Nevermore: In the Lives of Puppets, Secret Appalachian Highlands, Paws of Firefighters

Reported by Rita

 

In the Lives of  Puppets by TJ Klune

When an unwitting act of betrayal leads to the capture of his android Gio, who once hunted humans, Victor Lawson and his assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

It's funny and enjoyable if you’re looking for a light read.    – WJ     4 stars

 

Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Sorrell

The Appalachian Highlands, a rural region consisting of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, is world-famous for its country music treasures, fast cars, early pioneer history, and breathtaking natural scenery. It is centered on the tri-cities of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, and is surrounded by smaller communities and rural wonderlands. Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure digs deeper and uncovers some of the region’s lesser-known places, mysterious stories, and creative oddities. Each community in the Appalachian Highlands has its share of secret attractions, such as Jonesborough, Tennessee’s, pillory; dinosaur creations in Bluff City, Tennessee; and the wolves of Abingdon, Virginia. A few famous faces, including President Andrew Johnson, NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr., and pop- culture icons Tennessee Ernie Ford and Hank Williams Sr. have all made their unique mark on the Appalachian Highlands. The region also features some of the nation’s most spectacular natural features, including one known as the “eighth wonder of    the world.” Local author Robert Sorrell will introduce you to the secret side of the Appalachian Highlands, a treasure trove of intriguing peculiarities and hidden history just waiting to be explored.

An excellent resource to own for planning outings.      –WJ     5 stars

 

Paws of Firefighters: The Dogs and Other Animals of New York Firehouses by Emmy Park

This series of pet bios and accompanying portraits tells the stories of the animals that serve on duty at New York's firehouses. In this book, Emmy Park has combined her love for dogs and cats and her passion for documenting the relationship between pets and their families in this unique journey with the firefighters who serve New Yorkers and the companions that serve them unconditionally. Meet beloved canines, felines, and even a pig of New York’s firehouses—in all five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) and Long Island.

This is a fabulous collection of photos of firehouse animals.     –NH     5 stars      

 

Other Books Mentioned

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

The Consequence of Anna by Kate Birkin

Crow Talk: a Novel by Eileen Garvin

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

One of Ours by Willa Cather

Smoky Jack: The Adventures of a Dog and His Master on Mount Le Conte by Paul J. Adams

The Trouble I've Seen by Martha Gellhorn

Above the Waterfall: a Novel by Ron Rash

Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown

Thereby Hangs a Tail: a Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-To-Face With the Idea of an Afterlife  by Sebastian  Junger

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Sorrell

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Did you know that Kingsport claims to be the birthplace of Long Island Iced Tea?  Or that Kingsport claims Sensabaugh Tunnel to be one of the scariest places around? How about those stories of Al Capone in Johnson City, or the hidden cemetery at Tri-Cities Airport?  Remember where the movie “The River” was filmed in the area? Did you know that the “Copperhead Road” from the song is real and in Johnson County, Tennessee? Author and journalist Robert Sorrell has gathered nearly 200 interesting stories and places to visit, making this book a browser’s delight. 

I was familiar with many of the entries—Hank Williams and the Burger Bar, for instance, and the early history of Mountain Dew—but others were new:  Granny February of Elizabethton, the Gray Quarry, and the Tiffany window in Abingdon. There are also suggestions of fun places to visit, making this a great summer guidebook.  I have never made it to see the dinosaurs of Backyard Terrors, but that has been on my list and while I knew about drowned Butler, Tennessee I didn’t know there was a museum I could visit.  There’s also information on where to walk across a swinging bridge (I’ll pass, thanks) or visit wild ponies or the Devil’s Bathtub.  I was delighted to see information on Bank Street in Bristol where there is a glorious mural, as well as the Caterpillar Crawl and information on The Channels. Some of the entries are very timely:  one is about Big John, the Indian Statue at Pratt’s BBQ which has just announced that it is closing.

The entries are brief, but that makes it all the more tempting to read just one more. The book features beautiful full color photographs as well. It also makes me want to visit a lot of these places, like the General Shale Brick Museum or the Woodbooger statue.

Sorrell provides addresses, contacts, and other information on each entry.  This is a gem of a book packed with information and best of all, there’s an index!