And now I have reached the Megalopolis. What in the world is a megalopolis you ask? A megalopolis is a very large, heavily populated urban center or complex including all of the suburbs and exurbs. It can feel as if it’s just one continuous city but it’s usually not. The northeastern seaboard is filled with them.
For this part of my travels I will begin with Washington D.C. and the book “The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America’s Most Famous Residence” by Robert Klara. I have been wanting to read more about Truman since moving to Missouri eight years ago. The time is now. Truman, in his bath, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room during a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. At the insistence of a team of the country’s top architects, the First Family was immediately moved across the street to Blair House while Congress decided whether or not to bulldoze the White House. This is that story, along with all of the political happenings of the day, including the beginnings of the Cold War.
In Maryland, 14-year-old Mary Jane is coming of age in 1970s Baltimore in the book “Mary Jane” by Jessica Anya Blau. She takes a summer job as the nanny for a very progressive family which is a sharp contrast to her incredibly straight-laced family. The psychiatrist (and his wife) that Mary Jane works for are secretly hosting a famous rock star who is trying to kick a heroin addiction and his even more famous actress partner and Mary Jane can’t tell her parents because of doctor/patient confidentiality. Mary Jane is pulled into a world of sex, drugs and rock and roll but she also brings order to chaos as she watches after her young charge.
In Wilmington Delaware, Rashod Coleman tells about his life growing up in “Fatherless Son: How the Criminal Justice System Tore My Family Apart and Brought Us Back Together.” On February 21, 1987, Rashod’s father, Daniel, was arrested for the raping and kidnapping of two Caucasian women while on his way to work. Daniel allegedly confessed to the crimes after an intense interrogation. His life was derailed as he received two consecutive life terms. Rashod’s life was also derailed as he had to navigate without his father. 28 years after sentencing, Daniel was released just as Rashod was entering the Police Academy. Rashod was able to eventually prove that his father had been wrongfully convicted.
“Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park” by Andy Mulvihill promises a very unique look at New Jersey. Andy Mulvihill’s dad was a bit of a free spirit. He had been in the Marines, a door-to-door salesman and an investment banker before he came upon the idea of turning a ski resort into an amusement park in the off season. His philosophy was to put the guest in control of their own adventure with no limits on danger. And he pulled the entire family into the business including all six kids. The park has left a lasting impression, whether you look on that era with nostalgia or horror.
In New York I plan to read “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict. This historical fiction tells the story of Bella De Costa Green, the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan and the person most responsible for building the Pierpont Morgan Library. She also became one of the most powerful women in New York. But Bella is hiding a dangerous secret: she is a light skinned African American woman passing as part Portuguese. It’s a secret that puts her life, and the lives of her family, in mortal danger.
Next month I will tour my final region in New England. You can find more suggested titles for the Megalopolis here. You can also find past posts in this series here: Travel Through Story.
Image credit: David Iliff (license) via Wikimedia Commons
