Category: Nonfiction

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!

Ripley's Believe It or Not

I find it rather amusing that my 9-year-old son can’t handle seeing tiny hairballs on the floor from his beloved pet cat, but that he was completely enthralled by the FOUR POUND tiger hairball (picture on pg. 9) that was the size of a basketball! Looking through these books with my son, I always alternate between fascination and disgust.  And even though my own disgust sometimes outweighs my fascination, there’s something magical about bringing home a book that makes your child jump up and down with excitement and beg for just a few more pages before he has to go to bed.

Some of the most fascinating items in this issue were:

  • the skateboarding mice who can even jump through a ring of fire (pp. 14-15)
  • a woman named Barbie Thomas who, despite losing both of her arms at 2 years of age, has gone on to compete in fitness contests (pg. 97)
  • the man who took a picture of himself every single day for 12 years — a total of 4,514 photos! (pg. 152)
  • the Canadian base jumper who, after becoming paralyzed in a 2004 BASE-jumping accident, now jumps in his wheelchair (pg. 175)
  • the pumpkin artists (pp. 208-209) who are capable of turning pumpkins into sculptures of ghouls, goblins, and monsters

And some of the more disgusting items were:

  • the bedside table made from an actual, stuffed sheep (pg. 29)
  • the Sufi holy man who used a sharp stick to practically gouge out his own eye during the Urs religious festival in Ajmer, India (pg. 41)
  • the short-horned lizards that squirt blood from their eyes as a defense mechanism to scare off predators (pg. 90)
  • the “snot shots” (pg. 201) from artist Ulf Lundin’s Bless You project, in which people sneezed at a camera without covering their mouth/nose… ack!

If you’re looking for a conversation-starting/engrossing book to share with a tween, the Ripley’s books are a pretty sure bet.

The Tao of Martha : My Year of LIVING, or Why I’m Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog by Jen Lancaster

The Tao of Martha

Anyone who follows my posts on this blog will notice that I don’t usually read a lot of “books for grown ups.”  One of the reasons I became a Tween & Teen Librarian is because working with teens is good cover for the fact that I still read (and sometimes act) like a teen!  😉   So, when one of my friends suggested I read this book, I told her she was crazy.  She assured me that it was something I would love and that I should just go for it.  Boy, am I glad I listened!  I felt right at home with Jen Lancaster’s sarcastic sass.  I think she could be my new BFF if we ever met in person…  And I also think this book may very well be the literary/memoir equivalent of a Melissa McCarthy movie!  People sometimes tease me that I am “going all Martha” when I prepare themed birthday parties for my kids, host elaborate holiday dinners, and make homemade gifts for teachers, friends, and family.  While I quickly acknowledge that my work is not as perfect as Martha’s, I enjoy the process and the satisfaction of a job well — or well-enough! — done.  And though I’ve had my fair share of crafting and cooking fails through the years, I’m not sure I could ever write a book that tied them all together so well and with so much humor.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a laugh out loud reminder that we’re not all “Marthas,” and that’s OK!

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion For Life by Crystal Paine

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

Earlier this summer, a patron came in looking for this book because one of her friends swore it was a life changer.  I was in over my head with both personal and professional commitments, sleeping poorly, and desperate for anything that could help me change my “barely keeping my head above water” style of living.  As soon as I placed a request for the patron, I added another for myself.  The very day that I started reading this book, I read the first couple of chapters and started making lists of my priorities, goals, and routines so I could set up a concrete plan for moving forward.  I am sure I probably could have worked through things on my own, but it was so much easier to have a step-by-step plan that was created by an author who had “been there, done that.”  Although I would like to say my life turned completely around in the week it took me to finish this book, I have to be more honest and say that I’m simply on my way.  I’m working on saying no to things that don’t help me reach my goals rather than over-committing myself; I’m working on finely tuning my morning and evening routines to get all of my “must do” stuff done (while letting go of the stuff that doesn’t truly matter); and I’m trying to live by the OHIO (Only Handle It Once) rule I once learned at a workshop about organizing — don’t put it in a pile or on a list if you can just get it done right now.  So far, so good.  Wish me luck!

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin

Port Chicago 50

Before hearing Steve Sheinkin speak at the 2014 YSS Spring Conference in White Plains, NY, I had never heard of the Port Chicago 50.  When Sheinkin told us about the Port Chicago disaster and then went on to explain how the 50 men who had been too afraid to return to work were charged with mutiny, I was dumbfounded.  I “had” to know more about this story and how it was that the charge of mutiny actually stuck.  I don’t often find nonfiction books so compelling, but I found myself sitting in my driveway after I got home and popping in my ear buds during lunch breaks at work because I just couldn’t tear myself away from this story — especially when I got to the court trial.  It was as if I were listening to an episode of Law & Order: Historical Case Files.  (If they end up starting a spin-off show with that title, y’all are my witnesses that I came up with the idea and deserve some royalties!)

I especially appreciated how Steve Sheinkin pointed out the fact that the members of the Port Chicago 50 were early, and largely unsung, heroes in the Civil Rights Movement.  Not only did their plight shine a light on the unfairness of the segregation of duties within the Armed Forces, but their treatment by civilians once they left the base was sometimes atrocious, regardless of the fact that they were putting their lives on the line to fight for their country.  One of the quotes that best summarizes how these men effected change in the people around them actually came as the answer to a question between friends.  When Joe Small (the so-called leader of the Port Chicago 50) asked his friend Alex (a formerly racist Alabaman) what had changed his mind about befriending a black man, Alex replied, “I found out something.  A man is a man.”  So simple a statement, yet so profound.

The Soil Will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson

The Soil Will Save Us

Soil can absorb carbon from the air — who knew?  It turns out quite a few agriculturalists, scientists, and environmentalists across the globe knew, and are working on cultivating soil health not only for the good of their crops, but also potentially for the health of our atmosphere.  Thank you to Kristin Ohlson for bringing this hopeful news to the lay environmentalists of the world in a fascinating, readable way.  I really enjoyed this book!

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

The Astronaut Wives Club

Ever wonder what it would be like to stand in the shoes of an astronaut’s wife?  If you grew up in the 60s and 70s, I can almost guarantee that you did!  The book goes through the years of lift-offs, landings and explosions with an emphasis on the wives’ friendship and support of one another.  Through the years, the book offers a glimpse into their lives by showing cheating husbands, widows, colorful personalities among the astronauts and their wives, the first divorce, the women’s liberation movement and political mayhem.  The book doesn’t go into that much depth —  it’s more of an overview of their lives and of the times.

What I didn’t like was that the book jumped around often, so it was confusing to remember which wife was married to which astronaut as the book went on.  There were a few pictures in the book of some of the wives, but since Koppel frequently referred to them by their first names, it became confusing as more astronauts were added to the program.  It would have been very helpful to have a chart showing the husband’s name and the wife’s name … like a family tree.  Overall, I enjoyed the book since I was a child of the 60s and could relate to those times.

Blue Nights by Joan Didion

Blue Nights

So…having previously read The Year of Magical Thinking, I picked up this book.  First of all, it takes only about an hour to read this very small book.  Secondly, I don’t know what I was thinking.  I’m a reader, so I read almost all the time.  But why I would choose to read a book about a mother writing about the loss of her only daughter, well…let’s just say it was ill advised.  In any event, I also have to say I guess I don’t like Didion’s style; she repeats phrases over and over, and it’s really annoying.  And I feel really sorry for her as well — she is definitely not at peace with much of anything — aging, being alone, etc.  I almost think she’s clinically depressed and would  like to call her doctors in NYC to make sure they add an anti-depressant to her daily medications.

Fosse by Sam Wasson

Fosse

Anyone who knows about “Jazz Hands” needs to read this book!  Sam Wasson writes an absolutely fabulous biography about Bob Fosse.  Besides being a brilliant choreographer, he was also one of the only people to win Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Awards.  He started as a dancer, but was never really able to parlay that talent as far as he wanted to because he was so short, so choreography it was.  His life was an amazing tangle of people and places and experiences as well as excesses.  He had quite a few demons that plagued him his whole life.  If you love the theater, or the movies or dance and music, then this is the book for you.

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

Humans of New York

In 2010, Brandon Stanton set out with his camera to capture the spirit and images of the people he came across while walking through the streets of New York City.  Humans of New York is filled with beautiful pictures of the humans that inhabit the city and the stories they share.  I loved this book.  I have always liked portrait photography.  There is something about looking at someone’s photograph that shows you something deeper about a person.  Stanton has a way of getting people to open up to him and share their stories.  Ranging from humorous to serious, we, the reader, get a keen insight to the wide range of emotions that human beings possess.  This book will make you laugh on one page and shed a tear the next.

This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl

This Star Won't Go Out

Esther Grace Earl was an exceptional teenager. She was a kind, thoughtful, and generous Nerdfighter who managed to bring out the best in herself and the people around her while simultaneously battling thyroid cancer. Esther bravely endured lengthy and painful treatments with the hope that she could live long enough to “make a difference, to help someone.” Well, she definitely succeeded. Not only did she inspire people while she was alive, but her legacy continues via a charity called This Star Won’t Go Out.

This book is a collection of Esther’s blog posts, letters to her family, CaringBridge entries from her family, and reflections from people who knew her, interspersed with photos. There is an introduction by John Green, which explains how he met Esther and the role she played in inspiring him while he wrote The Fault in Our Stars. I found it difficult to read this story because I found myself getting depressed and angry about the unfairness of it all. How can there be healthy “bad people” in the world while innocent children and teens die from cancer?!? As I finished the book, and I came to the section where Esther’s parents recalled her final words and moments, I couldn’t help but sob. Thankfully, there was a small samples of stories Esther had written to lighten the mood at the end of the book.

I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

I Am Malala

When I first heard of the assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai, I was in shock.  The fact that the Taliban treated women and girls so poorly was no surprise, but the fact that they actually tried to kill a girl who merely fought for girls to be educated was practically unbelievable.  I was so relieved to hear the reports that Malala not only survived but that her fighting spirit was still intact.  While I find it terribly depressing to know that she cannot safely return to her home, it is heartening to know that Malala has the attention of many world leaders and is being kept safe as she travels the world to continue her work — fighting for the basic right to education.  After watching Malala’s interview on The Daily Show — which left Jon Stewart absolutely speechless — I knew I had to read this book!

While I was already familiar with the general history of unrest in the Middle East, I appreciated Malala’s overview of the formation of Pakistan.  I think it went a long way toward explaining how people could have “let” the Taliban take over; how low literacy rates meant that people had to trust what they were told, and how the intolerance and hatred crept in so slowly that many people did not see what was coming.  The overview of her family’s history, specifically how her own father fought so hard for his education and the education of others, also explained how Malala grew up to be so passionate about the right to an education.  Even though she didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s great that she was nominated — her nomination has the possibility to inspire a whole generation.  I can only hope that the youth of the world are paying attention and that Malala’s virtues are contagious, because there’s no limit to what a generation of people with her drive, courage, and enthusiasm can accomplish.

Rapture Practice: My One-Way Ticket to Salvation [a true story] by Aaron Hartzler

Rapture Practice

Aaron Hartzler credits his acting ability to all the practice he got at home.  After all, having questions about his faith and his sexuality weren’t exactly encouraged by his strict, Christian parents.  If he wanted to stay out of trouble, he had to pretend to believe what they believed and to behave as they thought he should.  As a child, he found it easy to get swept up in the excitement over the thought that Jesus might come down and take them all away to heaven at a moment’s notice.  As a teen, though, Aaron had begun to enjoy his time on Earth too much to hope for the rapture.  He also began to question many of the strict rules his parents upheld in the name of religion — especially the rules against listening to popular music and going to the movies.  He began sneaking around and breaking rules and, what started off as smaller/more innocent lies, soon became intricately planned deceptions and full-fledged rebellion.  Though I grew up attending church, my Presbyterian upbringing was very liberal and I found it fascinating [and sometimes horrifying] to see how vastly different it could have been even though his religion was based on the same holy book as mine.

Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing by Daphne Miller

Farmacology

This is one of those nonfiction books that delivers vitally important information in an engaging, can’t-put-it-down, readable format.  Miller’s examination into the parallels between farm (and soil) health and human health is fascinating. Her writing style is straightforward and authoritative, but large doses of warmth, inquisitiveness, and personal asides make the book as engrossing as any work of fiction.  Her hand drawn maps of each farm that she visited add visual appeal and a great sense of place. Read Farmacology and you too may find yourself with the urge to run to your nearest local farm to plunge your hands into the soil and root around in its microbiotic goodness.

Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures by Amber Dusick

Parenting

This is one of the funniest books about parenting I have ever read!  I had heard about and stumbled upon Dusick’s blog [http://crappypictures.com/] a few times, but I much preferred reading the book.  That’s probably because the book has stories and illustrations of similar types all brought together into a more cohesive story, and I’m generally too OCD for the “bits and pieces” style of blogs unless it’s someone I know personally.  But, I digress.  My favorite thing about this author is that she’s managed to find the perfect balance of sarcastic grumbling about the crappy things parents have to put up with and recognition of the moments that make parenting worthwhile.  I think this is a must read for all parents, people who think they’re ready to become parents, or people who are about to become parents — especially the section on “what it’s like to (not) sleep at night”…  Priceless!

what it's like to (not) sleep at night

Her : A Memoir by Christa Parravani

Her

This was a fascinating memoir written by the author about her identical twin sister, Cara. I was drawn to this book because I had heard that the two girls had been raised and went to school in the Capital District and there are certainly many references to local landmarks. As you may imagine, the girls are more than close growing up and share many interests. However, Cara veers down a different path as she spirals into drug abuse. She also is the victim of rape and that also serves to send her into further descent. Christa tries to help her sister over and over again with various results. Unfortunately her sister dies of a drug overdose and leaves Christa behind to try and pick up the pieces. Christa then sees all too clearly that the odds are not in her favor of surviving – over 50% of surviving twins don’t live past 2 years after their twin dies. Christa then has her own struggles as she tries to reconcile what happened to her sister and slowly but surely fights back to live in the present. This is a powerfully written book, at times funny and heartbreaking but ultimately shoings how strong the human spirit is.