Category: non-fiction

Review: The Witches

October 27, 2015 non-fiction 28 ★★★

Review: The WitchesTitle: The Witches: Salem, 1692
Author: Stacy Schiff
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:three-stars

Summary: The big picture story was fascinating, but the trial details felt like boring lists and resolution was lacking.

“It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw Massachusetts winter, when a minister’s daughter began to scream and convulse. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man crushed to death. The panic spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in the colony.” (source) Even today, the reasons behind the accusations and persecutions  of this time remain a mystery. Read more »

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#NFBookClub The Sixth Exctinction Discussion – Part 1

September 10, 2015 Blogger Events, non-fiction 25

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Well, this has been a bit of a dense read, hasn’t it? I’ve enjoyed it, from the interesting locations to the inspiring science, but it’s definitely a little drier than Mary Roach. Here we are at the halfway point though and I’m excited to hear how you’re all doing! I’ll post my discussion question answers on Monday, but you can chime in any time. And don’t forget to stop by later todaySaturday to vote for October’s read! Read more »

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Review – Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War

August 12, 2015 Biography, History, non-fiction 9 ★★★★★

Review – Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear WarTitle: Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War
Author: Susan Southard
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:five-stars

Summary: This was a difficult book to read, but incredibly well written and worthwhile.

I hoped to write a review of this book on August 9th, the 70th anniversary of the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Unfortunately, life interfered, but this horrific event still deserves to be remembered today. Drawing on extensive interviews, the author is able to share the stories of five survivors, from the time of the bombing through the present. She also places their personal stories in the greater historical context, both leading up to the decision to use the atomic bomb and following the way the decision was presented afterwards. Read more »

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Nonfiction About Death and Medicine in Mini-Reviews

July 30, 2015 non-fiction, Science 16 ★★★★★

Nonfiction About Death and Medicine in Mini-ReviewsTitle: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Author: Mary Roach
Source: Bought
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:five-stars

 

It took Mary Roach giving a talk in Syracuse, NY to get me to finally pick up one of her highly praised books. I’m happy to confirm, it was as awesome as everyone says! Roach has an incredible talent for finding the interesting in the ordinary. She made me think about things I already knew in new ways and taught me more fun facts than I know what to do with. I was particularly impressed by her ability to pursue interesting digressions without derailing the story. I also thought she did a great job being funny, without being irreverent to the dead. I will strongly recommend against reading this while eating. It’s not for the faint of heart! The worst parts for me were some the animal experiments, which I did sometimes think included inappropriate humor. Everything else about this was wonderful though and I can’t wait to start her Packing for Mars for the Nonfiction Book Club this weekend! Read more »

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Review: Moneyball

July 26, 2015 non-fiction 15 ★★★

Review: MoneyballTitle: Moneyball
Author: Michael M. Lewis
Source: Bought
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:three-stars

Summary: This story had a lot of good qualities – an underdog story, fun stats, well written – but felt very shallow to me in terms of content.

“Billy Beane, general manager of MLB’s Oakland A’s … had a problem: how to win in the Major Leagues with a budget that’s smaller than that of nearly every other team. Conventional wisdom long held that big name, highly athletic hitters and young pitchers with rocket arms were the ticket to success. But Beane and his staff, buoyed by massive amounts of carefully interpreted statistical data, believed that wins could be had by more affordable methods such as hitters with high on-base percentage and pitchers who get lots of ground outs. Given this information and a tight budget, Beane defied tradition and his own scouting department to build winning teams of young affordable players and inexpensive castoff veterans.” (Source) Read more »

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Review: Xamnesia

July 8, 2015 Memoir, non-fiction, Review 20 ★★★★★

Review: XamnesiaTitle: Xamnesia
Source: from publisher for review
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:five-stars

After reading my interview with Lizzie Harwood, my mom jumped at the chance to review her memoir and I’m excited to share her review with you today. Thanks Mom for the great guest post!

Wow! I love reading memoirs and have read quite a few, but none quite like this one!   Xamnesia:  Everything I Forgot in my Search for an Unreal Life   is the story of a young woman who leaves her native New Zealand to work for VIP billionaires in a remote oil-rich oasis.   The perks are extravagant but the cost to the author turned out to be very steep. Read more »

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Soundbite Sunday: Not That Kind of Girl

July 5, 2015 Audiobook, Memoir, non-fiction, Review 20 ★★

Soundbite Sunday: Not That Kind of GirlTitle: Not That Kind of Girl
Author: Lena Dunham
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:two-stars

Summary: I found the author’s voice annoying and the focus of her story was on relationships I didn’t find very interesting.

I’d never heard of Lena Dunham prior to reading Not That Kind of Girl, but I’m always up for a memoir read by the author, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, this particular author’s voice really did not work for me. Although I did enjoy hearing the story with the author’s intended inflection, she sounded whiny and childish to me. Read more »

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