The Grand Cosmic Story: An Illustrated Timeline 13.8 Billion Years And Beyond by Ethan Siegel, Mark A. Garlick, Jon Lumberg, and William Lidwell

(Thank you to publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

Wow! What a beautiful and fascinating read! I'm a huge fan of the National Geographic books, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of their awesome book, The Grand Cosmic Story: An Illustrated Timeline 13.8 Billion Years And Beyond by Ethan Siegel, Mark. A Garlick, Jon Lumberg, and William Lidwell. This dynamic group of scientists and artists created a history timeline of our cosmos and it is a fantastic read. I absolutely LOVED it! Flipping through the pages and looking at all the art and illustrations made for such a delightful treat. Plus, learning about the history of our universe was magical.  I truly enjoyed spending time with this book and looked forward to reading it bit by bit every day. Oh, what fun!

It's a large book, so it makes for the perfect coffee table book. Anyone interested in astronomy and cosmology will enjoy turning the pages in this hefty tome. However, you don't have to be interested in astrophysics to like this book - I'm serious. This book is for everyone. It's written in such an accessible manner, provides loads of historical information, and is chock full of creative artwork. Whether you just want to look at lovely illustrations, or learn about the Big Bang, this book is for you. 

I would happily recommend The Grand Cosmic Story to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read. Make sure to grab a copy and check it out - you are going to LOVE it to bits!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

A Wolff in the Family: A Novel by Francine Falk-Allen

(Thank you to She Writes Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Based on a true story, A Wolff in the Family is a riveting saga of prejudice, passion, and revenge, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds. What mysterious scandals led a father to abandon the youngest of his children—and for the elder siblings to keep their shame a secret for eighty years? 

Frank and Naomi Wolff were happily married in 1908. She was a Kansas farmgirl; he was a railroad engineer. She was excited to embark upon her role as wife and mother with a hardworking man, and in their early years together they made a life in thriving Ogden, Utah. Despite Frank’s almost-constant absence for his job riding the rails, which left pretty Naomi to raise their children virtually alone, their romantic relationship begat fourteen offspring in eighteen years. Like other lower-middle-class women, Naomi’s life was consumed with caring for her brood, who became helpers as soon as they could fold a diaper—and who, by and by, were required to attend the school of hard knocks as much as public schools. Affection and struggle endured within the family, crowded into a humble house. Despite the respite of occasional family train trips across the plains, the marriage ultimately faced exceptional challenges, just before the Depression era began. 

What scandals led Frank Wolff to abandon his younger children at an orphanage far from home? And why did his elder children keep this a secret for eighty years?

Based on true family history, A Wolff in the Family is a gripping saga permeated with misogyny, prejudice, and passion . . . for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds.

my thoughts:

Wow! A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen is an excellent read! Historical fiction with a bit of a memoir twist, this family saga is one for the ages. I mean it. This story has it all - secrets, drama, loss, love, injustice, and so much more. And it is riveting - you won't be able to put this book down for anything - it's just too damn good. I mean it. Once you start, you must finish and I mean, like you have to turn off your phone and just let yourself get caught up in the story. No interruptions, just reading, reading, reading...until you turn that very last page. It'll be worth it. 

I don't really want to share much about the story, because it is definitely one you must read for yourself. You'll want to experience it all as you delve further into this family's history. It's definitely an emotional and relatable story at times, so get ready to feel all the feels.  A Wolff in the Family is one book you won't forget.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this one! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

Thank you to She Writes Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Swan's Nest: A Novel by Laura McNeal

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett

On a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen. “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,” Robert Browning wrote, “and I love you too.”
 
Elizabeth Barrett was ecstatic. She was famous for her poetry but completely cut off from the kind of international travel that Browning used to fuel his obscure, unsuccessful, innovative poems, one of which was written from a murderer’s point of view. They began an affectionate correspondence, but Elizabeth kept delaying a visit. What would happen when he saw her in person? What was Robert really like? Could she persuade her father and brothers that he was honorable, even though she had never met his family? And what would happen if she gave in to Robert’s wild proposal that they go to Italy to see whether the sun could cure her?
 
McNeal brilliantly tells the story of how Robert and Elizabeth fell in love with each other’s words and shocked her conservative, close-knit family and the literary world. Sensitively and lyrically written, as rich as the lovers' own poetry, The Swan's Nest will sweep up readers in the triumphant story of two people forced to choose between a safe, stable life and the love they felt for each other.

my thoughts:

Wow! The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal is historical fiction at its very best! The writing is terrific, the story is unputdownable, and the history is unforgettable. I loved reading this book! 

Okay, so what did I enjoy about this lovely novel? Here goes:

1. The book's cover. I just love the image and the way she's looking right at you. It's like you can tell she's hiding a secret or four. I love it!

2. The title. Led me to Elizabeth's poem, The Romance of the Swan's Nest. 

3. Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning's love story. I didn't know the details and was definitely intrigued. Love letters - over 500 of them! A secret romance. A secret wedding! Italy! Oh, my! I loved reading all about it!

4. The Barrett's family fortune from a Jamaican sugar plantation. Slavery, social injustice, racism all were divulged. Along with Elizabeth's brother's relationship with his 'housekeeper'. 

5. Elizabeth's tyrannical father who refuses to let his children marry. 

6. Elizabeth's illness, which kept her in bed and using drugs like morphine. 

7. Robert's proposal, secret visit, and LOVE for Elizabeth.

8. Elizabeth choosing to follow her heart.

9. A marriage that proved love is the answer.

Oh, what a wonderful story! True romance is at the core, but McNeal captures the the history of the 19th century so vividly - you can't help but find yourself time traveling and wandering alongside these famous poets. What a treat! 

I would happily recommend The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal to anyone and everyone looking for their next historical fiction read - you will fall in deep with this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon

(Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Wow! What an excellent read! I absolutely LOVED Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon - it was amazing! A definite must-read for everyone! This is one book you won't want to miss out on.

So, what is Slow Noodles about? (summary from NetGalley)

A haunting and beautiful memoir from a Cambodian refugee who lost her country and her family during Pol Pot's genocide in the 1970s but who finds hope by reclaiming the recipes she tasted in her mother's kitchen. 

Take a well-fed nine-year-old with a big family and a fancy education. Fold in 2 revolutions, 2 civil wars, and 1 wholesale extermination. Subtract a reliable source of food, life savings, and family members, until all are gone. Shave down childhood dreams for approximately two decades, until only subsistence remains.

In Slow Noodles, Chantha Nguon recounts her life as a Cambodian refugee who loses everything and everyone—her home, her family, her country—all but the remembered tastes and aromas of her mother’s kitchen. She summons the quiet rhythms of 1960s Battambang, her provincial hometown, before the dictator Pol Pot tore her country apart and killed more than a million Cambodians, many of them ethnic Vietnamese like Nguon and her family. Then, as an immigrant in Saigon, Nguon loses her mother, brothers, and sister and eventually flees to a refugee camp in Thailand. For two decades in exile, she survives by cooking in a brothel, serving drinks in a nightclub, making and selling street food, becoming a suture nurse, and weaving silk. 

Nguon’s irrepressible spirit and determination come through in this lyrical memoir that includes more than twenty family recipes such as sour chicken-lime soup, green papaya pickles, and pâté de foie, as well as Khmer curries, stir-fries, and handmade bánh canh noodles. Through it all, re-creating the dishes from her childhood becomes an act of resistance, of reclaiming her place in the world, of upholding the values the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy, and of honoring the memory of her beloved mother, whose “slow noodles” approach to healing and cooking prioritized time and care over expediency.

Slow Noodles is an inspiring testament to the power of food to keep alive a refugee’s connection to her past and spark hope for a beautiful life.

How fascinating does that sound?  You get politics, history, food, and all the feels rolled into one awesome book. Getting to know Chantha through her life story, you find yourself in awe of this resilient, remarkable woman. She has experienced way too much for anyone to ever have to experience in a lifetime, and yet she persevered and kept on going when so many others would have just given up. Her strength is inspiring. And the way she includes food with her memories of the family she loves and lost is so special. Food helped her to heal and to connect with her country. Slow Noodles is truly a gem of a book. The writing is just so powerful and thoughtful. I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy ASAP!

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Path Of The Panther: New Hope For Wild Florida by Carlton Ward Jr.

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Path of the Panther is a story of new hope for the recovery of an iconic endangered species and its Everglades home – and a global example of how protecting wildlife corridors can sustain balance for nature and people.

The panther is the state animal of Florida, the last big cat surviving east of the Mississippi River, and an emblem of the Endangered Species Act. It was driven to extinction in the eastern United States, except for a small remnant population that persisted in Florida’s Everglades. Panther numbers had dwindled to fewer than 20 individuals by the 1980s, but heroic conservation efforts have helped panthers come back to nearly 200 today. The biggest obstacle for the panther’s continued recovery is access to enough of its historic territory throughout Florida and beyond. 

The tale of the Florida panther has grown from the unlikely survival of a rare cat to a story of hope for all of wild Florida. Path of the Panther in now a call to action to recognize and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor – a network of public and private land that connects the panther’s current range in south Florida to suitable habitat throughout the state of Florida and adjoining states. 

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is the panther’s path to recovery and a western-scale conservation opportunity that remains largely hidden in the east. It is now as a Last Wild Places partnership with the National Geographic Society. With 27 percent of Florida already protected as public land, this project aims to inspire the additional one million acres of conservation needed over the next decade so that Florida can be a leader in the goal of protecting 30 percent of the plane by 2030. 

Photographer Carlton Ward helped put the Florida Wildlife Corridor on the map by trekking from the Everglades to Georgia in 2012 and from the Everglades Headwaters around the Gulf of Mexico to Alabama in 2015. Through these National Geographic–supported expeditions, he and his team have witnessed that a path for the panther’s recovery still exists. But with 1,000 new residents moving to Florida every day, and more than 100,000 acres of habitat lost to development each year, to window to save it is closing quickly. Through Ward's intimate photographs, expert essays and compelling maps, the Path of the Panther book, combined with a National Geographic magazine article, National Geographic Society Last Wild Places campaign, and feature documentary film, is poised to awaken people to wild Florida and inspire them to save it.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a beautiful and fascinating book. As a Floridian, I absolutely LOVED reading Path Of The Panther: New Hope For Wild Florida by Carlton Ward Jr. - it was such a special book to get lost in. I really enjoyed learning so much about my state - history, nature, the panther, the Everglades, and the hopes/plans for the future of wild Florida. Oh, and did I mention that this is a National Geographic book? Well it is, and that means top notch quality. The kind of book that will inspire and that you will eagerly set out on your coffee table or bookshelf. Yep, a definite must-read!

Ward has created a wonderful book chock full of informative essays, gorgeous photographs, amazing maps, and so much more. This book has it all! I mean it, this book makes for a compelling and motivating read - the information regarding conservation and recovery is just awe-inspiring. And learning about the history of the panther and its home in Florida is fascinating. I really enjoyed my reading experience with this book. I just loved getting to know so much about the state I call home. 

I would happily recommend Path Of The Panther to anyone and everyone looking for their next nonfiction read - you are going to fall in LOVE with this book! Make sure to get your hands on a copy and check it out! 

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Inspired by one of the OSS’s few female operatives, Barbara Lauwers, a WWII novel set at OSS’s Morale Office in Rome, which was responsible for creating black propaganda and distributing it behind enemy lines. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller's Secret.

Inspired by a real-life female spy, a WWII-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.

“A gripping, fascinating read.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers.

Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others—now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau—find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband.

As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and a colleague unexpectedly captures her heart. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death…

my thoughts:

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable is a terrific story based on real-life spy Barbara Lauwers. Set during WWII, this story introduces us to Niki, a Czech immigrant who worked for the OSS in Rome. Her job was to spread propaganda that would lower the morale of enemy soldiers. Niki worked alongside a small crew in Rome and they became known as The Lipstick Bureau and were quite successful. Of course, she worried about her family, her marriage, and her life - after all wartime is fraught with danger and the unknown. 

Gable has created a fascinating story using a few historical facts and real-life characters to shine light on a smart and determined woman dedicated to do her part in helping to stop the war. I found myself easily transported alongside Niki as she settles in Rome to take on her new role as a spy for the OSS, which eventually became the CIA.  I loved meeting her colleagues, reading about her work, and learning about her life during WWII. Talk about an interesting and engaging story!

I would happily recommend The Lipstick Bureau to fans of Gable's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Blumkin Project: A Biographical Novel by Christian Salmon, translated by William Rodarmor

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

This page-turning biographical novel follows the footsteps of a forgotten legend of the Russian Revolution, from Odessa to Moscow, Istanbul, and beyond.

Yakov Blumkin claimed to have had nine lives. Born to a poor Jewish family and orphaned as a child, he was a Socialist Revolutionary, a terrorist, the assassin of the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach, a poet close to the avant-garde, a member of Cheka, a military strategist, a secret agent, and Leon Trotsky’s secretary. Executed in 1929 on Stalin’s orders at the age of only twenty-nine, he has continued to inspire a powerful curiosity, and wild rumors and falsehoods about his extraordinary life abound today.

As a young man in 1980s Paris, Christian Salmon identified strongly as a Bolshevik, drawn to the glorious October Revolution immortalized in literature and films such as Warren Beatty’s Redsand Sergei Eisenstein’s trilogy. Picking up the thread of his dream thirty years later, he sets out to reconstruct Blumkin’s shadowy past and ever-shifting identity with a trove of manuscripts, documents, rare photographs, and personal souvenirs.

my thoughts:

What a thrilling and intriguing story! The Blumkin Project by Christian Salmon reads like a historical spy novel and it is chock full of adventure, history, and politics. I found myself captivated right from the start. How could I not? Salmon has created a biographical novel about a curious figure named Yakov Blumkin. And I say curious, because the man had so many identities and lives - it's hard not to wonder about him and who he really was. He was a terrorist, an assassin, a poet, and a secret agent. Oh, and he was also Leon Trotsky's secretary. Say what? Yep, and I'm sure that isn't even every role he had during his short life. He was only twenty-nine when Stalin had him executed. Long after his death, rumors continued to swirl around his identity and his life - talk about a true man of mystery. 

Enter Salmon, a writer and researcher, fascinated by Blumkin and determined to reconstruct his sketchy  past by using documents, photographs, etc. to piece his story together. And, what a story it is! Richly layered and beautifully written, this book will captivate you right from the start. I know that I enjoyed learning about Blumkin and wondering what was really true about him - he was such an enigmatic character. Wow! What a great read!

I would happily recommend The Blumkin Project to anyone and everyone looking for their next read - you are going to really enjoy this book! Check it out!

Thank you to the Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Winter Orphans: A Novel by Kristin Beck

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In a remote corner of France, Jewish refugee Ella Rosenthal has finally found a safe haven. It has been three years since she and her little sister, Hanni, left their parents to flee Nazi Germany, and they have been pursued and adrift in the chaos of war ever since. Now, they shelter among one hundred other young refugees in a derelict castle overseen by the Swiss Red Cross.

Swiss volunteers Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet uphold a common mission: to protect children in peril. Rösli, a stubborn and resourceful nurse, directs the colony of Château de la Hille and has created a thriving community against all odds. Anne-Marie, raised by Swiss foresters, becomes both caretaker and friend to the children, and she vows to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.

 

However, when Germany invades southern France, safeguarding Jewish refugees becomes impossible. Château de la Hille faces unrelenting danger, and Rösli and Anne-Marie realize that the only way to protect the eldest of their charges is to smuggle them out of France. Relying on Rösli's fierce will and Anne-Marie's knowledge of secret mountain paths, they plot escape routes through vast Nazi-occupied territory to the distant border. Amid staggering risk, Ella and Hanni embark on a journey that, if successful, could change the course of their lives and grant them a future.

my thoughts:

Wow. What a powerful and emotional story. The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck is the epitome of historical fiction - it is an excellent read!

In order to survive the Nazis, Ella and Hanni have fled from their home and their family. They have found refuge in France, specifically a safe haven called, the Chateau de la Hille. It's a decomposing castle that houses a hundred refugee Jewish children like them. The Swiss Red Cross oversees this safe haven, while Rosli and Anne-Marie are the two volunteers who manage it all. Their mission is to protect these children. And let me just say, they have their work cut out for them. Germany has invaded France and that means that they want these children - the oldest first. The Chateau de la Hille is in danger. What will happen to Ella and Hanni? Will Rosli and Anne-Marie be able to save these children's lives? How will they survive insurmountable obstacles that seem to show up every which way? 

Beck has written a heartbreaking and suspenseful story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I know that I found myself feeling tense and anxious as I read this story. My heart was aching all the way through. I was captivated right from the start. Beck's writing is mesmerizing, and her storytelling is engaging and so powerful. The Winter Orphans is truly a must-read! Not only will you want to read more of Beck's works, but you will want to read more about the amazing women she wrote about in her story - they were real-life people who sacrificed everything to save innocent children. The Winter Orphans is a wonderful story about real-life heroes. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

NEW IN PAPERBACK: Generation Revolution by Rachel Aspden

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Other Press has released Generation Revolution: On the Front Line Between Tradition and Change in the Middle East by Rachel Aspden TODAY! Yep, you can get your hands on a paperback edition as of now - how awesome is that? I'm serious. This book is a must-read! So, you are most definitely going to want to get your hands on a copy ASAP.

Why? What's the book about? Well it's about social history in Egypt, specifically the Arab Spring and the millennial generation living through it all - the before, during, and after. And, it is damn fascinating to read all about. Talk about an informative and eye-opening history book. 

Here's an overview of the book from Other Press:

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

“An excellent social history of Egypt’s persistent pathologies, as well as a universal story about the difficulties of changing deeply ingrained societal attitudes.” —New York Times Book Review

Generation Revolution unravels the complex forces shaping the lives of four young Egyptians on the eve and in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, and what their stories mean for the future of the Middle East.

In 2003, Rachel Aspden arrived in Egypt as a twenty-three-year-old journalist. She found a country on the brink of change. The two-thirds of Egypt’s eighty million citizens under the age of thirty were stifled, broken, and frustrated, caught between a dictatorship that had nothing to offer them and their autocratic parents’ generation, defined by tradition and obedience.

In January 2011, the young people’s patience ran out. They thought the revolution that followed would change everything. But as violence escalated, the economy collapsed, and as the united front against Mubarak shattered into sectarianism, many found themselves at a loss.

Following the stories of four young Egyptians—Amr the atheist software engineer, Amal the village girl who defied her family and her entire community, Ayman the one-time religious extremist, and Ruqayah the would-be teenage martyr—Generation Revolution exposes the failures of the Arab Spring and shines new light on those left in the wake of its lost promise.

Was I right? Sounds like a must-have book, doesn't it? Well, it is. So, make sure to grab a copy and step into a piece of history via Aspdens' amazing book, Generation Revolution. 

Sentimental Economy by Edoardo Nesi

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In a warm, perceptive essay that touches on economics, fashion, literature, and politics, the Strega Prize–winning author of Story of My People reflects on the seismic shifts of 2020 and the diverse ways we’re adapting.

Attempting to make sense of the incredible upheaval of 2020—from the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the sudden loss of his father—Edoardo Nesi considers the changing global economy and its effect on our lives. He shares the stories of Alberto Magelli, a small textile entrepreneur; Livia Firth, a prominent advocate for sustainability; Elisa Martelli, a young Sangiovese winemaker; Enrico Giovannini, a leading economist and statistician; Rino Pratesi, a proud butcher from the heart of Tuscany; and more.

From the overworked to the unemployed, we’re all grappling with difficult questions about our current disorienting world: Will we ever feel healthy again, and what will it take to regain “normality?” What does progress mean today? Have science and technology let us down? What will the increased prevalence of remote working mean for our cities, and for our lifestyles generally? Deftly weaving together the personal and the economic, Nesi takes us on a fascinating journey to understanding.

my thoughts:

Wow. Just, wow. Sentimental Economy by Edoardo Nesi is a beautiful read. I absolutely loved it.

Heartbreaking, haunting, and mesmerizing.  Nesi has written a book-length essay that tackles personal and current topics: COVID, Italy, economics, and the loss of his father. He looks at the ways in which the year 2020 has altered the course of the economy and society.  He writes about fashion, an industry in which his family has a personal stake.  He considers what the "potential of progress" means now that the future feels so unknown. And, he talks to his friends about it all - friends who work in a variety of fields: an economist, a screenwriter, and an industrialist. He listens to them as they express their thoughts about the ways in which the world is forced to evolve because of the pandemic and how it will affect their futures. It's fascinating, emotional, thought-provoking, and unputdownable. I found myself gripped by Nesi's words. His wit, his intelligence, and his talent shine through. 

Sentimental Economy is a must-read and I encourage everyone to get their hands on a copy ASAP!

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

100 Great American Parks by Stephanie Pearson

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Discover diverse and breathtaking natural landscapes in this beautifully illustrated collection of America’s 63 national parks, as well as 37 state, recreational, and city parks and green spaces.

Nowhere in the world is there a park system like America’s. The National Park System was the first in the world and is a collection of the country’s best national treasures. For Americans, these places are part of our cultural DNA. Filled with beautiful National Geographic photography, wisdom from experts, need-to-know travel information including the best scenic overlooks and hiking trails, and practical wildlife-spotting tips, this inspirational collection takes readers to all 63 national parks, as well as 37 state, recreational, and city parks and green spaces. 
With a park in every state, this beautiful collection highlights the top experiences in stunning destinations from Yosemite and Sequoia to Biscayne and Mammoth Cave. You'll discover the beauty, diversity, surprises, and wonder of each park, including

The mountain peaks of the Tetons
Hawaii’s constantly erupting volcanoes
The crystal-clad underworld of Carlsbad Caverns
The steamy swamps and mangrove forests of the deep South
Hidden gems tucked in bustling cities like New York’s Central Park
And so much more!

Each entry in this magnificent volume explores the breathtaking landscapes, remarkable histories, extraordinary wildlife, and the need to conserve and explore each destination. With a foreword from legendary recording artist Garth Brooks, “the voice of America,” this innovative guide will lead you to experience the greatest park experiences the world has to offer and an understanding of these natural open spaces.

my thoughts:

What a beautiful book! I LOVED National Geographic's latest by Stephanie Pearson, 100 Great American Parks.  Chock full of stunning photographs and amazing essays all about our nation's parks - what more could I want from a travel book? We get to see the gorgeous vistas surrounding us, along with tons of tips, advice, and information about where to go and when to go. This book has it all!

I just loved flipping through the pages and getting lost in the photographs and imagining all of the vacations that I now need to take. This book is just such a treat to read. I enjoyed every minute I spent with it. 100 Great American Parks is the go-to book for anyone and everyone planning out their next excursion - you are going to LOVE this book to bits! Check it out ASAP - especially since summer is right around the corner. 

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World by Kara Cooney

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Written in the tradition of historians like Mary Beard and Stacy Schiff who find modern lessons in ancient history, this provocative narrative explores the lives of five remarkable pharaohs who ruled Egypt with absolute power, shining a new light on the country's 3,000-year empire and its meaning today.

In a new era when democracies around the world are threatened or crumbling, best-selling author Kara Cooney turns to five ancient Egyptian pharaohs--Khufu, Senwosret III, Akenhaten, Ramses II, and Taharqa--to understand why many so often give up power to the few, and what it can mean for our future.

As the first centralized political power on earth, the pharaohs and their process of divine kingship can tell us a lot about the world's politics, past and present. Every animal-headed god, every monumental temple, every pyramid, every tomb, offers extraordinary insight into a culture that combined deeply held religious beliefs with uniquely human schemes to justify a system in which one ruled over many.

From Khufu, the man who built the Great Pyramid at Giza as testament to his authoritarian reign, and Taharqa, the last true pharaoh who worked to make Egypt great again, we discover a clear lens into understanding how power was earned, controlled, and manipulated in ancient times. And in mining the past, Cooney uncovers the reason why societies have so willingly chosen a dictator over democracy, time and time again.

my thoughts:

Egyptian history is fascinating and so much fun to learn about. In this epic new book by Kara Cooney, we learn about five ancient pharaohs and the history of their politics and culture. Cooney also chooses five modern world leaders to compare with these five ancient pharaohs. Talk about an unputdownable read!

Cooney's writing about these ancient kings is superb. She writes history like a story, pulling you in and taking you along on a journey through the past. You can't help but get caught up in the culture, the people, and these men. It is truly a treat to read. I found myself easily imagining the world they lived in and the ways in which they ruled. And, I couldn't help but find myself wanting to learn more. Such a great book!

I would happily recommend The Good Kings to fans of Egyptian history and to anyone looking for their great next read - this book will provide you with plenty of food for thought. What a treat!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs by Ann R. Williams (General Editor)

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Blending high adventure with history, this chronicle of 100 astonishing discoveries from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the fabulous “Lost City of the Monkey God” tells incredible stories of how explorers and archaeologists have uncovered the clues that illuminate our past.

Archaeology is the key that unlocks our deepest history. Ruined cities, golden treasures, cryptic inscriptions, and ornate tombs have been found across the world, and yet these artifacts of ages past often raised more questions than answers. But with the emergence of archaeology as a scientific discipline in the 19th century, everything changed.

Illustrated with dazzling photographs, this enlightening narrative tells the story of human civilization through 100 key expeditions, spanning six continents and more than three million years of history. Each account relies on firsthand reports from explorers, antiquarians, and scientists as they crack secret codes, evade looters and political suppression, fall in love, commit a litany of blunders, and uncover ancient curses.

Pivotal discoveries include:

• King Tut’s tomb of treasure
• Terracotta warriors escorting China’s first emperor into the afterlife
• The glorious Anglo-Saxon treasure of Sutton-Hoo
• Graves of the Scythians, the real Amazon warrior women
• New findings on the grim fate of the colonists of Jamestown

With a foreword from bestselling author Douglas Preston, Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs is an expertly curated and breath-taking panorama of the human journey.

my thoughts:

History nonfiction at its very best! I LOVED Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs! Published by National Geographic and edited by Ann R. Williams, this lovely tome is chock full of fascinating historical tidbits, spectacular photographs, and amazing stories that you will not want to stop reading about. I mean it - this book will spark your interest in history and have you jotting down all of the things you want to research further. I know that I now have a notebook filled with a variety of topics and places that I want to learn more about. It is just so refreshing to read a history book that motivates you to read even more history books. I loved it!

This is one book that you need to check out for yourself. You need to see all the stellar photography and be AMAZED at the talent behind the lens and the awesome images themselves. You need to read all about the rich historical discoveries that this book covered - they will make your jaw drop.  And, you just need to get lost in the adventure that is history. This book will definitely keep you reading late into the night. Check it out!

I would happily recommend Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs to anyone and everyone looking for their next great historical read - you will LOVE this one!! Oh, and if you are looking for a gift for that history buff in your life, then look no further - Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs is the perfect choice!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Lost Cities Ancient Tombs

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History by Tracey Baptiste

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

In a richly designed work with maps, portraits, and graphics throughout, the award-winning author of the Jumbies series shows readers this underrepresented side of Black history and Black excellence.

Every year, American schoolchildren celebrate Black History Month. They study almost exclusively American stories, which are not only rooted in struggle over enslavement or oppression, but also take in only four hundred years of a rich and thrilling history that goes back many millennia across the African continent. Through portraits of ten historical figures—from Menes, the first ruler to be called Pharaoh, to Queen Idia, a sixteenth-century power broker, visionary, and diplomat—African Icons takes readers on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose ideas built a continent and shaped our world.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a terrific children's book about African history. It is superbly written, chock full of history and illustrations, and focuses on ten important individuals who shaped history - what more could you want from a book, right? I absolutely LOVED African Icons by Tracey Baptiste!

Talk about an informative, engaging, and important book. I just loved the way that Baptiste writes about history - her enthusiasm is effusive. And, she writes about queens, poets, and military leaders - providing a large and varied scope of African people.  This book makes you want to seek out more information about the history, people, and culture of Africa - it is fascinating and inspiring. African Icons makes for an excellent read. I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for children's books to read - you won't want to miss out on this important tome - check it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Woman With The Blue Star: A Novel by Pam Jenoff

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

 

about book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris comes a riveting tale of courage and unlikely friendship during World War II.
1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.
Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.
Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by incredible true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an unforgettable testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.

my thoughts:

Wow. What a story. Talk about an emotional and beautiful must-read book. The Woman With The Blue Star by Pam Jenoff is just excellent and I am wholeheartedly recommending it to everyone. 

Its WWII and Sadie is living with her parents. She's eighteen years old. The Nazis are terrifying everyone and people are being taken from their homes. One night, Sadie's father wakes her up and rushes her and his pregnant wife to a safe place - the sewers below the streets.  Yep, they are to take refuge with another family beneath the city, surrounded by waste and rats.  It's the only way they can survive.  Ella is rich. She lives with her stepmother. Her father has left.  No one talks to her anymore, because her stepmother has sided with the occupying Germans. This connection allows Ella to wander freely.  It's during one of her trips into town that she sees Sadie beneath the grate in the street.  From that moment, their lives are never the same. And, that is all I will write about this amazing and important book. You MUST read it for yourself to experience it all - it is worth it! This is one book you will not want to miss out on. 

The writing is top notch - the descriptions, the history, the characters, all of it will just hook you from the start. And the story itself will have you reading faster and faster to find out what will happen next. You'll be crying one minute and smiling the next. The Woman With The Blue Star is historical fiction at its finest. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono by David Sheff

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The last major interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, conducted by New York Times bestselling author David Sheff, featuring a new introduction that reflects on the fortieth anniversary of Lennon's death

Originally published by Playboy Press in 1981 just after John Lennon's assassination, All We Are Saying is a rich and vivid interview with Lennon and Yoko Ono, wide-ranging in its coverage of art, creativity, the music business, their extraordinary childhoods, privacy, the true story of how the Beatles broke up, how Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on the greatest Beatles songs, parenthood, money, feminism, religion, and insecurity. Of course, at the heart of the conversation is the deep, rare romantic and spiritual bond between Lennon and Ono. 

Sympathetic and insightful questions from New York Times bestselling author David Sheff set the tone for Lennon's responses, and Sheff’s presence sets the scene, as he walks through the kitchen door of the musicians’ Dakota apartment and accompanies the famous couple to the studio, where they were recording what would turn out to be Lennon’s final albums. Sheff's new introduction looks at his forty-year-old interview afresh, and examines how what he learned from Lennon has resonated with him as a man and a parent. This is a knockout interview and a crucial piece of Beatles history: playful, intense, and inspiring.

my thoughts:

As a Beatles fan, I was thrilled to read All We Were Saying by David Sheff. It contains the last major interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Talk about exciting and thrilling! Lennon has always been my favorite Beatle, so I was very interested in reading this piece to learn more about this creative, smart  musical icon.  

Playboy published this interview in 1981, following Lennon's death outside his home at The Dakota.  The interviewer, David Sheff, was twenty-four years old at the time. His questions were savvy, engaging, and thoughtful.  They provided the perfect way for Lennon and Ono to open up about their life and covered a range of topics, such as the Beatles, parenthood, religion, and money.  From the start, you can see the deep connection between Lennon and his wife, which I feel provides a good background for the interview. You get a sense of love, family, and authenticity from their words, actions, and interests.  It's fascinating and revealing all at once. I have to admit my favorite part is when Lennon gives his thoughts on Beatles' songs. All in all, a great interview to read.  And, I enjoyed Sheff's new introduction to the interview. It's forty years later and suffice it to say, time and life experiences have definitely changed Sheff's perspective on this interview.  

All We Were Saying is a terrific book for any Beatles fan - they will LOVE this interview! And, if they've already read it, then they will enjoy re-reading it. Or, like me, they will love discovering it for the first time and getting to know this fascinating couple even better.  Such a great book! I absolutely LOVED it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen: The True Story Behind Degas's Masterpiece by Camille Laurens

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

This absorbing, heartfelt work uncovers the story of the real dancer behind Degas’s now-iconic sculpture, and the struggles of late nineteenth-century Parisian life. 

She is famous throughout the world, but how many know her name? You can admire her figure in Washington, Paris, London, New York, Dresden, or Copenhagen, but where is her grave? We know only her age, fourteen, and the work that she did—because it was already grueling work, at an age when children today are sent to school. In the 1880s, she danced as a “little rat” at the Paris Opera, and what is often a dream for young girls now wasn’t a dream for her. She was fired after several years of intense labor; the director had had enough of her repeated absences. She had been working another job, even two, because the few pennies the Opera paid weren’t enough to keep her and her family fed. She was a model, posing for painters or sculptors—among them Edgar Degas.

Drawing on a wealth of historical material as well as her own love of ballet and personal experiences of loss, Camille Laurens presents a compelling, compassionate portrait of Marie van Goethem and the world she inhabited that shows the importance of those who have traditionally been overlooked in the study of art.

my thoughts:

What an amazing book! I absolutely LOVED Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by Camille Laurens. It was such a fascinating read - part art history, socio-economics lesson, and a personal narrative all rolled into one. I truly enjoyed settling down with this short book and taking my time with it. I found myself captivated from the start and jotting down notes about Degas, the "little rats", and Paris in the late nineteenth  century. 

So, what's the book about? Marie van Goethem.  She's the inspiration/muse behind Degas's sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.  This book is about her, and the other "little rats" in Degas's artwork.  Yep, Degas referred to his art subjects as "little rats".  These poor girls who worked hard and lived hard trying to make ends meet.  They were sexualized, ignored, and forgotten about when they were off stage, but when they were dancing, these "little rats" were revered and idolized for their skill and talent.  Laurens shines light on Degas's "little rats", Degas, and Paris.  And, it all makes for quite an unforgettable read. 

I would happily recommend Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by Camille Laurens to fans of art, nonfiction, and history - you will fall in deep with this book. The writing is top notch, smart, and engaging. And the subject matter will keep you turning pages and thinking about the art world, Degas, Marie van Goethem, and Paris. You won't be able to put this book down for anything. I know that I didn't. And, I loved every minute I spent with this book. Definitely check it out or gift it to someone you know who loves art and nonfiction - makes for a great stocking stuffer!  

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!