Summer Book Bingo 2022 deadline is looming! As Sept. 6 draws near, here are some suggestions for folks trying to fill their Health or healthcare workers square – two novels that imagine the lives of nurses, plus nonfiction about building healthcare infrastructure, reflections on medical advancements, and two books for common health concerns.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Over three days in Dublin, Ireland during the 1918 flu epidemic, nurse Julia Power works the quarantined maternity ward in an understaffed city hospital where pregnant women with influenza prepare to give birth. (historical fiction)
Lazaretto by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
In Civil War-era Philadelphia, Sylvia works as a nurse-in-training to a local midwife at Lazaretto Hospital, which is an anchor to an African American community. On the night of President Lincoln’s assassination, Sylvia helps deliver the baby of a Black maid, Meda, an event that ties together Sylvia and Meda’s lives. (historical fiction)
Sisters of Mokama by Jyoti Thottam
The true story of six Kentucky nuns who in 1947 traveled to Bihar in northern India to build a hospital, provide necessary medical care, and open a nursing school to train local women. Thottam, of The New York Times, pulls from 20 years of research, 60+ interviews, and the story of her mother, who was one of the young Indian women taken in as a nursing student.
The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town by Brian Alexander
A portrait of a small nonprofit hospital in Bryan, OH that sheds light on health care in America. From fall 2018 through summer 2020, journalist Alexander interviewed hospital personnel, patients, and others to get a full picture of how hospitals survive – or don’t.
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
Kolker weaves together a biography of the Galvin family of Colorado with the medical history of research into and treatment of schizophrenia. The Galvin’s had 12 children over the course of 20 years, with six of their sons ultimately diagnosed with schizophrenia. As the family coped with the mental illness and the stigma surrounding it, their situation provided scientists with insights into the genetic components of a poorly understood illness.
On Immunity by Eula Biss
In a collection of essays prompted by the birth of her child, Biss digs into immunizations – their development, fears both contemporary and historical, and cultural sea changes. Written in 2014, but very much in conversation with present debates.
Don’t Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Shunmyo Masuno
A book of practical advice on simplifying life and reducing anxiety through Buddhist thought from the head priest of a Zen Buddhist temple in Japan.
How to Sleep: The New Science-based Solutions for Sleeping Through the Night by Rafael Pelayo
After breaking down the biology of sleep, including circadian rhythms and impacts of lack of sleep, Pelayo provides a series of rules to help improve one’s sleep.
Find even more suggestions with our booklist Book Bingo NW 2022: Health or Healthcare Workers
~ posted by Andrea G.
For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk #BookBingoNW2022 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2022 on social media. Book bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures.
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