Reading roundup: New books from Charlotte writers
November 1, 2024
New and noteworthy books from Queen City authors
by J.J. Holshouser
Greg Jarrell, Our Trespasses
Charlotte minister and social justice advocate Greg Jarrell has written a groundbreaking book, Our Trespasses, that examines how urban renewal in the 1960s led to the destruction of Charlotte’s vibrant — and predominantly Black — Brooklyn neighborhood. He describes the movement, which displaced more than 1,000 families, as a “haunted” history, and one that must be reckoned with.
In the book, subtitled “White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods,” Jarrell traces the story of Abram and Annie North, both born enslaved, who purchased a home on East 2nd Street in Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood following the Civil War. Yet in 1963, the home was razed, and today, the site of the Norths’ home stands tucked beneath a corner of First Baptist Church. Through extensive research and dozens of interviews, Jarrell uncovers the story of how First Baptist Church came to acquire its current location and explores how issues of race, religion, geography and policy have shaped Charlotte.
Jarrell spent six years working on Our Trespasses. In addition to telling the history of the Brooklyn neighborhood, he examines the responsibilities people of today — especially white Christians — bear toward those who were harmed by urban renewal efforts. “Learning history,” he writes, “cannot be only about empathy for those harmed. The drive for awareness is merely amusement unless we know ourselves on the bulldozer, in the council chambers, casting the vote we wish we hadn’t cast, exploiting tenants, drawing redlining maps, singing our conquest songs and reading our conquest stories… And, knowing ourselves and our institutions, to act. To write new songs… to give back the ill-gotten gain… to confront the legacies within us that made those things part of our faith, part of our witness in the world.”
Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins, By the Time You Read This
Longtime Charlottean Cheslie Kryst seemed to have it all. She was an accomplished attorney and pageant queen who became a correspondent on the entertainment news show Extra. But behind the scenes, Kryst battled depression, and in January 2022, she died by suicide at the age of 30. By the Time You Read This is the manuscript Kryst was about to publish before her tragic death. In it, she describes the highs of her professional life — passing the bar exam, winning the Miss USA pageant — as well as the heartbreak, betrayal and persistent depression she dealt with in her personal life. In the second half of the book, Kryst’s mother, April Simpkins, picks up the story, sharing what she experienced in the aftermath of her daughter’s suicide. Simpkins published the book to share insight into how depression and mental illness can impact families. Proceeds will benefit the Cheslie C. Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health.
Kathy Reichs, Fire and Bones
In Fire and Bones, bestselling author and part-time Charlotte resident Kathy Reichs brings back forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan in a thriller set in Washington, D.C. When Tempe is summoned to the nation’s capital to analyze the victims of a deadly fire, she begins to uncover the mysterious history of the building where the fire took place. As she digs deeper, a second deadly arson attack claims another victim, and Tempe finds herself in the crosshairs of danger. Fire and Bones is the 23rd book in Reichs’ series, which is based on her experience as an international expert in forensic anthropology.
Natalie Papier, Start with the Art
In Start with the Art, Charlotte designer Natalie Papier (Home Ec.) teams with writer Stephanie Sisco to show how favorite pieces of art can serve as inspiration for decorating. Papier, star of the Magnolia Network television series Artfully Designed, explains that art is everywhere, whether it’s an heirloom object, a painting, a fun collection or a textile. Her book features visual guides and practical advice to help readers build from their inspiration to incorporate textures, colors and furnishings that make spaces feel uniquely their own.
Maya Myers, Not Perfect
Charlotte author Maya Myers released a new children’s book in April featuring the return of her beloved character Dot. In Not Perfect, Dot feels like her efforts to achieve keep falling flat. Her cupcakes look funny, her soccer kicks miss the goal, and she never measures up to the accomplishments of her friends and family. It takes a tricky school assignment to help Dot learn important lessons about persistence and embracing imperfections. Not Perfect, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, is designed for children ages 4 to 8 and was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Diane Reid Lyon, Caring for Yourself, Caring for Your Neurodivergent Child
Mental-health counselor Diane Reid Lyon has worked with neurodivergent children and their families for more than 30 years. The term “neurodivergent” is used to describe individuals whose brains process, learn or behave differently from what is considered typical and includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Lyon, who has a private practice in Matthews, recently published Caring for Yourself, Caring for your Neurodivergent Child. In her book, she provides practical advice on diagnosis and school management, tips to help parents recognize and cope with their own emotions as they come to terms with their child’s diagnosis, and ways to incorporate self-care to avoid burnout.
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