I just finished reading A. J. Jacobs‘ book “It’s All Relative.” I love how Jacobs immerses himself (and his family) in a topic. He lives it, researches it, and writes about it with a humorous perspective. I reviewed his book “Drop Dead Healthy” in 2015. In “It’s All Relative,” Jacobs uses the world genealogy trees …
From Off the Shelf
Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder
As you know, I like to read mysteries. I mostly read mysteries, but I occasionally delve into true-crime stories. I recently finished the book, “The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective” by Kate Summerscale. It is a true-crime detective story and much more. I have to …
American Bible: How Our Words Unite, Divide
I first decided to check out the book “American Bible” thinking that it would talk about how different parts of the United States look at the Bible. The book turned out to be very different from what I was expecting, but in a good way. “American Bible: How Our Words Unite, Divide, and Define a …
DogTown and Best Friends: Two Books
After visiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, I decided to read a couple of books to get more in-depth information. I started with “Best Friends: The True Story of the World’s Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary” by Samantha Glen. Then I read “DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Redemption, and Rehabilitation” by Stefan Bechtel. I started …
Breaking Free: Escaping the FLDS by Rachel Jeffs
Tom and I are living in Mormon country. We are surrounded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For the most part, these folks are just like everybody else: hardworking, friendly, respectful, and doing their best to live in ways that please God. Within the area, however, there are also …
True Grit Times Three: Movies and Book
The movie theater here on St. Simons Island, part of the Georgia Theater Company, shows a different old movie each week. I wrote about it last year here, and we have been enjoying it just as much this year. This year I have been to “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca,” “Easter Parade,” and “Gigi.” I …
Short Life of Free Georgia by Noeleen McIlvenna
Did you know that, when Georgia was first established as a colony, there was no slavery allowed? This was quite a surprise to me when I first started working at Fort Frederica. In order to learn more about Georgia during its status as a free state, I read the book “The Short Life of Free …
Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century
I first picked up this book because I am a nomad. I do not have a permanent, fixed-location home. Tom and I live in our RV full-time and move around the country. I quickly realized this book is not about my demographic. Nomadland is not about retirees with enough money to live as they choose. …
Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old
“The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old” is a wonderful Dutch novel with an anonymous author. Although some have speculated that it is really the diary of an octogenarian, Peter de Smet revealed that he was the author in 2016, two years after the book became a bestseller. The author, however, is …
Goodreads Goal Met and a New One Set
I haven’t written a book review for a while because we have been traveling so much, but I will make up for it when I catch up to myself. I did, however, at the start of this new year, want to mention the Goodreads app and webpage. My friends Beth Ann and Sarah turned me …