Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie are names as familiar as the founding fathers or Hollywood stars yet we know little of their struggles to become the greats of the Jazz Age. They all had to fight to play, not only because of competition, but because of their skin color. The three came from varied backgrounds but all of them dealt with racism in order to have their incredible talent heard. This is a comprehensive look not only the music industry and birth of jazz but also the history of the times. We see just what it meant to be a popular musician and the rigorous schedule they had to keep to in order to break even by playing clubs most of the year. The author does an excellent job of painting a picture of those smoky clubs, the glamorous (for some) Pullman cars and the terror of finding yourself on a dark road in an unfriendly and dangerous part of the country. Music lovers and historians alike will find much to enjoy. 4 stars
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What a wonder a plant is. An organism that is beneficial to so many creatures and humans, exists in some of the harshest conditions and (as we now understand) exhibits intelligent behavior. Plants can adapt quickly to a threat of insects, animals, humans, drought etc. They communicate to other plants to warn them of threats and actively protect and guard plants around them. THE LIGHT EATERS delves into the miraculous life and behavior of plants from changing the shape of their leaves to blend in with other plants , emitting a bad taste or smell to ward off aggressive nibblers or making themselves attractive to pollinators you will be amazed and in awe of this darn near perfect ecosystem. Fans of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF TREES and home botanists and garden enthusiasts will enjoy this book. 4 stars No one can paint a picture of an event or history like Erik Larson. He is completely readable and a favorite of mine to hand to readers who don't usually enjoy reading non- fiction. This story hinges on the months before Abraham Lincoln takes the presidential oath and the growing unrest as several states pull out of the Union. In his classic story set up Larson takes the views of the country and the leading political leaders but highlights the very real problem that the military faced guarding Fort Sumter off the shore of South Carolina. They were surrounded by very upset states who were stockpiling ammunition and preparing for war which left Ft. Sumter potentially cut off of supplies and no way off the island. He gives us a very human viewpoint instead of countless facts or just the military and political angles. Loved the raw humor and anxiety of Lincoln's early days getting to Washington. For every history buff and those who want to understand how we fell apart and those who are watching MANHUNT. 4 stars If you have travelled anywhere in the South Pacific or parts of Alaska you have seen or heard mention of Captain James Cook. To some islanders and the British he was almost godlike, a consummate seaman and true adventurer whose travels brought back new territories and much needed maps home to Great Britain. To others however, he was a bit of a madman (especially on this last voyage) unpredictable, pompous and violent. To many of the native islanders he overstayed his welcome, stripped them of natural resources and left in violence. Hampton Sides offers us an unbiased look at Cook's last voyage back to the South Pacific and then north to locate and map a clear passage through Alaska. Sides has a gift for laying out not only the conditions and customs of the seafarers but also their interactions, customs and the response of the islanders. Comprehensive, immensely entertaining and a "True North" pick for any sea explorer by boat or armchair. This would make a wonderful gift for anyone planning a trip to Australia/New Zealand, South Pacific, Hawaii or even Alaska. 4 1/2 stars
A perfect guide to women's health written by a female OB/GYN. For any woman who has had to stare down a male doctor and try to explain a symptom or pain only to feel like you weren't being listened to or there were no answers - welcome to Sharon Malone MD's waiting room. From early in the race to the final lap she deals with known and little known issues plus shares further questions to ask, the good/bad of treatment and a plan for the future. Case studies, bullet points and a very readable writing style help you get answers or at the very least help you to know you aren't alone. 4 stars It is impossible for a librarian, bookseller or any kind of book lover to read this and not nod your head in an approving manner. These are stories from real people who find great joy in reading and sharing that love with others. Would we all choose books over sleep? books over screens? Do we all stay awake at night pondering over the right choice for a tricky customer and finding the one book that will flip a non-reader ? Heck yes! A delightful feel good book gathered by the man whose books most choose first. A beautifully crafted love letter to nature by way of Lydia Millet's personal experiences in the natural world. Millet dissects our fascination and deep rooted relationship with animals from childhood picture books using animals with human characteristics to teach to adults shaping the animal world for our own benefit for food, companionship or test case. She has a gentle yet firm way of pointing out our many faults with near perfect precision making the reader feel simultaneously both guilty and fascinated by human behavior. As humans we have systematically eliminated so many species and continue to ruin our own chances for survival while revering nature and animal life. Joyous and a warning to perhaps cherish more of what we have before it is gone this will appeal to fans of her fiction as well as memoir/ nature essayists like H IS FOR HAWK. 4 stars If you were expecting a true crime story you will be disappointed and instead a bit humbled by the many years of service this couple have provided to the upper U.S. and Canada. Gene and Sandy Ralston have developed very precise sonar methods that help find missing bodies in large or unstable bodies of water. Where divers have given up and families still wait for closure this couple, asking only for gas money, will come in and spend hours locating missing people. Thanks to their big hearts more than 130 people have been located and laid to rest. The author also explores water related facts, myths and history of water deaths. 3 1/2 stars A memoir of how a traumatic experience can lead to a new path. Trish was in the middle of Hurricane Katrina and it almost ruined her until she saw the birds somehow coming back to New Orleans. They gave her not only a new hobby that would lead her to a new career but something more important - hope. For those in need of a life coach or people who follow the birds, this is a memorable look at loss, survival and looking for the sunshine no matter how bad the storm. 3 1/2 stars Lana Turner was larger than life. A pin up girl whose beauty made her a legend on the screen and whose bad taste in men made her a legend in the gossip columns. Her choice of boyfriends/husbands ran from good guys who couldn't handle the fame to bad guys who couldn't control their temper. Her only child daughter Cheryl was sandwiched between mom's crazy film schedule and the latest "pretend father" at home. When one of these marriages turned really ugly Lana used her daughter to escape scandal. Lana was not going to win any mother of the year awards. Casey Sherman does the tightrope between pointing out her faults along with the tough road she walked under controlling studio heads, mobsters and just bad luck for a well balanced study of the underbelly of old Hollywood. She worked hard, played hard and proved that she was much more than just a pretty face when it came to business. Old movie buffs, Tinseltown aficionados and those of us who pretend we don't pay attention to the Hollywood historical scandals will devour this. 4 stars
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