Review: The Cure's Disintegration

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman from Bloomsbury Academic via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 15, 2026.

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman is part of the 33 1/3 series.  It focuses on one album and its place in music history.  In this case, Harriman chose to look at Disintegration through the lens of Charles Baudelaire's "Spleen."  I hadn't read Baudelaire, but I understand the sentiment.  I think of Disintegration like upbeat melancholy if you can have such a thing.  You might be sad, but you still want to dance around the room. Fans of The Cure will understand what I mean.  I find learning more about the behind-the-scenes of the album gives me an even greater appreciation of the music.  If you are a fan, you will want to read this when it comes out.  And then listen to Disintegration on repeat.

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Review: Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures

Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures by Nick Pyenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures by Nick Pyenson.  I love learning about whales, but there was a lot of death in here that I had a difficult time reading.  Understandably, Nick is a paleontologist, so he is into bones.  I don't have a problem with that.  I do have a problem with reading about going whaling to collect specimens.  It is hard to think that the ends justify those means.  Sure, I want to know more about the history of whales but not by killing the current ones.  I guess you could say that they were going to die anyway, so better they be of scientific value.  It was still tough to read.  It is amazing when you realize how long they live and the cultures they develop.  I don't think many people realize some whale species are second in intelligence to humans and at one time were actually smarter than humans.  They might still be and just don't want us to know it.  I pushed through in order to learn more and maybe find hope for the future.  I'm not sure I found hope, but I did learn.  If you aren't squeamish about whale death, but want to learn more about those fantastic mammals, check this out.

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Review: Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life

Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Blackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Blackie is a different take on menopause.  It is part memoir, part mythology lesson.  Blackie embraces the concept of the hag as a life choice for middle-aged/elder women.  She would not approve of using senior there.  She explores the depiction of older women through the ages and how we can take what is often a negative stereotype and spin it into something positive.  She intersperses the history and myth with tales from her own life that have led her on this journey.  Best read while wearing a caftan and drinking a cup of tea.  

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Review: How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler by Ryan North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler by Ryan North is written as a reference guide for someone who took a time machine into the past and got stuck and now needs to rebuild civilization (as we know it).  However, this book could come in very handy in the future in case we need to rebuild civilization (as we know it) due to some major catastrophic event.  I suggest buying a hard copy and putting it in your bunker, safe room, or fire/water-proof safe.  You are not going to speed read your way through this. You also don't even need to read it in order.  You read the parts you need when you need them.  It will tell you if you need to read another section to accomplish your goal.  This is a very comprehensive distillation of just about everything.  Even without a background in engineering or basically many skills, I feel like I could take on the challenge of building a whole new world.  It is also done with humor which makes getting through the really dense parts easier.  

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Review: The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever

The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh from HarperOne via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 27, 2026.

I'll admit I had some preconceived notions about the cult of CrossFit prior to reading The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh.  The first notion was that it is culty as the CrossFit adherents are pretty adamant that their way is the best way.  It looked tough.  It didn't always look safe.  This book didn't necessarily convince me I was wrong, but it did give me a much better appreciation of why people get so into CrossFit and how the diet and exercise CrossFit promotes does have science behind it and does produce results even if the execution is sometimes flawed.  I now realize how many of our current fitness trends have their roots in CrossFit.  If you are/were ever into CrossFit or CrossFit-curious or enjoy reading about fitness, you will want to read this book.  

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Review: The Enigma Challenge: A Novel

The Enigma Challenge: A Novel by S.C. Godfrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Enigma Challenge: A Novel by S.C. Godfrey from Viking Penguin via NetGalley.  This book is due to be published on August 11, 2026.

If you like puzzles, ciphers, or cryptograms, I strongly suggest reading The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey.  This story scratches the same itch as books like The Da Vinci Code or shows like the Amazing Race.  The title alone piqued my interest.  I was delighted to find that it was about a mysterious, global puzzle challenge that has a prize to die for.  My favorite part were the puzzles that S.C. Godfrey included and the explanations of how to solve the various types of ciphers.  Yes, I tried to figure the answers out myself before reading on.  I had trouble putting this one down because I couldn't wait to get to the next location, the next puzzle.  I'm also hoping there is a next book.

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Review: America Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the Hidden Wonders of the United States

America Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the Hidden Wonders of the United States by Atlas Obscura
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of America Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the Hidden Wonders of the United States by Atlas Obscura from Ten Speed Press via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 20, 2026

I am a huge fan of the Atlas Obscura website, so when I saw this book, I knew I would have to read it.  If you like to travel off the beaten path in the United States, this book is for you.  When I travel, I don't want to go to the regular tourist destinations.  I want some place quirky, some place fun, or some place where I won't run into a million other people and wait in super long lines.  I want a place that is going to give me a good story to tell.  An example: I once did a road trip to visit holy sites for alternative, non-mainstream religions.  I had the best time!  America Obscura gave me a bunch of ideas for future road trips.  It is organized by part of the country and state.  Interesting sites are grouped sort of in categories.  The published book will also include maps. It is bright, colorful, and fun!  Even if you don't plan to travel a lot, this is a great coffee table type book to get people talking.  Plus, you can learn about some of the crazy things that inspire people!

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Review: Violent Femmes' Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes' Violent Femmes by Nic Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Violent Femmes' Violent Femmes by Nic Brown from Bloomsbury Academic via NetGalley.  This book will be published around May 14, 2026.

Violent Femmes' Violent Femmes by Nic Brown is part of the 33 1/3 collection of short books about music.  Each book is a deep dive into a single album.  This one is about the debut album from the Violent Femmes.  Nic Brown is a fan and so am I.  For as many time as I have listened to this album, I had a lot to learn.  I feel like Nic did too.  I didn't know that Gordon Gano was a teenager when he wrote so many of their songs or even when the band started.  I never thought about the instruments they played or why they played those specific instruments and how that impacted their sound.  As I read each chapter about a song on the album, I couldn't help but hear it in my head. I also couldn't have told you what the cover art was because I too came to the album from mix tapes made by friends.  If you asked me when the album came out, I would have been extremely wrong.  I went back and listened to the album a few times.  Now with a deeper appreciation for every bit of it.  What a great album!  What a great book!

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Review: Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef

Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef by Brigid Washington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Readers Copy of Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef by Brigid Washington from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.  This book will be published on April 28, 2026.

I was drawn to Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef by Brigid Washington for two reasons.  I really wanted to know what it is like to attend the Culinary Institute of America (the other CIA).  I also have lived in the Caribbean and looked forward to indulging in some nostalgia given Brigid's Trini roots.  This book delivered on both.  I drove by the CIA when I visited the FDR library in upstate New York.  I wondered what it would be like to go there.  It has produced so many famous chefs, including Roy Choi (my very favorite).  It looks impressive even from the outside.  Brigid's descriptions of the campus and the courses are incredible.  If I had lots of money, no food allergies, and no aversion to meat products, I would absolutely want to go there.  It sounds intense, but the food sounds amazing.  Brigid also makes sure that her Caribbean heritage is prominently featured throughout the book.  It is important to her and her own food journey.  I was dying for some doubles and sorrel by the time I finished.  It was a reminder that the most meaningful food doesn't have to be fancy.  It is the heart behind it that makes all the difference.  That being said, I couldn't help but smile a bit at the mention of Eleven Madison Park.  EMP is hands down the best food experience I have ever had in my life.  It was fun to see a little behind-the-scenes there.  If you like food or cooking or ever thought about attending culinary school, I suggest reading this book.  

The book isn't just cooking.  Brigid attends the CIA to escape heartbreak and find her path in life.  It was a pretty expensive lesson, but who knows if she would have ended up where she did had she not taken that chance.  I give her props for sticking out what sounded like some really tough lessons.  It seems she ended up in a pretty good place though after all.

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Review: The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently read a book involving ravens at the Tower of London that recommended The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Raves at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife because it was used as part of that author's research.  I just happened to own a copy of this but hadn't gotten around to reading it yet.  I decided now was the time!  If you are curious about ravens or the Tower of London, this is a really good introduction.  As the title implies, Christopher Skaife was the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London.  He retired from that position in 2024.  The book has a lot of interesting information about ravens but also about becoming a Yeoman Warder and what life is like for those living at the Tower of London.  Before reading this, I didn't realize people live there.  How cool!  If birds freak you out, this book is probably not going to help with that.  Ravens are crafty.  I already thought they were cool, but this gave me whole new level of appreciation for them.  I will be sure not to confuse them with crows in the future!  This also reinforced my already firm belief that you should not piss off crows or ravens.  They remember faces and can hold a grudge!

If you are looking for an entertaining and informative book about birds, give this a read.  The writing is very accessible for those who don't know much about birds while still providing a fascinating perspective for those who do.  

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Review: Wayward Souls

Wayward Souls by Susan J. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Wayward Souls by Susan J. Morris from Inky Phoenix Press via NetGalley.  This book is set to publish on March 17, 2026.

Wayward Souls is the second book in the Harker & Moriarty series by Susan J. Morris.  I recommend reading them in order.  While you could read this first or as a standalone, it may spoil some of the first book if you go back to read it.  

As their names suggest, it is part Dracula, part Sherlock Holmes.  The best parts. Both women are grappling with dark family secrets.  The setting is Ireland this time which I thought appropriate for the March 17 publication date.  No leprechauns but plenty of faerie lore.  If you are into smart women solving mysteries and investigating the paranormal, you should definitely give this a read.  

Bonus points for having a tough guy with a sweet spot for cats even if he doesn't know it himself.

Extra bonus points for the super cool cover art.  I would pick this book up just based on that.  

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Review: To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right

To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right by Christopher Mathias
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right by Christopher Mathias from Atria Books via NetGalley.  This book has already been published. For what it is worth, I planned to read this with or without the ARC.

To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right by Christopher Mathias is not a completely objective case of reporting.  Christopher Mathias is clear from the beginning that he doesn't like fascists.  There was a time in the United States when that might have been a given, or at least, something most people would publicly agree upon.  Who would think that being anti-fascist would actually be a slur now?  That is the world we live in.  The people who self-identify as fascists might (or might not) surprise you.  Not every white, conservative Christian is a fascist and not every fascist is a white, conservative Christian.  Having read this book, I know what markers to actually look for because I am also not a fan of fascists either. I am much more aware of certain groups and words and what they really stand for.  

I did learn a lot about anti-fascists and antifa.  While some of them might be punching Nazis in the face, that's not what most of them are doing with their time.  It is a stance suited to data nerds.  They used to focus on naming and shaming fascists to try to get them to give up their hateful ways.  It remains to be seen how they will evolve now that being a fascist is acceptable.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling upset, frustrated, and/or angry about the state of the world and wants to make change.  

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Review: The Tiger

The Tiger by John Vaillant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a lengthy discussion about what we were reading, Tahmoh Penikett told me to read this book, The Tiger by John Vaillant.  He sold me it as a true story about a tiger that seeks revenge on a hunter. It is that, but it is also much more.  It is really the history of the Amur (formerly known as Siberian) tiger and the humans that coexist in their territory. The book tells the stories of different men who have given their lives to these tigers, literally and figuratively.  I say men because while there are women in the book, it doesn't seem that they tangle with tigers nearly as often as men do.  These tigers are big, smart, very dangerous, and absolutely stunning.  I have a giant painting of one in my house's entryway.  That might betray who I was rooting for in the book.  It is awful that they have been hunted to near extinction.  I don't blame them for seeking revenge.  This is not an easy read for an animal lover.  I even felt bad for the people who were having to hunt because it was necessary for survival.  None of it should be necessary and yet, this is the world we have created.  It made me pretty sad.  A fascinating read for those who are into history, conservation, and/or tigers.  

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Review: One Aladdin Two Lamps

One Aladdin Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of One Aladdin Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson from Grove Press via NetGalley.  This book is set to be published in January 2026.

One Aladdin Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson is an exploration of life through the art and power of storytelling.  Winterson guides us through One Thousand and One Nights and how it can teach us about ourselves and help us find hope when things are bleak.  Great timing!  It has been a very long time since I read those stories.  It was interesting to revisit them as an adult.  Like most "fairytales," they aren't really for children.  I certainly didn't learn the same things from them as a kid that I took away during this revisit.  

If you are already a fan of Jeanette Winterson, this is also part memoir.  She learned to recognize that she could change her own story.  For me, that was the most valuable lesson of this book.  I am the story.  

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Review: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A friend, who kept refencing stories in it, recommended I read Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams.  I have read other tech memoirs and wasn't sure if this would bring anything new to the table.  I was so wrong.  First, I didn't know that Sarah Wynn-Williams is a former diplomat for New Zealand.  Former diplomats represent!  Second, she worked with Sheryl Sandberg, and I have very strong feelings about Lean In.  Not a fan.  I was not surprised to learn that (SPOILER ALERT) rich people feel very entitled.  If anything, this book really brought back bad memories of my former career. I kept thinking "that tracks" with every anecdote.  Wile I use the Zuck's platforms to stay in touch with people, and you might even be reading this on one of them, I don't have any illusions they exist to make the world a better place.  If you do have those illusions, you will want to read this.  If you still believe in Lean In, you will want to read this.  If you want to read about how crazy rich people can be, you will want to read this.  

Bonus points: If my Facebook and Instagram accounts disappear, you know someone read this.

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Review: In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult

In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott is her story, but also her father's story.  Before he passed away, Rebecca's father was attempting to write his memoir.  He got stuck in a period of his life and never finished.  Rebecca honors him by doing the work to finally get the rest of the story down.  It is quite the story!  Rebecca grew up in a religious group that has had many names and splintered factions.  Her father at one point is even in the leadership of the group.  While Rebecca makes peace with her father, he wasn't an angel by any stretch of the imagination.  This book will appeal to anyone who is also interested in non-mainstream religions and cults.  

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Review: Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind

Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind by Annalee Newitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind written by Annalee Newitz and narrated by Alexandra Cohler.  I only listened to this because that was the version that was available.  I actually think I would want to go back and read it so I can absorb more of the content and really sit with some of the examples.  

Sadly, Annalee Newitz couldn't have picked a better time to release Stories Are Weapons.  This is one of the most important books people can read right now.  Annalee digs into the history of propaganda and how it is used to mold our minds.  Annalee's writing is always engaging, and I found I wanted to keep going long after the book was over.  I want to take psy ops classes!  They have laid out a perfect case for why everyone should be critically thinking about the information we are consuming on a daily basis and ensuring we have responsible sources.  Even if you aren't a history buff, the examples were compelling, and I learned a lot about topics I thought I already knew well. If you only add one book to your to-be-read list this year, make it this one (and then read it!).

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Review: For the First Time, Again

For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For the First Time, Again is the third book in the Take Them to the Stars series by Sylvain Neuvel.  You could start reading here although you would be better served by starting with book one and reading in order.  The stories and characters build on each other.  However, they can be read as standalone and you will still understand what is going on.  

If you like cunning female protagonists with a good dose of space talk, this is the perfect series for you.  I am not very good at math and science, but I really find learning about the space program and space exploration fascinating.  And while there might be some alternate history in here, much of it is grounded in fact.  It is also still easy enough to understand for the non-nerd. 

Bonus points for having a soundtrack to listen to while you read.  I loved that the chapter titles are songs and what a kick ass playlist!

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Review: The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne

The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne by Kate Winkler Dawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne by Kate Winkler Dawson from Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley.

The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne by Kate Winkler Dawson is historical true crime about a cold case that may have inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.  There is a lot about that description that I really love, so I was in immediately.  I also happen to enjoy Kate Winkler Dawson's true crime podcasts which made receiving this ARC a real bonus. We may never know if Sarah Cornell was murdered or took her own life in 1832.  Kate Winkler Dawson lays out the information we know in a compelling fashion and consults with experts to get some more answers based on modern crime analysis techniques.  You'll have to be your own judge based on what we know.  Additionally, the snapshot of the history of the Methodist church is really intriguing.  I didn't know as much about Methodism before, but I will be digging in deeper! 

The thing I love most about this book is that it centers the women involved, Sarah Cornell and Catharine Read Arnold Williams, the writer who brought Sarah's story to the public.  Sarah and Catharine were not perfect people, but Sarah deserved better than the way she was painted after her death.  Catharine was trying to counter that portrayal and in doing so may have written the first true crime book.  

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Review: The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History

The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley.  The book is available now!

The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap takes you into a history of medical science that some people don't realize existed.  In order to make advancements in medicine, doctors and medical schools needed bodies.  But for religious reasons, many people were not willing to donate their body or the body of a loved one to the medical community.  This led to body snatching.  It seems like an unsavory profession, but it was a necessary evil.  This story delves into that world and the cut-throat competition for corpses.  It is also a love story.  Didn't see that coming, did you?  If you like dark history, check this out!

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