Nancy McGee

Geology, wilderness, wildlife, seasonal weather, and vivid memories may come to mind when thinking about the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the mountains and surrounding regions. Our new book section can expand your knowledge and appreciation for the geology of these areas.

A passionate fan of the Sierras is science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson. He shares history, science, and his adventures in “The High Sierra: A Love Story.” Having made multiple treks into the heart of these mountains, and being a capable storyteller, his knowledge and enthusiasm for the Range of Light shines through in vivid detail. Color photographs enhance the reader’s experience for areas in the high country that few of us will ever see.

The drive up Highway 395 along the Sierra range is noteworthy for the evidence of volcanic activity in the region. Ancient cinder cones, old lava flows, craters, earthquake faults, and Mammoth Mountain are just a few of the geologic wonders of the area. Volcanologist and science journalist Robin George Andrews goes back in history, underground, above ground, and undersea in “Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond.” Andrews brings the reader up close and personal to all things volcano, including Hawaii’s Kilauea eruptions, the supervolcano Yellowstone region, the ocean floor, Krakatoa, and the volcanism on Mars, Venus, and the Moon. This is truly an educational adventure through time and space by a very capable guide.

Since we are already in rocky territory, if you will pardon the pun, our new book section can also take you from the enormity of mountains and volcanoes down to the basic and infinitesimal building blocks of geology. “Rocks & Minerals” by Chris and Helen Pellant educates the reader on basic rock and mineral composition, formation, hardness, origin, texture, classification, and more. Detailed color photographs assist with accurate identification of over 500 rocks and minerals. There are also suggestions for equipment and tips for collecting and organizing a collection.

A.K. Smiley Public Library rocks!

New books are added to the collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library every day. Here’s a random sampling of a few of the new non-fiction books with a glimpse into what is between the book covers.

Exotic butterflies, Belize, wildlife sanctuary, nature, Mayan civilization, ecotourism, living in a rainforest, human connections, a butterfly farm, and the effects of a hurricane and a pandemic. All of these subjects are contained in journalist Diana Marcum’s memoir, “The Fallen Stones: Chasing Butterflies, Discovering Mayan Secrets, and Looking for Hope along the Way.” The author’s vivid descriptions and sense of humor make this a memorable narrative.

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, motivation, inventiveness, determination, discrimination, success, and a Pepsi executive are all topics covered in “Flamin’ Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man’s Rise from Janitor to Top Executive.” Richard P. Montañez’s personal journey is quite an inspiring story.

Archaeology, 3 million years, six continents, explorers, ancient cities, secret codes, treasures, tombs, looters, history, and curses. National Geographic’s “Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs: 100 Discoveries that Changed the World” explores these subjects and more in a little over 500 pages with color photographs. This book will undoubtedly evoke curiosity to learn more about some of these histories of the human journey.

Attention armchair adventurers, history buffs, and geography enthusiasts—the New Book Section at A.K. Smiley Public Library is calling out to you! Here are just a few selections from our bookshelves.

Brian Castner’s “Stampede: Gold Fever and Disaster in the Klondike” brings the Klondike gold rush of 1897-1898 into detailed focus. More than 100,000 people headed north in search of gold and wealth during an intense economic depression. Very few of them succeeded in their quest and many of them tragically perished due to being completely unprepared for the harsh realities they encountered. Individual experiences and tragedies are intimately chronicled, along with photographs, through the author’s meticulous research of memoirs, oral histories, and other historical sources. Stories of familiar names like Jack London, Skookum Jim, and the nefarious Soapy Smith are included, along with many others.

Another optimistic adventure in 1897 that also turned ill-fated is detailed in Julian Sancton’s “Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night.” This narrative of Belgium’s first polar expedition details the journey south that eventually became a story of survival as the ship became engulfed in ice for an entire year. The author shares the relationships of the scientists and sailors as they endured the long polar night, illness, isolation, and madness. The inclusion of photographs brings more vividness to the saga. A young Roald Amundsen and Dr. Frederick Cook, unknown to history at that time, were part of the crew.

Jack London and Dr. Frederick Cook also appear in Patrick Dean’s “A Window to Heaven: The Daring First Ascent of Denali, America’s Wildest Peak.” In 1913 Episcopal priest Hudson Stuck, wilderness guide Harry Karstens, Alaskan native Walter Harper, and divinity student Robert Tatum all kept journals of their trek on the first successful ascent of Denali. While this narrative chronicles their arduous journey, it also delves into the life of Englishman Hudson Stuck and his experiences before the historic climb. He advocated for ending child labor in Texas, was an Archdeacon of the Yukon and Arctic where he established hospitals, libraries, schools and missions, and was an advocate for the environment and indigenous Alaskans.

Here are a few more selections for your consideration: “Every Day the River Changes: Four Weeks Down the Magdalena,” by Jordan Salama; “To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth,” by Vanessa O’Brien; “In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire,” by Laurence Bergreen; and “Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall,” by Helena Merriman.

Just in case you decide to pursue your own adventure, you might want to first read the tenth anniversary edition of “The Natural Navigator: The Rediscovered Art of Letting Nature Be Your Guide: Find Your Way with Trees, Looming Clouds, Hidden Spiderwebs, and More Clues,” by Tristan Gooley.

 

 

A.K. Smiley Public Library has a wide variety of new books about famous and infamous personalities with more coming in every week. Aside from the many selections on musicians, actors, and sports figures, there are also new books on first ladies, royalty, authors, criminals, and spiritual leaders. While there are far too many to list, here are a few for your consideration from the latter categories.

First ladies: “Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight,” by Julia Sweig; “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan,” by Karen Tumulty; “Eleanor in the Village: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Search for Freedom and Identity in New York’s Greenwich Village,” by Jan Jarboe Russell.

Royalty: “Prince Philip Revealed,” by Ingrid Seward; “The Last Queen: Elizabeth II’s Seventy Year Battle to Save the House of Windsor,” by Clive Irving; “Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters,” by Andrew Morton; “Queens of the Crusades: England’s Medieval Queens, 1154-1291,” by Alison Weir; “Meghan and Harry: The Real Story,” by Lady Colin Campbell.

Authors: “Poet Warrior: A Memoir,” by Joy Harjo; “Two-way Mirror: The Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning,” by Fiona Simpson; “Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy,” by Leslie Brody; “Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck,” by William Souder.

Criminals: “Bugsy Siegel: The Dark Side of the American Dream,” by Michael Shnayerson; “El Chapo: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Infamous Drug Lord,” by Noah Hurowitz; “The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer,” by Dean Jobb.

Spiritual leaders: “His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography,” by Tenzin Geyche Tethong.

Come in and browse our new book section or check our catalog online at www.akspl.org for books in your areas of interest.

Just a reminder that our main biography section is located downstairs, along with our science fiction, western, young adult, children’s biography, and paperback collections.

Our Friends of the Library bookstore is also downstairs where you might just find some beautiful books to purchase for holiday gift-giving!

Adventurous spirits, human-animal connections, incredible journeys, kindness of strangers, danger, and unexpected fame—these three new non-fiction books have all of these things in common, and more. They also rank highly on my list of interesting books that I thoroughly enjoyed.

“The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey across America” by Elizabeth Letts is a story you won’t soon forget. In the fall of 1954, 63-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins, who had pretty much lost everything and had been told she only had a couple of years to live, decided she wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. She set out on horseback with her dog, very little money in her pocket, no maps, and no real plan, except to get to California. Her journey of over 4,000 miles took over a year and was packed with unexpected events and lots of kindness from strangers. Annie’s story and travels were picked up by the Associated Press and she became quite the humble celebrity.

“Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe” is a modern-day adventure which in many ways parallels Annie Wilkins’ story. Dean Nicholson and a friend decided to ride their bikes around the world, but not far into their journey, the friend decided to return home. Nicholson chooses to venture on alone until he discovers an abandoned kitten on the side of a remote mountain road and she becomes his traveling companion. Their bond and story captured some attention on the internet and now they can be followed on their own Instagram account, @1bike1world, on YouTube, and on worldwide news media. Nicholson has used this attention for good by raising money for animal sanctuaries and other environmental causes. He and Nala have made friends all over the world and they are still traveling on.

“World Wild Vet: Encounters in the Animal Kingdom” is Dr. Evan Antin’s accounts of traveling to take care of wild animals in their environments. His “office” can be found in oceans, jungles, on the savannah, or in his Thousand Oaks practice. His travels and perilous adventures have taken him to six continents. Dr. Antin’s concern for the animals and their conservation is evident, along with his desire to educate people about these precious creatures. There are color photographs included, but I admit to taking to the internet to look up some of the more unusual animals he describes, but does not show. Dr. Antin can also be followed on Instagram and YouTube, as well as on his show, “Evan Goes Wild,” on Animal Planet.