Barbara Claypole White

I’m a huge fan of Emily Henry’s writing. Here’s one sentence I pulled at random from HAPPY PLACE: “I drain my soda like it’s my last shot of moonshine before an 1800s doctor pries a bullet from my arm.” Fab! As with her previous novels, HAPPY PLACE is a love story with heart and humor…

I was fortunate enough to hear Lee Smith, queen of southern fiction, read from her latest novel at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. The moment she introduced us to Herb and Dee Dee, the protagonists of SILVER ALERT, I was smitten. I’m drawn to quirky, broken, spunky characters, and these are two of the best.…

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE is a funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking memoir about therapy and embracing change. It’s also the gripping story of four traumatized people who find peace with the help of their psychotherapist, Lori Gottlieb. When Lori’s fiancée dumps her because his children have flown the coop and he no longer wants to…

A stunning debut with all the feels, THE MINUSCULE MANSION OF MYRA MALONE binds together three timelines and two lonely souls—Myra and Alex. Myra is in Phoenix; Alex is in Virginia. They’ve never met. Alex lives in an old mansion that has many names, including the Witch’s House. Myra is a recluse who inherited a…

Since Prince Harry’s 2017 interview with Bryony Gordon, I’ve been hoping he would talk more about his mental health struggles. He does in SPARE. When a celebrity is open about battles with anxiety and depression, it smashes apart stigma and shame and makes a world of difference to families like mine. It also takes a…

I decided to ‘read’ SURRENDER as an audiobook, and I’m thrilled I did. Bono gives an incredible performance, showcasing an unexpected—and delightful—talent as a mimic. The overall presentation is a unique listening experience with full sound effects, new versions of iconic songs, and Bono singing unaccompanied. In my mind, the audiobook is the memoir version…

If you’ve read the listening guides on my website,  you know that I often write to the music of The Airborne Toxic Event. When I discovered their frontman had written a memoir, I preordered a copy. Then my mother died, I lost my childhood home, COVID hit, and HOLLYWOOD PARK disappeared into the black hole…

One of my favorite audiobooks of 2022 is LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, narrated by Miranda Raison, Pandora Sykes, and the author. Set in the early sixties, the story introduces Elizabeth Zott—a brilliant, stubborn chemist determined to succeed in a man’s world. Unfortunately every male colleague she encounters has other plans, except for one: Nobel Prize nominee…

I finished THE DISPLACEMENTS over a month ago, and I’m still processing this compelling novel about climate change, substance abuse, and race that also has a unique structure. Within pages, the reader is pulled into the growing monster that is Luna, the world’s first category 6 hurricane. From subsequent interviews with survivors, dispersed throughout the…

People, people, you need to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb: a unique debut and a compelling mystery. Ray McMillian is a poor Black kid growing up in rural Carolina with a gift no one but his beloved Grandma Nora appreciates or supports: he’s a talented and passionate violinist. He’s also self-taught. A quiet…