The Golden Shore by David Helvarg

Important to read. Packed full of the history of our beautiful Pacific Coast and Ocean, its use and abuse and the battles fought to preserve the beauty so many Californians love. Recommended.

Animal Wise by Virginia Morell

Fantastic book, informative and poignant. The animal studies that are described give the reader such an incredible sense of the cognition and emotions of various animals. I wish everyone would read this book because many animal species are going extinct and I think if people started thinking about animals as creatures with intelligence and emotions, maybe we could curtail the terrible extinctions that are currently galloping forward.

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

An incredible story both personal and professional of a Plant Scientist that opens up the usually hidden world of scientific research and scholarship. Fascinating descriptions of data collection and experiments were interwoven with revelations about the acute difficulties scientists face securing the funding necessary to develop and complete vital projects. An inspiring story of a young girl from rural Northern Minnesota who helps her father in his research lab, and loving that rarefied world pursues the education that qualifies her to eventually set up her own labs. Also, wonderful story of her long time collaboration with a friend and colleague that adds a delightful humor to this absorbing memoir and paean to the Scientific life. Recommended.

Arthur and Sherlock by Michael Sims

An interesting examination of the introduction and development of the detective novel, and more specifically, the development of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into a mystery author. I read every Sherlock Holmes Story with great enjoyment when I was in High School. Definitely interesting to read about the author.

The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff

Lots of food for thought, somewhat repetitive, but definitely worth reading.

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

A lovely story about a photographer whose career has plateaued. Money is very scarce as she struggles to support her elderly parents and help out her adult son. She rents out her expensive New York City apartment and retreats to a run down house in a small rural community. As new experiences fuel some creative camera work, an unexpected relationship with a roofer many years younger chips away at a long term loneliness and dispiritedness that had enveloped her life.

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

A disaster hits, and two teenage brothers take responsibility for raising two much younger sisters in a small rural Canadian community. The narrator is the older sister who many years later is contemplating returning to join her family in celebrating a nephew's 18th birthday. She is now a college professor and worries about "flaunting" unintentionally her success and that of her partner who is also an academic. She recalls life growing up, the struggles, as well as the pleasures, yet also feels guilt over the sacrifices her brothers made to keep the family together. A sweet poignant story.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

I just read this wonderful book.  Wow! In verse, the narrator tells about his life playing on his high school basketball team along with his twin brother. Both star players, sons of a retired great player, they play different positions and are close buddies until one gets a girlfriend.  I am not a sports enthusiast but I was totally absorbed in this story so evocatively descriptive of a young boy excelling academically and in his chosen sport but struggling with his emotions.  Outstanding!

Foreign Correspondence by Geraldine Brooks

A lovely memoir of a young Australian girl growing up in a stable family environment but yearning to adventure into the larger World. She solicits penpals, and through her correspondence experiences some places far from home, and then grows up to become a foreign correspondent. The second part of this memoir takes up her life years later when she endeavors to find her penpals. Really enjoyed reading this book.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew is a character of depth and interest and kept this reader absorbed for the entire story. Life in a small English village can be fraught with the gossip and judgment of neighbors but the Major is principled and handles actions and reactions with aplomb, and learns and adjusts when he on occasion stumbles. I really enjoyed this book.

The Wonder of Birds by Jim Robbins

A fascinating exploration of birds, their incredible diversity and their many wonderful and unique characteristics including demonstrable intelligence. Truly inspiring to learn about the many people studying and interacting with birds, and poignant to read about people whose psyches have been healed through their connection with birds. This is a paean to birds that excites the reader to care about birds and perhaps even work to ensure their future thriving in an increasingly human-dominated world. There was one little chapter that made me uncomfortable that described the author's pleasure in hunting pheasants, although my husband pointed out that often hunters are in the forefront of conservation of wild animals. Otherwise, I think this book is an important contribution to the literature about wildlife that is both accessible and informative.