White Bird by R.J. Palacio
“You see, Julian, it always takes courage to be kind. But in those days, when such kindness could cost you everything - your freedom, your life - Kindness becomes a miracle. It becomes that light in the darkness that Papa talked about, the very essence of our humanity. It is hope.” White Bird by … [Read more]
Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas
In this collection, Thomas presents fourteen short works of speculative fiction which blend science fiction, fantasy, and horror together in intriguing ways. It's hard to write this review because of the diversity of the tales. The stories touch upon a plethora of genres and themes, including … [Read more]
Did you grow up as a reader? Are your kids readers? I was a voracious reader as a kid! I remember having to get special permission to take out more than the usual number of books from the library, plus I got early access to the Young Adult room. Each summer, we'd go on vacation to a cabin for two … [Read more]
Lush Life by Richard Price
OK, not so sure why this one hit me the way it did. But I always really, really try to finish any book I start. And the LA County library system has, about a year ago, stopped charging overdue fees. So I got a few “Hey, book is due! Just saying!” e-mails. (Bear in mind you automatically get 3 … [Read more]
Essential Managers: Managing People by Philip L. Hunsaker and Johanna Hunsaker
Best for: Brand new managers of people In a nutshell: Basic, graphic-heavy guide to some things to keep in mind as a people manager. Worth quoting: N/A, though I did take lots of notes. Why I chose it: I’m new to managing people. Review: I have been working full time for over 20 … [Read more]
History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
This is a broad spectrum history of the world from a few thousand years BCE through the fall of the Roman Empire in first few centuries of the CE. Because it covers so much ground, it's important to discuss some of the methods and approaches. Bauer explains that her focus is covering not only what … [Read more]
