Review: History Matters

 History Matters

Writings by David McCullough

I’m going to mark this down as a ‘did not finish’ and that’s not because I didn’t enjoy it, or, of course, the parts I read. But I was thinking it was going to be writings and speeches he gave about “why history matters.” And some of it is.

But a whole lot more is about general topics—the books he wrote and why, the reason why he chose his subjects, the subjects themselves. And a delightful little essay at the end about why his parents (and he) gave each child a new book for Christmas.

 All the rest was enjoyable too, but too much and too diverse. So I enjoyed it and I recommend it. And it’s short.

Review: West With Giraffes

West With Giraffes

By Lynda Rutledge

Awesome.  Can’t. Stop. Reading. Each little episode is a scary horrible awful mishap on the way from the east coast, where a hurricane stranded the pair of giraffes and left one of them with a horrible leg injury, toward the San Diego Zoo on the west coast. Terrible things happen. Terrible

And I still loved every minute of it!   It’s an old man’s final act of kindness—it’s a young man’s coming-of-age—and it’s a story of America in the final days of the depression before World War II. Some of the scenes involve Hoovervilles and some involve Sundown Towns and negro-white races. And some involve horrific animal cruelty.

And somehow, despite it all, love, kindness and compassion are found in the strangest places.

Review: Cattail Moonshine & Mildweed Medicine

Cattail Moonshine & Mildweed Medicine

The Curious stories of 43 Amazing North American Native Plants

By Tammi Hartung

A lovely little coffee table (or bathroom or bedside table) book, but not all that enjoyable for reading straight through as I did. Fully of fun and curious little bitty descriptions of the various uses of each of the plants.  Lovely, but not really detailed enough to make you fully understand anything.  Just enough to make you curious and wishing for more.

Review: Hunted Girl

Hunted Girl by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

I guess I’m glad to have picked up the second book in this series, because I liked it very much. Full of action and death and destruction, especially near the ending. In this story the detective herself appears to be stalked by her husband’s killer’s family members. But it’s all mixed in with some murders and drug deals so she really can’t be sure.

 Pretty good mystery. Or should I say action thriller?  Nope—I’ll stick with mystery or even “police procedural” for a description.