Nonfiction
In 1740, a squadron of seven ships left Portsmouth, England, on a mission to capture a fabled Spanish galleon. “The Wager” is the story of one of those fated ships. It’s a riveting tale on the high seas that carries readers along with a thrilling narrative. Masterfully written, it’s a page-turner of the finest order as the book opens its sails on a perilous mission that leads to a shipwreck, harrowing survival, and cruel savagery. Mayhem, murder, and mutiny rule. Who survives to tell the tale?
Literary Criticism
Books about books are frequently self-referential. This one can hardly help it. P.D. James, who started writing detective fiction in the 1950s, is a giant in the field. Her background proves one strength of this history of mysteries. Few know the field as intimately; fewer write as entertainingly. She covers the field from its origins to the present. She discusses why people like or dislike the genre. It includes a short list of recommended reading of mystery fiction and writers. It’s a treat for mystery fans.
Fiction
‘The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt’
By Jeff Shaara
This novel follows Theodore Roosevelt from his boyhood days to his death, taking us first from his horrible childhood asthma to Harvard to the death of his young wife, Alice Lee, following childbirth. Particularly enlightening are his ranching days in the Dakota Badlands and fighting against the Spanish in Cuba. It’s a fine introduction to Roosevelt for older teens and a grand tour of his life for the rest of us, albeit fictional. The inclusion of so many historical figures in the story just adds to the pleasure.
Classics
This epigrammatist and lyrical poet of ancient Rome ranged in his subjects and emotions from his rueful elegy lamenting the death of his brother to his tender, sarcastic, and angry observations of his mistress, whom he calls Lesbia. Born into the wealthy class in the last days of the Republic, Catullus often aimed invective-laden epigrams at real people. The Latin text and the translation of these 116 poems are included here, as is a rich analysis of the history and verse of Catullus.
Sports
Lou Gehrig remains one of baseball’s icons. His power at the plate and his ability to play through pain and injuries made him an unstoppable force—until he was diagnosed with ALS. But before the tragedy, sports agent Christy Walsh had Gehrig write articles about his life and the game. These would become his memoirs, but memoirs that would be lost for nearly a century until historian Alan D. Gaff discovered them. For fans of the game, this book is, much like its subject, a national treasure.
For Kids
Both a celebration of rain and an exploration of seemingly every aspect of it, “Who Likes the Rain” asks questions and offers simple but thorough answers, considering ideas such as “why it thunders” and “where the water from the street goes.” This book will surely bring extra excitement to a summer thunderstorm or rained-out beach day.
