The Martian by Andy Weir My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was lovingly written by an obvious space nerd. Weir explains large amounts of science and engineering in a very accessible format. As only a true space nerd would do, there are lots of jokes and puns. Not everyone will like them, but they…
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States by Ida B. Wells-Barnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars The shooter in the recent Charleston massacre reportedly said: “You rape our women, and you’re taking over our country.” In the aftermath, the mayor claimed to not know much about the…
Born with Teeth: A Memoir by Kate Mulgrew My rating: 4 of 5 stars OK. I am a total Star Trek nerd. Next Generation definitely is my favorite, but I really enjoyed her as Captain Janeway on ST: Voyager. So I was intrigued to read about Kate’s life off screen. My usual problem causing me…
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself by Harriet Jacobs My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book accounts for Harriet Jacobs’ life as a slave, hiding for several years in the South, escaping to the North, and finally obtaining her freedom. She presents some letters documenting the tale. Given the…
Gods and Fighting Men The story of the Tuatha de Danaan and of the Fianna of Ireland, arranged and put into English by Lady Gregory by Lady Gregory My rating: 3 of 5 stars This set of Irish tales reminded me of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Barely organized; mostly miscellaneous. Several seemed to cover the same…
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton My rating: 3 of 5 stars A story detailing upper class “society” New York of the 1870s as the backdrop. Wharton details parties and mores. As the story goes along it feels more and more critical of them. A couple oddities: 1) Newland Archer, the protagonist, visiting the…
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot My rating: 4 of 5 stars Part biography of Henrietta Lacks and her family. Part explanation of the contribution the cells taken from her have had on medicine. Part memoir of Rebecca on the challenges brought in even getting to write this story. It jumps around…
Táin Bó Cúalnge. English by L. Winifred Faraday My rating: 4 of 5 stars I put out a call on Facebook for suggestions on Gaelic mythology to read. This was the top suggestion. This strongly reminded me of Norse and Saxon epics. All account for the names of places by describing the battles undertaken there.…
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick My rating: 5 of 5 stars PKD writes about my favorite topic which is how we perceive reality. What is real? Can we actually tell? I may need to read more of his books. Sensation and Perception was my favorite class doing my Psychology major.…