Reviews Feed

The Man Behind the Cane: Preston Brooks, Political Violence, and the Road to the Civil War

Quigley, Paul — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Two days after Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivered his famous “crime against Kansas” speech in 1856, Senator Preston Brooks of South Carolina entered the Senate chamber and battered Sumner with his cane, upset over the speech that he viewed as a personal attack on a relative. The violence of Brooks’s attack splintered his cane and left Sumner temporarily unconscious. Historians now view the speech and subsequent attack as one more milestone on the United States’ road to the Civil War. Quigley’s (history, Virginia Tech; Shifting Grounds) book situates Brooks’s response within a culture of violence that permeated the South, particularly in the senator’s hometown of Edgefield. In this antebellum planter society, violence was everywhere, particularly between enslavers and the people they enslaved, but white men perpetrated violence on each other as well, in highly ritualized duels intended to satisfy their sense of honor and duty. Quigley also analyzes Brooks’s specific motivations for the caning and how his contested reputation illuminates the nation’s path to the Civil War. VERDICT A lively and accessible study of Brooks and the attack on Sumner that helped propel the United States towards war; it will be a welcome addition to Civil War history collections.

Shell Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Molluscan Lives

Scales, Helen — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The “Earth Day” series takes to the seas with the newest installment, looking at shells and what lives in them. Marine biologist Scales (Cambridge Univ.; Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and Other Sea Life) views shells as “gateway treasures” to the ocean; the mollusks in the book include marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species. Each chapter shares the common and scientific name of the mollusk, where it’s found, the time of day readers meet it, and a detailed pen-and-ink illustration. For marine species for whom tides influence much of their lives, tidal regimes are included. Scales offers exciting glimpses into the lives of mollusks and brings context to the animal’s life, explaining the whys behind its way of being. It may be scientific, but it is a magical peek into their world. Chapters hint at the bleak future these creatures face if manmade threats are allowed to continue. The book ends with a call to action, encouraging readers to make minor life changes that have a significant impact on the oceans. VERDICT Ocean lovers and shell admirers will find plenty to enjoy; a must for libraries with the rest of the series in their collection.

Done in a Day: Telex from the Fall of Saigon

Tamarkin, Elisa — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Tamarkin (English, Univ. of California, Berkeley; Apropos of Something: A History of Irrelevance and Relevance) examines the chaotic last hours of the Vietnam War and the cultural meaning of endings. Focusing on the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, her book explores how a drawn-out war concluded abruptly in a single day. She compellingly argues that denial, information overload, and political amnesia allowed the futile war to drag on. Tamarkin scrutinizes media such as Hubert Van Es’s photo of South Vietnamese civilians boarding a U.S. helicopter on a rooftop, which became a symbol of closure. Through the lens of telex dispatches from Bob Tamarkin (the author’s stepfather, who was the Saigon bureau chief for the Chicago Daily News) on and around April 30, 1975, the book also reflects on the decline of foreign correspondence and of newspaper journalism in general in the 21st century. VERDICT Blending history, memoir, media studies, and cultural theory, Tamarkin’s book reveals how war, technology, and narratives shape collective memory. Suggest to readers seeking personal stories about the end of the Vietnam War, alongside Ralph White’s Getting Out of Saigon.

Where the Music Had To Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other—and the World

Windolf, Jim — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Windolf’s first book offers a thorough examination of Bob Dylan’s influence on the Beatles, with a chronological review of songwriting, concerts, recordings, and the musicians’ frequent encounters from 1961 through the present. He provides a concise overview of Dylan’s and the Beatles’ careers, with an emphasis on their 1960s glory days. He gives fascinating details about Dylan’s early performances at small clubs in England in 1962–63, at the same time the Beatles were performing their earliest songs. Dylan and the Beatles first met on August 28, 1964, at New York City’s Delmonico Hotel; there was much drinking and pot-smoking. They spent further time together during Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. Windolf delves into the similarities and artistic rivalry between Dylan and John Lennon, who both had literary ambitions beyond songwriting. He also illuminates the bond between Dylan and Paul McCartney, dating back to the 1970s, when they both lived in NYC. The book concludes with a 2025 interview with McCartney about his relationship with Dylan. VERDICT An entertaining introduction to these musicians and how they influenced each other.

Physics Around the Clock: Adventures in the Science of Everyday Living

Banks, Michael — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Banks (The Secret Science of Baby) offers an engaging and witty exploration of the physics underlying an ordinary day. Drawing on his background as a physicist, he structures the book around morning, daytime, and evening, using this framework to illuminate the mechanisms behind familiar routines. From the fluid dynamics that shape a morning cup of coffee to the forces at play during a daily commute or the biological processes at work while one tends their personal garden, Banks describes complex scientific phenomena through fun and accessible explanations. Interviews with working scientists and discussions of recent studies enrich the narrative while maintaining an inviting tone suitable for general readers. The writing is reminiscent of an educational science program for older teens and adults, blending clarity, curiosity, and humor. Banks highlights the unnoticed physics that animate everyday experience, encouraging readers to view ordinary activities through a more inquisitive lens. VERDICT An engaging and highly accessible introduction to the science embedded in daily life, this book will appeal to curious readers and strengthen science collections in academic, public, and school libraries.

One Moment: Poems

Muñoz, Luis — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

This translation of Spanish poet Muñoz’s seventh collection—only the second volume of his poetry (after 2015’s From Behind What Landscape) to be translated to English—presents a series of momentary epiphanies: brief, surreal flashes of perception. In Muñoz’s poetic universe, anything—rocks, beans, railings—can be animate, sentient, and constantly in a state of dreamlike transmutation. Even the poet’s memories seem to have lives of their own. A particular strength is the poet’s imagistic originality: “The sun in its attempt / to screw itself in / leaves semicircular notches / in the dough of the sky.” One might well believe that Muñoz wears the “special glasses for seeing souls” of which he writes. VERDICT While some readers may find these poems to be opaque in their hallucinatory bravura, multiple readings work to their advantage. Adventurous audiences will readily welcome Muñoz’s expansive receptivity to the “light that only words can ignite.”

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2026: The Ultimate Go-to Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Representing almost 200 countries, this comprehensive paperback, now in its 69th edition, includes front and back matter (a spotlight on the past, world anniversaries, 2026 events, time zones, hurricane names, U.S. fast facts) along with over 12,000 events and commemorative days. Entries run from a sentence or two (Appreciate a Dragon Day on January 16) to a paragraph (Rosa Parks’s birthday on February 4). Daily entries conclude with a list of notable people who share that birthdate. Boldface type and paragraph indents maintain clarity; spot art and text boxes break up blocks of text. Contact information and websites are included when available. VERDICT A treasure trove of inspiration for displays and celebration, whether interests run towards Dry Eye Month (July) or Fibonacci Day (November 23).

When the Declaration of Independence Was News

Sneff, Emily — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

This history of the Declaration of Independence is timed for the celebration of its anniversary this summer, which will mark 250 years since July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia approved the United States’ founding document. Historian Sneff (a leading expert on the Declaration who is curating several exhibitions for its anniversary) now considers how the news of independence and the principles of the Declaration were communicated throughout the 13 colonies and around the world during the months following its signing. She recounts how the Declaration was reprinted in newspapers, translated into other languages, and communicated to Indigenous Americans. Sneff further observes widely varied reactions to the Declaration seen across a diversity of classes, nationalities, and races; these sentiments ranged from celebration to condemnation, with plenty of ambiguity as well. VERDICT This book about how the world communicated and experienced a history-making event fills in many gaps in the historical record. Highly recommended for anyone preparing to celebrate the United States’ Semiquincentennial.

Pearls: Their History, Sources, Types and Qualities

Newman, Renée — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Evidence of pearl-diving dates back almost 8,000 years, as gemologist Newman (Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits; Pearl Buying Guide) notes in the opening chapter of this book, before focusing on value factors, geographic and species differences, a history of pearl jewelry, and how to care for pearls. Newman’s depth of knowledge will benefit serious pearl buyers and enthusiasts, and the book’s many illustrations and beautiful jewelry photos are a particular strength and inspiration throughout. VERDICT Extensive information, well-presented, on the history, creation, value, and adornment uses of real, cultured, and imitation pearls throughout the world.

Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life

Mayyasi, Alex & hosts of NPR’s Planet Money — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Mayyasi and his fellow contributors to NPR’s Planet Money podcast have written an accessible, nonpartisan survey of economic concepts using real-world examples. The book’s initial section covers markets, prices, trade, and public goods. The remaining sections explore work and career, love and family, saving and investing, and leisure. Inspired by the podcast’s format, topics such as equity, the future value of money, market design, inflation, and automation are explained in the context of news stories that provide just enough detail to explain both the specific circumstances and the broader economic concepts. Well-designed graphics and sidebars illuminate related subtopics. Some content is drawn from past episodes of Planet Money, but any reader—whether newcomer or devoted listener—can appreciate how the information is organized into a cohesive whole. Back matter includes notes, credits, and an index. VERDICT This book delivers economic concepts in engaging, digestible bites. At the close of each chapter, readers will find that they are still hungry for more.

The Atlas of Deadly Plants: Botanical Tales of the World’s Most Intoxicating, Poisonous and Dangerous Specimens

Perrone, Jane — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After a slightly grisly introduction by ethnobotanist Sarah Edwards, this book by Perrone (host of the On the Ledge podcast and author of Royal Horticultural Society Advisory Committee on Houseplants) dives into details for 50 species of deadly plants, sectioned into the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Entries include family name, native regions, and readable descriptions of each plant’s appearance, useful traits, deadly properties, key chemical components, and notable interactions with humans. The book covers everything from South America’s hallucinogenic ayahuasca vine to the discovery of potentially cancer-fighting compounds in tropical Africa’s desert rose and the flame lily’s use as a treatment against lice, Guinea worms, and ringworm. Modern botanical and anatomical illustrations by Alice Smith (The Physick Garden), ample historical sketches, and stock photos add interest. VERDICT This will hold appeal for gardeners and readers of true crime and mystery.

In Search of Gems: Finding Treasures in Wild Places

Steven, Kenneth — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Poet and novelist Steven (The Scribe) takes readers on a journey of geological beauty and discovery in the lands of Scotland. Written in lyrical story form, some based on essays Steven wrote and presented for a BBC radio series, the book returns to the unfettered childhood days of searching on beaches, coves, glens, or meadows for crystals, gemstones, and glittering rocks. Even now, many locations that Steven mentions are still untouched by civilization and just waiting for treasure hunters. The list starts with serpentine, a semiprecious stone, waxy-soft and sometimes marked with yellow or green spots, which can be found in the interiors of Scottish lochs. Mica, pearls, aquamarine, gold, and agate are some gems that follow, each with a description, a poem, and a story or history. The author cites research by W. J. McCallien in 1937’s Scottish Gem Stones and by the father-in-law/son-in-law team of Matthew Forster Heffle and John George Goodchild in 1901’s The Mineralogy of Scotland as a basis. The journeys Steven highlights will keep readers looking down in search of treasures. VERDICT Recommended anywhere nature essays, poetry, or gems are popular.

AKC Official Guide to Toy Dogs: Featuring Lovable Breeds Including Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Papillon, and Pomeranian

American Kennel Club — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Formed in 1884, the nonprofit American Kennel Club (AKC) has a long history of providing accurate information on the canine world. AKC’s new guide to toy dog breeds begins with general introductory information on the history of the AKC, canine anatomy, and tips for “finding the perfect puppy.” Breed profiles form the heart of the book, with multipage entries for 25 toy breeds. Spotlighted traits and comprehensive information on breed history, temperament, care, and show standards benefit casual owners and show-hopefuls alike. Abundant photos highlight dogs at work, at rest, and at play. VERDICT Plentiful puppy photos lend an irresistible “aww” factor to AKC’s practical guide. This title, and the rest of the series, will circulate well.

The Name Game

O’Leary, Beth — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The tiny, remote Isle of Ormer, located in the English Channel, is a quaint getaway with only 500 permanent residents. No motorized vehicles or streetlights are allowed, and the wild nature of the island makes it the perfect place to take a day trip or start anew. After an advertisement for a farm shop manager is posted and the job is offered to Charlie Jones, two applicants arrive on the island, a woman and a man, both named Charlie Jones. Charlie needs time to regroup and focus on what she wants, and a close-knit community is exactly what she’s looking for. Jones, two days sober and fresh off a tragedy, hopes the remote location and a new job will distract him from relapsing. After the mix-up, the shop’s owners decide to allow both applicants to stay on a trial basis, so Charlie and Jones cohabitate in converted stables while they vie for the same job. Readers will appreciate the redemption arc and be surprised by the twist ending. VERDICT O’Leary (Swept Away) charmingly creates a memorable community of island characters and two distinct points of view in this chaste romance.

The Magic We Made

Cabot, Meg — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Frankie Giovanni just wants the cat living under her porch to finally come out and to achieve petty revenge on the owner of the house next door. Her hometown of West Harbor, CT, has been overrun by tourists since the supposed supernatural event at the tricentennial celebration at the courthouse. Frankie is a therapist and a woman of science, and there’s nothing magical about her life lately, including her ex-husband leaving her and the annoyance of summer vacationers blasting Jimmy Buffet songs all afternoon while out on the lake. Ashraf “Ash” Merit has been quietly charmed by the woman next door. When his employer asks him to seek out a distant relation who is missing, using his superpower psychic abilities, it places him directly in the path of Frankie’s ire. However, they join forces when they stumble upon a witchy influencer cult that might endanger their families, and they get caught in a search for missing teen girls. Readers will be drawn into the mystery while being charmed by the banter and slow burn between Frankie and Ash. VERDICT Cabot returns to West Harbor (after Enchanted To Meet You) for another magical love story, this time with a skeptical heroine and a cinnamon-roll hero who’s obsessed with her. Hand to fans of Sarah Hawley and Erin Sterling.

Heather

Mullen, Caitlin — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In Mullen’s second novel (following Please See Us), Callie Hauser returns to her hometown of Pine Lakes, NJ, as chief of police, having given up a higher position as a state police narcotics detective in order to come home and help her best friend Jane (who was severely injured in a recent accident) care for her young daughter. Months after Callie’s return to Pine Lakes, an encounter with her estranged mother, Jenna, resurrects the unsolved 1991 murder of an infant and the disappearance of a teen girl believed to be the baby’s mother—along with unsettling implications of Jenna’s involvement. Mullen’s dual-timeline, multi-perspective novel methodically unravels the modern-day consequences of 30-year-old secrets. Callie tries to dismantle a smothering silence that shattered lives and echoed its damage across generations, but as she gets closer to truth, she will discover that some answers come at a devastating cost—including to herself. VERDICT A haunting exploration of how far people will go to feel seen, a searing indictment of a man who exploited the most vulnerable, and a powerful testament to the devastating consequences and the remarkable strength and resilience that follow. This powerful novel will appeal to fans of Allen Eskens, Elle Marr, and Brad Parks.

Winner Takes All

Martin, Emily — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Music executive Eleanor is visiting Las Vegas to sign one of her favorite bands; she desperately needs this deal to save her floundering career. When she runs into Adam, an exec at a competing record label who poached talent from her years ago, she’s even more determined to win. So when he joins her and the band for a night out, she tries to keep up, drinking far too much. The next day they wake up in bed together, hungover, wedding rings on their fingers, and with no memory of last night before. As they race around town, retracing their steps and trying to annul their marriage, they come to learn that they’ve been misjudging each other, leading them to realize they may not want to part ways after all. But with the record deal still up for grabs, they’ve got tough decisions to make. VERDICT YA author Martin’s (Five Ways To Fall Out of Love) first foray into adult romance is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story, which deftly balances the serious with the comedic, and combines emotional and workplace storylines into one sexy and satisfying read.

Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America

Armstrong, Jennifer Keishin — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Bestselling author Armstrong (So Fetch: The Making of “Mean Girls”) further cements her status as a pop culture expert in this love letter to a show that struggled in ratings but soared in heart and optimism, eventually becoming a cult classic in its now-nostalgic glimpse of a seemingly innocent time. Armstrong meticulously details the creation of Parks and Rec, originally conceived as a spinoff of NBC’s The Office but eventually transformed into a vehicle for the always likable Amy Poehler, developing a ragtag group of character actors into a community of city workers embracing the need to make life better for their constituents. Armstrong’s numerous interviews with cast, crew, and creators reinforce the narrative of a collaborative work environment, punctuated by after-lunch dance parties and a fondness for one another that spilled into their on- and off-screen relationships. Armstrong argues that by embracing nonpartisan politics, sticking with serialized storytelling, and portraying romance in original ways, Parks and Rec promoted civic engagement, highlighted the talents of its amazing cast and guest stars, and even created a new holiday (Galentine’s Day). VERDICT Armstrong’s writing is as heartfelt as her subject, and she eloquently details the show’s unlikely survival and its portrayal of an alternative work-life balance

Inspiration Porn: Essays

O’Connell, Ryan — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Emmy-winning TV writer, actor, and novelist O’Connell (Just by Looking at Him) offers an entertaining collection of personal essays and self-discovery. “My whole life I’ve had to reconcile how the world sees me versus how I see myself—the latter being a response to the former,” O’Connell writes in the introduction. Born with a mild form of cerebral palsy that affects his gait and muscular coordination, O’Connell writes of the challenges of and responses to his disability. He also addresses being gay and having a mother addicted to alcohol and an emotionally distant father. He details his own struggles with an eating disorder, alcohol-use disorder, and an addiction to painkillers after being hit by a car at age 20. O’Connell’s essays shine when he describes discovering his voice through the written word, first as a blogger and then as an accomplished television writer in cutthroat Hollywood. (“Every page I wrote felt like me betting on myself again.”) O’Connell also candidly addresses his sexual adventures in his open relationship with his long-term boyfriend. VERDICT Fans of O’Connell’s will appreciate this humorous and heartfelt follow-up to his 2015 memoir I’m Special (which he adapted into the Netflix TV series Special), but this collection can be read as a stand-alone.

Banton of Paramount: Haute Couture in Hollywood’s Golden Age

Gutner, Howard — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Gutner (MGM Style) looks at the career of Texas-born designer Travis Banton and his influence on film fashion in 1930s Hollywood. A graduate of the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts (now the Parsons School of Design), Banton costumed several Broadway revues before getting a job with Famous Players-Lasky (which later became Paramount Pictures). Aided by Paramount’s savvy publicity department, Banton made fashion a key aspect of a film’s appeal and helped establish Hollywood as a trendsetter rivaling the fashion capitals of Paris and New York. Banton was instrumental in shaping the mystique surrounding Marlene Dietrich with menswear-influenced designs incorporating elements such as feathers and veils, while his slinky bias-cut gowns made Carole Lombard an icon of 1930s screen style. Gutner reveals little about Banton’s private life, focusing almost exclusively on his work, his influence on the broader fashion scene, and his sometimes-challenging professional relationships with actresses such as Dietrich, Clara Bow, Mae West, and Claudette Colbert. VERDICT Illustrated throughout with film stills, publicity images, and costume sketches, Gutner’s detailed book will appeal to serious aficionados of film and fashion.