High Line is one of the most popular parks in New York and it almost didn't happen. Originally it was an elevated railway, built to relieve congestion and accidents on the street below. When it was no longer needed, it fell into disrepair and was slated to be torn down. Two young men (the authors) saw something more and started the long and often exasperating task of making it into the park it is today. High Line: the Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky, by Joshua David and Robert Hammond is their story. Probably showing my age here, it's a 'power to the people' sort of read! :-)

Animals are much smarter than many people think. Read all about that in Tamed & Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind by Sy Montgomery and Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. Just a wonderful collection by two authors who know their stuff. Why do some animals all face different directions when they sleep (including with humans)? Learn how to safely feed deer in the winter. Don't miss the chapter on Water Bears, a creature who has been around for 500 million years.

Most folks hate starlings, including serious bird watchers. And yet, Shakespeare had one as a pet, as did Mozart. This inspired author Lyanda Lynn Haupt to rescue and raise her own pet starling, do some serious research on the one that belonged to the composer, and write Mozart's Starling. There's a lot of natural history about starlings, too. I'm one of those who has bad experiences with these birds over the years so was not expecting to find much to like ... I was wrong! These are very interesting birds! They are still a problem in many areas, but it was fun to learn so much about them.

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Among the books left by Canadian Reader was Blackbird Fly, by Lise McClendon. When her husband dies, of a heart attack, at his desk, Merle's life changes. Dramatically. There is less money than she thought, a mistress (with a daughter), and a house in France .... with a squatter ... and a body (well, skeleton). All elements for a rather nice little mystery for a cold winter day. :-)

It was time to get back to another Isle of Man Cozy by Diana Xarissa (although I don't want to rush this too much, I have just the two left on my shelf). This time it was Aunt Bessie Joins and it takes place at Christmas. Things were going well at the first ever charity event "Christmas at the Castle" ... many charities had signed on to do a room, the contents which would be auctioned off on the last day ... that is, until Christopher Hart, a well known designer is brought in to 'improve' everything. Needless to say, this does not go over well. He is rude and abrasive and no one (except the person who hired him) appreciates his efforts. And what about his room? Done in blacks and featuring the four horsemen of the apocalypse? Just how many suspects might there be when his is the body that is found?

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When Seattle Reader learned that I was not finding picture books that I enjoyed, this recommendation arrived: of Thee I Sing: a Letter to My Daughters, by Barack Obama and illustrated by Loren Long. What a wonderful and inspiring book it is! It features 13 Americans, of great diversity, each having an impact on the United States.

This lead me to another inspiring picture book: I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. This is a biography of a strong, intelligent, fierce and stubborn woman, and I loved every word!

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Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals, by Rupert Sheldrake (the revised and updated version) came as a recommendation from Constant Reader. The author has done a good job at an admittedly controversial subject. Just what is the connection between humans and animals? Not just dogs, but cats, horses, birds ... all seem to have a psychic or telepathic connection with their humans. An interesting read, to be sure!

Back in the 1800's one builder took a chance that New Yorkers would be willing to buy an apartment. Far away from anything. On the wrong side of town. He was right, and the result was the Dakota, a building that became a popular address. The units included the very small (just two rooms) the the very large (twenty-four rooms). It had the first elevators in a residential building, operated by a team of Irish ladies, fancy indoor plumbing, and that new gizmo: the telephone! Life at the Dakota: New York's Most Unusual Address, by Stephen Birmingham is a fascinating read.

Do you remember a huge fire at a library in Los Angeles in 1986? Probably not, because as big as it was, something else happened that day: Chernobyl. The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, is the story of that fire, the investigation, and a history of a unique building and the people who worked there. There's also a nice history of libraries and librarians in general woven in. Just an amazing read.

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All she was trying to do was avoid dancing and she stumbles across a body! Fenella is starting to get a reputation (not one she really wants, either). Hop-Tu-Naa and Homicide is the eighth book in the Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy series by Diana Xarissa. The victim has not been on the island for very long, and is newly married, who would want him dead? Mona (the ghost) wants to figure it out, Fenella wants to let the police figure it out. (Guess who wins this argument)! You should enjoy 'hating' one of the new characters as well as learning about what makes up the Hop-Tu-Naa celebration.

Imagine combining Prohibition, mobsters, tommy guns, and dragons, magic and the Fae for one rowdy adventure! That's just what author Genevieve Cogman does in The Lost Plot, part of her Invisible Library series. Lots of politics this time, possible betrayals, shady deals and air battles between dragons in the sky above New York City. And wolves. Keep an eye on Lily.

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The closure of the Alaskan Way viaduct took had me looking for books. I found just one that looked interesting ... a sweet little picture book based on a true story: Charlie and the Viaduct, by Valerie White and pictures by A.J. Liuba. After a life of hard work, Charlie was retired. It was nice, at first, but he was bored. Nearby a viaduct was being built and while gravity could be used to get the stones down to the work site, it was hard for humans to drag the rail car back up the hill. Along comes Charlie!

Thanks to Seattle Reader I can do a post next Wednesday, too!

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The first book I read about rangers was a general history of the service, this time, with Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor & Misadventure from America's National Parks, by Jim Burnett, it's about the actual job. The author spent decades working in various parks around the U.S. and has wonderful stories to share. From scary rescues (one involving chickens) to answering the same question dozens of times a day to the natural beauty of the parks where he worked, this was a great read.

Do you suffer from insomnia? Professor K. McCoy and Dr. Hardwick, of the Institute of Pointless Studies have put together a book that might help. They have studied meditation, darkened rooms, white noise and so forth and determined that the best way to achieve a feeling a sleepiness is to read a book ... but not a book that is too exciting! To that end, they have put together a boring book! This Book Will Put You to Sleep is a collection of mindless studies, essays on sand dunes or post offices in faraway countries, all designed to be relaxing (read 'mind numbing') and send you off to sleep. I will say it did make me drowsy! :-)

The weather has been much in the news of late (early February) so it seemed like the perfect time to read Blame It On the Rain: How the Weather Has Changed History, by Laura Lee. Could the weather have been the inspiration for that well known painting The Scream, by Munch? Or been responsible for one of the greatest archaeological finds ever? How did mud influence the outcome of battles? Loved the variety of entries here! I'm still not sure why anyone ever thinks it's a good idea to invade Russia in the winter, however! ;-)

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Here it is! The second Elliott Bay Mystery, by Jennifer Berg! This time it's just a short story, but with the exception of a few typographical errors, it is an excellent read. The Tugboat Murder takes place (no surprise here) on a tug, one that has been refitted as a home. A scream interrupts a nice dinner which places Victoria at the scene where there is a body and a scantily dressed woman. Looks like she'll be involved this time whether she wants to be or not. Loving the period (1956) and regional details.

It's the dress rehearsal before a major concert, the tension is high to begin with and then the director drops dead. This body won't be the last, just what is going on? Choral Mayhem (the perfect title!), is a stand alone mystery by Andrea Frazer. It's darker than her cozies with once hidden secrets from the past emerging that affect those in the choir. Threatening phone calls, and a possible stalker must make Virginia and Richard wonder why they ever auditioned in the first place!

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Kiwi recently shared these books with me, and they are perfect for a Wednesday post! The Silk Roads: an Illustrated New History of the World, by Peter Frankopan and illustrated by Neil Packer. Yes! It's a book for children! (Well, maybe slightly older readers). Beautifully written, it's easy to understand and takes the reader from early times to 2013. Do be warned, though, history is violent.

Next is the Caldecott Award book Grand Canyon, by Jason Chin. Filled with information about the history, flora and fauna of the canyon, this is just a wonderful book. The artist uses a technique I thoroughly ... the borders of his pictures are filled with information. Read it twice in one sitting!

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Death at a Discount, by M. Yeast, was printed at one of those publishing machines found nowadays in book stores. While a nice little mystery, I feel there could have been better proof reading, there are spelling errors, proper names were not always capitalized, and, in one case, the horse changed genders a couple of times! Still, I did like the characters, and the story, and that the author is a local. (Although without an internet presence, I checked to see if there were more books and found nothing)!

If there is a young woman in your life and you need an idea for a book then I recommend Girl Squads: 20 Female Friendships That Changed History, by Sam Maggs. From ancient times to present day celebrate these partnerships of brave and forward thinking women who fought (and won) wars, provided the correct math for the space program, won sports titles ... and so much more. A great read!

For a fun look at holidays, how they came about, traditions (some silly) and just fun bits of trivia, read Holiday Hilarity: a Humorous History of Celebration, by Jeffrey Gurian & Otakara Klettke. I suggest reading the appropriate chapter before heading off to a family dinner or gathering so as to have something clever to say (perhaps in front of the in-laws??) ;-) I have just one question, though ... why was St. Patrick's Day not included?

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Do you remember a stamp from 1998 from the USPS Black Heritage series featuring a woman? (It's easier when you see a picture!) That woman was Madam C.J. Walker, and what an interesting woman she was! Missing being born a slave by a scant few days, she went on to found a company that made hair and skin care products specifically designed for black women, and made it a huge success. The research that went in to On Her Own Ground: the Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker boggles the mind ... records of her early life were spotty at best. Great-great-granddaughter and author A'Lelia Bundles did an amazing job. This is a dense, detailed and interesting biography, but it might take a while to read!

In war time some animals carried supplies, sniffed out bombs, delivered messages ... and some were just good for morale. Meet one of the best of those in Yorkie Doodle Dandy: a Memoir, by William A. Wynne. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky became a star during and after WWII. The author was her trainer, owner and companion. They visited soldiers in hospitals, performed shows in war zones, and then, when they came home, would go on to do the same here in the states. Stops included children's hospitals, various celebrations, and even a TV show or two. There are some great photos, and a few training tips as well.

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