Category: Nonfiction

Review: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey

October 24, 2025

“A haunted house is a memory palace made real: a physical space that retains memories that might otherwise be forgotten or that might remain only in fragments. Under the invisible weight of these memories, the habits of those who once haunted these places, we feel the shudder of the ghost.”  Ghostland takes a look at … More Review: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey

Review: Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach

October 19, 2025

The body is the most complex machine in the world and because of that you cannot easily replace what breaks. This book goes over various surgeries, research, and trials that are working to replace various parts of the body. Each chapter discusses a different topic of the body, like skin graphs, human and animal organ … More Review: Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach

Review: Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville

October 18, 2025

This book takes you through eighteen different historical cemeteries and discusses how they shaped the funeral industry. It also discusses how the funeral industry has changed over time, including current changes that are happening, and what the future of death might include.  This was a very interesting look at the history of these cemeteries and … More Review: Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville

Review: In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press by Katherine Corcoran

September 16, 2025

“A society without truth is a scary place to live.” When the murder/assassination of Regina Martinez happened I was only twelve and wasn’t watching/keeping up with the news. So everything about this case and investigation was new to me and I found it to be fascinating, and scary.  Regina Martinez was a journalist in Veracruz … More Review: In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press by Katherine Corcoran

Review: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

September 15, 2025

“The most telling symptom of fascist politics is division. It aims to separate a population into an “us” and a “them.” This was a very informative book about what fascism is, how it works, and examples throughout history. I learned a lot from this book, especially in understanding how the United States got to this … More Review: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

Review: The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin

September 13, 2025

This was an interesting look at poison and the women who have used it to kill. This book includes a primer that goes over the basics of poison, then each chapter is organized by the women’s motives. Also the author is up front in stating that the majority of these women are white because she … More Review: The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin

Review: Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History by Bill Schutt

September 8, 2025

As soon as I saw this book I knew it was one I wanted to read. This was a fascinating look at cannibalism in humans, animals, and insects. While this seems like a book that would discuss cannibal serial killers, it doesn’t and the author explains early on why he doesn’t cover that topic. I … More Review: Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History by Bill Schutt

Review: Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End by Alua Arthur

August 30, 2025

“You are seen. You are heard. Your life matters. Your death will too.” Alua Arthur is a death doula and helps provide end of life support to her clients. This book takes us on a journey of her life and career, while teaching us the importance of thinking about your own death and what you … More Review: Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End by Alua Arthur

ARC Review: Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror by Ashley Cullins

August 19, 2025

“What makes Scream so relatable is that the killer, though initially masked and anonymous, is not some monster. It is someone you know who is deeply betraying you in a very traumatic and violent way.” This book is a love letter to the Scream franchise and its impact on the horror genre. Ashley Cullins provides … More ARC Review: Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror by Ashley Cullins

Review: Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail by Andrea Lankford

August 16, 2025

While I live in the Appalachian mountains and spend a lot of time wandering the woods, I have never considered spending months hiking the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. I have always been conscious of the dangers of hiking/wandering the woods and usually am pretty prepared, but that is only for a few … More Review: Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail by Andrea Lankford

Review: Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars by Paul Buhle and Raymond Tyler

July 26, 2025

Title: Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars Author: Paul Buhle and Raymond Tyler Illustrator: Summer McClinton Pages: 137 “There is never peace in West Virginia because there is never justice.”  Mother Jones This was a beautifully illustrated history of the West Virginia mine wars. I really loved … More Review: Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars by Paul Buhle and Raymond Tyler

Review: Faithful Unto Death: Pet Cemeteries, Animal Graves, and Eternal Devotion by Paul Koudounaris

July 19, 2025

“The love the animals gave will never be forgotten.” This was a beautifully written book about the love people hold for their pets and how we deal with their deaths. Paul Koudounaris photographs and research into pet cemeteries really shows a whole new side of love and grief that most people don’t think about.  The … More Review: Faithful Unto Death: Pet Cemeteries, Animal Graves, and Eternal Devotion by Paul Koudounaris