Top Ten Tuesday: Twelve Nonfiction Books I Never Got Around to Reviewing

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books I Never Reviewed, and there's a lot. But today I thought I would focus on twelve nonfiction books I never got around to reviewing. 

Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic by Anthony Almojera 

(Mariner Books, 2022; 256 pgs)

Following one paramedic into hell and back, Riding the Lightning tells the story of New York City’s darkest days through the eyes of one extraordinary medic and the New Yorkers he serves—and serves with: ordinary people who will continue to make New York an extraordinary place long after it has been reborn from the ashes of 2020.

Paramedic Anthony Almojera had a difficult job on a good day. During the worst of the pandemic, he and all first responders faced an impossible job. They had to improvise when resources were scarce and faced overwhelming odds. I came away from this memoir feeling even more grateful for those on the frontlines during the worst of it. So much heartbreak can be found in the pages of this book, but also enduring strength and compassion. Rating: Very Good

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
(Viking, 2019; 304 pgs)

Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. SHOUT speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice—and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.

I read Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Speak years ago and it spoke to me personally. It is one of my all time favorite books. In Shout, a memoir-in-verse, the author shares her own story and experience, including some of the feedback she's received about the impact impact Speak has had on many women's lives despite attempted bans. I cried alongside her, felt empowered right along with her, and will never stop recommending her books. Rating: Outstanding

Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black 
Transworld Digital, 2020; 344 pgs

Our bones are the silent witnesses to the lives we lead. Our stories are marbled into their marrow.

Forensic science and anthropology have always been an interest of mine, and I was excited at the opportunity to read Sue Black's Written in Bone, and it did not disappoint. The real life examples and science the author shared were fascinating. Rating: Very Good

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
Baker Books, 2018; 156 pgs

For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.

It is hard to resist a book about books and reading, and when I came across Anne Bogel's I'd Rather Be Reading, I had to read it. Her essays to be extremely relatable and I walked away with a longer wish list and feeling like she got me. Rating: Very Good +

The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown
St. Martin's Press, 2021; 327 pgs

In 2017, DNA tests revealed to the collective shock of many scholars that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to imagine her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined.

I found the way Nancy Marie Brown wove literature and history together with recent archaeology findings interesting. I loved that the literature from so long ago supports the theory that women were warriors as well. The author also provides evidence of how that history was suppressed over time by a growing religious movement that supported more patriarchal views. Rating: Good +

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jen Gunter

(Citadel, 2021; 386 pgs)

Frank and funny, Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know about [it].

After a disappointing visit with my general practitioner in which I raised questions about menopause (and it was clearly not in her wheelhouse), I was grateful for Dr. Jen Gunter's book on the subject. It was not only informative but also provided me with other respected resources to check out. I had hoped for more in-depth insights of some of the possible symptoms regarding peri-menopause than were provided, but I found the information on pharmaceuticals and the companies behind them very informative. Rating: Good +

 

Becoming by Michelle Obama 
(Crown, 2018; 426 pgs)
Crown, 2018; 426 pgs

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same. [Goodreads Summary]

I have always thought highly of Michelle Obama and my respect for her only grew after reading her memoir. Rating: Very Good +

Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookiee, Laugh Like a Hobbit: Life Lessons from Pop Culture by Robb Pearlman
(Smart Pop, 2021; 112 pgs)

Much like a dragon-guarded mountain filled with stolen dwarf gold, Pop Culture is far more than just a side quest or afternoon's entertainment: it contains a veritable treasure trove overflowing with life lessons.

Robb Pearlman's book was funny and full of pop cultural references and the lessons we take away from our favorite stories. This book was philosophical and thoughtful, written in the  format of a conversation between cos-players at a convention. Rating: Good +

Dressed for Freedom: The Fashionable Politics of American Feminism by Einav Rabinovitch-Fox
University of Illinois Press, 2021; 288 pgs

Often condemned as a form of oppression, fashion could and did allow women to express modern gender identities and promote feminist ideas. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox examines how clothes empowered women, and particularly women barred from positions of influence due to race or class. 

This was a surprising reading choice for me given I am not too interested in fashion, but the historical aspect of fashion as a political statement was enough to make me want to give it a try. While this book was a bit more academic than I generally prefer, I did find it interesting--reading about the history of fashion from the 1890's through the 1970's and the way women have used fashion to make statements in regards to their bodies, femininity and social roles, including how it spilled over into feminist activism. It is well researched and documented. It took me awhile to read this one, but I did find it a worthwhile read. Rating:  Good

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

(Hanover Square Press, 2024; 272 pgs)

 In this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud-funny collection, Reed shares surprising stories from her life as a reader and the poignant ways in which books have impacted her students. From the varied novels she cherishes to the ones she didn’t, Reed takes us on a rollicking tour through the comforting world of literature, celebrating the books we love, the readers who love them and the surprising ways in which literature can transform us for the better.

This collection of essays from a booklover and teacher is both relatable and interesting. I especially enjoyed her essays about her experiences with her students and some of the discussions they had regarding the books they were reading. Shannon Reed believes in reading for the enjoyment of it first and foremost, and I definitely agree with that! Rating: Good +

You'll Never  Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

(Grand Central Publishing, 2021; 241 pgs)

Writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers Amber Ruffin writes with her sister Lacey Lamar with humor and heart to share absurd anecdotes about everyday experiences of racism. 

While people tend to be much more familiar with overt racism, less attention is given to the everyday microaggressions Black people deal with while out running errands, at work, or just being out in public in general. Amber and Lacey share their experiences with a good dose of humor, but it does not take away how thoughtless and hurtful such comments and acts can be, whether seemingly intentional or not. We all need to do better. Rating: Very Good

Brown Girls Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

(Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014; 366 pgs)

Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

I have a soft spot for stories told in verse and Brown Girls Dreaming is one of my favorites. Jacqueline Woodson shares her experiences growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, raised in South Carolina and New York, at a time when the Civil Rights movement was growing. This is a powerful collection of poems, a coming of age story full of heart and soul. Rating: Very Good 

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? If not, do any appeal to you? 

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