Namwali Serpell on Toni Morrison

Serpell's On Morrison, previews of March releases, and more ...

February 26, 2026

BookBrowse Highlights

Hello Readers!

This week, our book club members discuss Evie Woods’ latest magical journey, The Violin Maker’s Secret, a delightful mystery in which a violin tells its own story.

The Irish Goodbye, Beth Ann Fennelly’s collection of “micro-memoirs,” left First Impressions readers with emotional insights and food for thought on family, motherhood, marriage, and more. Francesca Manfredi’s The Silent Period led them to reflect on communication in the modern world in a unique voice that may appeal to fans of Sally Rooney.

In Editor’s Choice, novelist and professor Namwali Serpell’s staggering, elegant new book On Morrison passionately explores the literature of the late Toni Morrison, “our only truly canonical black female writer.”

And be sure to check out our previews of noteworthy March books!

Thanks for reading,

The BookBrowse Team

Book Club Discussions

Discussions are open to all! If you’d like to participate, you can do so by creating an account here. Please note that discussions can contain spoilers.

The Violin Maker’s Secret by Evie Woods

From the Jacket

Hewn by a master and passed down through generations, one violin charts its own course through history…

Baggage claim agent Devlin, retired teacher Walter, and appraiser Gabrielle should have nothing in common, but when a single choice sets in motion a new chapter in the violin's story, they finally feel a part of something – something that matters, and which makes them matter.

Because as their search for the violin's origins unlocks a mystery stretching back decades, the instrument teaches them a melody they never expected.

From the Discussion

“I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a fun mystery and good characters that you care about. It was a delightful read.” —Paula_Walters

“There was a touch of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman with Walter’s character, and a bit of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams as it relates to the music. It took me a bit at first to realize that the violin was ‘speaking’ but I thought it was a great way to fill in gaps between the various ‘owners.’” —Joyce_Montague

See what people are saying in response to this question: Multiple characters find healing through music after trauma. Do you agree that creative pursuits can help process difficult experiences?

First Impressions

Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on two recently released titles.

The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly

“I wasn't sure what to expect, especially when the first ‘micro-memoir’ was just seven lines long. But wow, can Ms. Fennelly tell a story. She drew me into her essays and then surprised the dickens out of me with her final line. I knew and understood her characters; I wanted to be one of her roomies. Her wry, witty insights made me laugh out loud. Her poignant, thoughtful portraits of her mom and sister were so incredibly touching. I was impressed with how respectful she was with all of her characters. My judge of a good book is if I would share it with my mom. Although she's deceased, I know she would have loved this book as much as I did.” —Carol D. (Frisco, TX)

“I would think this will be a great choice for women's book clubs. I plan on reading more from Beth Ann Fennelly.” —Brenda W. (Wilkes Barre, PA)

“These brief pieces move nimbly through marriage, motherhood, grief, and faith, never overstaying their moment yet leaving a distinct emotional imprint.” —Ann B. (Kernville, CA)

The Silent Period by Francesca Manfredi

“Cristina struggles with the amorphic nature of words. How they imply and can be inferred. She doesn't trust them. Small talk is senseless; she detests social decorum rituals and hates that people can hurt with and be hurt by words. While she is intrigued by language development and word origins, she develops an increasing belief that silence is the way to go. Her family struggles to understand her ‘selective mutism’ and the rest of the book goes back and forth searching for her motivations, exploring her childhood relationships, etc. from her family's POV and her own. According to her, her family was distressed over the one thing in the world that she did best.” —Connie K. (Oldsmar, FL)

“It explores the choices we make in so many different ways—mainly about how we communicate with ourselves and others, verbally, in writing and by remaining silent. I savored almost every sentence—the writing and translation are beyond brilliant.” —Melissa C. (Saint Johns, FL)

“I found it to be very unique and feel it would appeal to a reader who also enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or Sally Rooney. I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.” —Lesa R. (Joliet, IL)

For Members

This issue of The BookBrowse Review contains reviews and "beyond the book" articles for 12 titles, including On Morrison by Namwali Serpell, Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky, and Brawler by Lauren Groff.

We also bring you The America 250 Challenge: 26 Books for Reading US History in 2026, recommendations for book clubs, and more.

Not Yet a Member? Do you love to spend your reading hours immersed in captivating storytelling and intriguing ideas?

Then a BookBrowse membership is for you! What you see on BookBrowse for free and in this newsletter is just a small part of what is available to members—for just $5.00/month! Join Today!

Editor’s Choice

On Morrison by Namwali Serpell

Years before it landed on PEN America's Banned Books List, I checked out the sole copy of The Bluest Eye from my private school library, surprised Toni Morrison's novel was even there. I admit it was the cover that got me. A black girl holding a blue-eyed white doll with such benevolence. The image was startling and I was intrigued by this thing I never imagined, the idealization of blue eyes. But my mother wasn't pleased—to put it mildly—with my selection and tried to snatch it away from me when I wasn't paying attention. Despite her blatant censorship, my mother lost the battle. I read The Bluest Eye. And then read it again. But even Toni Morrison wasn't thrilled that children were reading her first novel. She agreed with my mother about The Bluest Eye. "It's not a children's book. It's scary."

Revisiting Toni Morrison's fiction, including The Bluest Eye, is English professor and novelist Namwali Serpell, whose book On Morrison is a literary deconstruction of Morrison's work replete with formal techniques, symbolism, and didactic structure. If a classical novel is like a brain, then Serpell is that novel's neurologist, separating the dura mater from the skull, exposing the insides with precise maneuvering.… continued

Review by Valerie Morales

March Previews

We know it can be tough to keep up with all the new books coming out every month, so we do the hard work for you.

We've carefully selected 90+ of the most noteworthy books publishing in March and are continually updating our selections—check them out and get yourself on the library waitlist ahead of the crowd! BookBrowse members can see, sort, and download the full list of previews for all months. Non-subscribers can view books up to the current month and a limited selection of future months.

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