Here are 7 nonfiction titles that are on my February reading list. They span the genres, so I hope you'll be tempted to add a few to your own wish list. (I've provided audiobook information when I could find it.)
From Cold to Hot
The Polar Bear Expedition: The Heroes of America’s Forgotten Invasion of Russia, 1918-1919 by James Carl Nelson
(William Morrow, Feb. 19). Did you know that United States sent troops
to northern Russia during World War I? I didn't. This is the the story
of the 5,000 soldiers who were sent to the subarctic to fight the
Russians in hopes of obtaining an eastern entry into Germany. Many of
the soldiers were from Michigan, but the harsh winters of the Great
Lakes region didn't prepare them for the ungodly cold and snow. Hundreds
of men in the American North Russian Expeditionary Force (the Polar
Bear Expedition) died from environmental conditions as well as from war
and the Spanish flu. The book ends about a decade after the war, when a
contingent returned to recover the bodies of the fallen, bringing them
home for a hero's burial. (The audiobook is read by Johnny Heller and comes with a PDF. Harper Audio: 8 hr, 7 min.)
No Beast So Fierce: The Terrifying True Story of the Champawat Tiger, the Deadliest Animal in History by Dane Huckelbridge
(William Morrow, Feb. 5). If I had been alive at the turn of the 20th
century, I would not have wanted to live in the Indian foothills of the
Himalayas. Why? Because the area was terrorized by a man-eating tiger,
who killed more than 400 people over the course of about 7 years. Even
the Nepalese army failed to bring the big cat down, as locals abandoned
their homes in fear. No time was safe, because this tiger hunted day and
night. James Corbett, who grew up hunting the Indian forests, was
brought in to track the Champawat tiger and bring an end to its reign.
Corbett combined his outdoor skills with some detective work to track
the cat across its territory, all the while well aware of his own
danger. This is a heart-thumping story of how an Indian-born British
railroad worker pitted himself against the most fearsome animal of the
time. Later, Corbett went on to become a conservationist. The book
includes a section of black-and-white photos. (The audiobook is read by Corey Snow. Harper Audio: 8 hr, 8 min.)Women's Stories
Devices and Desires: Bess of Hardwick and the Building of Elizabethan England by Kate Hubbard (Harper;
Feb. 26). I mostly know Bess because she and her then-husband the Earl
of Shrewsbury were charged by Elizabeth I to house Mary, Queen of
Scots--essentially keeping Mary under house arrest. What I didn't know
was that Bess was married four times and was a sharp observer and
manipulator of the British gentry and the court. Through marriage and
social contacts, she created a dynasty of sorts, building a great
fortune and a mixed reputation. Some thought her a hard schemer; others
saw her as too emotional. The truth, as you might imagine, is somewhere
in between. Bess was in and out of Elizabeth's good graces, had husband
troubles, and failed (but not for lack of trying) to place one of her
own children on the throne. In the end, though, she died a wealthy and
powerful woman. Hubbard's account is based on a variety of firsthand
accounts, including more than 200 pieces of Bess's personal
correspondence. (The audiobook is read by Heather Wilds and includes a PDF. Harper Audio; 11 hr, 58 min.)
Renegade Women in Film and TV: 50 Trailblazers in Film and TV by Elizabeth Weitzman and illustrated by Austen Claire Clements
(Clarkson Potter, Feb. 5). I love books that provide short biographies
of pioneering spirits, and this gorgeous collection focuses on (as the
title says) women who made a mark on the screen: big and small. While
you'll recognize many of these of these women, such as Oprah and Mae
West, many others may be new to you (they were to me). We meet the first
professional female stuntwoman, award-winning documentary filmmakers,
film critics, producers, and others. Gorgeous illustrations accompany
each bio (see the cover for a hint), and some of the women were
interviewed for this book. Note that Weitzman features women with a
diversity of accomplishments and also diversity in terms of ethnic
background. This collection is a tribute to some of the women who found
footing in an industry that has not been kind to them. (The audiobook is
read by Mozhan Marnò. Random House Audio; 3 hr, 12 min. As much as I love audiobooks, I would hate to miss the stunning illustrations.)True Crime
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday;
Feb. 26). Written by an award-winning journalist, this book recounts
the 1972 murder of a middle-age mother of 10 and uses that single event
as a springboard for looking into the guerrilla warfare that is known as
The Troubles and the eventual uneasy peace that brought the bombings
and killings to an end a couple of decades later. Keefe explores the
workings of the IRA and wonders whether their acts were justified in the
name of war or whether IRA supporters were murderers or terrorists.
Even today, more than 15 years after peace, the repercussions are felt
on a personal level. From children to the elderly, none of Ireland's
citizens--on both sides of the border--came away unscathed. Some are
still harboring rebellion and anger. The principal violence of The
Troubles may be over (for now?), but many personal stories have yet to
be told. Keefe's depiction of a torn people is at the top of my list.
(The audiobook is read by Matthew Blaney. Random House Audio; 14 hr, 40 min.)Entertaining Science
Earth-Shattering:
Violent Supernovas, Galactic Explosions, Biological Mayhem, Nuclear
Meltdowns, and Other Hazards to Life in Our Universe by Bob Berman
(Little, Brown; Feb. 19). The universe was born in violence and
continues be a dangerous place. In this entertaining (if a bit scary)
book, Berman (a well-known astronomy journalist) details the collisions
and explosions, storms and radiation in outer space and the
long-reaching effects of such mega-events on the very fabric of our
reality. From the birth of stars and solar systems to crashing landings
of asteroids, the universe is far from static. Don't think Earth exists
in some save-haven bubble: catastrophes have plagued our planet from the
beginning: from the formation of the Moon to mass extinctions and
wildly fluctuating weather patterns. Earth has survived every imaginable
disaster and will probably survive many, many more. Whatever species
are around to witness these future upheavals, only time will tell. (The
audiobook is read by Peter Ganim and includes a PDF. Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 43 min.)
Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Feb. 19). I'm intrigued by the setup of
Miodownik's latest look into the world around us. On a nonstop flight
from London to San Francisco, the author (a material scientist and an
award-winning writer) contemplates the many liquids surrounding him and
his fellow passengers. He starts with the fluids of the plane: the fuel,
the drink in his cup, the liquids that make up the human body, and even
the liquid crystal display screen. From there, he talks about the ice
and ocean and volcanoes he sees out his window and how all those
liquids--burning and flowing and frozen--have shaped our planet's
physical landscape. A little history plus a little look into the future
rounds out the story of the many liquids that are part of our everyday
life, whether we're consciously aware of them or not. (The audiobook is read by Michael Page. This is coming out from Recorded Books, but I couldn't find a time, so I don't know how long it is or whether listeners can download a PDF.)
These sound great. I read Mlodownik's previous book - he has such a unique way of looking at the world!
ReplyDeleteI have seen a movie about the tiger and that was really creepy. Thanks for sharing some great sounding books.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I am into nonfiction these days so they all look good to me. I hope to get to Say Nothing soon.
ReplyDeleteSay Nothing has gone onto my TBR list!
ReplyDelete