Spring Reading 2021 My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir

Since Margot Lee Shetterly's book and the resulting movie, interest in Katharine Johnson and the other NASA human computers has resulted in many other books for all ages. This memoir written by Katharine Johnson and her daughters is enlightening while still entirely readable and enjoyable. Mrs. Johnson manages to weave her personal experiences into a story that captures the reader's interest in the way that a dynamic and captivating speaker can do. She balances the incidents from her own life with explanations of what was going on in the wider social setting, pointing out when the two intersected and when she was aware of events but was not an active participant. 

Reminiscences of her parents and their determination to provide a better life and education for Katharine and her siblings show how she came by her drive and work ethic. The descriptions of pay disparities and the limited choices for careers that were available only serve to emphasize how stifling the social and work environment were and how truly outstanding an individual's contributions had to be in order to rise above all the drawbacks. But Mrs. Johnson does not dwell excessively on these points; instead, she mentions the negatives in a matter of fact way and continues with her narrative - her approach to writing imitates her approach to the situations she describes.  

This is an uplifting book due to the positive outlook of the author and the recognition that has come her way in recent years, but it is also a story that will cause some discomfort as readers encounter again and again the roadblocks set in the way of Katharine Johnson and other women like her. It would be a good book club pick for those looking at intersectional feminism, historical examples of racism and sexism, or simply fans of memoir and autobiography.

Due for release on May 25th.