Nevermore: Girl in the Tower, DNA, Adventure Cats, Where All Light Tends to Go, Higher Loyalty, Melissa Etheridge

Reported by Kristin

Nevermore began with a lovely story of fairy tale fiction:  The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, second in the Winternight Trilogy.  Introduced in The Bear and the Nightingale, Vasilisa is a young woman with a supernatural gift, and she feels the pressure to be married or to join a convent.  Instead, she dresses as a boy and leaves her village on horseback for a grand adventure.  Our reader found this a rather interesting tale.

Turning to non-fiction, another reader delved into DNA USA: A Genetic Portrait of America by Bryan Sykes.  Explaining the basic differences between mitochondrial DNA transmitted through the female egg and the genome within the nucleus of a human cell transmitted through the male sperm, our reader said that this was a very good book but so full of new ideas (to him) that it took a while to get a grasp of the material.

Another reader continued in non-fiction, albeit in much lighter subject matter.  Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest by Laura J. Moss was an interesting diversion, as the author discussed how to safely take your cats out into the wild, hiking, camping, sailing, and more.  Our reader confessed that she did not have time to finish the book, because she was too busy playing with her cats.

The same reader began Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy, an up and coming Appalachian author.  Aiden and Thad are stuck in the mountains of North Carolina with very few prospects and even less hope.  After the accidental death of a local drug dealer, the young men spiral into a series of self-destructive events.  Our reader said that there were too many drugs and she just could not make herself care about the characters.

Next up was A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership by James Comey.  The former FBI director recently published this book amid political scandals and federal governmental infighting.  The book begins with a history of Comey’s life as he grew up thinking he would be a doctor, but later decided to go into law in order to work for the betterment of humanity.  Our reader appreciated the level of detail encompassed in the volume.

Finally, our last reader enjoyed a musician’s autobiography:  The Truth Is…My Life in Love and Music by Melissa Etheridge and Laura Morton.  Full of details of her family, various lovers, and her songwriting process, Etheridge gave the world a view of the most intimate parts of her life within these pages.  Our reader was impressed by Etheridge’s strength as a well-known member of the gay and lesbian community.

Nevermore: DNA, Top Ten Books, Joy of Drinking & Botany

The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes caused quite a stir when it was published back in 2002.  Using genetic analysis, he postulated that all humans descended from one of seven “clan mothers.” Now Sykes has a new book, DNA USA.  Since the United States is one of the most genetically diverse countries, Sykes was curious to see how the various lines appeared in a modern population and how that matches us with the way the individuals identify themselves.  For example, some Spanish Catholics were found to have some Jewish ancestors while European DNA was apparently introduced to some Native American tribes as far back as 10,000 years.  Our reviewer is finding it a fascinating book.

Have you ever wondered what books your favorite author would choose? You may find the answer in The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books, edited by J. Peder Zane.  Zane asked 125 well-known authors to name their favorite ten books. Those responding included Lee Smith, Stephen King, Annie Proulx, Michael Chabon and Alexander McCall Smith.  Zane provides plot descriptions of the books in a separate section, listing the authors who selected each title.  Some author even provided insights on a particular choice, such as Louis Rubin’s appreciation of Eudora Welty’s short stories.

The Joy of Drinking by Barbara Holland is a history of distillation as only Holland can provide.  The facts are all there but it’s the author’s voice that makes them memorable.  Two reviewers praised the book for its humor and wit, and intend to read more of Holland’s work.

Michael Pollan is well known for his books about food such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma.  In The Botany of Desire, he examines how four plants (tulips, marijuana, apples, and potatoes) have fueled four human desires (beauty, intoxication, sweetness and control).  He demonstrates how humans and plants have evolved a relationship of mutual benefit through the centuries.