History
‘Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939–1945’
By Neill Lochery
Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, was one of World War II’s key locations because Portugal was neutral. Axis and Allied agents both operated openly there—the only European city where they could. One million refugees fled through it seeking safety. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor stayed there. This book tells that story. It presents the refugees, the spies, and the deals made there. It looks at the balancing act Portugal played to stay neutral. A fascinating history that reads like a spy thriller.
Nonfiction
By Corey Keyes
Bored? Uncertain about your future? Feeling blah? Languishing, which isn’t the same as depression, is low-grade mental and emotional indifference which can affect every part of our lives. Here, Keyes guides readers through its symptoms, examines the harm it does, and then teaches its opposite: flourishing, a subject that he has pioneered. He gives us specific ways and means “to feel alive again in a world that wears us down.” His many examples and practical advice make this one a winner.
Novel
By Nic Pizzolatto
Roy Cady is a hit man and leg-breaker for the New Orleans mob. He has just learned that he is dying of lung cancer. Cady learns he has another problem. His boss wants Cady dead. Sent into a trap intended to kill Cady, he emerges alive, his ambushers dead. Also alive is Rocky, a young prostitute. If she stays, she will be killed. Cady does something uncharacteristic. He takes her with him when he escapes New Orleans, rescuing Rocky. A dark, haunting novel about a flawed man seeking redemption.
Biography
By Robert A. Caro
Considered one of the best books of the 20th century, and arguably the best biography, “The Power Broker” follows the life of Robert Moses, the New York urban planner, who many consider America’s greatest builder. He was an unelected bureaucrat who dominated New York state and New York City politicians and was the city and state’s most powerful person. Caro sheds light on how Moses—a modern Machievelli—garnered his power, uplifted The Big Apple, and ultimately brought her down. A powerful work.
Classics
Edited by Bob Blaisdell
This inexpensive collection brings readers the religious verse of more than 60 poets over a 400- year span of time. Here are classics like John Donne’s “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners,” John Milton’s “On His Blindness,” Emily Dickinson’s “I Never Saw a Moor,” and more. Other less familiar works, like Robert Bridges’ “My Eyes for Beauty Pine” and Digby Dolben’s “Flowers for the Altar,” surprise us with their grace and beauty. G.K. Chesterton’s “A Hymn” is particularly apt for our age.
For Kids
By Peggy Thomas and Laura Jacques
Peterson field guides have been educating nature lovers for decades. This picture book tells the story of their creator, Roger Tory Peterson, and how his love of nature and its creatures was always a part of him since his youth. His dedication to his passion led to a life’s work that has influenced millions. His story will inspire young readers.
