Fiction
Nero Wolfe Begins
‘Fer-de-Lance’ By Rex StoutThere’s so much pleasure that comes from experiencing a detective’s first case. This is what you get with “Fer-de-Lance,” a story involving a deadly snake—the first case in the successful Nero Wolfe series that set the standard for the famous armchair detective.
Myth, History, and Adventure
‘The King Must Die’ By Mary RenaultIn this recreation of the Minoan Age and the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, Renault excels, as she did in several of her historical fictions, in recreating the ancient Greek world. Here we follow Theseus as he grows to young manhood and into a hero who eventually confronts the Minotaur on Crete. Loyalty, betrayal, courage, the passions of life and love, and personal sacrifice mark Renault’s superb recreation of this legend. The book ends with Theseus’s safe return to Athens, having slain the beast.
Science
A Look at Naming Species
‘Charles Darwin’s Barnacle and David Bowie’s Spider: How Scientific Names Celebrate Adventurers, Heroes, and Even a Few Scoundrels’By Stephen B. Heard
People like order, especially scientists. Even the naming of living things has become a science called taxonomy. This book takes an in-depth look at the naming of things, specifically the hows and whys in regard to naming living creatures. Stephen B. Heard describes how the process of nomenclature works. The rules lack the force of law but are followed regardless. He then plunges into the weird world of eponymous naming: naming things after individuals. It’s a truly fascinating history.
History
‘Enigma’ Fully Revealed
‘The Enigma Story: The Truth Behind the ‘Unbreakable’ World War II Cipher’ By John Dermot TuringDid codebreaking win World War II for the Allies? This book tackles that question. It provides a fresh look at the history of Enigma, a Nazi device to encode messages. Putting codebreaking in historical context, Turing attacks myths created by prior authors with incomplete knowledge. This may be the most complete examination of the history of Enigma to date. For those interested in World War II, this is a must-read history.
Self-Reflection
Shells, Solitude, and Serenity
‘Gift from the Sea’ By Anne Morrow LindberghIt’s the mid-1950s. Anne Morrow Lindbergh takes a break from her husband and five children to spend a few weeks in solitude at the seashore. There, she reflects on the gifts of space, time, and being alone with her thoughts and aspirations. This beautifully written book offers great and simple wisdom for generations of readers.
Classics
Perfect Fireside Tales
‘The World’s Greatest Short Stories’ Edited by James DaleyThis Dover Thrift Edition features 20 great stories from around the world. Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” Rudyard Kipling’s “The Man Who Would Be King,” Anton Chekov’s “The Lady With the Toy Dog,” John Updike’s “A&P,” and more bring you some of the best of this genre. A few of these tales, such as Yasunari Kawabata’s “The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket” or Jorge Luis Borges’s “Borges and I” can be read in just a few minutes, while others, such as Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” push the limits of this form.
For Kids
Childhood’s Beloved Housekeeper
‘Thank You, Amelia Bedelia’ By Peggy ParishGreat-Aunt Myra is coming for a visit, and the story’s wordplay will bring laughter to the young, as the literal-minded Amelia makes her preparations, paring vegetables and stripping sheets. Grades K–3. A Level 2 I Can Read book.
For the Love of Books
‘Dog Loves Books’ By Louise YatesWhen Dog opens a bookstore, he finds customers a bit scarce. In an effort to keep busy, he delves into the books on his shelves and discovers that he’s never bored or alone. Straightforward and sweet, this book is a celebration of the love of books.
