Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin

Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin

During the Age of Exploration, the "Golden Age" of American piracy arrived, spanning from the 1600s to 1700s. At first, colonists supported pirates in a show of solidarity against the Crown. Later, they would vehemently oppose them. Vignettes reveal the true stories behind infamous pirates such as Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Henry Morgan, and Edward Low, as well as the involvement of well-known historical characters like John Winthrop, Cotton Mather, and Ben Franklin in his printing and publishing days. The tales of these seafaring marauders, stripped of their usual misconceptions and stereotypes, reflect the precarious nature of life in colonial America.  

380 pages.

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Everyone believes they know Laura Ingalls Wilder to a certain extent. But there are gaps left out of her famous Little House books, and author Caroline Fraser pulls from unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and land and financial records to fills in those holes. Fraser explores every angle, from Laura's pioneering childhood to her turbulent relationship with her daughter, author and editor Rose Wilder Lane. 

640 pages.

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe

At the age of eleven, Cornelius Vanderbilt set out to forge a path in the shipping and railroad industries, and he would eventually become the richest man in America. After his death in 1877, his heirs would quarrel over his vast wealth, creating discord among the remaining family members that can be felt as recently as 2018, when the last Vanderbilt was forced out of The Breakers, the enormous summer home built by Cornelius’s grandson. Anderson Cooper, the great-great-great grandson of the Commodore, as Cornelius was called, chronicles the rise and fall of his ancestors.

317 pages.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

 

Pages: 321

"The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives."

This 'Not History Book' did an amazing job at providing an accessible overview of the history of racism and antiracism and how it has influenced its current state. I would definitely recommend this to anyone as a starting point. It is aimed at middle to highschool age, but I think adults will benefit from reading this too, and may want to read the original Stamped for more details.

Graphic Novels

 Attack on Titan Volumes 8-11 by Hajime Isayama

This series is so good. Hey, let's protect humanity-why the heck are you helping the monsters?! Wait... OH MY GOSH THEY ARE IN THE WALL. WHAAA??!? 

768 pages (192*4)

Plunge by Joe Hill and Stuart Immonen

Ghost ship suddenly shows up after being missing for 30+ years? Okay. Out in the middle of no man's (is)land in the Bering Strait? Cool. Zombies? Sure-wait... worms? Alien worms? Animated corpses controlled by alien worms? This just got interesting.

168 pages

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

I knew of it, but I really didn't know about this event. Wow, the research that was put into this, hunting down the firsthand accounts and interviews of everyone involved. Backderf's work is always great. If you haven't yet read My Friend Dahmer I'd highly recommend it. (That title though! Of course I had that song stuck in my head all the way through it...)

288 pages

The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado, Dani and Tamra Bonvillain

Excellent example of body horror. That stomach/sinkhole image will stick with me for a while. Also, why do dear-headed women keep showing up in the things I read recently? Maybe it's too much horror. Wait, no... you can never have too much horror.

160 pages

Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave

Yeah, I've been meaning to get to this one for a while. No, I don't think it's cheating to opt for the graphic novel adaptation. Honestly, I love reading about paleoanthropology and  early human history, so I may go back to the print at some point anyway.

248 pages

Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District by Hannibal B. Johnson

 I had first heard of Greenwood about two years ago when I read the YA novel, Dreamland Burning (which was fantastic, btw), and I've ended up finding more and more reference to it lately. I've been watching Lovecraft Country (which is a really good show loosely based around a really good novel), and a lot of the characters' stories are related to the 1921 Greenwood massacre. However, I started to wonder what the actual Greenwood was like, not just the tragedy. This book was perfect for that. The character and resiliency of the community is clear in the photos showing Greenwood in its early days through the present. I enjoy the Images of America series because I feel like I can actually step back in time to get a feel for very specific communities and their histories.

 

213 pages

Don't Know Much About History...

Heavenly Bodies by Paul Koudounaris

In the late 16th century, a new section of the Roman Catacombs were discovered. The Church recognized the skeletons as those of Early Christian martyrs, and sent them to Catholic churches as saints across Germanic Europe. The relics were then richly adorned with jewels and costumes, and the laity came on long pilgrimages to pray at their shrines. While the tradition fell out of practice by the 19th century, many of these relics are still found in churches across Europe. Koudounaris presents this photographic history with his beautiful, and enthralling images. This book is just way too cool!

189 pages


Kinloch: Missouri's First Black City by John A. Wright

Longtime resident John A. Wright has collected photos and interviews to tell the story of Kinloch, located north of St. Louis. Going from wealth and luxury, white flight, school desegregation, as well as church and community life, the book gives an overview of this city's history. While Kinloch itself is in decline, a population shift has retained much of its heritage in nearby Ferguson.

128 pages




An American Plague by Jim Murphy

I wasn't sure I wanted to read a plague history right now, given.... you know. But this book on the 1793 Philadelphia plague felt distant enough that I didn't mind reading it. Although it is technically juvenile nonfiction, this is definitely a book that can be enjoyed by all ages. Murphy is very good at telling the stories of the main doctors and public officials involved in the crisis, as well as the vital role of the Free African Society. The discussion on the various theories of causes for the (pre-germ theory) plague were telling-placing blame on foreigners is certainly not new. This book is an engaging and informative read. I've also read his book, The Great Fire of Chicago, which is also fantastic!

165 pages


Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

You know, for the most part I really liked this one. You see Laura really start to grow up and participate in the social conventions of the era. The sociable! Lunatic fringes! Name cards! I couldn't imagine having to wear a corset. I made the mistake of googling "corset damage" and the images gave me nightmares. The story is quite pleasant until the end. That minstrel show... Yikes.

307 pages



Don't know much Biology...
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

This book is definitely not to everyone's tastes, but I freakin' loved reading about the history and cultures around fungi, mushrooms, lichens-everything! Did you know fungi were the first to colonize land, forming giant towers as prototaxes? Or that mychorrhizal fungi form vital connections in a forest, swapping nutrients and "feeding" younger and weaker trees? Scientists are testing the chemicals in psilocybin mushrooms for potential treatments for anxiety and depression! And yes, Star Trek collaborated with Paul Stamets, an actual mycologist, to develop Discovery's fictional mycelial network, designed by Lt. Commander... Paul Stamets.

352 pages



Conservation Trails by Teresa Kight/ MO Dept. of Conservation

So many great trails and Conservation Areas to explore in Missouri! While this publication is a bit dated, most of these trails haven't changed much in the past decade or so... It gives me some ideas of places to explore once this whole mess has blown over...

96 pages





A Guide to Missouri's Snakes from the MO Dept. of Conservation

Sneks. Everybody loves snakes, right? No? Only me? ... okay. We have sooo many watersnakes. And unfortunately they get killed for no good reason because folks assume any snake in the water is a cottonmouth. Copperheads are nasty. I remember killing one once with a garden hoe. And baby rat snakes are the cutest thing ever!

59 pages





The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane

This oversize book focuses on words disappearing from children's lives, pairing poems with pages and pages of colorful paintings. Each poem focuses on a word-bramble, wren, acorn-that may or may not enter children's vocabularies with our increasingly indoor culture.Beautiful poetry. Gorgeous artwork.

128 pages





Don't know much about geography...

Yellowstone: A Journey Through America's Wild Heart by David Quammen

Quammen combines tales of his adventures in America's first national park with breathtaking images of wildlife and the landscape. The nature photography is phenomenal! I enjoyed reading about the history of the park and challenges it faces today. I've never been able to visit, but I definitely want to take a road trip now...

222 pages

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

I've been recommended this book many times. Then DBRL chose it for the One Read... and I caved. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it! It follows the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to house arrest by the Bolsheviks in the Metropol. Across from the Bolshoi, the Metropol is a grand hotel (I've been there, it's huge) yet I'm sure it would feel tiny after 40-ish years. I enjoyed how the Count watched the passage of early Soviet history. The author definitely did his research, which I appreciated. The hype around this novel is not over exaggerated!

462 pages

 
Don't know what a slide rule is for...
Me neither, dude. I had to look it up. Makes me real grateful for calculators.

This song is now stuck in your head!
That, or you're trying to look up the reference.
You're welcome.

What a wonderful world this would be.

Historical Fiction Reads

It's been a while since I posted anything, so I'll try to catch up on what I've read the past several weeks!


Flight of the Hawk: The Plains by W. Michael Gear

The second book in the series, Where Tylor leaves the Missouri River to set off into the plains, still running from the bounty on his head. I didn't like this one as much. It was a lot of descriptions of grass, and not the actual story didn't pick up until the very end. The introduction of Native American characters made it feel more like the Gears' People books, which is not what I was looking for in this one. Still, I enjoyed the return of McKeever.

281 pages




People of the Fire by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear

I've been enjoying these books. They are a bit predictable, but I enjoy reading about the way Native Americans lived. I love the fact that this series is written by an archaeologist couple, and you can definitely tell they've done the research and been on the digs. The final scene with the wildfire is excellent! This is a fun escapist read to America's distant past.

480 pages




The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

More of an alternative history novel, as the main characters use magic conduction, but still a solid depiction of the bigotry of southern aristocracy and injustice of slavery. Definitely check out the audiobook of this one, because the reader is amazing! He even sings the work songs, which saves me the trouble of looking them up on Youtube. I love historical fiction, because it leads me to look up and learn about history I didn't know about.

403 pages

Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

I remember reading this one in middle school, but I did NOT pick up on half the history or the adult references as I did this time around. This book is so good, I felt like I was actually touring around the Pacific Islands alongside these men. Michener does a great job at depicting the boredom of officers, the interactions with islanders, and of course, the horrors of war-which makes sense, I suppose, since he lived it. I feel like too many novels about WWII focus on the European theater, so it's nice to get the other perspective. A true masterpiece!

384 pages



P.S. Did you know atabrine (the yellow malaria tablets passed out by Atabrine Benny) is closely related to chloroquine?

Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn

A companion book to the latest Library of Congress exhibit, this is a great way to explore the collection without having to travel all the way to D.C. I didn't know how involved in the Civil Rights movement Rosa was, or that she was fierce activist all throughout her life. I loved reading the letters and narratives of her life written in her own voice.

A glimpse into an inspiring life!

82 pages

The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom by David F. Walker

Wow. So I've heard of Frederick Douglass from history class. Famous abolitionist and writer, right? He is so much more than that. He was a slave, a father, a runaway, a freedman, an orator, a poet, a newspaper publisher, and the most photographed man of the 19th century. This book takes you through his entire life story, and it is a fascinating one. The art is beautiful, and the author clearly did a lot of research to make the fullest story possible. It offers a very honest and revealing look into the realities of slavery in the early 1800's. I'm probably going to go pick up Douglass' autobiographies now.

Amazing! Read this. Fascinating history.

192 pages

Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings by Joy Harjo

Another excellent collection of poetry from Joy Harjo. You can really hear the music of blues, jazz and stomp dances come through in her lyrics. Harjo does a great job of treating dark subjects with honesty but also hope. I'm enjoying her works more and more.

If you enjoy poetry (or think you do not enjoy poetry), you should read Joy Harjo-she is amazing!

139 pages

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

Frustrated with his findings after surveying eighteen of the top American history high school textbooks, author James Loewen set out to make learning about history more engaging and memorable. The result is Lies My Teacher Told Me, covering prominent topics such as the first Thanksgiving, Columbus's voyage to the New World, and 9/11.

444 pages.

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade

From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country's battles

In the air, on land, and sea;

The first lines of the Marines Hymn refer to the Barbary War.  Yet, this is not a well known  part of American history.   Kilmeade outlines the political and naval maneuvers of the war in entertaining fashion, albeit from simplified perspective.   

273 pages

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

This covers U.S. history over the years against Native Americans with destruction of whole societies and misuse of Indian funds. In the 50s and 60s there were relocation centers. In 1972, a meeting of 75 nations was locked in a fed building with all the information about the years of extermination of Indian tribes by the U.S. government.  They read it and published it.

Audio:  11 hrs. 22 min.

Print:  312 pages

Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York's Underground Economy by Sudhir Venkatesh

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

While attending Columbia University, the author does research on the New York City social groups and those trying to rise from their poor racial beginnings.  304 pages.

Comedians of Country Music by Stacy Harris

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Twelve country musicians could be called the stars of "Hee Haw".  Uncle Dave Macon started his career late in life, but became one of the memorable stars.

Audio:  1 hour, 1 minute
Print:  71 pages

St. Louis: An Illustrated Timeline by Carol Ferring Shepley

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Home of the World Series St. Louis Cardinals, Art Museum, Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, recording artist Nelly, Opera Theatre of St. Louis founded in 1976.  In 1958, the St. Louis Hawks beat the Boston Celtics for their only championship and later moved to Atlanta.  In 1954, St. Louis school board prepares for Brown vs. Board of Education.  Charles Lindberg crosses the Atlantic Ocean in the airplane named the Spirit of St. Louis.  213 pages.

Jefferson City 150: 150 Years of Jefferson City Through the Eyes of the News Tribune and Its Readers by News Tribune Staff, et al.

Posted for Paul Mathews

Jefferson city ensured its future as the state capital, when a statewide vote held in 1896 defeated a measure to move the capital to Sedalia. The Millbottom was littered with bars until 1920 and now only Paddy Malone’s remains. Being on the river Jefferson has a few floods. A prison riot occurred on Sept. 22, 1954. Jefferson City  and country lives on past Jan.1, 2000 (Y2K).  144 pages.

Available in our catalog here.