Jury Duty

A good opportunity to read a book it seems

A couple of weeks ago, I did my civic duty and did jury service for the first time in my life. As a former lawyer who was previously not allowed to serve on a jury because of my (alleged) specialist knowledge, I was fricken excited to be given an opportunity to serve on a jury. I was a bit perplexed as to why people approach jury service with such trepidation. Until… the waiting!!!!!! Wow! So much waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting. 120 people were called for my week and we all had to turn up on Monday, and Wednesday, AND Thursday. Not a single one of us served on a jury! I am not sure John Grisham could write a book about my jury service!

What does jury service have to do with books I hear you asking (and my husband has likely lost interest already by this stage.. Hi Paul if you are still reading)… You know what is one of the awesome things about a physical book? Everyone can see what you are reading and be inspired (or not) by the cover. Looking around the jury room, most people were on their phones but there were a few kindred spirits with a physical book in hand.

A young woman sitting next to me had a copy of “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. For those of you who know me well, you will know that 1, I am a major introvert (some of you will be surprised by this), and 2, I absolutely despise small talk, especially with people I do not know (maybe unless I’ve had a wine..). BUT, not when that random stranger has a book in hand! I am straight in for the kill.. “how’s that book going?” (No hi, how are you? How about all the waiting? Straight into book chat!) She was loving the book, and loving the opportunity to get stuck into it. She had nearly finished it while on jury duty. I let her know that I had been recommended it already and that I had it on reserve from the library and was waiting for it to become available.

“What are you reading?” she asks me in return. I show her the cover of my book, “The Personal Librarian” co-written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. She hadn’t heard of it and I let her know a bit about it, but it got me thinking how books can create such a bond between strangers. I don’t think I would’ve spoken to this person had it not been for the beautiful book in her hand.

The next week, I get the exciting email that it was my turn for “Lessons in Chemistry” from the library. Yay! Big call, but I think this is one of my favourite books of 2022. I fell in love with the quirky characters, and the matter-of-fact approach of the main character, Elizabeth Zott, to the sexism she faces working in science in the 1960s. The style of writing made it unputdownable. This book is fun, feminist and engaging. Elizabeth Zott gave me Amy Farrah Fowler vibes (Big Bang Theory – you’re welcome Eden). Don’t just take my word for it. This book has a 4.4/5 on Good Reads, and is in the finals for the Good Reads Choice Awards of 2022 for Historical Fiction, although it isn’t actually the one I voted for! You will soon learn that I have a lot of favourite books!

Now… back to “The Personal Librarian”, the one I read while doing all of that waiting on jury service. I did enjoy this one but not as much as “Lessons in Chemistry” – very different books I might add! This book is a fictionalised telling of the work of Belle da Costa Greene who was the personal librarian to J P Morgan. She becomes quite influential in New York society all while keeping a huge secret – she is African American, but because of her fair complexion she is able to pass as white. She changes her name to Belle da Costa Greene to “hide” her true heritage. It becomes clear that if her secret was to get out, her position and her role would be at risk. It is an insightful read into Black American history, again with an intriguing feminist protagonist. This one gets 4.1/5 on Good Reads and was a finalist for the Good Reads Choice Awards Best Historical Fiction in 2021.

Both of these books feature pretty inspirational women, working in difficult settings who are both breaking down barriers to success in their own way.

Both are worthy of adding to your “to read” list because life is too short to read bad books!