Fiction
2 Tales of Triumphant Journeys
‘The War Librarian’ By Addison ArmstrongTwo women. Two timeframes. Two different circumstances. Their lives intersect in a brilliantly woven tale of courage, friendship, and forging new paths. Heartfelt, often horrific in nature, their stories are sure to enlighten, inspire, and definitely entertain.
Desperation Forges Heroes
‘Mila 18’ By Leon UrisBased on real events, “Mila 18” is a magnificent saga of Nazi atrocities in Poland, the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, and the freedom fighters who, in the end, battled German forces in the rubble of broken buildings, armed with a motley assembly of weapons and sheer grit. Newsman and protagonist Christopher de Monti eventually casts his lot with this guerilla force. The passion with which these men and women went down fighting is reflected in the fine storytelling abilities of Uris. A powerful and moving story.
History
Reading the Enemy’s Mail
‘War of Shadows: Codebreakers, Spies, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East’ By Gershom GorenbergField Marshal Erwin Rommel, one of the most storied commanders of World War II, gained his reputation commanding the Afrika Korps in Egypt. Rommel claimed his success was due to his ability to put himself inside the mind of his opponent. Rommel was not reading his enemy’s mind; he was reading his mail. This book examines espionage and signal intelligence during the 1940–1942 African campaigns. It’s told on a personal level yet reveals grand tactics and national strategies. It is gripping.
What the Presidents Drank
‘Mint Juleps With Teddy Roosevelt: The Complete History of Presidential Drinking’ By Mark Will-WeberAlcohol has played a role in American history from the Whiskey Rebellion to Prohibition and since. This book tells the role alcohol played with America’s first 44 chief executives. It follows their drinking habits, the various other relationships our presidents had with alcohol (Washington was a major whiskey distiller), and the role alcohol (and temperance) played in American politics. It’s an interesting tale told in an amusing manner.
Memoirs
The Golden Age of Journalism
‘The Noise of Typewriters: Remembering Journalism’ By Lance MorrowMorrow, a longtime essayist for Time, remembers his days at the magazine, his well-known colleagues (like Norman Mailer, Gay Talese, Joan Didion, and Walter Isaacson), and how the writers made the golden age of journalism golden. He also discusses the influence of his boss and the founder of Time, Henry Luce, on journalism and society.
Classics
Baseball’s Bard and Humorist
‘Ring Lardner: Selected Stories’ By Ring Lardner“‘Shut up,’ he explained” is from Lardner’s story “The Young Immigrants.” If that line strikes you as funny, then you’ll likely enjoy other stories by this Jazz Age sports writer and short story master. Included here are classics like “Champion,” “Alibi Ike,” and “You Know Me Al,” the first-person narrative baseball tales spun by the egotistical and semi-literate Jack Keefe. Lardner’s eye for the absurd and the pompous and his keen ear for American vernacular in the early 20th century still bring his work alive today.
For Kids
A Bedtime Touch-and-Feel Book
‘God Bless You and Good Night’ By Hannah HallThis is a snuggly book designed to send the little ones into a peaceful sleep. They’ll love stroking Steve Whitlow’s illustrations as they watch the animals prepare for bed and say their prayers. It makes a great gift for new moms and is meant for kids 1 to 3 years old.
Tongue Twisting Glee
‘Fox in Socks’ By Dr. SeussWith read-aloud silliness that will have your tongue tied in knots to the delight of your giggling audience, “Fox in Socks” makes language exploration hilarious and fun. Even reluctant readers will want to give it a go. Not for bedtime.
