Good Reads & Views

The Ravenmaster by Christopher Skaife
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Ravens have made the Tower of London their home for centuries. According to legend, the Tower, and England itself, will fall if they ever leave. To discourage that possibility, one of the Yeoman Warders is assigned to watch over their welfare and happiness. Christopher Skaife, along with his staff, is the officer who currently feeds and doctors them, climbs after them if they get into trouble, retrieves them if they go wandering, and frequently finds himself the target of raven humor.

What the reviewers say: “In this lively and often cheeky narrative, first-time author Skaife puts a human face on the Beefeaters (aka Yeoman Warders)-the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London-and the distinctive ravens under their care.” Publishers Weekly

Life lesson:  Never ever underestimate the ravens.

Book of Ages : The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill LePore
Nonfiction

Who it’s about: Benjamin Franklin’s youngest sister

What sets it apart: The Revolutionary War from the viewpoint of an intelligent if uneducated woman with an inside look at the forming of these United States. Through Benjamin’s letters she was much better informed than most civilians about the great events taking place in Philadelphia. Through the dislocations the war forced upon her—Benjamin Franklin’s sister could not allow herself to be captured by the British, and they kept invading cities she lived in—she learned firsthand the pain the war caused ordinary citizens, as she tried to protect her family and herself.

Who it’s for: Anyone interested in a unique take on the Revolutionary War period>

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The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candice Fleming
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: While steeped in true events, the Family Romanov reads more like a novel than a non-fiction. Follow the imperial family through the glamor and mystical intrigue of their royal lives through what led them to their gruesome fall from power. This text is full of fascinating photographs and thought-provoking excerpts that both humanize and vilify the extravagant imperial household.

Awards: Award winning Young Adult Nonfiction with 21 honors in 2014.

 

Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas by Mark Kurlansky
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The history of one of the world’s major foods, and how its consumption changed and adapted over the millennia. Lots of recipes included (some that you definitely may NOT want to replicate).

Why you should read it: Whether you love “cow juice” or hate it, this book has so many interesting tidbits that it is a pleasure to read; it also gives a lot of food for thought, pardon the pun. Did you know that milk as a beverage on its own was relatively uncommon? The Romans thought consumption of milk by the Northern people was “barbaric.”

A sample of chapters: Going Sour in the Fertile Crescent, Buttery Barbarians, The Cheese Heads, Cows and Truth, and Trouble in Cow Paradise.

Reviewers say: “Kurlansky's charming history of milk brims with excellent stories and great details” (Publishers Weekly).

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The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek by Howard Markel
Nonfiction

Featuring: Health nut Doctor John Kellogg and his much-abused brother and business partner Will, along with the church which originally bankrolled them, and their business rivals, as they live up to the “battle” in Battle Creek.

What it’s about: Breakfast cereal is a humdrum fact of life now. But once upon a time, it was the latest fad. Every one of these people was an autocrat, and considered his own interests were naturally more important than those of anyone else. And some of them were not particularly honest about how they fought. Theft of proprietary information, suspicious fires, bullying, and crackpot health theories abounded as they plotted to take over the nation’s breakfast tables. A lively history of a part of the Third Great Awakening. 

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The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly
Nonfiction

Australian Kelly became fascinated with songlines, which are still used by some elders. She learned that, instead of being a religious ritual, they help initiates remember the enormous amount of information their people need to survive in a harsh country. And then she broadened her scope, exploring ancient and modern methods of memorization, and looked for ways to apply them. Our ancestors went to an awful lot of trouble to build sites like Stonehenge and Easter Island, and draw enormous figures at Nasca, especially considering how hard their lives were already. What if there was a practical purpose for all of them in an oral culture? A fascinating and original look at pre-history, with practical applications.

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Sargent’s Women by Donna M. Lucey
Nonfiction

You can’t see what will become of these wealthy, blue-blooded women by looking at Sargent’s portraits. Scandalous love affairs were the least of it. In some cases, they actually succeeded in marrying the men they loved, after many difficulties. It usually ended in sorrow. Money and health drained away, their families turned on them, and life became a constant struggle. But they never stopped fighting. And one, Isabel Stewart Gardner, built her heart’s desire in the form of the museum she created and opened to the world. A history of the Gilded Age.

The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City by Margaret S. Creighton
Nonfiction

In 1901, Buffalo, New York decided to try to top Chicago’s White City with a rainbow of Edison’s colored lights at the Pan American Exposition. In financial trouble, they were counting on the exposition to put them back on their feet. Geronimo headlined one of the many acts, as did The Smallest Woman in the World (who was actually being kept prisoner by her promoter,) and Jumbo the Elephant. Taking advantage of the publicity, several people tried going over nearby Niagara Falls in barrels. Much of the action was pretty appalling to modern eyes, but they were doing fairly well until President McKinley was assassinated at the fair, and everything fell apart. A fascinating history.

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City of Light, City of Poison by Holly Tucker
Nonfiction

Louis XIV of France thought he had burnt all the evidence. Police Chief Nicolas de La Reynie arranged for it to be delivered to his king after his own death, and Louis wasn’t about to let the Affair of the Poisons continue to damage the reputations of his nobles. After all, since they were noble, they were clearly innocent, no matter what the evidence said. He never knew that de La Reynie kept scrupulous notes, which found their way into the archives in the Bastille, along with court records and other official reports. That treasure trove forms the backbone of Tucker’s intriguing story as she unravels an ancient web of crime and witchcraft in the heart of Paris. If you like this one, try also Blood Royal by Eric Jager.

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Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe’s America by Andrew Ferguson
Nonfiction

A self-proclaimed Lincoln buff, Andrew Ferguson takes us with him on his exuberant travels through America in search of Abraham Lincoln sites and events. In this wryly funny mash-up of travel, history, and sociology, the author explores Lincoln’s influence on modern-day America, with his long-suffering family in tow. Beyond visiting the prominent historical sites, Ferguson also drops in on a conference of Lincoln reenactors (“the Abes” do not like to be called “impersonators”), where his commentary blends humor and admiring incredulity. If you enjoy American history, armchair travel, and unabashed enthusiasm, give this book a try.

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