Places I’ve Taken My Body: Essays by Molly McCully Brown

Places I’ve Taken My Body: Essays by Molly McCully Brown

Publisher/Year: Persia, 2020

Format: E-book (Libby)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Summary

In seventeen intimate essays, poet Molly McCully Brown explores living within and beyond the limits of a body–in her case, one shapes since birth by cerebral palsy, a permanent and often painful movement disorder. In spite of–indeed, in response to–physical constraints, Brown leads a peripatetic life: the essays comprise a vivid travelogue set throughout the United States and Europe, ranging from the rural American South of her childhood to the cobblestoned streets of Bologna, Italy. Moving between these locales and others, Brown constellates the subjects that define her inside and out: a disabled and conspicuous body, a religious conversion, a missing twin, a life in poetry. As she does, she depicts vividly for us not only her own life but a striking array of sites and topics, among them Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the world’s oldest anatomical theater, the American Eugenics movement, and Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. Throughout, Brown offers us the gift of her exquisite sentences, woven together in consideration, always, of what it means to be human–flawed, potent, feeling.

What I thought

Words simply cannot express how beautiful and moving and thought-provoking this collection of essays was. You can absolutely tell that Molly is a poet. There were phrases and passages that were so breathtaking that I was nearly moved to tears–they actually made me ache. I would never presume to “know” Brown, but she writes in such an honest and frank way as to feel truly familiar to her readers.

As with any collection of shorter writing, some spoke to me more than others, but still, as a whole, this was an incredible collection. I absolutely recommend this to everyone. Even though I read this through my library, I will be picking up a copy of this for my own shelves and I will certainly be seeking out Brown’s other works.

Gettysburg 1863: Campaign of Endless Echoes by Richard Wheeler

Gettysburg 1863: Campaign of Endless Echoes by Richard Wheeler
Publisher/Year: Plume, 1999
Format: Paperback
Pages: 302
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

It was a campaign waged from generals’ tents and presidential mansion–a battle fought by soldiers and civilians alike. Drawing on a lifetime of knowledge, Richard Wheeler, award-winning author of Witness to Gettysburg and Voices of the Civil War, combines authoritative research and authentic personal history to re-create the most pivotal episode of the Civil War.

Gettysburg 1863 follows General Robert E. Lee from the marshaling of his Confederate army in Virginia to his desperate last attempt against Union forces on Cemetery Ridge–the doomed and bloody Pickett’s Charge that gave the North a victory it scarcely knew it had won. It brings to life the ordinary men and women who played their part in turning the tide, from a seventy-year-old cobbler who put on his finest clothes and joined the defending Unionists to a wife who, disguised as a man, fell in battle beside her Confederate soldier husband. And there are the noncombatant citizens: the black Gettysburg residents in flight or in hiding, terrified of being captured into slavery; the woman killed by a stray bullet in her own kitchen–the battle’s only civilian fatality.

Illustrated with over a dozen maps and more than one hundred portraits and rare line drawings, Gettysburg 1863 offers a fresh and exciting look at one of the most significant events in American history.

What I thought

My first non-fiction read of 2021! And I really enjoyed it. As someone who has read extensively on this battle before, I didn’t learn anything new, but I did appreciate the narrative feel to this book. It made for easy reading, and I didn’t have to struggle with any dry, textbook style writing. And even though I might not have learned anything new, exactly, there were a number of interesting, moving, and even some funny anecdotes I hadn’t heard before. My sole complaint was that this desperately needed more and/or better maps of the actual battle. Other than that, I think this would make for an excellent read for a beginner to the Gettysburg campaign, and I think this holds value as a quick refresher for the more seasoned historian.

Lake of the Ozarks by Bill Geist

Lake of the Ozarks by Bill Geist
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing, 2019
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 195
Rating: ⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Before there was “tourism” and souvenir ashtrays became “kitsch,” the Lake of the Ozarks was a Shangri-la for middle-class Midwestern families on vacation, complete with man-made beaches, Hillbilly Mini Golf, and feathered rubber tomahawks.

It was there that author Bill Geist spent summers in the sixties during his school and college years, working at Arrowhead Lodge–a small resort owned by his bombastic uncle–in all areas of the operation, from cesspool attendant to bellhop.

What may have seemed like just a summer job became, upon reflection, a transformative era when a cast of eccentric, small-town characters and experiences shaped (some might suggest “slightly twisted”) Bill into the man he is today. He realized it was this time in his life that had a direct influence on his sensibilities, his humor, his writing, and ultimately a career searching the world for other such untamed creatures for the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, and CBS News.

In LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Emmy Award-winning CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Bill Geist reflects on his coming-of-age in the American heartland and traces his evolution as a man and a writer. He shares laugh-out-loud anecdotes and tongue-in-cheek observations guaranteed to evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for “the good ol’ days.” Written with Geistian wit and warmth, LAKE OF THE OZARKS takes readers back to a bygone era and demonstrates how you can find inspiration in the most unexpected places.

What I thought

This book was so difficult to rate! First, there’s that dilemma on “how to rate/review” memoirs. And then there’s the fact that this book was not what I was expecting or hoping for, which is certainly not the fault of the author. I picked this one up because I have a fascination with this time period–’60s/’70s–but also with coming of age stories during this time. So, I think I was hoping for something that would give a more generalized view of the times, whereas what this turned out to be was one man’s individual tale of his summers spent at Arrowhead Lodge. Which…duh…this is his memoir, so of course it’s individualized. I dunno what I was thinking (or if my rambling even makes sense), and that isn’t the fault of the author. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book wasn’t what I was hoping it would be. But I did end up enjoying parts of it, namely Bill Geist’s humor. There’s no better way to describe his writing than to call it humorous–the guy’s funny. And honestly, this year we can use all the humor we can get. There were also moments of poignancy, and I did enjoy his reflections on how the people and places we grew up with change through the years. Overall, although not what I was expecting, this memoir was full of humor and wit, and it made for an enjoyable read.

Thoreau: A Sublime Life by Maximilien Le Roy, A. Dan

Thoreau: A Sublime Life by Maximilien Le Roy, A. Dan
Publisher/Year: NBM Graphic Novels, 2016
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 88
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

“To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity and trust.” Henry David Thoreau is best remembered as the father of the concept, still influential today, of “civil disobedience” which he used against slavery and the encroachment of government. He was a lot more than that. This graphic novel biography relates the forward looking inspirational life of the great author, philosopher as well as pioneering ecologist.

What I thought

I randomly stumbled upon this at my library, and I’m so glad. This was a gorgeously done graphic biography. While I don’t necessarily agree with Henry David Thoreau, I’m still a big fan of his writing/philosophy. I wouldn’t call this a definitive biography, by any means, so if you are looking for an intro to HDT, this probably isn’t the best place to start. However, those who are more familiar will certainly enjoy this. I, for one, loved this and absolutely need a copy of this for my own shelves.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Publisher/Year: Penguin Randomhouse, 2018
Format: E-book (Libby)
Pages: 410
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The true story of a couple who lost everything and embarked on a transformative journey walking the South West Coast Path in England.

Just days after Raynor Winn learns that Moth, her husband of thirty-two years, is terminally ill, their house and farm are taken away, along with their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, through Devon and Cornwall.

Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea, and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter, and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable and life-affirming journey. Powerfully written and unflinchingly honest, The Salt Path is ultimately a portrayal of home–how it can be lost, rebuilt, and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.

What I thought

What a perfect book to read in 2020! In a year that has most of us feeling down & out, this was an immensely inspiring memoir that faces the question of how we go on when faced with the absolute worst outcome. Being a fan of nature writing is what brought me to this book, and Raynor’s and Moth’s unfathomable strength (and even humor) in facing despair is what kept me reading. I was alternately amazed and moved, and not just that, but also impressed that this wasn’t “just” a nature memoir–it offered a thought-provoking look at homelessness and grief in its many forms. Overall, I thought this was an excellent read, providing just the right amount of armchair travel and hope for this year.

Navigate Your Stars by Jesmyn Ward

Navigate Your Stars by Jesmyn Ward
Publisher/Year: Scribner, 2020
Format: ARC – paperback
Pages: 60
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

For Tulane University’s 2018 commencement, author Jesmyn Ward delivered a stirring speech about the power of hard work and the value of respect. Describing how she and her family have overcome challenges, Ward’s meditation on tenacity in the face of hardship inspired everyone in the audience. Now, in book form, Ward’s moving words will reach thousands of readers as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives.

Beautifully illustrated in full color by talented Gina Triplett, this unique keepsake will charm a generation of students–and their parents. Ward’s inimitable voice shines through as she shares her experiences as a southern black woman on the themes of grit, adveristy, and the importance of family bonds–a perfect gift for anyone in need of inspiration from “one of the most searing and singularly gifted writers working today” (Entertainment Weekly).

What I thought

Thank you to Scribner and Shelf Awareness for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll be honest, it’s not often that I find myself reading commencement speeches, especially since I’m almost ten years out of college (GAG). But this was a delightful little read! Between the stunning illustrations and Ward’s lyrical prose, I think you’d be hard pressed not to feel inspired by this slim volume. It goes without saying that this would be a wonderful gift for graduates, but I think that really anybody could use a little spark of encouragement like this every now and again. This is one you’ll want to keep within hands reach.

Moments of Glad Grace by Alison Wearing

Moments of Glad Grace by Alison Wearing
Publisher/Year: ECW Press, 2020
Format: ARC – paperback
Pages: 242
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Moments of Glad Grace is a moving and witty memoir of aging, familial love, and the hunt for roots and belonging. The story begins as a trip from Canada to Ireland in search of genealogical data and documents. Being 80 and in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, Joe invites his daughter Alison to come along as his research assistant, which might have worked very well had she any interest–any at all–in genealogy.

Very quickly, the father-daughter pilgrimage becomes more comical than fruitful, more of a bittersweet adventure than a studious mission. And rather than rigorous genealogy, their explorations move into the realm of family and forgiveness, the primal search for identity and belonging, and questions about responsibility to our ancestors and the extent to which we are shaped by the people who came before us.

Though continually bursting with humor, Moments of Glad Grace ultimately becomes a song of appreciation for the precious and limited time we have with our parents, the small moments we share, and the gifts of transcendence we might find there.

What I thought

Thank you to Shelf Awareness & ECW Press for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I immensely enjoyed this memoir for a number of reasons. For starters, Ireland is somewhere I am dying to travel, and even though Wearing doesn’t spend a lot of time sightseeing, I still felt like I was vicariously experiencing Dublin, what between the various Irish strangers she encounters and the simple day-to-day recounting of the places her and her father meander. Besides that, I was a huge fan of Wearing’s use of humor. I was expecting this memoir to be a bit of a “downer,” but even though she manages to infuse poignancy into the pages, I lost count of how many times I found myself howling with laughter. Bravo! I felt like I was there myself, a fly on the wall. And somehow, despite being Wearing’s own personal reflection, I still walked away contemplating my own “moments of glad grace.” This is not a pageturner, folks. This is a story that would be best enjoyed while sipping Guinness and kicking back while you take in this touching, yet hilarious, father-daughter trip.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Publisher/Year: Canongate, 2015
Format: E-book (Nook)
Pages: 179
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Aged 24, Matt Haig’s world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again.

A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how to live better, love better and feel more alive, Reasons to Stay Alive is more than a memoir. It is a book about making the most of your time on earth.

“I wrote this book because the oldest clichés remain the truest. Time heals. The bottom of the valley never provides the clearest view. The tunnel does have light at the end of it, even if we haven’t been able to see it…Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.”

What I thought

What an important and thought-provoking book! I wish I could put this book into everyone’s hands.

This wasn’t necessarily my favorite book (I couldn’t always relate–although I will say I do empathize), but that isn’t the point here. What Matt Haig attempts (and succeeds) to do is simply open the conversation to mental health. It’s something we desperately need to become more aware of in this country (especially now). I think one of my favorite things about this book was that he gives readers hope for a better tomorrow, but he doesn’t sugarcoat it–mental illness is a bitch.

I don’t personally have depression, so I really don’t feel right weighing in on that aspect of the book, but as someone with anxiety, I will tell you that it feels good to be seen. There is A LOT we don’t understand about the mind and Haig makes no pretense about that. He simply relates his own story and lets you know that even though this might look different for everyone, you are not alone.

*I do want to add that I read this book in little chunks because, as with everyone, I’m having good and bad mental health days (hell, hours and minutes, too) and this topic can be a bit triggering if you’re not in the right headspace.

Anyway, I thought this was well-worth the read!

The Hairbrush and the Shoe by Jeanne D. Stanton

The Hairbrush and the Shoe by Jeanne D. Stanton
Publisher/Year: SparkPress, 2020
Format: ARC – paperback
Pages: 204
Rating: ⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

A hairbrush vanished. The piano played. A bed moved out from the wall. But when a workman was pushed and hissed at by something invisible on the stairs, Jeanne Stanton began to take the idea of a ghost seriously. The Hairbrush and the Shoe is the story of her attempt to find out if a ghost is living in her family’s 150-year-old townhouse–and, if so, who that ghost might be.

Formerly a case write at Harvard Business School, Stanton approaches the ghost issue with the discipline of a skeptic, asking first if ghosts even exist. Armchair research soon leads her into the byzantine world of the paranormal, where a flourishing subculture of mediums, psychics, ghost hunters, and amateur sleuths seeks contact with spirits of the dead. She learns that many scholars and writers have shared a belief in spirits, including William James, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Charles Dickens, and that research into telepathy is ongoing. Fascinated, Stanton joins the London-based Ghost Club and consults a psychic, who assures her that more than one ghost is occupying her home.

Wary of fraud, and curious to know how science might approach her query, Stanton studies current research in psychics and neurology, and learns that spirits and the afterlife are dismissed and research into telepathy is mostly discredited. Tackling the final question of who the ghost might be, she discovers a new website listing a number of eminent “Boston Brahmins” among her home’s former families–including one strong candidate for her resident ghost.

What I thought

Thank you to BookSparks and Jeanne D. Stanton for the free finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read, but I have to say, it wasn’t quite what I had expected. As someone who is utterly fascinated by everything to do with the paranormal, there was a lot of information here that I already knew. I did learn a few things that kept me interested though, and I did like that I was able to pick up a few book recommendations based off of some the author read herself.

I think that the reason why this book was just okay for me was that this was more of a contemplation of belief on the author’s part than I was expecting. The bulk of this book was the author presenting her research into both sides of the question of whether ghosts exist or not. I think I was expecting more about the experiences that took place in her home.

As someone with firmly held beliefs maybe this book just wasn’t meant for me. This was an intelligently written and interesting book. I would definitely recommend this book to you if you are unsure of which side of the fence your beliefs fall upon.

Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy
Publisher/Year: Timber Press, 2020
Format: ARC – paperback
Pages: 243
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Douglas W. Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy local ecosystems and human well-being. Nature’s Best Hope takes the next step, and outlines his vision for a home-based approach to conservation that turns our backyards into conservation corridors and wildlife habitats. Nature’s Best Hope is nature writing at its best–rooted in history, progressive in its advocacy, and above all, actionable and hopeful. By proposing practical measures that ordinary people can easily do, Tallamy gives us reason to believe that the planet can be preserved for future generations.

What I thought

Thank you to Timber Press for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am, by and large, a reader primarily of fiction. However, every now and then I like to dip my toes into some nonfiction, particularly that surrounding topics of interest to me. I especially love reading new releases in my “field.” (My degree is in wildlife conservation.)

That being said you don’t need a degree to incorporate conservation into your own backyard, and you don’t need one to read this accessible little book. Consider me Doug Tallamy’s newest fan. I am really digging his idea for a grassroots approach to bringing biodiversity back into our yards. My husband and I bought our house last June, and I had hoped to work on the landscaping this spring. With everything going on right now, that’s looking more unlikely, but this book has given me something to look forward to as I excitedly (and a little obsessively) start researching ideas for my own yard. I wish I could put a copy of this book into all of my neighbors’ mailboxes (I’m looking at you, dude who started weekly mowing his lawn on FEBRUARY 29th–I live in PA for reference…my grass JUST turned green this past week.)

Environmentally, we are past the point of being able to rely on conservationists to “fix the environment.” Grab your copy of this and let’s get started together–each small step can help! Nature’s Best Hope is an invigorating, imperative read!

The Veil: Heidi Wyrick’s Story by Joyce S. Cathey and Rebecca S. Harrington

The Veil: Heidi Wyrick’s Story by Joyce S. Cathey and Rebecca S. Harrington
Publisher/Year: iUniverse, 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 154
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Three-year-old Heidi Wyrick is born with the ability to communicate with the dead and to gain personal knowledge, identify, and actually befriend spirits from beyond the grave. But these supernatural abilities make her life and the lives of her family a living hell.

Fear becomes tangible when Heidi’s mother, Lisa Wyrick, uncovers hard evidence that her daughter has befriended a man who has been dead for thirty years. To Lisa’s horror, every detail she learns from Heidi proves to be true. But after being threatened by a dark figure, Heidi is thrown into a state of intense fear. The dark figure is different–he is not her friend–and she senses that he means to harm her and her family.

Paranormal experts test Heidi, and exorcisms of the home and readings from well-known psychics become routine. The Veil takes you on a chilling journey through the Wyrick family’s seventeen-year nightmare.

What I thought

There really isn’t a whole lot for me to say about this little book beyond the fact that I enjoyed it (as much as one can “enjoy” a book about horrific events). Some grammar issues and a few typos aside, I did find this to be a disquieting account of one family’s experiences with the paranormal. Told in a prose format, I kind of expected this to feel less like a true story, but truth be told, there were several occasions where I got chills as I read. I can’t even begin to fathom what I would do in their shoes. It took a little bit of searching to get my hands on a copy of this (thanks, AbeBooks!), but I’m glad I did. Being simply a telling of one family’s experiences, it may not offer new perspective or research or anything, but if you are interested in the paranormal, I’d recommend searching this one out, even if just as a supplement to the documentary, A Haunting in Georgia, which had some slightly different details.

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee
Publisher/Year: Graywolf Press, 2006
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 216
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

November, a dark, rainy Tuesday, late afternoon. This is my ideal time to be in a bookstore. The shortened light of the afternoon and the idleness and hush of the hour gather everything close, the shelves and the books and the few other customers who graze head-bent in the narrow aisles.

In The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, Buzbee, a former bookseller and sales representative, celebrates the unique experience of the bookstore–the smell and touch of books, the joy of getting lost in the deep canyons of shelves, and the silent community of readers. He shares his passion for books, which began with ordering through the Weekly Reader in grade school. Woven throughout is a fascinating historical account of the bookseller trade–from the great Alexandria library with an estimated one million papyrus scrolls to Sylvia Beach’s famous Paris bookstore, Shakespeare & Co., that led to the extraordinary effort to publish and sell James Joyce’s Ulysses.

Rich with anecdotes, The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop is the perfect choice for those who relish the enduring pleasures of spending an afternoon finding just the right book.

What I thought

Oh, my heart. I knew from the first page–hell, the first paragraph–that this was a book with which I could fall in love. I have always been an avid reader and an insatiable book hoarder. Obviously, I know I’m here among fellow book lovers (because why else would you be here?), but I have never felt so seen and so understood as I have while reading through the pages of this little book. Every once in a while, I come across a special book–one that requires me to own a copy so that I can occasionally take it down from my shelves and thumb through its pages with the utmost feeling of fondness. This is one of those books.

Buzbee has written such an interesting walk through a bookish life. His own personal journey has me feeling like I’ve found a kindred spirit, and now I know for sure–I have definitely missed my calling as a bookseller. And as a nerd for all things history, I so enjoyed the fascinating history behind books, booksellers, publishing, bookstores, and more.

The town I live in has one bookstore–a Barnes & Noble–which I love dearly. It is a place I frequently visit, whether I have a preset purpose or not. While Buzbee writes in defense of the indie bookstore, I appreciated that he took the time to point out the pros and cons of other types of bookstores, as well. Because the way I see it, I just love bookstores. When we travel, I make it a point to check out any and all indie bookstores I can find, and I make sure I purchase something at each one. I feel lucky because I’m able to do so, and it’s led me to some seriously great bookstores (Otto’s in Williamsport, PA; Main St. Books in Frostburg, MD; Pressed in Erie, PA; Books Galore in Erie, PA–to name a few recent favorites). I try to do my part, no matter how small. And I just really loved that Buzbee got that.

I could probably go on and on about this little book and why it means so much to me as a reader (don’t even get me started on my love for libraries–I’ll save that for another day). I’ll simply say that when I picked up this little hardcover and it fit so perfectly into my hands, I just knew I was in for a treat. So, reader friends, if you love books about books or books about reading, I hope you stumble upon this one. I cannot recommend it enough.