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.

In Extremis: The Life and Death of The War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum

Well-written revelatory description of this incredible person's life. In awe at the clear risks, she took to get her war stories, I also found myself questioning her sanity. Is this what journalists who wish to cover wars accurately need to do, and do readers really want to demand this level of selfless dedication that may lead to death? This book further exposes Marie Colvin's toxic often debilitating personal behaviors that appeared to derive in large part as a consequence of the death-defying life this journalist embraced with a mixture of understandable fear as well as the incredible courage she had to gather multiple times to enter war zones and do her job.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Wow! So enjoyed this well-written memoir by an awesome lady. In telling her story from childhood through the end of her eight years in the White House, Michelle Obama laces the facts of her life with heartfelt commentary about her experiences, concerns, fears, and optimism. She details her impressive accomplishments always within the context of the many people who supported her, believed in her, and assisted her along the way. Endlessly empathetic, she addresses the hardships that have marginalized people in our racist, unjust society but also energetically encourages and advocates for the transformation of our society through the Youth who need to believe in their own worth enough to overcome disadvantages. Poignantly, she reveals the difficulty she had in embracing the political life her husband relishes and in achieving a balance in her public life and her personal life during her years as First Lady. Already an admirer, I came away at the end of this book with my admiration enhanced by a more nuanced understanding of this impressive person.

Coyote America by Dan Flores

A detailed narrative about the American native canid, the coyote. With a relatively brief history of perhaps, 6-17,000 years of residence in North America, it has demonstrated an amazing resilience to survive concerted efforts to exterminate it. Coyotes have spread across the contiguous states of the United States and now reside in urban environments as well as their original rural locations. Embedded in Native American folklore and mythology, coyotes have long had an important relationship with the human species, too often negative but hopefully, now a respectful relationship. Really appreciated reading this book.

Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman by Miriam Horn

A fascinating narrative about individuals directly involved in ranching, farming, captaining barges up and down the Mississippi, and fishing the Gulf waters who all have had to adapt to a damaged environment to try to enable its recovery for the benefit of their immediate livelihoods and also its long-term survival for future generations. These individuals did not come out of the environmental movement but instead have developed a conservation mindset from the realization that their way of life is threatened. The author has performed a valuable service to her readers by presenting clearly with much detail the lives of her interviewees and their unique paths to conservation.

A Hole In The Wind: A Climate Scientist's Bicycle Journey Across the United States

A descriptive narrative that leaves the reader with an almost visceral experience of bicycling solo across America, quite a feat not accomplished by very many. The author peppers his travelogue with knowledgeable comments about climate change as informed by his life-long work in the field, and many direct observations while bicycling in this and other trips across the plains and mountains of America.

In Search of the Canary Tree by Lauren E. Oakes

An informative and fascinating narrative about the die-off of Yellow Cedar trees in Southern Alaska that acknowledges previous studies which established the cause to be climate change but then significantly explores the impact of the loss of this tree species, postulates what kind of changes this die-off might generate, and ultimately offers her extensive study and knowledgeable conclusions to provide a data-rich window into the issues of global climate change.

A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things by Raj Patel and Jason Moore

A strong denouncement of the destruction of the Environment and our global society by the adoption of Capitalism. A lot of interesting details explain how "cheap" natural products and resources, labor, food to keep laborers alive and functioning work to maximize profits for the few. The only disappointment is that their conclusion was cursory. Perhaps readers can form discussion groups to perhaps come up with some concrete strategies and activities to revamp a very entrenched economic system that the 1% will fight tooth and nail to keep in place even as our very damaged World becomes increasingly unable to support life.

Kinship of Secrets by Eugenia Kim

A poignant story of two Korean "sisters" raised apart beginning in the Korean War. The one sister lives with her adoptive parents in Washington DC, while the biological daughter is left behind to live with her Uncle's family in South Korea. Their very different lives are revealed in separate chapters that still manage to impart strongly the emotions of an extended family torn apart by distance, loss, and secrets.

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg

Wonderful continuation of a story begun in The Story of Arthur Truluv. The marvelous characters are complex and delightful. Truly a story, I loved and did not want to end because everyone and everything mattered. The small town of Mason is also definitely a significant "character".

This Is The Way The World Ends by Jeff Nesbit

An eye-opening narrative about the horrific consequences for the World of the depletion of freshwater resources that increasingly trigger armed conflicts and migrations as humans struggle to obtain the essentials of water and food. Wealthy nations like Saudi Arabia and China buy up land in the US to grow food for their citizens while others like Yemen have millions of their citizens die from bombing and starvation. Heartbreaking yet also importantly informative about this global crisis which threatens the continued existence of life on Earth.