Erik Larson has done it again! The author of Dead Wake and The Devil in the White City brings history to life with his latest, The Splendid and the Vile. This time he tackles the first year of Winston Churchill’s tenure as prime minister, with splendid results. Continue reading
Category Archives: Nonfiction
Book Review: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Historical nonfiction can be so good when the subject is interesting and the author is talented. Destiny of the Republic has both things going for it. This book about President James Garfield’s life and assassination is engrossing and devastating. Continue reading
Book Review: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was published in 1994 and spent four years on the New York Times bestseller list. How am I just now reading it?!? True-ish crime that is pure entertainment gold. Continue reading
Book Review: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
Hello, everyone! I was able to squeeze in another book this month (mostly because it’s short), and it was a good one! My big project is winding down so hopefully I’ll be back in the swing of things soon.
I read Travels with Charley in Search of America (hereafter referred to as Travels with Charley) as part of the 12 Months of Reading Goodness challenge. November’s challenge is to read a book with a mode of transportation on the cover since Thanksgiving yields some of the busiest travel days in the US. Continue reading
Book Review: Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spink
My prayer: Lord, please send us another Mother Teresa to save us from our stupid selves. Amen. Continue reading
Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Stephen King pulls back the curtain and lets us peer into his mind. Surprisingly, it isn’t full of creepy crawlies. In fact, On Writing is charming, insightful and full of practical advice. Not just for writers, it should appeal to anyone interested in how a master craftsman approaches the creative process. Continue reading
Book Review: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
Mayflower is an account of the 1620 Mayflower voyage and the subsequent ~56 years of English settlements in the New England area of the United States. It includes details about the devastating war between colonists and some of the area’s native tribes known as King Philip’s War. History buffs should like this one. Continue reading
Book Review: Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise
Grateful American tells the remarkable evolution of Gary Sinise from a disillusioned teenager into someone who has devoted much of his adult life to serving veterans, active duty service members, and first responders. It’s a life story that easily could have turned out badly, but instead turned out triumphant. Continue reading
Book Review: From Fire, by Water: My Journey to the Catholic Faith by Sohrab Ahmari
This Lenten season, I decided I needed to do something to enhance my faith. People often give up something for Lent – chocolate, swearing, Twitter, etc. But I’ve always liked the idea of adding something meaningful, so I chose to read From Fire, by Water, which is a conversion story. Continue reading
Book Review: Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
I read Can’t Hurt Me as part of the 12 Months of Reading Goodness challenge. February is the month to let a loved one pick a book for you to read and so I asked my husband to do that. When you ask a self-help book junkie to pick your next read, chances are you’ll be reading a self-help book, which is what happened to me. I designed the challenge to help people get out of their reading comfort zone, and this is certainly something I wouldn’t have chosen for myself, so it worked in that respect. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 