Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.
A few new books in my mailbox this past week.
New Arrivals
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly from William Morrow.
Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now.
Marlene by C.W. Gortner from William Morrow.
A lush, dramatic biographical novel of one of the most glamorous and alluring legends of Hollywood’s golden age, Marlene Dietrich—from the gender-bending cabarets of Weimar Berlin to the lush film studios of Hollywood, a sweeping story of passion, glamour, ambition, art, and war.
The Original Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
A compulsively readable and touching novel about being an outsider trying to find a place to belong and making sense of a world that just doesn’t seem to add up.
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Greetings from my flock . . .
What is National Bird Day?
National Bird Day is on January 5 each year, as it’s scheduled to coincide with the end of the annual Christmas Bird Count. The Christmas Bird Count has been going on for more than a decade. It lasts three weeks and is the longest running citizen science survey in the world that helps to monitor the health of our nation’s birds. Birders and the public go out and count as many birds as they can see during the count.
The reason National Bird Day falls on January 5 is that, for three weeks, the country is focused on native birds and wild populations. Once that period ends, we begin to focus on captive birds (who mainly consist of bird species that are native to other countries, but who are kept in captivity in the U.S.). January 5 is the new beginning for captive birds!
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Almost wordless: During the last cold spell I noticed a sparrow that looked a little larger than the usual House Sparrows that hang out at my feeder. It was an American Tree Sparrow. Notice the spot on the chest, the rusty cap, dark feet, and the bi-colored bill. They are migratory birds that spend the summer in Canada and winter in the US. They usually hang out in small flocks at the forest edge but will readily visit feeders. This little guy was here for a week, probably separated from his flock.
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More Wordless Wednesday. © 2016 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.
One new book last week which was also my choice for First Book of the Year.
New Arrivals
Ninth City Burning by J. Patrick Black from FSB Associates and Ace Books.
Centuries of war with aliens threaten the future of human civilization on earth in this gripping, epic science fiction debut.
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© 2017 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.7
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Happy New Year!
And welcome to First Book of the Year hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Join us as we kick off another year of great reading.
A Favorite Genre
I was having trouble deciding which book I should choose to start the year when Ninth City Burning showed up in my mailbox a few days ago. Science fiction has always been a favorite genre, and since I’ve been in a bit of a reading/writing slump, this could be what I need. It’s post apocalyptic science fiction, and the description reminded me of Ender’s Game, a favorite of mine.
The little photo-bomber on my shoulder is my parrot, Jentrie, one of my reading and blogging buddies. He would ride around on my shoulder all day if I would let him!
Ninth City Burning by J. Patrick Black
Centuries of war with aliens threaten the future of human civilization on earth in this gripping, epic science fiction debut…
We never saw them coming.
Entire cities disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving nothing but dust and rubble. When an alien race came to make Earth theirs, they brought with them a weapon we had no way to fight, a universe-altering force known as thelemity. It seemed nothing could stop it—until we discovered we could wield the power too.
Five hundred years later, the Earth is locked in a grinding war of attrition. The talented few capable of bending thelemity to their will are trained in elite military academies, destined for the front lines. Those who refused to support the war have been exiled to the wilds of a ruined Earth.
But the enemy’s tactics are changing, and Earth’s defenders are about to discover this centuries-old war has only just begun. As a terrible new onslaught looms, heroes will rise from unlikely quarters, and fight back.
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A Rapid Review
Publisher: Random House Audio | August 2016
Format: Audio Download | 8½ hours | Rating: 4½ stars
Audio Listening Level: Easy – Intermediate
In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives?
What’s it about . . .
Augustine, an aging astronomer who has remained behind after an evacuation of an Arctic research station, and Mission Specialist Sullivan, an astronaut on the first manned flight to Jupiter, tell their stories in alternating points of view. When earth suddenly goes silent and all communication is lost, each begins to reflect on their lives, the choices they’ve made, and what comes next.
What did I think . . .
The story reminded me in some ways of Station Eleven: A quiet post-apocalyptic novel that begins with a crisis. Here we don’t know what happened other than all communication is lost. I liked this book for what it wasn’t: It’s not an action story, there are no wars, vampires, or zombies. It’s thoughtful, haunting, and at times beautiful.
I enjoyed the parallel stories of these two scientists that gave up their families for the work they loved. My only negative was the ending. I liked it, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. Ultimately, I wanted more.
It’s science fiction for the non-scifi reader. Don’t be swayed by the genre; give this one a try.
Audio production:
The audio was read by John H. Mayer and Hillary Huber. This was a very enjoyable and easy to listen to performance. The tension of not knowing why communication was lost and wondering if anyone is still out there continues to builds, and at the same time the narrators maintain a calm, even pace with soothing tones that propel the listener along to the conclusion.
Audio Sample:
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Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
© 2016 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Advertisements appearing on this site are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed or approved by me.
Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.
It’s been a busy week with little time to read. I always end up waiting until the last few days to finish up my Christams shopping! I did manage to finish an audio book while making cookies.
A few new books arrived last week.
New Arrivals
The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy from Harper.
In this electrifying literary debut, a young woman who channels the dead for a living crosses a dangerous line when she falls in love with one of her clients, whose wife died under mysterious circumstances.
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari from Harper.
Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity’s future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.
A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner from Berkley.
Wartime intrigue spans the lives of three women past and present.
Doctor Who Psychology: A Madman with a Box by Travis Langley and Katy Manning from Serena @ Savvy Verse & Wit. Thank you!
This fascinating in-depth academic study, edited by Travis Langley, contains 20 essays delving into the psychology behind the time-traveling Doctor in his many iterations, as well as his companions and his foes.
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© 2016 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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