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Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated What Would She Do? 25 True Stories of Trailblazing Rebel Women in Books
Jun 4, 2018
My classroom library is somewhat lacking when it comes to non-fiction. I often have a difficult time finding non-fiction that is engaging for a middle school audience.
While I think that this will interest my students, as an adult reader, it's a bit lacking in depth.
I like the bite-sized chunks of information and the bold illustrations of each woman profiled in the book. The biographical information is just the right amount for this age group.
What I really objected to was the attempt to provide life advice from each woman. After each biography, the author imagines a modern real life question readers might have and then attempts to answer that question as the woman who was just profiled might. The whole thing feels incredibly contrived and, at times, not even loosely connected to the woman who was just profiled. I think I actually cringed with some of them because of how cliche and didactic they are.
While I think that this will interest my students, as an adult reader, it's a bit lacking in depth.
I like the bite-sized chunks of information and the bold illustrations of each woman profiled in the book. The biographical information is just the right amount for this age group.
What I really objected to was the attempt to provide life advice from each woman. After each biography, the author imagines a modern real life question readers might have and then attempts to answer that question as the woman who was just profiled might. The whole thing feels incredibly contrived and, at times, not even loosely connected to the woman who was just profiled. I think I actually cringed with some of them because of how cliche and didactic they are.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Stranger In The Woods:The Extraordinary Story Of The Last True Hermit in Books
Jan 2, 2018
Normally, I love journalists writing non-fiction, but this was awful. I was completely annoyed reading this book, thank god it was a short one. It tells the story of the 'last hermit', and the guy was just not likeable nor compelling. By midway, I didn't care why he decided to be a hermit. That's when I should have stopped reading. But, I didn't. Overall: woof. I'm never reading anything by Finkel ever again.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Fatal Forecast] by [Michael J. Tougias] was a very well written account of a prediction disaster on George's Bank. Unfortunately when we learn to rely on technology and the people in charge decide to cut corners lives can be lost. That is what happened with this storm. The fishermen did not get an accurate forecast because two bouy's were not working.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave me my non fiction fix.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave me my non fiction fix.
12 Mighty Orphans (2021)
Movie
12 Mighty Orphans is a 2021 American sports film directed by Ty Roberts from a screenplay by...
Write on: The Writer's Help Book
Book
Have you got a book in you? Write On! will help get the words out of the wood and down on paper,...
Erika (17788 KP) rated A Spy Among Friends: Philby and the Great Betrayal in Books
Feb 18, 2018
If you're looking for a non-fiction book that reads like fiction, this is definitely a must-read.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
Emma (519 KP) rated The Fateful Year England 1914 in Books
Jun 5, 2019
This was picked for my book club, I really really tried my hardest to enjoy reading it, but for all my best efforts I had to give up. I aren't a great lover of non fiction books anyway unless it is something I really enjoy learning about. But the way he has written it was far too textbookish for me and I found it too hard to keep my concentration on it.
Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, #4) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
For the most part this book is quite interesting. The general story line is engaging however in between dialogue there is a lot of description about the settings which sometimes go on for several pages. Too much information, in my opinion. It makes the book boring and long to read. Sometimes it was like reading a text book, a non-fiction book about pre-historic times. I ended up skim reading quite a lot of the novel.
J Elizabeth Klug (21 KP) rated Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts in Books
Dec 14, 2019
A short non-fiction ebook that draws comparisons from the magic written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series to the historical myths and folklore from which it's based. Invisiability, transforming into a creature, and warding off evil are just a few of the topics you'll find in this book.
I found this to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter who are interested in Mythology and Folklore.
I found this to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter who are interested in Mythology and Folklore.
Science Tales: Lies, Hoaxes, and Scams
Book
A non-fiction comic book about science, scepticism and denial, Science Tales debunks media myths and...