Biography, Nonfiction

The Kennedy Heirs by J. Randy Taraborrelli

John, Caroline, and the New Generation: A Legacy of Triumph and Tragedy In addition to being an Anglophile royalist, I also enjoy keeping up with our own "American Royalty," the Kennedys. While I've learned quite a bit about Joe Jr., JFK, RFK, Kick, Ted, Eunice, Pat, Jean, and Rosemary, I wanted to learn more about… Continue reading The Kennedy Heirs by J. Randy Taraborrelli

History, Nonfiction, True Crime

We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence In my continuing efforts to read a book in every section of the store, I realized that the book I called true crime had a week argument at best. When I came across We Keep the Dead Close as an advance copy, I figured it… Continue reading We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

Book Club, Nonfiction, STEM

The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell

Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World I have never been interested in reading about things that currently are a realistic threat to me (i.e. pandemics, cancer and global warming). However, as I do not have sole determination of the books we read for book club and pretty much everyone else… Continue reading The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell

Biography, Book Club, History, Nonfiction

The Last Pirate of New York by Rich Cohen

A Ghost Ship, a Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation It's another Nonfiction Book Club selection! This was one that I put forth to the group for voting and it was definitely a compelling read. Synopsis From the publisher marketing:Handsome and charismatic, Albert Hicks had long been known in the dive bars and… Continue reading The Last Pirate of New York by Rich Cohen

History, Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction

The Nine of Us by Jean Kennedy Smith

Growing Up Kennedy This summer, the last of the nine Kennedy siblings, Jean, passed away at the age of 92. I'd had a copy of The Nine of Us sitting on my shelf as an ARC and as I've been working my way threw all my old ARCs, I figured it time to read The… Continue reading The Nine of Us by Jean Kennedy Smith

Biography, Book Club, History, Nonfiction, STEM

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Dark Story of America's Shining Women I'm continuing to play catch up - The Radium Girls was the Nonfiction Book Club selection for July and while I say I'm going to be better about posting in a timely manner, daily posts for the bookstore blog eat up a LOT of time. But if it's… Continue reading The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Book Club, Contemporary, Fiction, New Adult, Romance

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

We're back! At the beginning of June my bookstore was able to reopen partially to the public, and then a week ago we were able to open more fully. That was, I hope understandably, very stressful. But this week I could finally take some time to sit back and head out to my in-laws beach… Continue reading Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction

How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery

A Memoir in Thirteen Animals I've been waiting to write this review until I found the copy of the book that we're supposed to have on hand at the store. And when I finally gave up, I ordered another copy from the publisher. Right before we had to close our doors at the bookstore because… Continue reading How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery

Book Club, Classics, Fiction

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women #1 & #2 I've been watching Little Women on near repeat the last few days to cope with being in the epicenter of the Pennsylvania Covid-19 outbreak. I re-read the book in the last month for the tenth time, but the first since I was fourteen and I'd nearly forgotten just how near… Continue reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Book Club, History, Nonfiction, Sociology

Into the Raging Sea by Rachel Slade

Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm, and the Sinking of El Faro As the moderator for the Nonfiction Book Club, I typically refrain from voting. I often wind up picking the books for the vote, or at least some of them, so I typically let everyone else decide, then I'll just step in to break ties. I… Continue reading Into the Raging Sea by Rachel Slade