During my time living in the UK, I’ve slowly picked up on the tension and tragedy of the Troubles. The Troubles is the religious and political conflict in Northern Ireland. To put it in incredibly simple terms, it’s a conflict between Protestants (wanting to remain with the UK) and the Catholics (who want a united…
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Yale Needs Women
In honor of the Barbie movie coming out this last weekend, I wanted to share one of my favorite ‘how cool are women?’ reads. In this PhD-thesis-turned-book, Anne Gardiner Perkins skillfully uses countless interviews to bring to life the story of when Yale began admitting women and the numerous, unexpected logistics that would entail. I’ll…
One Italian Summer
I’d like to start by congratulating the designers who managed (in my opinion) to capture the feel of summer on the cover. Really, a job well done. Katy and her mom, Carol, have always been close. Carol is her go-to on everything from what to buy and which hotels to book. Carol has always been…
Heroes of the Frontier
For many, Alaska is the last frontier, but for Josie and her two kids it’s the first chance to be free, to explore, to heal. Escaping from a series of emotionally damaging events, Josie takes Paul (age 8) and Anna (age 5) on a spur of the moment adventure into Alaska in a recreational vehicle…
Storm in a Teacup
When looking at two eggs – shell and all – how can you tell which one is hard boiled and which isn’t? This, among other everyday phenomena, is a mystery that Helen Czerski unpacks in Storm in a Teacup, using the laws of physics to explain our daily life. If you’re thinking, “my brain hasn’t worked…
Big Little Lies
If you didn’t think that kindergarten politics could be life or death, then you’ve clearly never visited the Pirriwee primary school. This year, the annual trivia fundraiser night ends with ambulances and an accident. Or was it? As an investigation ensues, it becomes apparent that the children at Pirriwee aren’t the only ones not telling…
Crying in H-Mart
*Tear Warning* Given the title, it shouldn’t be a shock that this is a memoir that pulls at your heart. Michelle Zauner is a founding member of a band called Japanese Breakfast (she’s Korean, that’s a big part of the book so don’t get confused), but before she found success in music, she was an…
The Boys in the Boat
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always thought rowing was a fairly straight-forward sport (pun intended), but I have far more appreciation for it, and the individuals who participate in it, having read this book. Brown takes the reader on a journey from Seattle to Berlin for an incredible feat in 1936 I…
Everything I Know About Love
In a book that reads like a well-written diary, Alderton lets the reader into the raw, brilliant and broken corners of her life. Beginning in her teens and travelling through to her thirties, Alderton covers love, grief, self-discovery, the perils of MSN Messenger, realities of online dating, and the love of romantic partners and lifelong…
How Lucky
Daniel lives in Athens, Georgia. He works as a social media manager for a regional airline, mainly dealing with irate football fans on game weekends. He has a loving mother who gives him his space and a best friend who comes over daily. He’s also in a wheelchair. Daniel has a good routine going, a routine that…