Lillian Boxfish takes a walk by Kathleen Rooney

 "The point of living in the world is just to stay interested" says Lillian Boxfish in this fictionalized journey through the life of a real woman who in the 1930s penetrated the world of advertising to become its most accomplished female voice at a time when clever, witty words had the power to manipulate consumers; and interested she remains over her long lifetime spent in a bustling, ever-changing New York City.  This delightful story works as a paean to both early feminism and the urban life of a remarkable city. Recommended.

This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein

Just finished this intense, depressing, and revealing narrative about Climate Change. Packed with information, data, and eye-opening descriptions of stakeholders in the battle between the toxic fossil fuel producers and the people concerned and struggling with the consequences of its horrific toxicity to our environment and all living creatures. The author also discusses Blockadia, the Environmental Movement newly blended with Social Justice issues. Blockadia spearheaded by Indigenous People who are fighting to protect their land and water from the Fossil Fuel Industry has grown into a powerful force as disparate groups like ranchers and Farmers have also joined their opposition to pipelines. Lots of food for thought!

Fastest Things On Wings by Terry Masear

"People feel so tightly bound to hummingbirds that the birds become miniature mirrors. In urban communities throughout Los Angeles, hummingbirds are the poster children for primal innocence, both theirs and ours. They symbolize the beauty of pristine nature before human civilization came tromping into paradise with its rough, heavy boots and mucked everything up. And despite our ongoing interference, these fearless spirits continue living alongside us, serving as a reminder of what once was, and what can be. This is why their deaths, as small and insignificant as they may seem, have the power to drive the hard truth of our own mortality straight home. Because in the end, as much as we work to deny it, our fundamental condition is not so different from theirs." The author with these words perhaps explains why so many people in LA choose to bring injured and orphaned hummingbirds to her for rehabilitation but her incredible descriptions and loving depictions of individual birds she has cared for, give her readers a wonderful appreciation for these tiny magical creatures. I have viewed these extraordinary creatures dart and hover in my front yard, and marveled at their lovely colors but never have I thought to exert the dedication, time and effort this author gives to her extraordinary patients, and her subsequent emotional strength then to release them back into the urban wild, never knowing what becomes of them. I admire her immensely but realize that I would not have the strength to undertake what she has for so many years. I read this book with awe and now hope that others will as well. Awesome book about awesome creatures, human and birds alike.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Library Book. What would that be about? Written within a framework of detailing and exploring the facts about the 1986 fire that destroyed a significant portion of the LA Central Library, this book also touches on  the significance of public libraries, their typical clientele, the political machinations that control library buildings and services, the dedication of the librarians who provide and promote library services, and the future of libraries. The content is fascinating and endlessly engaging, and I enjoyed so much reading this book.