I picked up the book “Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away” during our visit to the Main Columbus Metropolitan Library. It was sitting out on one of the “recent releases” tables and the title intrigued me. I found the book just as intriguing as the title. Ben Utrecht, the author of the book …
From Off the Shelf
State of Jones by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer
Last summer a new movie came out which I was interested in seeing. Unfortunately it didn’t last long enough for me to see it, but I did pick up a copy of the book on which the movie was based. “The State of Jones” by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer tells the story of Newton …
“Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly
I recently finished reading the book “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly. I became interested in reading the book when I saw a trailer for the movie which will be coming out in January. The movie trailer promised to tell the “untold true story” of the black women who worked at Langley as mathematicians, engineers, …
When Breath Becomes Air
“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi is a beautiful, life-affirming book about dying. Paul was a neurosurgery resident who was pursuing the goal of finishing and becoming a professor of neurosurgery. He was so focused on the end of this goal that he nearly let the hours and stress destroy his marriage. And then …
The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz
I read the Lisbeth Salander trilogy by Stieg Larsson in 2011. By that time the books had reached best-seller status around the world and it seemed as if everyone had read them except me. I found all three of the books to be captivating page-turners that I couldn’t put down. The anti-hero, Lisbeth Salander, was …
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Tina Fey’s book, “Bossypants,” was published in 2011 but I just got around to reading it this year. I like Tina Fey. I loved her impression of Sarah Palin during the 2008 Presidential election. She also co-stars in one of my favorite movies, “Date Night,” with Steve Carrell. Tom and I watched several seasons of …
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
After visiting the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park with its emphasis on Wilbur and Orville Wright, I was interested in learning more about the Wright brothers. So I got a book from the library, “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough. David McCullough is one of the premier historians and writers of our time. He …
How to Be a Heroine
“How to Be a Heroine” by Samantha Ellis is an interesting book with an interesting premise. Samantha Ellis was raised by Iraqi-Jewish parents in London. As she was growing up she felt like an outsider and struggled with the constraints of a culture that wanted to isolate her. She escaped to the world presented by …
Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears
“Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears” is the title of a new book about the history of the National Park Service (NPS). 2016 is the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, so I read the book eagerly. I thought it would be easy to find a book about the history …
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
If you are interested in learning more about the Revolutionary War but not interested in reading a dry, boring historical account, you might want to try “Lafayette in the Somewhat United States.” The book is written by Sarah Vowell who describes herself as a ““historian-adjacent nonfiction narrative wise guy.” Her writing is conversational in the …