Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang & Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark by Cecelia Watson

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlight is: 

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Publication: August 6th, 2019

Harper Voyager

Hardcover. 560 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies. 

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do. 

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance."

Okay, so I'm actually read an ARC of this right now (thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager!), but I'm still just so excited for it to come out and to see the finished copy. I really enjoyed The Poppy War and have been so intrigued to see where Kuang takes her unpredictable story next.

and...

Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark by Cecelia Watson

Publication: July 30th, 2019

Ecco

Hardcover. 224 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"The semicolon. Stephen King, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and Orwell detest it. Herman Melville, Henry James, and Rebecca Solnit love it. But why? When is it effective? Have we been misusing it? Should we even care? 

In Semicolon, Cecelia Watson charts the rise and fall of this infamous punctuation mark, which for years was the trendiest one in the world of letters. But in the nineteenth century, as grammar books became all the rage, the rules of how we use language became both stricter and more confusing, with the semicolon a prime victim. Taking us on a breezy journey through a range of examples—from Milton’s manuscripts to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail” to Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep—Watson reveals how traditional grammar rules make us less successful at communicating with each other than we’d think. Even the most die-hard grammar fanatics would be better served by tossing the rule books and learning a better way to engage with language. 

Through her rollicking biography of the semicolon, Watson writes a guide to grammar that explains why we don’t need guides at all, and refocuses our attention on the deepest, most primary value of language: true communication."

This is probably a major hit or miss sort of book for people--who wants to read about a punctuation mark?--but I have an oddly strong interest in grammar and think this sounds fascinating! The semicolon really is a divisive little mark and I'd love to read a bit about its history and the various ideas about it and grammar in general.

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Perfectionists by Simon Winchester & The Ravenmaster by Christopher Skaife

The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World
by Simon Winchester
Harper, 2018

Hardcover. 416 pages.

About The Perfectionists:

"The rise of manufacturing could not have happened without an attention to precision. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in eighteenth-century England, standards of measurement were established, giving way to the development of machine tools—machines that make machines. Eventually, the application of precision tools and methods resulted in the creation and mass production of items from guns and glass to mirrors, lenses, and cameras—and eventually gave way to further breakthroughs, including gene splicing, microchips, and the Hadron Collider. 

Simon Winchester takes us back to origins of the Industrial Age, to England where he introduces the scientific minds that helped usher in modern production: John Wilkinson, Henry Maudslay, Joseph Bramah, Jesse Ramsden, and Joseph Whitworth. It was Thomas Jefferson who later exported their discoveries to the fledgling United States, setting the nation on its course to become a manufacturing titan. Winchester moves forward through time, to today’s cutting-edge developments occurring around the world, from America to Western Europe to Asia. 

As he introduces the minds and methods that have changed the modern world, Winchester explores fundamental questions. Why is precision important? What are the different tools we use to measure it? Who has invented and perfected it? Has the pursuit of the ultra-precise in so many facets of human life blinded us to other things of equal value, such as an appreciation for the age-old traditions of craftsmanship, art, and high culture? Are we missing something that reflects the world as it is, rather than the world as we think we would wish it to be? And can the precise and the natural co-exist in society?"

My dad began working as precision CNC machinist in 1984 at a small machine shop, the same place that my started working at (and still does) as the office manager, and that is indeed where they met and fell in love. From the time my sister and I were born until we each graduated high school, we essentially grew up there. The long story short behind this is to basically explain why I decided to read this book and why it initially caught my attention, as I figured it would be a really neat way to learn more about the career that my dad had my entire life until he passed.

LIKES: I liked how Winchester divided the book in different categories of advancements as precision engineering progressed, going from things such as the Antikythera mechanism and watches to jetplanes and more. Even without the huge multitude of notes in the back of the book, it's clear the Winchester did an abundant amount of research to make this both informative and entertaining. The history of methods and the figures involved really felt as if they were brought to life, and his narrative style made it feel as though I were right there with them at various discoveries and challenges.

DISLIKES: There were a few portions within various chapters that got a little too technical for my taste, but I did expect there to be some of that so I didn't really let it take away too much from my experience. If that's something that you don't think you'd like, it would be easy to skim over those areas before getting back to the overall narrative. Other than that, I don't really have a lot of dislikes. Winchester does seem to get a little rambling at times, but his rambling is still interesting so it didn't personally bother me that much.

Overall, this is a really informative book that I'd say is definitely worth picking up if you'd like to learn about how so many modern things we use came to be. Four stars!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

You might also  like:

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku

Science of the Magical by Matt Kaplan

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London
by Christopher Skaife
HarperCollins, 2018

Hardcover. 256 pages.

About The Ravenmaster:

"The first behind-the-scenes account of life with the legendary ravens at the world’s eeriest monument 

The ravens at the Tower of London are of mighty importance: rumor has it that if a raven from the Tower should ever leave, the city will fall. 

The title of Ravenmaster, therefore, is a serious title indeed, and after decades of serving the Queen, Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife took on the added responsibility of caring for the infamous ravens. In The Ravenmaster, he lets us in on his life as he feeds his birds raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood, buys their food at Smithfield Market, and ensures that these unusual, misunderstood, and utterly brilliant corvids are healthy, happy, and ready to captivate the four million tourists who flock to the Tower every year. 

A rewarding, intimate, and inspiring partnership has developed between the ravens and their charismatic and charming human, the Ravenmaster, who shares the folklore, history, and superstitions surrounding the ravens and the Tower. Shining a light on the behavior of the birds, their pecking order and social structure, and the tricks they play on us, Skaife shows who the Tower’s true guardians really are―and the result is a compelling and irreverent narrative that will surprise and enchant."

I first learned about the Ravenmaster and the Tower of London's ravens a while back when I discovered the Ravenmaster's Twitter account and fell in love with it. WHen I saw he had a book coming out, I knew I had to check it out.

LIKES: Skaife may not be a professional writer, but he sure knows how to tell stories. His stories about the ravens and his own life in the mystery were so engaging and full of wit and kept me constantly wanting more. I loved learning about the ravens at the Tower in addition to some history about the Tower itself and how the ravens came to be so prominent. I also appreciated that Skaife delved into the background on ravens as a whole as well, discussing the superstitions associated with them, how they make the strange croak-like sounds they make, and so much more.

DISLIKES: Much like Winchester, Skaife also seems to ramble on a few times that would have been fine, but they went on just a little too long at times. He talks a lot about his military career and although most of the time it was something that I found very relevant to the ravens and also interesting, there were those handful of times that I thought he could have left things out. I really don't have many complains other than that--this book is exactly what it sets out to be.

Overall, I really recommend this one if you like animals, history, or just like to learn about new things in an incredibly humorous and entertaining manner. I had an exceptionally fun time reading this book. Four stars as well!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

You might also  like:

Pit Bull: The Battle Over An American Icon by Bronwen Dickey

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Enjoyed That I Probably Won't Read Again Anytime Soon

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Books I Loved but Will Never Re-Read

I really like this topic! I tweaked it a bit to books that I 'enjoyed' and that I will probably not re-read (at least not in my future plans), but I can't say never. None of these are really any of my favorite books (except one!) because all of those I would love to re-read, but I still went with books that I remember really enjoying, but that I don't any desire to re-read them anytime soon.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

I did really enjoy this book, but I really don't think it's one that I care to re-read. This one seems like a firm 'once is enough' for me. Nothing about it really draws me back in, so I'd rather just leave it with fond memories and move on.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

A lot of people seem to not have liked this one much, but I actually thought it was really interesting! However, I'm not sure there was anything overly intriguing that pulls me back to it.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Consequence: A Memoir by Eric Fair

This was a fascinating memoir about a man who was an interrogator employed by a private contractor in Iraq. This was extremely hard to read and is something that I think only requires one read-through due to its intense nature and difficult subject matter.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit

The only reason I don't see myself reading this one again is because I don't really find myself as drawn to WWII-era books as I used to be, and therefore my interest has sort of waned for this one. I thought it was a lovely little story, but for now I think it'll just stay on my shelf.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake

Okay, so this book is one of my absolutely favorites. I would like to re-read it one, but it's not going to be for a long time because this book broke me like very few books ever have. Once I got maybe halfway through, I had to brace myself every time I picked it up because I knew I'd just want to cry the entire time I was reading--and I'm not kidding, I was close to tears or legitimately crying through a lot of this book. There's nothing overtly sad, but everything is so subtle and this book just ripped my heart apart and I was a mess for so long after. Definitely a difficult book, but such a beautiful one. I recommend it because I love it, but proceed with caution. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Al Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

I thought this was a fascinating story, but this is one of those books where there's just no need to read it again. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Security by Gina Wohlsdorf

This was a fun slasher-style book with an interesting style, but it's not something I feel drawn to re-experience. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle

This book was really creative and provoked a lot of thought on my part, but I don't think I'll re-visit it anytime soon. I would, however, like to read more from John Darnielle!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

I thought this was a pretty strong first novel in a series, but I lost interest once I hit the third book. I just don't care about this book or this series anymore, therefor I have no desire to revisit this book. It was great and I can't deny that, but this is just a case of having lost interest.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

Bottled Up by Jaye Murray

I read this one as a teenager and I apparenty rated it five stars, but the subject matter is simply one that doesn't appeal to me as much these days, so I won't be picking it up again,

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository 

What books did you really enjoy reading, but you have no desire to re-read it? Have you read any of these books--what are your thoughts?

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A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller & Ken Armstrong

A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller & Ken Armstrong. Crown Publishing Group, 2018. Hardcover. 304 pages. 

Quick word of caution: If rape or sexual assault in any form is a difficult subject for you or something you try to avoid, then please be aware that both this book and this review will discuss these topics. I will not be writing anything detailed about sexual assault, only about the book itself, the subject itself, and how it is so often poorly handled in a legal sense--however, it still may be uncomfortable if this subject is a difficult one. The book does go into much more depth and has the potential to be much more unsettling, with descriptions of what occurred to the women and how they felt.

A False Report was a book that I didn't expect to like nearly as much as I did. The summary of this book implied that it would mainly focus on the issue of people not believing the validity of rape victim;s claims. This book does cover this issue in great depth, but at the same time it reads as a bit of a true crime story as well. This aspect tells of the victims and investigation into a serial rapist that targeted women in Washington and Colorado. I won't say who the rapist is that they are talking about because the book does not mention the man's name until the end, and I feel that this is part of how the book is meant to be told. Knowing that everything that happened in this book was true only added to the horror of each situation.

This book was hard to read, but also one that I could not put down. What happened to these women was not only truly horrifying and terrible, but also occurred in a very different way than the  majority of rapes occur, which made it hard for people to believe, and so some of these accounts were met with great skepticism. This, as the book aims to show, is a common problem with victims who come forward with claims of rape. There is often so much doubt and so much that they have to go through to prove it happened, that many are discouraged from ever coming forward in the first place for fear of being arrested for false reports or simply having their life ruined. The authors do a great job of both explaining this issue while covering the investigation and rapes of each woman, including the injustice and struggles of each step of the investigative process. The victims had to retell their stories multiple times to multiple people, investigators had to go through their apartments in meticulous detail, take their clothing, and then the women still had to endure an invasive and (traumatizing) examination for more evidence that may have been left on their bodies.

It was so informative--and horrifying--to read about how so many rape victims are treated. Many are interrogated rather than objectively interviewed because of how much doubt people have for their stories. One woman in this book, Marie, is so intimidated by the police and those around her that she ends up completely recanting her statement, a truly distressing event that was so hard to read. Can you imagine going through one of the  most traumatizing events of your life, only to discover that the police don't believe you, your friends don't believe you, and even the people you love and trust the most in the world don't believe you? It's truly a nightmarish scenario, but it happens every day.

The setup of the book was a little confusing at first, but I soon got the hang of it and was absolutely sucked in. The book begins by alternating chapters between a few of the victims--for example, we start with Marie's rape in Washington, then explore another in Colorado, and go back and forth between these cases. Within these chapters, the authors also delve into the investigators leading these cases and provides a bit of background on their own lives and how they became investigators. Eventually, the chapters begin to include ones that focus on the rapist as well. These delve into the psychology of the rapist, his background, why he did what he did, everything. It was really pretty crazy stuff, but certainly provides for some interesting insight.

I was so impressed with how much time and detail the authors obviously spent in putting this book together. They track every step in the investigation into each rape, every lead, every dead-end--and there were a lot of those--and how the various investigators were so determined in each case and all of the work they put into to finally capturing this monster.

In the very last portion of the book, the authors delve more deeply into the history of how rape investigations were handled and viewed, and honestly... it was pretty infuriating to read about. So many men throughout history have viewed women who "cry rape" with extremely skeptical views, and felt that a woman could not be taken seriously unless it had been proven beforehand that she was mentally fit and not seeking out any revenge on a man or looking for attention. Even Thomas Jefferson wrote that rape should be treated with great skepticism, as women could be claiming "on account of the temptation women would be under to make it the instrument of vengeance against an inconstant lover, and of disappointment to a rival." This is one of the many, many things in this book that made me furious.

I was so impressed with how much time and detail the authors obviously spent in putting this book together. They track every step in the investigation into each rape, every lead, every dead-end--and there were a lot of those--and how the various investigators were so determined in each case and all of the work they put into to finally capturing this monster. This book also showed how we, as a society, need to do better for victims of these crimes. Overall, I've given A False Report five stars and I highly recommend this one!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Never miss a post of bookish fun by subscribing to Forever Lost in Literature!

Planning to purchase a book or two? Consider purchasing on Book Depository through my affiliate link! Book Depository has worldwide free shipping and millions of titles to choose from.

I am also an Amazon affiliate, so if you'd prefer to shop through Amazon, just click the banner on the upper right hand side of my blog! (above the 'Follow by email' box, you may need to turn off adblock to see it!)

You might also like:

These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung

Consequence by Eric Fair

Extreme Measures by Jessica Nutik Zitter

The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim & Jamie Dutcher: Review + Interview with the Authors!

Hi everyone! Today I have an extremely special post to share with you featuring a short review The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher, followed by an interview both Jim and Jamie!

*The Wisdom of Wolves is out Tuesday, March 6th!*

The Wisdom of Wolves: Lessons from the Sawtooth Pack by Jim & Jamie Dutcher. National Geographic Society, 2018. Hardcover. 224 pages. 

For six years, Jim and Jamie Dutcher lived on the perimeter of Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness with a pack of wolves known as the Sawtooth pack in order to observe the movements, behavior, and social lives of wolves. The couple gained the trust of the wolves and used their studies to share the beauty and significance of wolves amidst the prevalence of much rising anti-wolf sentiment and negative imagery often associated with wolves. In their book, The Wisdom of Wolves, Jim and Jamie share the many important lessons and values they learned from wolves while observing them in their daily lives.

I have a very special relationship the work of Jim and Jamie Dutcher and the Sawtooth pack, as I grew up with a mother and grandmother who both love wolves and supported their work. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it, and I am so grateful that I had a chance to read and review a copy!  I had such a wonderful time reading this book and it turned out to be one that I could not put down. The Dutchers are both incredibly eloquent with their thoughts and convey such striking, sincere emotion when discussing both the wolves themselves and lessons they have learned from the wolves.

Each chapter focuses on a different 'lesson' that we, as humans, can learn from wolves. Within each chapter the Dutchers include anecdotes about wolves from the Sawtooth packs, wolves from other locations, and even from individuals involved in wolf protection and research. I found each chapter so enlightening and meaningful, and I feel as though I learned more about life from this short book than I have in a long time. Many of the stories and bits of wisdom shared were heartwarming, some heartbreaking, but all inspiring. I may or may not have even found myself tearing up at more than a few of their stories.

Throughout the book, the Dutchers introduce their readers to the many distinct individual wolves that make up the Sawtooth pack, such as the alpha male Kamots, the alpha female Chemukh, the omega Lakota, and all the rest. My favorite part of this book was reading about how all of the wolves lived together, worked together, and how truly distinct each one's personality was. This book is also incredibly instructive in the different roles each pack members plays and how they all contribute to the whole.

Overall, there's simply no way that I could give this book anything less than five stars. You can also find out more about the work the Dutchers have done (and continue to do) at their website, Living With Wolves.

1. While reading The Wisdom of Wolves, I was blown away by your experiences and how much you both seem to have gained from completing this project. How did you go about writing this book--was it something that you have been working on for a while? What made you decide to write it in the format that you did (such as in lessons from them, rather than just sharing experiences)?

This book project was a labor of love. It had been germinating for quite a while. Our previous book, The Hidden Live of Wolves with National Geographic, focused more on the stories of our time with the wolves. After the book was published, our editor, Susan Hitchcock, asked us if we would like to write a book on what we had learned personally from wolves, what they had to teach us? This was different from anything we had done before. Now we could really explore what we had learned from wolves, how watching and learning from them could, in a way, make us better human-beings. We may not be related DNA wise, but we do live our lives in very similar ways- we both care, are passionate, practice devotion and cooperation, experience grief, and care for the young and the old. These are lessons to be learned and held close rather the just the sharing of experiences.

2. My introduction to the Sawtooth pack and your work started when I was just a young child due to the fact that my mother was a huge admirer of wolves and your work. Her mother had actually gifted her with an 'adoption' certificate for Amani in the late '90s, and that was what really kickstarted our following of your work and the Sawtooth pack. I grew up with large poster prints of the Sawtooth pack posted on the walls of my mother's office. Since then, we have followed your work and the Sawtooth pack. We got to meet Amani quite a bit in The Wisdom of Wolves-- is there anything else you can tell us specifically about him and his role in the pack or how he interacted with either of you? I loved hearing about his interactions with the pups.

Wow, three generations of Sawtooth Pack followers… that’s terrific! Wolves need more friends like your family! Besides Amani being a truly beautiful wolf, he did have a bit of a duel personality. But then a lot of people are like that as well. Amani was one of the mid-ranking wolves, below the beta (second in command) and above the omega (lowest in the pack order and often picked upon). Mid-ranking wolves sometimes squabble amongst themselves for a higher position within the mid-ranks. Amani would often spend time dominating his brother, Motomo, but when it came to meal time, Motomo often won out! Amani could be a bully and a clown. He was often the one to most often pick on Lakota the omega, but went it came to the pups, Amani was all “goofiness!” He was their total playmate. He would often throw himself into the pile of pups, lying on his back, while the pups pulled his ears, tail and paws as if they were trying to take down a bull moose! Amani would just lay back and take it, he loved it! 

As far as his interactions with us, Amani could be a bit of a showboat. Even though we lived with the wolves and they were comfortable with us, we would never try to go up to them and initiate interactions. Everything had to be on their terms. They could come up to us if they chose to but not the other way around. If one of the wolves came up to us, Amani suddenly had to be there, almost as if he was afraid he was missing out on something and the attention had to be turned towards him- almost like a child needing attention.

3. The most striking thing about the wolf pack is how much of a family that they truly are. Was there any particular relationship/dynamic among two or three specific wolves was particularly interesting or stood out to either of you?

One of the most special relationships between the wolves was with Matsi the beta wolf and Lakota the omega. Lakota was often picked on and used as a scapegoat. However Lakota has a special role to play within the pack; he was the instigator of play and he used play to defuse pack tension. It was during times like these that the rest of the pack could sometimes become aggressive with the omega, though rarely does the omega get truly hurt. We started to notice at these times that Matsi would actually insert himself into the frey and actually body check the aggressors, so Lakota could slip away! Matsi and Lakota also slept next to one another and would go off and play and explore together. With Matsi, Lakota was free to do things he would never have done with another pack member. Lakota would never have jumped on the back of a pack mate- but with Matsi, he felt more empowered. Matsi really helped release Lakota from the burden of being the omega. We even wrote an National Geographic children’s book, A Friend for Lakota, the True Story of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying. The friendship between Matsi and Lakota showed us how truly important the bonds between wolves are, and reminded us again, how we can be better at being human by learning from them.

4. It seems as though there are endless things that we can learn from the leadership and actions of wolves--the loyalty, the camaraderie, the togetherness, the way they learn their roles to be successful--what is the most important thing that you think humans can learn from wolves? Is there one thing that you most want people to come away with from reading this book?

We believe the single most important thing humans can learn from wolves is how much they deeply care for one another and how they forgive. Humans tend to forget that we are part of the natural world. Our lives are so much richer when we listen to what the wolves have to teach us.

5. Lastly, for people reading this who have not had much introduction to the lives of wolves, the Sawtooth pack, or your work--where would you advise them to start if they would like to learn more? How can we all best support your work and the livelihood of wolves?

We encourage people to learn as much as they can about wolves. In 2006 we chose to put down our film gear and start a non-profit organization, Living with Wolves. We felt that the wolves of the Sawtooth Pack had given us so much personally and they were the ambassadors for their wild brethren. We knew we couldn’t move onto another subject; we needed to continue to speak for wolves- - - they were still so misunderstood. Living with Wolves is dedicated to educational outreach and dispelling the myths of wolves. We work to find successful solutions for ranchers and wolves (and other predators) to coexist peacefully. Among other projects, we sponsor research in Yellowstone, Denali and Grand Teton National Parks. 

Besides our books and DVD’s we welcome everyone to visit our website, www.livingwithwolves.org or visit our Living with Wolves Facebook page or on Twitter (@LWWolves) to learn more about wolves. We also have a teaching guide (grades K-12) and family guide produced in conjunction with National Geographic’s education department. You can also help us advance our work by making a tax deductible gift and become a part of the important work we are doing! Our work can’t happen without your support!

Buy The Wisdom of Wolves: Amazon | Book Depository

Huge thanks to the National Geographic Society for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book, as well as interview the Dutchers. And of course even more thanks to Jim and Jamie Dutcher for taking the time to answer my questions!

*Photo of Jim and Jamie from their website, Living With Wolves.

Never miss a post of bookish fun by subscribing to Forever Lost in Literature!

Planning to purchase a book or two? Consider purchasing on Book Depository through my affiliate link! Book Depository has worldwide free shipping and millions of titles to choose from.

I am also an Amazon affiliate, so if you'd prefer to shop through Amazon, just click the banner on the upper right hand side of my blog! (above the 'Follow by email' box, you may need to turn off adblock to see it!)

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Can't Believe I Actually Read

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Books I Can't Believe I Read
There were a lot of different ways I could have gone with this: I can't believe I read it because it's long/hard, I can't believe it because it was horrible, and so on and so forth. Because of this, I just kind of went with a bunch of different reasons that I explain for each book. This is all done in good fun and I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these books. :)

The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee

I'm mainly surprised I read this one because I am just not all that great at following in-depth science-based discussions, but because of my mom's cancer and genetic things I thought this would be interesting to read. And it was! I really liked this one.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

I still am shocked that I made it through this one. Honestly, people might hate me for this, but... I didn't like it. I can appreciate it and what it is supposed to do and there were a few paragraphs here and there that were wonderful, but overall... I could not read this again. Once is enough, I'm good.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli -- Review

Much like with The Gene,  I am just not that into this. I took AP Physics, but why? I can't even fathom why I did that because I did not enjoy it. It's fascinating, but I just can't do it. This book was actually pretty interesting, so I'm glad I read it, but I'm still surprised I did. (I actually think it's because I was sent an ARC so I thought 'why not?', but still.) If you're interested in basic physics concepts, however, I highly recommend this one!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance -- Review

Surprisingly, Elon Musk is not really my favorite person. I'm impressed by his accomplishments and his intelligence and whatnot, but let's just say everything else I've read/heard doesn't exactly endear him to me. Why I picked this one up, then, I'm not so sure. I enjoy reading about people--even if I don't really like them--and I wanted to know his full story. My boyfriend is all working in the tech world so I though I should try to immerse myself a bit (oh, the things we do for love...)

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

The main reason I can't believe I read this was because I was a junior/senior(?) in high school and I had been raised in a Christian household. This was when I was first starting to question things and think for myself, and I had heard that this book was good (which, you know, is questionable now), so I thought I'd try it. I definitely think I tried to hide it from my mom.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

I can't believe I read this because I can't imagine ever reading it now. I hated it then and I can't even imagine re-reading it. How I ever did it before is beyond me. I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about, and to be honest... I'd still like to know. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have no idea why I read this. I don't even like John Green's writing all that much. I had read one or two of his books prior to reading this one and I already knew he wasn't my favorite, plus I hate cancer-type books, so why?? (My issues with cancer books is a rant for another time.) Why did I do this?? I still don't know. I may never know. But I did, so there's that.

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Fuck-Up by Arthur Nersesian

Okay, so this one is only here because I was maybe 12/13 when I read it and what kind of death wish did I have to be that age and buy a book that said 'fuck' on the cover? My mom never saw it, but... I was a risk-taking kid, apparently. 

(*Note: my mom is actually not some hardass strict lady, I just don't think she would have been keen on her child owning a book with that on the cover at that age. Now, she might just be amused.)

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

This is one that I'm not totally surprised I read this because I enjoy classics, but I'm still shocked that I actually followed through, picked it up, and finished reading it. I think I made myself a three-four month schedule where a read X number of pages a day (or more, depending on if I wanted to), and finished by a certain date. It worked well! That's also how I read Infinite Jest, though I had much more fun with this one. War and Peace is a really enjoyable book!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Have you read any of these? What books can you not believe you read, for whatever reason?

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Waiting on Wednesday Double Feature: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa & The Outcasts of Time by Ian Mortimer

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

I couldn't decide on just one book today, and since both of these come out next week I thought I'd just feature both! I am always interested to read more about those who defect from North Korea, such as in Ishikawa's book, and Ian Mortimer's Outcasts of Time sounds like a fascinating take on historical fiction and a bit of time travel (which I'm not normally that into!). 

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa

Publication Date: January 1st, 2018

AmazonCrossing

Pre-order: Book Depository | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family.

When Kyra’s beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the powerful, dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. Using one of the strange Transport Hubs that are remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past, she finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a young, disillusioned Marksman whom she soon befriends.

Kyra is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof. And if she fails to find it, fails in her quest to keep her beloved Order from following Tamsyn down a dark path, it could spell the beginning of the end for Kyra--and for Asiana.

But what she doesn’t realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is razor thin . . . thin as the blade of a knife."

The Outcasts of Time by Ian Mortimer 

Publication Date: January 2nd, 2018

Pegasus Books

Pre-order: Book Depository | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family.

When Kyra’s beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the powerful, dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. Using one of the strange Transport Hubs that are remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past, she finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a young, disillusioned Marksman whom she soon befriends.

Kyra is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof. And if she fails to find it, fails in her quest to keep her beloved Order from following Tamsyn down a dark path, it could spell the beginning of the end for Kyra--and for Asiana.

But what she doesn’t realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is razor thin . . . thin as the blade of a knife."

A "highly trained sisterhood of elite warrior" is pretty much all I need to see to get me excited for this one. I'm not usually drawn to revenge-motivated stories, but there are a lot of great books out there with that basis and, well, this one just sounds great! I am incredibly intrigued and can't wait for Markswoman to be released!

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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Anticipated December 2017 Releases!

Upcoming Releases: 

December 2017

The fact that it is already time for December is simply astounding. Where has the year gone?

As expected, there aren't really a lot of December releases, or at least not all that many I could recall. Regardless, I did still manage to find a fair few that I (and many other) are looking forward to releasing this next month, so check them out and let me know your thoughts! Let me know if I've completely overlooked any great releases, also. :)

Not Safe After Dark: And Other Stories by Peter Robinson || December 5th

The Two of Swords: Volume Three by K.J. Parker || December 12th (review coming soon!)

Caesar's Footprints: A Cultural Excursion to Ancient France: Journeys Through Roman Gaul by Bijan Omrani || December 5th

Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey by Nicola Tallis || December 12th

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden || December 5th

Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini || December 5th (review coming soon!)
The Crims by Kate Davies || December 5th

Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors by Conn Iggulden || December 5th

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright || December 5th

What are your anticipated December releases?

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Planning to purchase a book or two? Consider purchasing on Book Depository through my affiliate link! Book Depository has worldwide free shipping and millions of titles to choose from.

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee

**American Wolf is now available! (as of 10/17/2017)**

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee. Crown Publishing, 2017. Ebook. 320 pages. 

Wolves are truly amazing animals. I have grown up in a household that has taught me to love and appreciate wolves, largely because my mom is a huge wolf fan and therefore I am now also a fan of wolves. Thus, when I saw a book on NetGalley that boasted to tell "the enthralling story of the rise and reign of O-Six, the celebrated Yellowstone wolf, and the people who loved or feared her," I knew I had to pick it up--and I'm so glad I did!

American Wolf is an in depth telling of one of the most famous wolves of Yellowstone, referred to as O-Six, and how she survived despite many odds being stacked against her. Along with this story, however, Blakeslee also includes immense background detail on the other wolves released and raised in Yellowstone, the conflicts between hunters, wolves, and livestock, and the many wolf watchers that took part in observing O-Six's life-- along with many other wolves. 

Blakeslee tells the story of O-Six in an incredibly compelling manner that at times feels more like I'm reading a fiction story about wolves than I am reading a nonfiction account of the lives of various wolves. It is apparent that Blakeslee has done much research for this book and he takes great care to provide detailed and illuminating information on this subject. 

I was particularly fascinated when reading about the different behaviours displayed by O-Six and many others. I knew a somewhat decent bit about wolves coming into this, but there is so much more to learn about them. The way the packs function and how new packs are formed or destroyed is really rather remarkable. They are such fascinating animals with such distinct and familiar traits that sometimes it seemed as if I was just reading about people and royal families. 

American Wolf also dives into much of the debate surrounding wolf hunting and the various political and environmental ramifications of those both for and against it, which I was pleased to see, as it helped me to better understand the entire situation. He also discusses many of the specific scientists, wolf watchers, etc. that spend so much time studying the wolves, which I also found interesting. There were a few instances in which I felt that Blakeslee went on slight tangents or just into a bit too much detail of something that wasn't quite relevant, but overall most topics seemed to fall into place with the topic of the book. 

One thing that I struggled about a bit with this book was the fact that the wolves didn't have set names, but were instead referred to by numbers or descriptions (i.e. 574, 'Shy Male,'). I understand that this is because they didn't want the wolves to seem like pets, but it just made it a bit confusing at times to recall who is who. I'm not really counting that against Blakeslee, however, because that's not really his fault, but it is something that I felt I should point out.

Overall, I've given American Wolf four stars!

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You might also like:
Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey
Science of the Magical by Matt Kaplan

Book Traveling Thursday: A New-To-You Author You Discovered This Year - Siddhartha Mukherjee!

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This week I'm once again participating in Book Traveling Thursday!

"Book Traveling Thursdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Catia from The Girl Who Read Too Much and Danielle's Book Blog. The idea of this group is check out the list of weekly themes for each month in this meme's Goodreads page and simply pick a book to match the theme! Once you've found a book, explore different covers of various editions for that book and make a post about it.  To find out more, you can check out our Goodreads group!

This week's theme is: "A new to you author you discovered this year." I've discovered quite a few fantastic new-to-me authors this year, but only a few of them had multiple editions, so that helped me narrow it down to:

The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Cancer is a very close beast to my family, as both of my parents have battled with various forms of it, so I knew that this would be a book I needed to read one day. I ended really loving this book! Not only was it incredibly informative and interesting, but it also approaches the subject in a sincere, very personal, and very accessible manner. This is definitely a must-read! I went on to read Mukherjee's The Gene after this one and was also impressed by his voice and ability to convey such intricate subject matters in such an accessible manner. Can't wait for more from Mukherjee!

Original Cover Design:

 

Original hardcover edition, Scribner 2010

Other US Covers:

    

Left: US Trade Paperback edition

Right: Spanish Kindle edition

Favorite Covers:

          

Left: Original English edition
Middle: Dutch edition
Right: German edition

I really like the simplicity of most of these and how the only major imagery is the cancer symbol. I'm not sure why the Dutch decided to make the cover look aged, but I'm okay with it! It reminds me of how long a history cancer has and how it will only continue to plague us. 

Least Favorite Covers: 

     

Left: Arabic edition

Right: Italian edition

I am really not digging the microscopic view of what I'm assuming is a cancer cell (??) in the Arabic one, and the Italian edition is just so lifeless. I like simplicity, but the crab is just so small and the text just doesn't stand out in any way. I'd definitely pass on these two. 

What do you think of these covers? Do you have a favorite? Who's a new-to-you author that you discovered this year?

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