Tag: History

Cover for The Wrath to Come by Sarah Churchwell

Review: The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells by Sarah Churchwell

June 10, 2024

The Wrath to Come shows how one of the most popular stories of all time, Gone With the Wind, can be used to explain the current division in the United States. Churchwell explains how the history of mythmaking has influenced America’s politics and how Gone with the Wind influenced that mythmaking.  “The United States is, … More Review: The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells by Sarah Churchwell

Cover for The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound

Review: The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance by Mensun Bound

May 20, 2024

TW: Graphic excerpts from Endurance’s crews journals that discuss animal deaths, death of their dogs and a cat, threat of starvation, bullying, harsh living conditions and the expectation of dying.  After reading Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage a few years ago, I was very excited when it was announced that they had found the ship in … More Review: The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance by Mensun Bound

Cover for The Mine Wars by Steve Watkins

ARC Review: The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers’ Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields by Steve Watkins

May 14, 2024

“God does not walk in these hills…The devil is here in these hills, and the devil is greed.” As a West Virginian, I have heard of the Mine Wars but like most people, I never learned about it in school because it was not a topic that is taught. If you read this book you … More ARC Review: The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers’ Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields by Steve Watkins

Cover for Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World by Bob Brier

Review: Tutankhamun and the Tomb That Changed the World by Bob Brier

April 19, 2024

This was an in depth look at Tutankhamun and how the discovery of his tomb changed the world. This book is broken into three parts that break down the different parts of Tut’s discovery and legacy: history of the tomb, Tut finally revealed, and Tut’s legacy. This starts by giving us the history of Howard … More Review: Tutankhamun and the Tomb That Changed the World by Bob Brier

Cover for Gory Details by Erika Engelhaupt

Review: Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science by Erika Engelhaupt

March 1, 2024

This was a fascinating investigation into a variety of strange, gross, and morbid things about our bodies and the universe. Each chapter explores a different topic making it extremely easy to pick and choose what you want to learn about, or skip over if you are squeamish about some things.  Engelhaupt does a wonderful job … More Review: Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science by Erika Engelhaupt

Cover for Madame Restell by Jennifer Wright

Review: Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright

February 9, 2024

TW: discussions of abortions, rape, sexual harassment/coercion in the workplace, alcoholism, homelessness, starvation, abandonment of children, death of children, drug overdose (including in children), sex work, death of husband, incest, child kidnapping, incarceration, racism, lynching, the Civil War, torture, death of family members, suicide.  “Restell was a businesswoman, a scofflaw, an immigrant, and an abortionist. … More Review: Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright

Cover for The Fossil Hunter by Shelley Emling

Review: The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World by Shelley Emling

December 19, 2023

This was a wonderful look at Mary Anning and her life discovering dinosaurs. At twelve, she discovered the first dinosaur skeleton, an ichthyosaur, and then spent the rest of her life hunting fossils and making many incredible finds. She found the first complete plesiosaurus skeleton, found the first fossil of a dimorphodon (a pterodactyl), and … More Review: The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World by Shelley Emling

Cover for Plague-Busters! by Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal

Review: Plague-Busters!: Medicine’s Battles with History’s Deadliest Diseases by Lindsey Fitzharris

December 14, 2023

Medical Historian and author Lindsey Fitzharris is back and talking about plagues, but geared towards children. This book takes a look at six of history’s most deadliest plagues and how the world dealt with them. Each chapter explores a different disease, its symptoms, the history of finding a cure, and ends with a section on … More Review: Plague-Busters!: Medicine’s Battles with History’s Deadliest Diseases by Lindsey Fitzharris

Cover for People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn

Review: People Love Dead Jews: Reports From a Haunted Present by Dara Horn

October 12, 2023

CW: antisemitism, genocide, violence, gun violence, gore I picked this book up because of the title, and I am very glad I did. This was a heavy topic, but a very important and powerful read. First, I am not Jewish but I try to read books on this topic to better understand Jewish history and … More Review: People Love Dead Jews: Reports From a Haunted Present by Dara Horn

Cover for Spirits, Seers & Seances by Steele Alexandra Douris

ARC Review: Spirits, Seers and Séances: Victorian Spiritualism, Magic and the Supernatural by Steele Alexandra Douris

September 8, 2023

This book was a wonderful look at Victorian spiritualism, magic, and the supernatural. Douris explores the history of spiritualism, séances, automatic writing, cartomancy, spirit photography, and many other things. Douris also provides information on the history of supernaturals, superstitions, magic, and Halloween and Christmas celebrations. Not only is this book filled with a wonderful look … More ARC Review: Spirits, Seers and Séances: Victorian Spiritualism, Magic and the Supernatural by Steele Alexandra Douris

Cover for Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson

Review: Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson

June 30, 2023

As someone who has read quite a lot of books on ancient Egypt, I was extremely surprised that I had never heard of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt before I saw this book. Christiane was a remarkable woman with an extremely rich career. Her extraordinary contributions to Egyptology, the Louvre, and the world are astounding.  “You don’t get … More Review: Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson

Cover for The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland

Review: The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland

May 18, 2023

Trigger Warnings: graphic death; genocide; torture; physical abuse; starvation; PTSD; survivor’s guilt; infanticide; cheating; alcohol use; paranoia; abusive relationship; suicide of a child; cancer;  “Information is necessary, to be sure, but it is never sufficient. Information must also be believed…Only when information is combined with belief does it become knowledge, and only knowledge leads to … More Review: The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland