Educated by Tara Westover

Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her "head-for-the-hills bag". In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father's junkyard.

Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent.

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes and the will to change it.

Paperback, 336 pages

Audiobook, 12 hours, 11 minutes

Published February 8, 2018

 by Random House Trade Paperbacks/Audible Studios

4/5 stars

This book has been out for a while, I finally listened to the audio which was read by Julie Whalen (one of my favorites). I found it captivating as well as heartbreaking.

Educated is a story told from the point of view of the author. She talks about her life in the mountains of Idaho being part of a survivalist family. There’s so much going on here with the family as they stockpile for the end of the world.

Tara is 17 years old when she enters the school for the first time. Supposedly being homeschooled, oh let’s just say that her parents have different ideas of what type of education she needs.  Living with the family, especially a father who is suspicious of Government, hospitals, and basically other people. She had a sheltered upbringing.

Educated is a well written memoir that doesn’t mince words when she describes her upbringing, whether the abuse at the hands of her brother, the illogical thinking of her father and so much more. The fact that she made it out alive is a testament to her resilience, determination and at times her ignorance towards the world she was unfamiliar with.

Definitely a book i recommend, especially in audio format, it's like Tara is telling me her story.

My copy of the audio was through Audible - it's actually the only place to get it.

From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough

Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough.

In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir.

A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and now grieved.

Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book, lay in her bed, and listened as Lisa Marie told story after story about smashing golf carts together in the yards of Graceland, about the unconditional love she felt from her father, about being upstairs, just the two of them. About getting dragged screaming out of the bathroom as she ran toward his body on the floor. About living in Los Angeles with her mother, getting sent to school after school, always kicked out, always in trouble. About her singular, lifelong relationship with Danny Keough, about being married to Michael Jackson, what they had in common. About motherhood. About deep addiction. About ever-present grief. Riley knew she had to fulfill her mother’s wish to reveal these memories, incandescent and painful, to the world.

To make her mother known.

This extraordinary book is written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other—the last words of the only child of an American icon.

Audible Audio, 5 hours, 42 minutes

Published October 8, 2024

 by Random House Audio

4/5 stars

Though celebrity stories are really not my thing I was intrigued about Lisa Marie Presley‘s story which released last month. It’s not a long book, the audio coming in at about 5 1/2 hours or 304 pages.  I went the audio route, but I am sure that the print copy would also include photos.

Told from Lisa Marie‘s point of view, she had begun this process before she passed away suddenly, and the audio includes excerpts of her recorded interviews. Other than that, Julie Roberts told her story along with Riley Keough, Lisa Marie's eldest daughter.

This is one of those audios that I found hard to listen to as she described her life at Graceland, the death of her father when she was quite young, the relationship with her mother, and then growing up with her addictions and grief.  A very open and honest look at Lisa Marie‘s life that evoked a lot of emotions. Sad for her upbringing without guidance that left her handling her grief on her own. How she married four times and still seemed like she was searching.

I knew very little about Lisa Marie’s life before reading this book and it has opened my eyes to her struggles.

My audio was obtained through my Spotify account

The Hiding Place: a Graphic Novel by Corrie ten Boom

It's World War II.

Darkness has fallen over the world as the Nazis spread fear and hatred.

No one feels safe.

But on a quiet city corner in Holland one woman fights against injustice and darkness. In her quiet watchmaking shop, Corrie ten Boom and her close-knit family risk their lives to hide hundreds of Jews and others hunted by the Nazis in a secret hiding place they built into the old building.

Until one day when Corrie and her family are betrayed. They're captured and sent in cattle cars to the notorious Nazi concentration camps to die. Yet even in that darkest of places, Corrie still fights.

This is her true story, now a graphic novel.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published April 9, 2024

 by Chosen Books

5/5 stars

I don’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I jumped when this became available at the library.

I already know the story of Corrie Ten Boom, her sister Betsy and the watchmaking shop.  But I was intrigued to see how this story would work since it's target audience is children. There are some mature things that take place and I was curious.

The illustrations were nicely done, the layout of the house along with the hiding places was illustrated with accuracy.  The story stayed true to history with sensitivity without shying away from what took place.  

I think it’s a story that all ages should read, to know what took place in the Netherlands during the war. A story that will open up opportunities for discussions.

Coming in at 240 pages it is condensed from the original but doesn’t shy away from the true events. A book I recommend for all ages.

Let's Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer, Ken Abraham

Lisa Beamer was thrust into the national spotlight after her husband, Todd, led a counterattack against terrorists on United Flight 93. He―and all the other passenger heroes―lost their lives in a Pennsylvania field. But that plane was the only one of the four hijacked planes on 9-11 that didn't hit its target―most likely the White House or the Capitol. Todd's last known words, “Let's roll!” have become a rallying cry for the entire American nation to move ahead in hope, courage, and faith, despite today's troubled times, and to live real life...right now.

Paperback, 350 pages

 Audiobook 8 hours, 2 minutes

Published August 1, 2002

 by Living Books

3/5 stars

This was an audiobook for me, coming in around eight hours in length.

Lisa Beamer's world was turned upside down on September 11, 2001 when her husband Todd was a passenger on United flight 93. That was the flight that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.  Left with two small children and another on the way she shares her story.

I’m glad I went with the audiobook, it was told from her point of view, it was like she was telling her story which is exactly what it was. Most of the book deals with their life, their history, how they met, marriage, friends and family. Todd was one of the lucky ones who was able to make a phone call while on that doomed flight which brought out his courage, faith and sacrifice (by all on that flight) that was made.

There are things I struggled with in terms of grief, and I know everyone handles it differently. However, given the tragic way Todd and many others lost their lives that day, I struggled with how Lisa was able to give interviews and go on TV shows. I suppose it could be that maybe I couldn't imagine myself doing that so close to these events.

Let's Roll is ultimately a testament of faith, hope and the knowledge that one day Lisa and Todd will be reunited again.

This audiobook was obtained through my local library via Hoopla.

Coming Out of the Ice by Victor Herman

In 1931, a young American named Victor Herman accompanied his parents to the Soviet Union, where his father was to set up a Ford Motor Company plant. 

In 1938, he was inexplicably thrown into a Soviet prison.

 It was forty-five years before he was able to return to America. His was a common nightmare during the Stalin years. Those who survived imprisonment and torture were either sent north to hard labor in the icy forests and mines or into exile. Victor Herman was one of the few who survived. 

During his life in and out of Russian prisons, he fell in love with a Russian gymnast, who followed him into exile. She lived with him and their child for a year in Siberia in a cave chopped out of ice. Theirs was a romance destined to thrive even under desperate conditions.

Audiobook, 13 hrs and 48 mins

Published October 1, 2007 

by Blackstone Audiobooks

5/5 stars

The blurb on the print copy starts by saying this is an astonishing true story, I can think of other words to use instead, like heartbreaking, unbelievable and even cruel.

To be honest there are not words to describe this story. I went in listening to the audiobook, the reader was stellar, he brought the story to life.

Victor Herman is in his teens when his parents or rather his father decides to work for the Ford Motor Company in Russia, the year is 1931. Just knowing that part one can already feel the tension. Things don’t go as planned, in 1938 Victor is thrown in prison, this is a Russian prison with Siberia on the horizon,

Coming Out Of The Ice is a story of resilience, heartache, and injustice. It's a story of determination and sacrifice. Just by reading the blurb it wasn’t hard to visualize what would take place.

After listening to Victor's story, I think it's an injustice that Victor Herman is not more widely known and his story as he struggles to get back to his birthplace of Detroit Michigan. Yes, he is a US citizen.

This audio from free on Audible through member exclusives.

Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

For the first time, discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC’s hit show 19 Kids and Counting. Jill Duggar and her husband Derick are finally ready to share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans.

Jill and Derick knew a normal life wasn’t possible for them. As a star on the popular TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, Jill grew up in front of viewers who were fascinated by her family’s way of life. She was the responsible, second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle’s nineteen kids; always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. She didn’t protest the strict model of patriarchy that her family followed, which declares that men are superior, that women are expected to be wives and mothers and are discouraged from attaining a higher education, and that parental authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married.

But as Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore.

For as long as they could, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members—they weren’t willing to rock the boat. But now they’re raising a family of their own, and they’re done with the secrets. Thanks to time, tears, therapy, and blessings from God, they have the strength to share their journey. Theirs is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and is a moving example of how to find healing through honesty.

Audiobook, 7 hours 7 minutes

Published September 12, 2023 

by Simon Schuster Audio

4/5 stars

Although I don't usually read a lot of nonfiction, especially memoirs about celebrities, I found myself drawn to "Counting the Cost" by Jill Duggar. Jill is one of the older children from the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting." I decided to listen to the audiobook version, which was narrated by the author herself.

This book was truly eye-opening. Even though I had never watched the show, I was aware of it, especially in recent years due to the charges against Jill's older brother, Josh.

Hats off to Jill for bearing her soul and giving us a glimpse into what life was like when the whole world is pretty much watching your every move. I did not realize the role that Bill Gothard and IBLP played in their lives. I am familiar with him and could never get past him being an expert on marriage, and child rearing when he himself is a single man. But apparently lots of people do .

Jill Duggad, now married with a couple children, speaks of her growth and maturity as she begins to question the actions of her parents, which is mostly geared towards her father. His reactions are disheartening to hear, from the whole situation with Josh and how the finances are/were handled. For a book that comes in just under 300 pages with the audio around the seven hour mark it does pack a punch, and made for an interesting and enlightening read.

Both the ebook and audio were obtained through CloudLibrary.

Hedy's Journey by Michelle Bisson

It is 1941. 

Hedy and her family are Jewish, and the Jew-hating Nazi Party is rising. Hedy's family is no longer safe in their home in Hungary. They decide to flee to America, but because of their circumstances, 16-year-old Hedy must make her way through Europe alone. Will luck be with her? Will she be brave? Join Hedy on her journey-where she encounters good fortune and misfortune, a kind helper and cruel soldiers, a reunion and a tragedy-and discover how Hedy is both lucky and brave.

Paperback, 40 pages

Published September 7, 2017

 by Raintree

4/5

Hedy's Journey is a middle grade story based on the life of a 16-year-old from Hungry. It takes place at the onset of World War Two.

This is what you might called a short and sweet story, but given the subject matter it really isn’t that sweet. But rather a story of a strong young teen fleeing her homeland as persecution of the Jews begins to spread far and wide. 

Her journey is a story of inner strength and courage as part of Hedy's journey sees her traveling alone through German occupied areas before finally being reunited with her family. The struggle doesn’t end there as there is prejudices in America where they begin life a new.

The illustrations for this 40 page story are wonderful as are the maps to show her journey.  It would make a great addition to classrooms and home libraries.

The Journals of Jim Elliot: An Ordinary Man on an Extraordinary Mission by Elisabeth Elliot

Uncover the spiritual riches of the personal journals of missionary and martyr Jim Elliot

Jim Elliot arrived in Ecuador as a missionary at age twenty-five. Three years later, he would become a martyr at the hands of the Auca [Huaorani], the indigenous people to whom he was witnessing. He left behind a young wife, a baby daughter, and an incredible legacy of faith.

Jim's volumes of personal journals, written over many years, reveal the inner struggles and victories that he experienced before his untimely death in 1956. In The Journals of Jim Elliot, you'll come to know this intelligent and articulate man who yearned to know God's plan for his life, detailed his fascinating missions work, and revealed his love for Elisabeth--first as a single man, then as a happily married one.

Edited by his wife, Elisabeth, Jim's personal yet universal musings about faith, love, and work will show you how to apply the Bible to the situations you face every day. They will inspire you to lead a life of obedience, regardless of the cost, and delight you with an amazing story of courage and determination.

First published January 1, 1978 with original title The Journals of Jim Elliot

Paperback, 475 pages

Published June 6, 2023

 by Fleming H. Revell Company

4 stars

I remember as a child camping with my family and one night watching a movie at the campground. The movie was the story of five missionaries in Ecuador who were tragically killed by those they tried to save. That was my introduction to Jim Elliot.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

I never knew that this quote came from the journals of Jim Elliot but it is one I have heard many times over the years. So I jumped at the chance to review this edition of his journals. While this copy is a new release, it was a originally published in 1978, edited by his widow Elizabeth.

Starting eight years before his tragic death with his last entries just days before, it is a dense read coming in at almost 500 pages. This is an intimate and at times difficult picture of a man who has been analyzed from all sides.

While other works will either try to show Jim Elliot as a hero or a villain, his own journals reveal a passionate and at time troubled man who did his best to live the way he thought God wanted him to. While readers might agree or disagree with many of the aspirations and ideas Elliot expresses in these pages, I think everyone will find his commitment and honesty impressive--so long as you are prepared to read journal entries. It is important to note that this is well outside my usual genre, and reading journals is a very different experience from reading novels.

This book would be helpful to anyone interested in digging deep into the psyche of a flawed man who was sold out for his God. It is an unsettling but powerful glimpse into his relationship with his Lord, his struggles, and life.

My thanks to Graf-Martin Communication for a print copy in exchange for a honest review.

True North Heists by Andrew Kaufman

True North Heists tells the tales of some of the most outlandish capers ever committed on Canadian soil. Acting legend Colm Feore (Bon Cop Bad Cop, Trudeau) dramatically weaves together “in the moment” storytelling with interviews with those with deep knowledge of the heists themselves, including law enforcement officers, writers and the criminals themselves. All capped off with a soundscape designed to keep the listener on the edge of their seat.

Audible Audio

Published October 13, 2020 

by Audible Originals

4/5 stars

This is a free Audible Original that we listened to on a recent road trip. Ten different stories that take place in Canada spanning over the century. 

Each of these 10 stories are true, committed in Canada, some are somewhat unbelievable and all unfamiliar. Each segment lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. They were voiced it an entertaining manner and kept us occupied while we are driving.

Colm Feore is the narrator who did a stellar job. I’m not really a huge non-fiction fan but I do like learning some Canadian history, even if it is of the criminal nature.

The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill

One of the most famous true stories from the last war, The GREAT ESCAPE tells how more than six hundred men in a German prisoner-of-war camp worked together to achieve an extraordinary break-out. Every night for a year they dug tunnels, and those who weren't digging forged passports, drew maps, faked weapons and tailored German uniforms and civilian clothes to wear once they had escaped. All of this was conducted under the very noses of their prison guards. When the right night came, the actual escape itself was timed to the split second - but of course, not everything went according to plan...

 Audible Audio

7 hours, 36 minutes

Published June 19, 2009 

by Blackstone Audio, Inc.

5/5 stars

Over the years, I have watched bits and pieces of this movie, The Great Escape, since it is one of my husband's favorites. It has an all star cast, some good musical vibes, and tells the story of some brave POWs in World War II. There were some crazy scenarios played out as these prisoners tunnelled 30 feet deep and over 200 feet to escape. There were other things that took place - obtaining authentic passes and identification cards, travel vouchers and even clothing and accessories to make these men blend into society. It’s an entertaining movie, but unbeknown to me this is based on a true story.

Written in 1950 by one of the prisoners, Paul Brickhill, an Australian pilot, he told the story of what actually happened. And it is pretty darn close to the movie which makes this story all the more compelling.

We listen to this audiobook on a recent road trip, though the audiobook comes in at 7 1/2 hours, the time flew by.  Paul Rickman was methodical in his attention to detail, how this group were able to make such a large tunnel so deep in the ground, how the forgeries took place and all the things that I mentioned above.

The Great Escape, well entertaining is a story of courage and resilience, but also sad and heartbreaking. Brickhill researched the last part meticulously to find out what exactly happened to those that got out.  Definitely an audio I recommend.

I obtained the audiobook through Audible, it was a free read with my account.

All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore

An incredibly thoughtful, disarmingly funny, and intensely vulnerable glimpse into the life and ministry of a woman familiar to many but known by few.

“It’s a peculiar thing, this having lived long enough to take a good look back. We go from knowing each other better than we know ourselves to barely sure if we know each other at all, to precisely sure that we don’t. All my knotted-up life I’ve longed for the sanity and simplicity of knowing who’s good and who’s bad. I’ve wanted to know this about myself as much as anyone. This was not theological. It was strictly relational. God could do what he wanted with eternity. I was just trying to make it here in the meantime. As benevolent as he has been in a myriad of ways, God has remained aloof on this uncomplicated request .” – Beth Moore

New York Times best-selling author, speaker, visionary, and founder of Living Proof Ministries Beth Moore has devoted her whole life to helping women across the globe come to know the transforming power of Jesus. An established writer of many acclaimed books and Bible studies for women on spiritual growth and personal development, Beth now unveils her own story in a much-anticipated debut memoir.

All My Knotted-Up Life is told with surprising candor about some of the personal heartbreaks and behind-the-scenes challenges that have marked Beth’s life. But beyond that, it’s a beautifully crafted portrait of resilience and survival, a poignant reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness, and proof positive that if we ever truly took the time to hear people’s full stories . . . we’d all walk around slack-jawed.

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published February 21, 2023 

by Tyndale House Publishers

Audiobook, 8 hours, 20 minutes

Narrator: Beth Moore

Published by One Audiobooks

4/5 stars

Although I'm not typically a fan of memoirs, Beth Moore's latest book caught my attention. I opted for a hybrid read (audio and book), she narrated it herself with her charming southern twang, making for an entertaining listen. Also the book is great for the pictures.

As a gifted Bible study leader, Moore shares her story with a perfect blend of humour, tears, and heartache. She bravely opens up about her past, including the hurts she experienced during her early years and the lasting impact they had on her life.  Moore's love for Jesus shines through in her teachings and her way of life. It's heartbreaking to read about the abuse she suffered at the hands of those who claimed to be Christians, but her courage in speaking out about it is admirable.  I appreciated her honesty as she shared about her marriage, struggles with the southern Baptist community, and her need for rest.

While I found the book to be an entertaining read, I was left wanting more. Specifically, I wanted to know more about what drove her spiritual life, including the biblical references that influenced her decisions. For example, when she was 18 years old and attending church, she knew she would dedicate her life to Jesus. I would have loved to know what was preached during that service and why it had such a profound impact on her.  She has gone through difficulty in her life, I know what sustained me through hard times and would have loved to know what scriptures sustained her.

Overall, this book offers an open and honest look at Moore's life. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling memoir.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #22.  The audio was obtained through my local library via Hoopla.

Unveiled: Tamar by Francine Rivers

Book 1 in the 5-book biblical historical fiction series by the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind.

Betrayed by the men who controlled her future, she fought for her right to believe in a loving God.

Meet Tamar, one of the five women in the lineage of Christ. She risked her life and her reputation to be the woman she was called to be. Her story serves as an example of how God uses our circumstances and our steps toward Him, however faltering, to fulfill His plan.

Unveiled is book one in the popular Lineage of Grace series about five unlikely women who changed eternity.

Audiobook, 4 hours, 12 minutes

Published November 10, 2002

 by Oasis Audio

4/5 hours

I am a big fan of Francine Rivers' fictional books, her Mark of the Lion Series is one of my favourites.  Unveiled is the 1st in her Lineage of Grace Series and continues with 4 other women from the Old and ending in the NewTestament.

This like the rest of the books in this series are not big.  The print copy is smaller and comes in just over 200 pages.  I opted for the audiobook for my bookclub read mainly because the print copy was hard to find.

Tamar comes from the book of Genesis and tells the life the daughter-in-law of Judah.  Though the Bible doesn't go into great detail about her life I loved how Francine Rivers brought her to life with authentic feelings of the customs/traditions and life for a women in that time period.  What was expected and how sometimes one has to take matters into ones our hands.

I will continue with this series with book 5 tell Mary's story.

My audiobook copy from obtained via my Scribd subscription.

The Forgotten Highlander: An Incredible WWII Story of Survival in the Pacific by Alistair Urquhart

Alistair Urquhart was among the Gordon Highlanders captured by the Japanese in Singapore during World War II.

 He not only survived 750 days in the jungle working as a slave on the notorious “death railway” and the bridge on the River Kwai, but he was subsequently taken prisoner on one of the Japanese “hellships” which was later torpedoed, killing nearly everyone on board—but not Urquhart. He spent five days adrift on a raft in the South China Sea before being rescued by a Japanese whaling ship. He was then taken to Japan and forced to work in a mine near Nagasaki. Two months later he was struck by the blast from the atomic bomb—dropped just ten miles away. In late August 1945, now a barely-living skeleton, he was freed by the American Navy and was able to bathe for the first time in three and a half years.

This is the extraordinary story of a young man, conscripted at nineteen, who survived not just one but three separate encounters with death—encounters which killed nearly all his comrades. Silent for over fifty years, this is Urquhart’s extraordinary, moving, and inspirational tale as an ex-POW.

Paperback, 320 pages

First published March 4, 2010

 by Skyhorse

4/5 stars

This was a very difficult book to read.  When reading historical fiction as a novel it can be graphic and some of the elements toned down, therefore not portrayed accurately in terms of how bad things really were but in this book the author doesn't hold anything back when he describes his experiences during World War 2.

Alistair Urquhart is only 18 when he steps into the war effect, eventually being sent to Singapore and captured by the Japanese.  He endures so much that  it was hard to read at times. I had to stop reading a couple times but I honestly felt I owed it to the author and the thousands of others to read this story and realise what they went through.  This is a part of the war that I was totally unfamiliar with, suffice to say that I will never watch the movie The Bridge of the River Kwai (a romancized version so far from the truth).  I learning about the Death Railway,  Hellfire Pass and the names of officers on par with concentration camp officers.

This book isn't for the faint of heart, its sad while maddening, heartbreaking while showing the resilience of the human spirit and while triumphant in the end it came with the cost of both physical and emotional scars - how could it not. It's a book that will stay with me.

This book was part of my 2022 Reaidng Off My Shelf Challenge (#8) and also the January selection for out Family Blessings Book Club.

Review: Canoeing with the Cree by Eric Sevareid

In 1930 two novice paddlers--Eric Sevareid and Walter C. Port--launched a secondhand 18-foot canvas canoe into the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling for an ambitious summer-long journey from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay.

Without benefit of radio, motor, or good maps, the teenagers made their way over 2,250 miles of rivers, lakes, and difficult portages. Nearly four months later, after shooting hundreds of sets of rapids and surviving exceedingly bad conditions and even worse advice, the ragged, hungry adventurers arrived in York Factory on Hudson Bay--with winter freeze-up on their heels.

First published in 1935, Canoeing with the Cree is Sevareid's classic account of this youthful odyssey. The newspaper stories that Sevareid wrote on this trip launched his distinguished journalism career, which included more than a decade as a television correspondent and commentator on the CBS Evening News. Now with a new foreword by Arctic explorer, Ann Bancroft. 

Paperback, 248 pages

Published April 15th 2005

 by Borealis Books 

(first published May 1st 1935)

4/5 stars

I've been on an outdoorish kick lately, maybe I am craving getting outside and basking in some sun while on the water.  I read this after finished Alone Against the North about a local adventurer trekking northern Ontario.  With Canoeing with the Cree it jumps back to 1930 when 2 teens embark on a 2250 mile adventure.

This was a nice story filled with pictures, maps and people met along the way.  I loved getting the visuals which just made this journey much more.  At first I thought it would be a solitude journey with just Eric and Walter but they were able to stop along the way, stock up on supplies and meet people. They had little experince, a deadline between them and Hudson Bay but determination and commitment kept them on the path.

A nice little book first published in 1935 that still has a lot of appeal.

This book is part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Audio Review: Alone Against the North: An Expedition into the Unknown by Adam Shoalts

The age of exploration is not over.

When Adam Shoalts ventured into the largest unexplored wilderness on the planet, he hoped to set foot where no one had ever gone before. What he discovered surprised even him.

Shoalts was no stranger to the wilderness. He had hacked his way through jungles and swamp, had stared down polar bears and climbed mountains. But one spot on the map called out to him irresistibly: the Hudson Bay Lowlands, a trackless expanse of muskeg and lonely rivers, caribou and wolf—an Amazon of the north, parts of which to this day remain unexplored.

Cutting through this forbidding landscape is a river no explorer, trapper, or canoeist had left any record of paddling. It was this river that Shoalts was obsessively determined to explore.

It took him several attempts, and years of research. But finally, alone, he found the headwaters of the mysterious river. He believed he had discovered what he had set out to find. But the adventure had just begun. Unexpected dangers awaited him downstream.

Gripping and often poetic, Alone Against the North is a classic adventure story of single-minded obsession, physical hardship, and the restless sense of wonder that every explorer has in common.

But what does exploration mean in an age when satellite imagery of even the remotest corner of the planet is available to anyone with a phone? Is there anything left to explore?

What Shoalts discovered as he paddled downriver was a series of unmapped waterfalls that could easily have killed him. Just as astonishing was the media reaction when he got back to civilization. He was crowned “Canada’s Indiana Jones” and appeared on morning television. He was feted by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and congratulated by the Governor General. People were enthralled by Shoalts’s proof that the world is bigger than we think.

Shoalts’s story makes it clear that the world can become known only by getting out of our cars and armchairs, and setting out into the unknown, where every step is different from the one before, and something you may never have imagined lies around the next curve in the river.

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 10th 2016 

Narrated by: Adam Shoalts

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 10-08-19

by Penguin Canada

3/5 stars

One of my goals for this year is to read books off my shelf and to read more nonfiction , which is where Alone Against the North comes in.  Both nonfiction and off my shelf and for this I did a combination of read and listen to the audiobook.  The other thing that attracted me is the author is local for me and I want/like to support local.

I try really hard not to read reviews prior to reading the book but in this instance somehow I accidentally saw some of the reviews that gave me pause.  There are so many mixed reviews and though it didn't sway me from listening I did go in with an open mind.  First off the author is the narrator of the audio and from that it wasn't hard to detect his passion for not just this story and this adventure (for lack of a better word) but his love of the outdoors. While talking about his journey Shoalts goes back in time and does a lot of name dropped of past explorers with their accomplishments and discoveries - nice touch.

Alone Against the North was an interesting read, I think it's one that will appeal to those interested in the outdoors. Personally I would have loved to see more pictures or even more maps to get a better feel of the location. There were times I felt it dragged a little and I questioned some the of the decisions made in regards to travelling companions, equipment and even going solo. I'm no expert on the great outdoors but living with die hard canoeists (I even went on a canoe trip last summer) had us in awe at some of the situations Adam found himself in.

All in all a book that has me itching for summer, a river, a campsite, cooking over a fire and a good book.

This book is part of my 2021 Reading of my Shelf Challenge.

Audio Review: From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle

In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle—once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar—chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is.

If I can just make it to the next minute . . . then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead.

From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.

Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, but their tough-love attitudes meant conflicts became commonplace. And the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. One day, he finally realized he would die unless he turned his life around.

In this heartwarming and heartbreaking memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful experiences with abuse, uncovering the truth about his parents, and how he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family through education.

An eloquent exploration of what it means to live in a world surrounded by prejudice and racism and to be cast adrift, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help one find happiness despite the odds.

Paperback, 368 pages

Audiobook 9 hrs, 55 minutes

Published August 6th 2019

by Simon & Schuster

3.5/5 stars

Jesse Thistle doesn't hold back with his memoir, From the Ashes. Released over a year ago it is still garnering rave reviews, which accounted for my long wait at the library. 

Beginning when just a toddler and throughout the years Jesse tells his story of heartache, addiction, homelessness and estrangement seamlessly.

I went the audio route with this book, in the past I find nonfiction works well this way, especially when told in 1st person. With this book the author did the reading himself, which I thought would work great.  However I found his tone flat and think it lost the emotional appeal that the book invoked.  Its a heartbreaking story and I didn't that get vibe.  I wish I'd read it instead but the audio became available at the library before the book - it's still has a huge amount of holds.

I recommend this book in print/digital eBook format.  Both available from the library and popular bookstores.

 

Audio Review: Alexander Graham Bell by Edwin S. Grosvenor, Morgan Wesson

". . . rarely have inventor and invention been better served than in this book."
– New York Times Book Review

Here, Edwin Grosvenor, American Heritage's publisher and Bell's great-grandson, tells the dramatic story of the race to invent the telephone and how Bell's patent for it would become the most valuable ever issued. He also writes of Bell's other extraordinary inventions: the first transmission of sound over light waves, metal detector, first practical phonograph, and early airplanes, including the first to fly in Canada. And he examines Bell's humanitarian efforts, including support for women's suffrage, civil rights, and speeches about what he warned would be a "greenhouse effect" of pollution causing global warming.

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Published May 12th 2016

by New Word City, Inc. (first published September 1st 1997)

Audiobook : Narrated by: Donald Corren

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

I wanted to read more non fiction in 2020, didn't really happen as this book is only my 2nd one...maybe in 2021.  I was attracted to the life of Alexander Graham Bell not just because his roots are close to home here in Southern Ontario, but rather to know more about him. Knowing next to nothing other then the invention of the telephone I was intrigued to learn more.

The author is the great grandson of Bell which just added that extra spark.  Beginning with Bell's early years in England and Scotland and progressing to his relocation to North America.  I was surprised with all the different things he was involved with and the people he rubbed shoulders with.  I don't recall any of this from history classes, especially how the telephone is the most valuable patent ever issued.  The blurb above lists some of his other accomplishments.  

It was a relatively quick read in that the audio was 6 1/2 hours long but it did pack a punch with not just his business adventures but personal life as well.  Not just an entertaining listen but educational without being bogged down with too many details but a great look at the life of Alexander Graham Bell.

My audiobook was from my personal library via Audible.

Audio Review: Never Cry Wolf: The Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat

More than a half-century ago the naturalist Farley Mowat was sent to investigate why wolves were killing arctic caribou. Mowat's account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone—studying the wolf population and developing a deep affection for the wolves (who were of no threat to caribou or man)—is today celebrated as a classic of nature writing, at once a tale of remarkable adventures and indelible record of myths and magic of wolves.

 Paperback, 176 pages

Audiobook, 4 hours 51 minutes

 Published by Dell (first published 1963)

****

A recent road trip had hubby and I listening to what he considers a classic.  I'm not really sure if this is classified as fiction, non-fiction, whether its kid lit or what?  Written to give the impression the author went through this experience himself lends itself to non-fiction.  The beginning part came across as kid lit, it was funny, adventurous and entertaining.  However, the end part got serious and for kids could be upsetting.

All in all, I found the audio quite nice to listen to and wish that more of Farley Mowat books were available in that format.

Audiobook via Scribd and part of my 2019 reading off my shelf challenge.

Audio Review: Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen

Get to know the real George Bailey.

 MISSION: JIMMY STEWART AND THE FIGHT FOR EUROPE [GoodKnight Books, October 24, 2016] provides the first in-depth look at the military career of Hollywood actor James M. Stewart, beginning with his family “mission” passed on from his grandfather (a Civil War hero) and father (who served in World War I) that military service in time of war was mandatory for the Stewarts. Jim tailored his life to this eventual outcome, learning to be a pilot so he could serve as an aviator in the war.

 MISSION describes Stewart’s childhood, college years at Princeton, Broadway career, and meteoric rise to Academy Award-winning actor in Hollywood. People today can’t imagine that Stewart was a ladies’ man, but he had a reputation as one of the most active bachelors in Hollywood, with a list of lovers that includes the A-list of female movie stars.

 In 1941, before America entered World War II, Jim was drafted into the Army and gleefully left Hollywood behind to fulfill that family mission. What happened to him in the service has never been covered in detail because he refused to talk about his experiences afterward. MISSION begins and ends with production of the first film Stewart made after returning from the war: It's a Wonderful Life, which in December 2016 will celebrate its 70th anniversary.

 MISSION also includes the stories of three other supporting characters, a radio man who flew with Stewart, a German civilian girl, and the German general in charge of fighter aircraft. They provide perspective on what Stewart was attempting to do and why.

 Audible Audio, Unabridged (11 hours and 45 minutes)

Peter Berkrot (Narrator)

Published April 10th,2017

 by Blackstone Audio, Inc.

****

I have always liked Jimmy Stewart, he acted in an era with some of the greats and eluded class and dignity. I knew nothing about his personal life and grabbed the audiobook as soon as I heard about this book. I shared the experience with my husband during a couple of road trips.

While the majority of this book revolved around the war and his experience there it was interesting to hear of his life before and after the war. It’s been stated that Stewart was a private man, not wanting to share the things that took place during the war and his climb up the ranks. He flew over 30 missions, witnessed untold tragedy and lost so many friends and comrades it’s no wonder it affected him the way it did. I don’t think I will be able to watch the bar scene in Its a Wonderful Life and not be reminded of all he went through.

Parts of the war years were written with the author sharing Stewart’s emotional struggles and fears, I am left to wonder where the author got that info from. It was common knowledge Stewart never divulged those years. Those parts of the book read more as HF verse non-fiction.

But all in all an eye opener to a Hollywood legend who gave his all during a dark time in history.

Review: Explorers: Amazing Tales of the World's Greatest Adventures by Nellie Huang

From the first people to leave Africa to the first to leave the planet, the urge to explore the unknown has driven human progress.

DK's Explorers tells the story of humanity's explorations, taking the reader into the lives of some of the most intrepid people ever known. Focusing on 50 of the world's greatest explorers, with shorter entries on 60 of their helpers and companions, the book is filled with first-person accounts in the explorers' own words, rare maps, specially commissioned photographs, and artworks re-create history's greatest expeditions. From trade and the search for lands to colonize, to scientific curiosity and missionary zeal, Explorers introduces history's most famous trail blazers-people whose courage opened frontiers, turned voids into maps, forged nations, connected cultures, and added to humankind's knowledge of the world by leaps and bounds.

Kindle, 144 pages

Expected publication: September 3rd, 2019

by DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)

****

"Curiosity and thirst for knowledge motivated some early explorers”

For a book coming in at only 144 pages, it packs a lot of punch.  Divided into 3 sections, by sea, land, and air with colorful pictures, maps and illustrations its the perfect introduction to exploration.

Each explorer is given 2 pages with a little bio and their achievements along with maps outlining routes plus extras like - tools, the dark side of exploration and even pictures of boats that show the various parts and functions along with storage and living quarters. Giving the reader a sense of living conditions.

There are famous explorers - James Cook, Lief Erickson, Marco Polo and Lewis & Clark and the not so famous - Zheng He and many more.

This book doesn't just go back in time to the discovery of new lands but talks about contemporary explorers - Jacques Cousteau, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh and even the Journey to the Moon, some that have passed and others still exploring this vast world.

This is a great book for the curious, adventurous and those wanting to know more about this great planet.  Geared towards the Middle-Grade age, this adult found it very interesting and feels it would best be read in print form.

 My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced digital copy - best viewed using the Kindle app to enjoy the illustrations.