The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead

We both liked this book, we were grateful that the horrors these boys lived through (reform school) was told without too much gory detail. But the awfulness of their experience, of the rampant racism and resulting violence is there. 

Elwood, a boy with a bright future. 

Boys he meets at Nickel (school) included Mr Harper (one of the staff who was more lenient sometimes) and Turner. 

The author uses the metaphor of a marathon. How black bodies are "hobbled and handicapped" before the race begins -- hobbled by racism. 

A quote: "The boys had been trained to wait until spoken to before talking to a white man. Learned this is their earliest days, in school, on the streets and roads of their dusty towns. Had it reinforced at Nickel: You are a colored boy in a white man's world." 

The author, Colson Whitehead, says he heard about Arthur Dozier School for Boys (Marianna, Fl) thru extensive reporting in 2014. So yes, this horrible history happened. And it wasn't that long ago. There are people today whose brothers or uncles disappeared beyond the gates of that school. Or other schools like it. 

Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood

A very long book at 460 pages. I read this one on my own whilst L catches up with me, I am such a fast reader! 

Atwood took a real-life person - Grace Marks - from the 1840s-70s, and fictionalized the story. We want it tied up with a "fiction" bow, but Atwood's goal is not to rewrite history. Instead, we get a very real view of women's lives in the 19th century. A time when their options were few. I appreciated the historical context of this story, and the characters are engaging, mostly.  There were times when I wished the book was closer to conclusion.

Atwood is great with the written word, and she really delves into how women were thought to be crazy. I guess I'm glad I read it, though I'd be hard pressed to urge anyone I know to read it.

Characters, Grace Marks, her friend Mary Whitney. James McDermott was the hired hand. Dr. Simon Jordan interviews her years later (single guy, his mother harps on him to marry, he lives at a boarding house where the maid Dora is crude, rude). Jeremiah the Peddler. Jamie Walsh, teen who plays the flute. And of course the 2 victims, Mr. Kinnear and Nancy.

3.5 out of 5 stars. Good view of women's history. A very character-driven book (versus plot-driven). A bit too long for my taste, but I never actually felt like skimming or quitting the book. It helped that I had the book both on audio and in-print.