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Light is something most of us take for granted - we understand why the sun rises and sets, and think nothing of flicking a switch to turn it on and off. But when you stop and think about it, it's an incredible thing. In Light, Bruce Watson puts the wonder back, taking us on a whirlwind tour starting with the earliest light-related myths up to the modern day where extraordinary new discoveries will have you asking yourself how you could ever have taken it for granted. In our related "beyond the book" article we explore The Lighthouse of Alexandria - one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world - and its magnificent light that could be seen an estimated 30 miles away. Read on for more about Light and the many other books referenced in this issue. Your Editor
Davina
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1. Editor's Choice
Light by Bruce Watson
Hardcover (Feb 2016), 304 pages. Bloomsbury USA BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 4.8/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
Review & Beyond the Book by Kim Kovacs
Review: Bruce Watson's latest work is a whirlwind tour of humanity's perception of the nature of light over the millennia - how something that was once considered miraculous has transformed into a tool that's "cheap and easy, available not just in every home and office but in every palm and pocket." Watson takes us on a journey through time and begins with the earliest myths about light and its origin. "Because all good came from it and most evil came from its absence," he writes, "primitive people did not study light - they worshipped it." He touches on ancient creation stories from around the globe, including those from Judeo-Christian theology as well as more obscure tales. The Bushongo tribes in the Congo region, for example, believe the god Bumba vomited the sun, followed by the rest of creation. Watson contends that "in all major religions, light's meaning was manifold, encompassing salvation, revelation, the doors of the hereafter, and the essence of the spiritual." ... continued Full access to our reviews & beyond the book articles are for members only. But there are always four free Editor's Choice reviews and beyond the book articles available.
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2. Beyond the Book: The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is the "beyond the book" article for Light by Bruce Watson:
In Light, author Bruce Watson references the Lighthouse of Alexandria as one of the first instances where light was used in a large-scale manner for a practical purpose. Alexander the Great built the city of Alexandria, Egypt, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in 331 BCE, and as part of the subsequent construction had a stone extension constructed to Pharos, a small island nearby. Called a "mole," this .75 mile long causeway became a breakwater for the port, creating a protected harbor for the city. Alexander's successor, Ptolemy I Soter, commissioned a lighthouse on the island - later simply called the Pharos - that would become one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and be the archetype for all lighthouses constructed after it. ... continued Read in full |
3. Editor's Choice
Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets
Hardcover (Feb 2016), 320 pages. Berkley Books BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 5.0/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | IndieReview & Beyond the Book by Sharry Wright
In her first novel for adults, Breaking Wild, Diane Les Becquets, author of three young adult novels, creates a contemporary story set against the wild and rugged background of northwestern Colorado with themes that include family relationships, the role of community, survival, addiction and coping with loss. Breaking Wild is an astonishing and complex portrait of two strong, independent women damaged by their pasts: Amy Raye Latour, a skilled hunter, wife and mother to two young children and law enforcement ranger Pru Hathaway, a single mom to her teenage son. ... continued Full access to our reviews & beyond the book articles are for members only. But there are always four free Editor's Choice reviews and beyond the book articles available.
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4. Beyond the Book: Search and Rescue Dogs Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is a recent "beyond the book" article for Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets According to NASAR, the National Association For Search And Rescue, SAR dogs and their handlers work as volunteers under the direction of law enforcement and emergency service agencies to help locate children and elderly people lost in parks or in neighborhoods with lots of shrubbery; hikers and hunters lost in the wilderness; train and plane-wreck victims and those missing after natural disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, floods, explosions, fires, and tornadoes. SAR teams do not respond to private requests or to searches that may put the dog and handler in peril. The United States Search and Rescue Task Force reports that Search and Rescue dogs are trained and certified in one or more areas that include tracking and trailing, air scent, cadaver, water search and avalanche recovery. ... continued Read in full
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5. Publishing Soon Each month BookBrowse previews 80+ notable books. Here is one title from these upcoming books. Mrs. Houdini by Victoria Kelly Publisher: Atria Books Publication Date: Mar 2016 Historical Fiction, 320 pages Critics' Opinion: 3/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | IndieA captivating debut novel, meticulously researched and beautifully imagined, about the passionate marriage of Harry and Bess Houdini - a love story that defied death itself.
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6. Real-life Women Who Led Life on Their Terms One of the many great things about books is that they reflect the human experience back at us in so many kaleidoscopic ways. There are times we learn about new people and places and at others, seek validation in a story, to see maybe a bit of ourselves mirrored back at us. This is one of the drivers for creating a list of books featuring real-life women who led life on their own terms. Each and every one of these gems serves to remind us just how much women can -- and have -- achieved over the years. What's more each woman's circumstance will provide ample fodder for your next book club meeting. We hope you -- guys included -- see the best of your own selves reflected in these capable heroines... continue to browse all 11 books. Read this blog post | All blog posts
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7. Author Interview
Elizabeth McKenzie discusses The Portable Veblen, the book's connection to Palo Alto past and present, and the life of of Thorstein Veblen, an economist who coined the term conspicuous consumption. She also touches on her reasons for feeling revulsion at medical marketing and how she found fiction elements of her story being played out in the news stories of the day as she wrote the book. Read the Interview | The Portable Veblen
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8. Wordplay
Solve our fiendish Wordplay puzzle, and be entered to win the book of your choice!
This week's Wordplay Solve this clue: "Y C M Flies W H T W V" Enter now The answer to last Week's Wordplay: K Y Feet O T G
"Keep your feet on the ground"
Meaning: A person described as having their feet on the ground would normally be someone who is seen as realistic and practical, and most likely down to earth and genuine. Although usually used positively, it is possible for the expression to be used in a negative form if the person is characterized as being boring and not a risk taker.
It is first attested to in the USA in 1931. An early variation can be found in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939): Tom grinned. "Keep all four feet on the groun'," he said. "I didn' mean nothing'. Jus' take her easy over this ditch."
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