Neshama’s Choices for September 23

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From Here by Luma Mufleh

Luma, born into a prestigious clan, is slated to be married which is expected of girls in Jordan, but she’s gay. At first, she tries to resist this “shameful” aspect of herself and act straight, but it makes her sick, literally and figuratively. At college in America, she realizes she can’t go back home which means severing all ties with her relatives. Tough times follow but she eventually manages to create her own family and years later can finally contact those back in Jordan who can now get acquainted with her wife and children. Luma currently works with refugee families. This memoir, though cataloged as a teen, has a strong message for everyone who cares about human rights.

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth by Isabel Greenberg

I‘d never heard of this large graphic novel which fell into my hands while I was checking in books at the Fairfax Library (ahh, serendipity) and I rapidly fell under its spell. It starts with the tale of a man and a woman, one from the South Pole and the other from the Nord, who fall in love but discover they literally can’t get close to each other. We find out why, epic fashion, which lays out the origin of the conflict between the lands: families, jealousy, resentments—the stuff of life. Other familiar epics are woven in, like the Great Flood and the Odyssey. Exquisite drawings, powerful world-building, playful language that sneaks in some contemporary phrases—a very special book.

Bear by Julia Phillips

The San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest are beautiful, but sisters Elena and Sam feel trapped. Their mother has cancer, caused by years of working in a nail salon. They have dreams of escaping after she dies, using money from the sale of their house. Until that happens, they’re stuck in menial jobs. No wonder Elena finds the proximity of a huge but apparently peaceful bear so intriguing. She looks forward to crossing paths with it and they even develop a relationship of sorts. This is potentially dangerous as well as illegal, but she’s in thrall and can’t be dissuaded. Sam is worried and resentful. She tries to enlist authorities with ultimately dire consequences—no surprise. There are elements of fairytale here as well as reflections on the have’s vs the have-nots. Haunting.

Don't Let the Devil Ride by Ace Atkins

In Memphis, Addison is relatively pleased with her settled life. Dean’s been a pretty good husband though he’s gone a lot. Their house is elegant, and their kids are fine. But when Dean, in London on business, doesn’t check in with her for a week, she gets extremely anxious. Daddy recommends his old friend Porter, a Black P. I. Sure enough, Porter’s digging turns up very disturbing evidence. Dean’s prosperous construction business doesn’t exist and even his name is suspect. We also meet Gaultier, a suave Frenchman with sinister cohorts, and Joanna who once appeared in a movie with Elvis and now makes her living at events where his fans want inside dope. International intrigue, a wild cast of characters, and an atmospheric setting make for an entertaining read.