Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's history-making race around the world by Matthew Goodman 910.4 Goo

I always like non-fiction books, especially when I can learn about periods of history in which I am interested.  To tell the truth I had never heard of this race - just the one in the book written by Jules Verne.  This is the story of Nellie Bly (the name was made up when she was trying to get a job in journalism) who, in 1889, left NYC going east on a ship in order to set a record for the fastest trip around the world.  She actually was racing, so she thought, against Verne's fictional character who did it in 80 days.  In reality The Cosmopolitan magazine talked one of their journalist into trying to beat Bly and sent her off on a train going west, several hours after Bly had left - and Bly would be half-way around the world when she found out about her 'rival', Elizabeth Bisland.  At the beginning of the book I was very impressed by Bly.  She did some incredible undercover work to write her take on some of the social injustices of the times.  When she went to the editor of The World (Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper) to suggest she try going around the world in fewer than 80 days, she was turned down.  (They had thought about such a trip but certainly NOT for a woman.)  A year later they decided to do it.  A very interesting look at the times and mores of the late 19th century.  As the book continued I lost some of my admiration for Bly.  I am, however, in absolute awe of her for one reason - she wore the dress in this picture for the entire time!!!!!! 

The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow by FIC Tre

When the book begins, Lily Verner is trying to get through the funeral of her husband.  They had been married a long, long time and she knows it won't be easy to face life without him.  Her family is very supportive and Emily, her oldest granddaughter at 17, is particularly attentive.  Over a cup of tea Emily tells her grandma of her plans to go to India with a college group to help an orphanage.  They are also raising money - by doing a sponsored parachute jump.  That takes Lily back many decades to her family's company that made the silk parachutes for the war.  So begins the story of Lily's early life - her best friend, her brother, the silk factory, her first love and the decision she made one day that changed her life forever.  Guilt has been a part of her life ever since the war.  It will be up to Emily to help Lily face the truth.  Added bonus - you will learn something about silk!

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran LP Mor

  
This was an easy read that kept my interest high.  It is based on a real-life legal case, but I don't know how closely the story follows the truth.  Henry Oades is a good husband and father working as an accountant in England.  To his wife's dismay he takes a job in New Zealand.  Ever dutiful, Margaret tries to accept the posting as cheerfully as she can, knowing that it is only for a few years.  Then Henry gets a promotion and the post is extended.  Tragedy strikes when the Maori kidnap Margaret and the kids.  Search parties look for the family but they are presumed to be dead.  Not accepting that, Henry continues to search until he is injured.  After a memorial service for his family Henry decides to leave New Zealand.  He can't face Margaret's family back in England so he heads to California.  There he meets Nancy whose husband dies in a fire shortly before she is to give birth.  They marry and are very happy.  Then one day Margaret and her kids show up at the door.  This takes place in the late 1800's and bigamy (as the locals see it) is not popular!  An interesting book. 

Bellfield Hall, or the Observations of Miss Dido Kent by Anna Dean FIC Dea

Described as "Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen," this mystery is set in early 19th-century England.  Because I love all things Christie, and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books, I was eager to see if the description held true.  It did; this first book in a series is certainly reminiscent of both authors.

A young woman, Catherine, calls on her spinster (though not "aged") aunt, Miss Dido Kent, to help solve the mystery of her fiancee's disappearance and cryptic message breaking their engagement.  The two are staying at the manor house of Catherine's future father-in-law on an extended visit as per the time period, and while they are there, another mystery crops up with the murder of an unknown woman on the grounds.   Miss Kent wonders if the two things are linked, and sets out to solve both mysteries. With the typical cast of characters -- any reader of Christie or Austen will certainly recognize the stereotypes -- the story moves along well as Miss Kent scrutinizes the other houseguests and family members for any sign of their involvement in either case.  A segue here and there into romance (or lack thereof), and Miss Kent's clever letters to her sister, add some humor to the story.

While I found the mystery a bit obvious here and there, the author manages a Christie-esque twist to keep the reader on her toes. I found this a fun little read, and have put the remaining books in the series on my to-read list.

The Gravity of Birds by Tracy Guzeman FIC Guz

      

This was a very good first novel.   It is the story of two sisters, Natalie and Alice.  As teenagers they met Thomas during a family summer vacation.  He was staying at his parents' cottage next door.  Thomas was 28 and struggling to begin his life as a painter.  Although the sisters had been close, things began to change that summer.  Alice spent her time with her books and watching birds.  When Thomas told her to drop in any time she took him at his word and became a regular visitor.  The story jumps to many decades later.  Thomas did become wildly successful but at what price.  He hides out from the world living in a dark and dingy place.  He calls his friend, Dennis Finch, who is an art history professor but also the man who has written about and documented all of Thomas' works.  Finch is shocked when Thomas tells him he has a painting that no one has seen.  He wants Finch and Stephen Jameson to authenticate the painting and then sell it.  Upon inspection of the painting they discover that it is actually  just part of a triptych.  To find the remaining parts they must find Natalie and Alice.  A very entertaining book!

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown 797.12 Bro

This was a great book!!!!   I listened to the audio version which was very well done.  It really contains something for everyone!  Sports, a bit of romance, war, adversity - well just everything really.  For sure it contains the agony of defeat and the joy of winning.  This is what I love about non-fiction.  It really happened and it is every bit as entertaining as a novel.  A large part of the book centers around Joe Rantz.  (he is the man the author met shortly before Joe died).  Joe has a childhood that is very sad.  When his dad remarries after the death of his mother Joe finds himself at odds with Tula, the truly wicked stepmother.  It is the Depression and she is only worried about her own children - and so Joe is put out on his own.  His father did nothing to stop that.  So Joe knows he is going to have to work hard for any success.  He begins rowing for the University of Washington.  Normally the boys work their way up to the senior boat.  But the year that Joe was a freshman there was a dynamite group of freshmen who began a journey that would eventually take them to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  The book is filled with great stories that will keep your interest from beginning to end.  After I finished listening to the book I went to Google and was able to find clips of the actual event! 

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann J McM

Imagine a world where everything is gray and bleak... the entire world as you know it is surrounded by walls and above you is a barbed wire fence.  Now with how amazing that sounds imagine that you are a 13 year old kid who was caught drawing in the dirt with a stick or humming a song or telling a story to your friends.  What do you think would happen to you?  Why you are classified as Unwanteds and then sent to the Death Farmer to be eliminated of course!

Once the gate is closed behind you and you are inside the Death Farm and you are NOT eliminated... what crazy thoughts are going through your mind?  Being told that you can do whatever you want sounds like a scheme to get you to do something bad again right? WRONG!

Mr. Today is the "Death Farmer" also known as the mage of a magical land called Artime.  He has teachers (human and creatures) to teach the children how to be creative!  How to sing, dance, act, draw, paint and create.  Each child is assigned to a specific teacher that specializes in what that child is most creative in and help them thrive in creating.

Now imagine after learning that singing and drawing are good things that you can also learn how to do magic!  Now you are told that since the land you live in is a secret, you need to be trained and prepared to fight in case the secret land you live in is ever discovered.  This story was an amazing beginning to a series I'm excited to continue reading!

The Returned by Jason Mott FIC Mot

What would happen if the dead came back to life on earth, just as they left it? When people who died years previously begin reappearing -- alive and unchanged -- the world doesn't know how to react or what to do with them. These "Returned" are actual people who simply want to go back to their homes and families -- or are they? The question of what or who are the Returned is never fully answered, but they aren't zombies or aliens or anything sci-fi like that.

The story is mainly set in a small southern town, but the events are happening all over the world. The main characters of the book are an elderly couple whose young son drowned over 40 years ago, the government agent who brings the boy home when he is found "returned", the evil army colonel who is "only doing his job", and the frightened and angry townspeople who decide enough is enough.

This book is the debut novel by Jason Mott, and it is worth the read. While there weren't a lot of surprises in the book, the story was well-paced and the characters were real and likeable (for the most part). The author left a number of questions unanswered, and a number of themes unexplored, but I suspect that was deliberate on his part -- it leaves the reader thinking. How would I react if my loved ones Returned? How would I react if they didn't? Could I believe it was really them? Why did some Return and some did not? What would I expect the government's reaction to be, and how would I respond to those actions?

A good story, and a thought-provoking read.

Hungry: A Memoir by Darlene Barnes 641.5 Bar

A professional chef with no formal training takes a job as the house cook for a fraternity at the University of Washington. Over the next six years, Darlene Barnes battles inadequate facilities and equipment, government inspections, picky eaters, lousy food supplies, and the occasional rat. She also learns how much it means to college kids to have good, healthy food prepared by someone who cares -- and how easy it is to become an integral part of their lives.

Though not her first job in the food profession, having worked in supermarket delis, dive restaurants, and most recently as a private chef to a Dallas billionaire, Darlene finds this particular position to be by far the most rewarding. This is not only because of the supreme control she has over nearly every aspect of the food decisions (a level of control that had been completely missing in all her previous jobs), but also because she is able to elevate the level of food service the young men in this fraternity -- and, as it turns out, a number of sorority girls whom she dubs "the food bandits" -- receive by insisting on great ingredients for meals to be prepared *by her* on-site. She is an anomaly among her peers, who are mostly nothing more than microwave re-heaters of tasteless, nutrition-less, frozen, packaged meals. Some of the food bandits described what their "chef" offered: "Just chicken...And then some kind of sh** on it...A different kind every day." Meanwhile, Darlene's "boys" ate everything from asparagus to zucchini, beef to salmon, kosher to meat-free Lenten meals, all made from fresh, mostly local, ingredients.

In addition to providing the meals, Darlene becomes part of the family. Her kitchen becomes a meeting place, and Darlene herself becomes a sounding board, a sympathetic ear, and a friend to many of the boys.

Comedy, some tragedy, and plenty of recipes are found in this engaging, though very quick, read. I finished it in one day, in part because of its length and in part because I couldn't seem to put it down.