitches: A Memoir,” by Anthony Youn, MD (Gallery Books): Youn’s memoir describes his transformation from a geeky outcast in Greenville to celebrated plastic surgery expert on popular talk shows like “Good Morning America,” “The Rachael Ray Show” and MSNBC. With humor and heartfelt honesty, Youn describes how his own surgery to correct a protruding jaw led him to his calling — and the realization that changing your appearance can profoundly change your life.
“Jacobson’s, I Miss It So!: The Story of a Michigan Fashion Institution,” by Bruce Allen Kopytek (History Press): This is the story of Michigan’s Macy’s, once the center of upscale clothing and lunch for ladies. Kopytek has found stories that date from its beginnings in Reed City in 1869 until the sad bankruptcy and closing. Retail enthusiasts, history buffs and fashion devotees will enjoy the history and the memories.
“Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art,” by J.H. Shapiro and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Charlesbridge): This picture book tells the story of the Heidelberg Project and its creator, Tyree Guyton, who loved his childhood home where his grandpa Sam taught him to “paint the world.” Guyton wanted to wake people up through his art and make them see Detroit’s crumbling communities in a new light.
“Michigan and the Civil War: A Great and Bloody Sacrifice,” by Jack Dempsey (the History Press): Offering a fresh and readable glimpse into Michigan’s role in the preservation of the Union, Dempsey leads us through the leading characters, battles and events during the Civil War, including Gov. Austin Blair, the Battle of Gettysburg and the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops.
“Misery Bay,” by Steve Hamilton (Minotaur Books): In this eighth novel featuring Alex McKnight, Hamilton, the 2006 Michigan Author Award winner, leads us on a suspenseful adventure in the Upper Peninsula. McKnight teams up with former adversary Chief Roy Maven to investigate a string of mysterious suicides in a remote stretch of the UP known as Misery Bay.
“Miss Martin Is a Martian,” by Colleen Murray Fisher and illustrated by Jared Chapman (Mackinac Island Press): In this children’s book, second-grader Melvin Eugene Baxter knows his new teacher is from Mars. Armed with a hockey stick and with his head protected by a pot, he is determined not to let Miss Martin the Martian take over the planet or make his head explode with too much information.
“Motor City Shakedown,” by D.E. Johnson (Minotaur Books): Johnson’s follow-up to “The Detroit Electric Scheme” is a thrilling ride set in 1911 Detroit. Will Anderson looks to find justice for the death of his best friend while battling the Detroit criminal underworld, a corrupt police department and his own personal demons.
“A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis,” by Matt De La Pena and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Dial Books for Young Readers): On the eve of World War II, boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a historic bout that was much more significant than determining who would be the next heavyweight champion of the world. Most Americans viewed the fight as a symbol of the nation’s battle against Hitler’s Germany and his “master race.” This beautifully illustrated and powerful picture book focuses on the life of Detroit’s Louis and his role in helping white and African-American communities set aside prejudice and come together to celebrate our nation’s ideals.
“Once Upon a Car: The Fall and Resurrection of America’s Big Three Automakers — GM, Ford, and Chrysler,” by Bill Vlasic (William Morrow): A fascinating story of the automakers’ fight for survival in Detroit. In a tale that reads like a corporate thriller, Vlasic takes readers into the executive offices, assembly plants and union halls to introduce a cast of memorable characters, including the executives who struggled to save their companies but in the end had to seek a controversial, last-gasp rescue from the U.S. government.
“Once Upon a River,” by Bonnie Jo Campbell (Norton): Campbell creates an unforgettable heroine to rival Huck Finn in 16-year-old Margo Crane. After the violent death of her father, Margo takes to the Stark River in her boat, with only a few supplies and a biography of Annie Oakley, in search of her vanished mother. Her river odyssey through rural Michigan becomes a defining journey, one that leads her beyond self-preservation and to the decision of what price she is willing to pay for her choices.
“Songs of Unreason,” by Jim Harrison (Copper Canyon Press): Harrison’s latest collection of poetry proclaims his reverence for rivers, trees, dogs and women. Each poem comes to life on the page with the richness and clarity of Harrison’s voice. Michigan people and places play a central role in many of the poems.
“South of Superior,” by Ellen Airgood (Riverhead Books): Airgood’s first novel celebrates taking joy in the little things in life. Chicago transplant Madeline Stone moves to the fictional town of Mac Allaster on the southern shore of Lake Superior in hopes of finding an escape from her old life. Events and new friends quickly pull her into the world of the beautiful, gritty and magic town.
“Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike: From Sand Trails to U.S.-31,” by M. Christine Byron and Thomas R. Wilson (Arbutus Press): Utilizing hundreds of historic postcards and photographs, Byron and Wilson detail the history of the road that has become U.S.-31, and the Lake Michigan communities it connects from Michigan City, Ind., to Mackinaw City.
“Wire to Wire,” by Scott Sparling (Tin House Books): Sparling’s debut is a crime novel with a full cast of colorful characters including the brain-damaged, freight-car-hopping lead character. Between Arizona and Michigan, Sparling nails the sense of place in his writing while taking his reader on an uncommon journey.
–Sara
