By Karen and Erica

We have not read quite as many books as we expected to read during this pandemic. But we have read some good ones. Here are ten:

• The Code Breaker, by Walter Isaacson. The story of Nobel prizewinner Jennifer Doudna and the utterly fascinating invention of CRISPR. But also full of vignettes about corporate intrigue and sexism and romance and fun of all sorts.

• The Accomplice, by Joseph Kanon. We read all of his books, though this one seems to be more an outline for an action movie. Still, read it for the intensely atmospheric descriptions of Buenos Aires and the Recoleta Cemetery. You will be transported.

• 2034, by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis. A scary, and scarily authentic, story about how a nuclear war could start even if nobody wants it to.

• The Doctors Blackwell, by Janice P. Nimura. The tale of two sisters who became doctors in the nineteenth century and founded the first hospital, in New York City, by and for women. Feminists? Yes and no. Interested in bodily functions? One found them “disgusting.” A surprising tale of surprising women.

• A Promised Land, by Barack Obama. Great writing, astonishing disclosures, intelligent insight. Long, but wonderful.

• The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A dreamy, mystical novel of slavery and Harriet Tubman.

• Born A Crime, by Trevor Noah. Funny and smart. Multicultural and complex. What an origin story.

• The Boy In The Field, by Margot Livesay. A mystery, a coming of age story, a dream. Beautifully written.

• Billion Dollar Whale, by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope. Who doesn’t enjoy reading how a really big financial fraud was pulled off?

• The Overstory, by Richard Powers. We have come slowly to the idea that plants and trees communicate. But it seems they do. This novel changed our perceptions.