Growing up, Meredith’s grandparents — both Bay Area English teachers — would begin visits and phone calls with the question, “What are you reading?”
So reading all the time is just what one does…right?
Since finishing her B.A. in Comparative Literature, Meredith has enjoyed reading literature in translation (especially Russian literature), classics, books on anti-racism, and plays. Outside of Kepler’s, Meredith is a contemporary dance and theater choreographer. Her favorite musical is “The Producers.”
I'm a dog mom, an Anglophile, and a sucker for coming-of-age stories, so MacDougall's memoir was an absolute pleasure to read. Lighthearted, funny, and moving, this book demonstrates how embarking on unconventional routes (pun intended) can lead to the best destinations. --Meredith
Inside Cat may be confined indoors, but, through windows of every shape and size, he can learn everything he needs to know about the world...or can he? This book encourages readers and cats of all ages to pay closer attention to the spaces right in front of them. --Meredith
This spellbinding short story collection is laugh-out-loud funny, candid, and horrifying. The first three stories are interconnected, following a cast of Toronto writers and poets, and the rest are standalone. I also recommend listening to A.M. Homes reading the title story on "The New Yorker: Fiction" podcast. --Meredith
This book is essential for anyone pursuing antiracism, particularly parents and educators. Tatum not only walks readers through the dynamics of racial inequities in the United States, but she also dives into child and adolescent development and the psychology of racism. --Meredith
This multi-generational saga about good and evil follows two families: the Trasks and the Hamiltons (the Hamiltons are based on Steinbeck's own family). Filled with allusions to the Book of Genesis, this story kept me company during a long stay abroad. I hope you will also find power and comfort in Steinbeck's words. --Meredith
I learned about "Fun Home" when it was being adapted into a Broadway musical, and I finished the book in a day. It's a beautiful, deeply insightful memoir that's augmented by Bechdel's drawings. My recommendation is to read the graphic novel and then listen to the soundtrack. --Meredith
Set in a Hasidic Jewish community in post-WWII Brooklyn, this novel portrays the pain of navigating two conflicting identities: in this case, those of artist and Orthodox Jew. It is a tragic and beautiful story. If you love “coming of age” novels, this one is a must read. --Meredith
If you have any curiosity about how a writer hones their craft, read this book. It's both a memoir and a master class, and it will change the way you think about language and writing. --Meredith