Prequel takes a look at the rise of fascist tendencies in the US today and how it was also prevalent in the past. In the 40s the pro-fascist, pro-Hitler, antisemitic movement was large and it was funded by Germany’s, who sent out millions of leaflets and letters with the help of Congressional frank mail. This … More Review: Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Red-Haired Ash Reads 