June 2021 Reads

While certainly not my most productive month in terms of reading, June is among the most diverse months. Authors read in June are Hispanic, Asian, Native America, African American, and Caucasian. This outcome is entirely accidental, but reflects a broader goal to pay careful attention to stories that do not reflect my own background and life experience. I encourage everyone to do the same. In my experience, it has made reading so much more fun and engaging. Onward to the list!

The Devil’s Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea

In May 2001, a group of 26 men attempted to cross the Mexican border into Arizona. Only 12 survived to tell of the calamitous journey. This engaging novel focuses on the stories of the people attempting to cross into the United States to support their families in beautiful, but destitute, Veracruz, Mexico. In the process of telling the story, many lessons are learned about the relationship between the United States and Mexico. Surprisingly, there is a lot of common ground between the two countries. Indeed, it seems to be the criminal element exploiting the situation for their own gains and these immigrants fall in the crossfire.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

Cathy Park Hong is the daughter of Korean immigrants and Minor Feelings is a reflection on the shame, suspicion, and melancholy that has followed her throughout her life, dubbing them “Minor Feelings.” The book is a deeply personal account about how Asian are often considered model immigrants and almost white, and how these stereotypes and ideas are, failing all else, hurtful and marginalizing. I felt the book started strong, by around the middle it started sounding repetitive. Despite this, I was grateful to read about how she navigated American culture, including earning a four-year degree at a small liberal arts college in Ohio, not all that different from the small liberal arts college I studied at in Pennsylvania.

The Night Watchman by Louis Erdrich

In the 1950s, a senator from Utah attempted to stop recognition of and terminate Native American tribes in an attempt to seize land allocated to Native Americans and accelerate the dilution and destruction of their heritage. This is a fictionalized account of the author’s grandfather’s experience as a Night Watchman and a tribal elder of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians attempting to organize and lobby the government for their right to exist. Other characters on and off of the reservation add more color and detail to the story, each helping to explain some facet of the tragedies Native Americans faced during this time, including high mortality rates from tuberculosis, residential schools, exploitation of young Native women, and pressures from mainstream society.

A Promised Land by President Barack Obama

Individuals on the Left and Right meticulously criticize President Obama’s time in office; A Promised Land clears the air about the details of Obama’s first term. The book starts at the very beginning, following a young Barack to all corners of the world and ultimately to his arrival at the White House. The back-story is fascinating and truly an American tale. Moving into the presidency, Obama digs deeply into the events and issues that punctuated the term, explaining the rationale behind controversial decisions and, at times, his own disappointment in failing to achieve all of his objectives. This is a long read, but refreshing and fascinating.

Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West

The White House is a living, breathing historical monument. The Chief Usher at the White House keeps the place humming by ensuring the President and First Lady are able to live, eat, and entertain as they see fit. J.B. West worked first in the Chief Usher’s Office, and later as the Chief Usher, in the White House for 28 years, spanning six presidents and their families. This book is a loving tribute to each of the administrations, especially the First Ladies, who are each charming in their own unique ways.

Pick of the Month: June 2021

While each of the books read in June are excellent, the book of the month is certainly A Promised Land. I harbored a lot of frustration and, sometimes, even disappointment in President Obama as he led the United States throughout his two terms in office. Reading A Promised Land helped me reconcile those feelings by showing me, often in great detail, the thought process and bounds of the policymaking processes impacting the moves of the Executive Office. Double-majoring in Economics and Political Science as an undergraduate, I feel like I have a good handle on how policymaking works, but the concrete examples are a helpful tool. Furthermore, President Obama is a very engaging author.