The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding by Joseph J. Ellis (Knopf). Reviewed by David O. Stewart. “Given the course of public discussion in recent years, I wondered if the book would mark a concession to contemporary denunciations of Revolution Era leaders who piously proclaimed that ‘all men are created equal,’ yet allowed the hideous mistreatment of the people of color who shared North America with them. Au contraire, mon ami.”

Under the Full and Crescent Moon by Aamir Hussain (Dundurn Press). Reviewed by Mike Maggio. “Unfortunately, writing an entire novel in order to make a point often leads to failure. And for all its pleasant descriptions of Medina’tul-Agham, Under the Full and Crescent Moon fails on many levels. The tale lacks tension, at least for the first half of the book, and when conflict does arise, it’s quickly dealt with or remains unresolved, such as in a plot thread about which of Khadija’s suitors will win out. The result is a reliance on exposition, the absence of a traditional story arc, and a rushed resolution.”

Degas at the Gas Station: Essays by Thomas Beller (Duke University Press). Reviewed by Yelizaveta P. Renfro. “Overall, Beller’s writing is smart, witty, and contemplative, offering observations that will resonate far beyond his particular experiences to give readers a fresh perspective on their own lives. At the end of ‘That Time My Band Opened for Blur,’ he writes, ‘You open a drawer to the past for the purpose of moving some old relics around as though curating an exhibit, and then something with life still in it jumps up and bites you.’ This is an apt description of his collection as a whole: full of life and bite.”

Mothers: A Novel by Brenda Lozano; translated by Heather Cleary (Catapult). Reviewed by Haley Huchler. “More than just an examination of class, Mothers also grapples with the challenges of living in a society where motherhood is compulsory and infertility brings shame. Fortunately, Lozano packs these heavy topics into a slim, fast-paced novel without a sentence wasted. Despite the grief and fear underpinning the story, Mothers is light on its feet, leavened by graceful prose and dry humor, and capped off with a revelatory, unforgettable ending you won’t see coming.”

The Blood in Winter: England on the Brink of Civil War, 1642 by Jonathan Healey (Knopf). Reviewed by Stephen Case. “The author’s picture of the noblewoman is but one of his many arresting portraits of participants in the intrigue. Brilliantly written, the book recounts numerous sub-dramas in the unfolding road to bloody war. This is not to mention Healey’s many engaging descriptions of London itself and its rowdy crowds of protesters, both royalist and rebel. This reviewer, fascinated by the engrossing detail of Healey’s accounts, wished he had sources describing the Washington, DC, events of Jan. 6, 2021, that were even half as good.”

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