736. REAR WINDOW by Jennifer O’Callahan (10/18/25) Non-Fiction
“The Making of a Hitchcock Masterpiece in the Hollywood Golden Age”, is the byline of this book. O’Callahan chose this classic 1954 movie thriller as her example of the genius of Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock, (1899-1980), with his dark sense of humor and cinematic originality, made him a master in this genre and is still one of the leading names which still holds today. In “Rear Window” he used voyeurism as a tool of suspense as James Stuart played a professional photographer, Jeff, with a broken leg, in a wheelchair, confined to his one-room apartment. In this state of confinement he spent his time spying on his neighbors in the apartment courtyard, guessing what was happening in their lives out of boredom. Hitchcock’s ability to make this scenario into a thriller happens as Jeff witnesses a possible murder in the building across from his. Then he uses a beautiful but innocent girlfriend, Grace Kelly, to help Stuart uncover the crime. The audience gets caught up in this scary plot as we join Jeff as he watches his girlfriend taking terrible risks. We all experience the suspense together.
This book explains how Hitchcock lead the industry into a new form of suspense which many admit even today is still the best.
4 Stars
735. AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff (10/16/25) Non-Fiction
On this book’s tenth anniversary they published a young readers edition, appropriate for Middle School readers, however I read the original unabridged version with the more complex detail intact.
Laura Schroff, a successful sales executive in New York City, tells about her chance encounter with an eleven-year-old panhandler in the 1980’s. At first she ignored him, then stopped and turned around and asked him if she could take him to McDonald’s for lunch. This became the beginning of their 30 year relationship, which is complex, but honest, about how two people from opposite backgrounds became friends. The lunches together became a ritual which benefitted Laura as much as Maurise, the young boy. The story was heartwarming, but sad, to see how food and housing insecurity takes on a survival mode for even the youngest in society. But despite their differences their connection to each other made both of their lives richer. I found the story endearing and inspirational.
5 Stars
734. BURNT by Clare Frank (10/15/25) Non-Fiction
Clare Frank was seventeen-years-old when she emancipated herself and became a firefighter by “forgetting” to mark down her age on the application. Spunky and ready to serve she threw herself into the training and became a firefighter like her brother. She had found her calling at a time when few women were in this dangerous and exciting field, making herself a trailblazer. Frank’s journey shows her determination to succeed despite her small 5′ 2″ stature, but how her natural leadership skills had her rising through the ranks all the way to Chief of Fire Protection in California, one of the highest ranking women in Cal Fire history.
I loved the audiobook, self-narrated by Frank, which shows her unique qualities to not only prove herself to her men, but shows her personality-part tomboy, part buddy, part take no prisoners, and part bad ass- who could be respected by the men while accepting her leadership.
When several drought years occurred in California which escalated wildfires into gigantic fire bombs, she told of the terrifying risks the firefighters take to save lives and property and how deeply they care, and the heartbreak when they lose one of their own. These catastrophic events that have now become regular events, was revealing and made me even more awe struck of these gallant men and women who put their lives on the line regularly.
5 Stars
727. UPSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE by J.B. White (9/26/25) Non-Fiction
The byline is: My Life With the First Ladies. From March 1, 1941-March 1, 1969, J.B. White was Assistant or Chief Usher to the White House, caring for the administrations of FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. A Chief Usher is the General Manager of the Executive Mansion known as the White House. The duties are vast. They include directing and administrating, fiscal, personnel, construction, maintenance, and remodeling of the mansion.
He is responsible for the direction and supervision of the more than one hundred employees, including their selection, disciplinary action, and the responsibility over mechanical maintenance throughout the building.
He is also the receptionist in which he is responsible to receiving and caring for all personal and official guests. He also makes personal appointments for the President and other members of the official family and answers a large volume of mail regarding the history of the mansion. If you are interested in lots of details of old, this was published in 1973, you will enjoy this book. As far as telling secrets we never knew, this is definitely not a “tell all” book, as the Chief Usher uses complete discretion about the private lives of the presidents and their families. This is an historic book and was enjoyable but not eye opening for me.
4 Stars
715. THE GIRLS WHO STEPPED OUT OF LINE by Major General Mari K. Eder (8/27/25) Non-Fiction
Byline: Untold Stories of Women Who Changed the Course of World War II.
This non-fiction tells the stories of fifteen unknown women, heroes of World War II. Not only did the women have to fight gender discrimination, which was the norm of the times, but all were given little recognition for their accomplishments and were largely unrewarded in rank. These stories recount all the barriers and mountains the women had to confront and climb in order to succeed, but whatever they wanted to do they had to fight and forge a path for the right to compete. All became experts in their career paths and succeeded in tearing down the ceiling for generations of women to follow.
Even today women have to fight for their rights to compete, which proves it is still mostly a “man’s world”. To hear these stories of pioneer military women, it is not only inspiring but amazing because of it happening within the military nearly 85 years ago.
Whenever I read non-fiction it almost always surpasses most fictional of the same genre. If you haven’t tried non-fiction in a while, give this or others a “go”! I’m rarely disappointed.
4 Stars
705. A HIGHER CALL by Adam Makos (8/7/25) Non-Fiction
This story about a brotherhood between enemies during World War II is amazing and heartwarming. Four days before Christmas in 1943, a badly damaged America bomber struggled to return to the Allied base in England. At the controls was a twenty-one year old pilot with half of his crew dead or wounded. The plane was sputtering on 1 1/2 engines out of four with multiple holes and damages. It was their first mission. Suddenly there was a sleek, dark plane on its tail, that moved to his right side and then to the left like it was escorting the plane. The pilot was flying a German Messerschmitt fighter plane and he tried to communicate something to the American pilot, which they couldn’t understand. Finally the German saluted the American and flew away, never hurting the plane or crew, something that they expected to happen. They limped their way across the channel and successfully landed in England with a story that was hard to believe. The American Pilot was 2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown who later became an Ace pilot. The German Pilot was 2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler who was already an Ace. This story was Top Secret for many years to protect the German who would have suffered at a firing squad if found out. As old men they finally met in Florida and became lifelong friends. Charlie asked Franz what he was trying to say to him in the airplane. Franz said he was trying to tell him to go to Sweden to land which was closer than the English base.
This story is the before and after this incident and has been made into a movie. I thought it was an incredible story about a subject I want to know a little about, but with the long and detailed historical subject it went on too long for me. However my husband, a pilot and devotee of World War II documentaries, he loved every minute of it and called it one of his favorite books.
4 Stars
682. THE SPY AND THE TRAITOR by Ben MacIntyre (6/22/25) Non-Fiction
Byline: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War.
This is the real-life story of Oleg Gardievsky, the Soviet double agent whose efforts contributed to the end of the Cold War. Gardievsky, a high ranking member of the KGB also spied for MI6, Britain’s spy network.
Although the long 300 page book had far too many well researched facts and details for my novice mind to process, I ended up trying to not worry about them too much so I could concentrate on the story line. It seems Gardievsky had become disenchanted with the hard party line and Communism, and was easily recruited by the Brits. It was a dangerous game to play but he was all in. But sadly he admitted he missed his homeland, a place he could never return.
4 Stars
673. CARELESS PEOPLE by Sarah Wynn-Williams (5/28/25) Non-Fiction
Byline: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism.
Sarah Wynn-Williams was in the room where it happened as Facebook rose to become one of the most powerful and influential companies in the world. Sarah exposes personal and political fallout when as their leaders become more powerful, they also become less responsible, and how the consequences affect us all.
Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg created a shocking culture of misogyny, double standards, and the challenging pressure-cooker style workplace expected from working mothers. She candidly reveals truths about the leaders and how and why things have gone so terribly wrong in the last ten years. This was a telling and interesting book.
4 Stars
668. THE REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell (5/3/25) Non-Fiction
BY Line: “Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering”.
After twenty five years, Gladwell is updating his “Tipping Point”, which reframes his original lessons. Through stories Gladwell discovers a new troubling form of social engineering-showing us the dark side. He reveals how the mechanisms can be used for malicious or self-interested purposes. Some of his stories involve the LA bank robberies of the 80’s, Medicare fraud in Miami, the Covid and Opioid crises, and other examples of how minor factors can lead to widespread consequences.
Gladwell can take serious subjects and give such good story examples that you feel you are reading dystopian fiction. But it is chilling and true.
4 Stars
630. THE BOOKSHOP by Evan Friss (1/16/25) Non-Fiction
This is a history of the bookshop. Beginning with Benjamin Franklin’s first bookshop in Philadelphia, we see a renge of booksellers including the Strand, Marshall Field of Chicago, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Books, sidewalk sellers of used books, and a history of how books have been marketed, including when Marshall Field used “Judy” a 3,000 pound elephant to promote the book “The Elegant Elephant” in 1944. Unfortunately, the elephant did not want to get back on the elevator to leave the building, (elephants never forget!), and Field’s was forced to build a ramp from the third floor to walk down to the street level of the large store!
If you love bookstores you will like this book.
4 Stars
610. THE MESSAGE by Ta-Nehisi-Coates (11/29/24) Non-Ficton
This non-fiction work by Coates, a bestselling author of “Between the World and Me”, and now “The Message” explores how the stories we tell- and the ones we don’t-shape our realities. Coates takes us on three journeys. The first is his trip to Africa-Dakar, Senegal; the second to Columbia, South Carolina; and then to Palestine’s West Bank.
Coates, a professor at Oberlein College and Howard University, emphasizes how traveling can expand their identies as black people, while honoring their past and their heritage.
Coates explores Colonialism and how it impacts their heritage and their shared struggles from the West Bank of Palestine to the struggles of Black Americans under the suppression of Jim Crow laws.
Through these narratives, which is directed to his students, the written word preserves history, confronts oppression and can empower change. Through his travels his reflections show the power to honor the past while fighting for a just future.
There is so much to this book that all I can say as a white woman is that he opened my eyes in a profound way and that is the importance of literature.
5 Stars
581. DAUGHTERS OF THE FLOWER FRAGRANT GARDEN by Zhuging Li (Non-Fiction) (9/24/24)
As the byline says, “Two Sisters Separated by China’s Civil War”, the two sisters of a once great Chinese family, were forced to separate, and forged new identities in order to escape the violence of the political revolution. At the end of the war Jun eventually wound up in Taiwan and married a Nationalist general where they lived in exile, and were at odds at odds with the new Communist regime.
Hong, a doctor in training, stayed on the mainland, endured two waves of “re-education”, due to her suspicious family circumstances, mostly because of her sister’s decision to abandon the party. Hong, as punishment, was forced to work in the poorest and most remote area of the country.
Both women faced moral decisions as they succeeded in their chosen paths. Jun was able to establish an important U.S.-Taiwan trading company. Hong became a celebrated doctor honored for her dedication to medicine.
This story is told by the sister’s niece, Zhuging Li, a linguist and East Asian scholar, to honor her family history. Although it is told with sincerity and respect, it still seems like a deep, personal account during remarkable times.
4 Stars
569. A WELL TRAINED WIFE by Tia Levings (8/30/24) Non-Fiction
The subtitle is: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy, tells it all. Tea starts this memoir in her young teen years as her eyes become opened to the gender hierarchy of her Baptist fundamentalist megachurch. Things came to a head when as a young wife she experienced abuse from her husband. Being a good Christian in their church required a series of secret, special rules to obey. Being a godly and submissive wife included strict discipline, isolation, and to never tell outsiders anything about their secret lifestyle. She realized after years of abuse that she was the only one who could protect her children and that she must flee with them.
I have read other experiences within fundamentalist groups, including Mormon fundamentalist polygamist cults, and one thing they all have in common is that they risk their lives fleeing for their freedom, usually only with the clothes on their backs. This experience was also harrowing and heroic.
4 Stars
565. LOW COUNTRY HEART by Pat Conroy (8/22/24) Non-Fiction
Pat Conroy is one of my favorite storytellers. This is somewhat unusual because he is a man (there are far more women writers in my repertoire), he is from the South and iconic in his love for it (I am a Northerner), and he sometimes choses his military school backdrop for his stories (not in my experience bank at all). But his writing captivates me. After his death, his widow, Cassandra King, posthumously put together Pat’s interviews, speeches, letters, and articles for this book-his first non-fiction, which gives his readers an even deeper look into this talented man. Since he has passed away we realize that this is our last chance to see his words, and although silenced, this is a great, final, tribute to Pat Conroy.
4 Stars
560. WHEN THE CLOCK BROKE by John Gantz (8/24/24) Non-Fiction
John Gantz takes us back to the 1990’s when U.S. power was at its zenith. Saddham Hussein was defeated, and the Soviet Union breaking apart. This should have been a blissful, kinder, and gentler America. Instead, there were upheavals in the neo-conservatives, like David Duke and Rush Limbaugh, to stir the pot in an attempt to pull these far-right tendencies to the top. Even eight years with Bill Clinton, could not forge a new vital center for long.
“When the Clock Broke” delivers a lively account on the subject of the rise of Donald Trump, in a smart, insightful, and detailed manner, while enlightening us of a purposeful culture made for the beginning of a polarized, distrustful era.
This was a witty, engaging narrative of sweeping details, both bizarre and thought-provoking.
4 Stars
555. HOMEWRECKERS by Aaron Glantz (7/31/24) Non-Fiction
The byline is: “How a Gang of Wall Street Kingpins, Hedge Fund Magnates, Crooked Banks, and Vulture Capitalists Suckered Millions Out of Their Homes and Demolished the American Dream”.
Through storytelling, including sensitively told stories of six homeowners, he exposes a scathing report on how and why eight million single-family homes no longer are owned by individuals. Glantz writes how billions of dollars in government subsidies provided during and after the 2008 housing collapse were gobbled up by Trump cabinet members William Ross (U.S. Secretary of Commerce), Steven Mnuchin (U.S. Treasury Secretary) and others. Although many of the villains were from Trump’s administration, and his associates, and friends, Congress and the Obama and Bush administrations also played a role in bursting the housing bubble. Bank bailouts were made “easier and faster” and entire communities became vulnerable to massive foreclosures leaving American taxpayers holding the bag.
This book exposes much more that we saw on the “Evening News” and shows how the home wreckers were allowed to continue to gouge the public by “buying-back” the remnants of the foreclosures, giving them another vehicle to swindle the desperate home buyers to be.
There are also ideas on legislation and nationalizing to rectify the disparities, including the red-lining, rent-gouging, and un-complicating the banks and loan companies for transparency. A very smart read.
4 Stars
553. ON CALL by Anthony Fauci (8/2/24) Non-Fiction
During the Covid pandemic Doctor Fauci was the beacon of hope for millions in the United States and the world. His experience as he worked for six decades in public health and with seven Presidents, gave his a flawless background for the job of the century-controlling a pandemic.
As terrifying a period as it was, Fauci earned his trust by guiding America sanely and calmly through the ups and downs of a novel disease, as he did with navigating us through HIV/AIDS, SARS, West Nile, and Anthrax crises.
Scientifically written, but easy to understand, we learn the significance of his leadership in a modest, practical tone, and we can conclude to honor him as a true American hero, who gave is whole life to helping America and the world.
5 Stars
551. ALL THE WORST HUMANS by Phil Elwood (7/23/24) Non Fiction
The byline is: “How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians”.
This publicist is the spin-doctor for some of the worst people on the planet. Elwood pulls back the curtain on the $129 Billion industry that controls what we see and hear in the media and reveals tricks in order to create chaos and distortion. As Elwood’s risky game came close to cost him his life and liberty, he had an epiphany to change his ways and to tell you the truth about his industry. He uncovers a lot but I despise this kind of tell-all which continues to grow his wealth. At least I got this from the library “Libby” app and didn’t pay for it, although he is still compensated.
3 Stars
A GENTLEMAN AND A THIEF by Dean Jobb (7/1/24) Non Fiction
This true story proved to me that reality can beat fiction. If this had been fiction we would not have believed this story, so outlandishly incredible it was. Subtitled “The Daring Jewel Thief of a Jazz Age Rogue”, Arthur Barry charmed celebrities and millionaires while planning and executing the most lucrative jewel heists of the 1920’s. He became adept at slipping in and out of people’s bedrooms as they slept, and became a folk hero bandit for the seven years he successfully stole diamonds, pearls, and jewels worth over 60 million dollars in today’s money. His victims were Rockefeller, a Woolworth heiress, Wall Street bigwigs, and robber barons of industry. No one knew who the culprit was even though he was able to hob nob in the world of the rich and famous.
This book is written like a suspense story, fast-paced and exciting. The main draw was how clever and gutsy Barry was. I loved this book! A real heart-thumping winner!
5 Stars
533. AMERICAN KINGPIN by Nick Bilton (6/13/24) Non-Fiction
This unbelievable story is true and scary which happened in the bedroom of a 26 year-old programmer named Ross Albricht in the early days of the “Dark Web”-2011. Albrecht hosted an ultimate free market of drugs called “The Silk Road”, where anyone could trade anything from drugs to forged passports to counterfeit cash to poisons, all free of government control. When the media got wind of this new website which was open to anyone-teenags, hackers, dealers and terrorists, where buyers and sellers had a field day with contraband literally detection free.
The federal government launched an epic 2 year manhunt for the man who called himself “Dread Pirate Roberts”. Soon The Silk Road ballooned into a $12 billion business. He and his crew became drunk to the success, and addicted to the danger and madness of staying ahead of the feds. But as the feds got closer Albricht made plans to disappear, and the race was on to get him.
Written like a face-paced movie script and masterful thriller, this shows that reality can be more seductive than fiction.
5 Stars
525. DOG IS LOVE by Clive D. L. Wynne (5/23/24) Non Fiction
This book takes a close look at the human-canine relationship drawing from the author’s cutting-edge studies from his lab to answer the question, “Do dogs really love humans?” Of course, my first thought was, “OF COURSE!” But Wynne went the scientific route to prove that love is a behavior that dogs have, rather than just submissiveness, intelligence, and rewards that could get the credit for what we see as “love”.
For all the dog lovers of the world this is not earth-shaking news. We who have been lucky enough to experience a close relationship with a dog, this may be enjoyable to read about the author’s journey into this quest.
3 Stars
521. BREAKING THE AGE CODE by Becca Levy, PhD (5/6/24) Non-Fiction
What if you heard from an expert on aging that you can extend your life an average of 7 1/2 years by having positive mind beliefs about aging? We talk a lot about having a positive mind-body experience in pop culture terms. Now Levy’s research shows how age beliefs can affect many health problems including hearing loss, dementia, and cardiovascular events which can be influenced by negative age beliefs. Negative beliefs about aging can cause countries to accept a fatalistic approach to aging and have policies which directly influence their aging population in negative ways.
This book is a great source for presenting easy-to-follow techniques for improving age beliefs that can improve successful aging in society and within.
This is an incouraging book to read and easy to understand. We all need to check out this positive, useful, practical information.
5 Stars
522. MAGIC PILL by Johann Hari (5/18/24) Non Fiction
“Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic” goes the jingle advertising the miracle drug originally only used for Type 2 diabetes, and now thre most sought-after weight loss treatment that literally makes your brain want very little food in order to be satiated. In January 2023 the author, Johann Hari started injecting himself once a week with Ozempic. Hari was sceptical about this magic solution where reports of losing up to 25% of one’s body weight in six months has better results than 80% of other diet approaches. Hari shares his experience and also interviewed leading experts in this field and found that along with the benefits come twelve significant potential risks. He also reveals the psychological issues that begin to erupt when eating patterns are suddenly changed.
I found this book extremely interesting that would be helpful to those who are considering this therapy. The more knowledge beforehand, the better, when making a decision about taking a new medication for the rest of your life. Yes, this drug immediately ceases to be helpful when one decides to discontinue it’s use.
5 Stars
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