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.

Savor Missouri: River Hill Country Food & Wine by Nina Furstenau

So many cool places along our rivers! I definitely want to try and visit some of these wineries, orchards and restaurants in the near future. I've always wanted to visit a pick-your-own lavender farm...

This book gave me some ideas for day trips once things warm up!

175 pages

A Year in the World by Frances Mayes

A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In beautiful prose, Mayes examines how place influence personality and character. Her practice of reading books by local authors while traveling is one I would like to adopt. Her practice of traveling the world is one I'd like to adopt! This is a great book for lovers of travel writing, food, and living the good life.

448 pages

Tokyo Woes by Bruce Jay Friedman

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Crazy Californian goes to another country; he’s a wanderer, but this time it changes those he was with away and at home.

Audio:  4 hrs. 19 min.

Print:  187 pages

"From Missouri to the Isle of Mull: Impressions of a Little Journey by Three Missourians" by Ethelbert F. Allen, Campbell Wells, and Walter Williams

Written and privately printed in 1909, this little tome chronicles a five week trip from Montreal to the Isle of Mull and back.  Wells and Williams helped found the MU School of Journalism in 1908 and traveled with Allen, a bigwig in the Kansas City Masonic community, by boat and train.  Along with descriptions of fellow passengers, the book recounts Dublin, London (which was the most populous city at the time), rural England, Paris, Plymouth (where they attended the Institute of Journalists' annual conference), Edinburgh, the Isle of Mull, and their inhabitants.  It was interesting to read the impressions that these cities and people made on the three men over 100 years ago.  There are also some amusing observations, such as "Is living cheaper in England?  That depends on the living and the liver."  "Ireland is the saddest country. ... The land and inhabitants alike appear in tears."  And this gem:  "The Frenchman like the Englishman runs his business to get money enough to maintain himself and family in comfort at home.  The American man runs his home as a boarding house where he sleeps and eats to get strength to run his business."  77 pages; published in 1909.

The Disenchantments

Author: Nina LaCour
Pages: 307
I didn't think I would like this book but after a couple of chapters I decided it had something and I needed to finish it. Bev has been Colby's soulmate, muse, and best friend since they were small and now everything seems to be changing. A week trip with the band brings opened eyes and coming of age. A new look at the world in the same company of, " Almost Famous" and Kerouac's " On The Road".