Nevermore: Cuba, Myth of Normal, Baron in the Trees, Beyond That the Sea

 

Reported by Kristin

 

A Nevermore member seeking to expand horizons and wishing to understand more of Cuba’s modern history, picked up DK Eyewitness Travel: Cuba by Irina Bajini. This travel guide browsing was inspired by reading a historical fiction book set in Cuba. As with all DK guides, this one is very comprehensive with fabulous pictures, maps, and a little history for each area described. VC

 

Sparking much discussion, another reader mentioned The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté and Daniel Maté. Written with the layperson in mind, Dr. Gabor Maté has used his decades of experience to examine how Western living and medical care can sometimes hurt more than heal. As stress manifests itself in our physical bodies, we are seeing more autoimmune diseases, especially in women. Our reader said that listening to the audiobook was “kind of stressful” hearing about all the things that might kill us, but that the author clearly challenges what we hear from society. HM

 

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino was a big hit with one of our readers. Living in 18^th century Italy, young Cosimo di Rondó is part of the landed gentry. Rather than live as he is expected, the boy decides to live in the trees. This whimsical story was much enjoyed as the boy grows to be a man while still living high, even though our reader did comment that “it gets kind of grim when he gets older.” AH

 

One of our usual Nevermore attendees was unable to come today, so she emailed a report. In her own words, here is a review of Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash. “I give it 5 (FIVE!!!!) stars. I loved this book and was sorry when it ended. It begins with a 9-year-old girl from England who came to the US to live with a family during WWII, and followed them into the ‘80s. The way it was written and flowed reminded me of “Olive Kitteridge.” I cared about each of the characters, and life sometimes dealt them harsh blows. How they went on made me love them even more.” CD

 

Also Mentioned:

 

Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

When I am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple edited by Sandra Martz

A Feast of Eggshells by Florence Stevenson

Someone Always Nearby by Susan Wittig Albert

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

Moomin by Tove Jansson

The Ancient Greeks: Their Lives and Their World by Alexandra Villing

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

Final Girls by Riley Sager

This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

 

New Books:

The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang by Tom Clavin

Founding Partisans by H.W. Brands

Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient World by Mary Beard

Buffalo Bill in the Limelight Across Virginia by John Flood