Dear Readers, welcome to another installment of Abbie’s Recent Reads! Over the last few months the main genres I have been reading have been Nonfiction and Horror. The Nonfiction reads have ranged from the true crime genre, ballet, to Polar exploration. Prepare for a wild ride through time, space, and the globe as I share some of my recommended books I have read recently!
The Stowaway by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
I will read any book I can find on Antarctic Exploration or North Pole Exploration. While awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth on Libby, The Stowaway was recommended to me as a similar read to enjoy while I waited. (I am still awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth to come in.) I am really glad I read this one. As I have read many books on Polar exploration, I have always wondered what it would be like to be along with the explorers on their grand adventures. Apparently a lot of other people at the time of these explorations were thinking the same thing! The Stowaway is the true story of Billy Gawronski, an ordinary teenage son of Polish immigrants living in New York. In the 1920’s Billy has grown up on adventure stories and dreams of going off on one of his own. He becomes obsessed with Captain Byrd and the expedition being planned to explore the Antarctic. Billy’s father and mother do not approve of their son’s dreams as Billy is expected to take over the family upholstery business. Billy feels he has no choice. If he wants any chance at adventure he is going to have to stowaway on Captain Byrd’s ship! The plot sounds like something out of a kid’s adventure novel, but this is a TRUE story! I took great delight in following Billy through his adventures and cheering him on along the way. As I followed Billy’s story I found myself asking on more than one occasion “could I be that brave and daring?” I greatly recommend this for anyone who loves reading about history, exploration, and scrappy underdog characters.
Click HERE to request The Stowaway!
The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream by Dean Jobb
I am a huge true crime fan in addition to being a history buff, so this book was a perfect fit for me. We all know the tale of Jack the Ripper, so I was surprised to learn that during the same period there was another prolific serial killer operating. The difference between Jack the Ripper and Doctor Cream is that Jack’s killings were bloody, brutal, and sensational. Dr. Cream’s murders were more insidious. His chosen weapon was poison. Many of his killings were not even identified as actual murders until much later due to doctors passing death off as food poisoning, heart related, or seizures. Dr. Cream lived and began his career (in medicine and murder) in Canada. As “unfortunate events” occurred around him his rich family thought it would be best if he left and moved elsewhere. Dr. Cream’s spree of poisonings took him to America and finally to the dark moody streets of Victorian London. What I found morbidly compelling about this book is that the authorities had MANY chances to capture this killer and bring him to justice. Each and every time it seemed Dr. Cream slithered away innocent only to kill again. The guy was cocky! I was also blown away by just how trusting people were in this particular time period and just how simple it could be then if you had a mind to eliminate someone. A bonus that comes with this sensational story of murder and mayhem is the details of medical technology in the Victorian Era. Mention of the lead floors in the hospital had me cringing. I recommend this book to lovers of true crime, history buffs, and people with a fascination for outdated medical techniques.
Click HERE to request The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream!
Subhuman by Michael McBride
If you are a fan of gory alien monster stories this one is for you! A group of scientists from various fields have been rounded up for a secret mission to Antarctica. Soon they realize they have each been chosen for their very specific expertise or discoveries. They find they have been assembled to work for eccentric millionaire Hollis Richards. Richards has been OBSESSED with the possibility of alien life since he saw a UFO at a young age. After learning of a strange discovery under the ice in Antarctica, Richards has put his money towards establishing a scientific base of operations in which to study this find. The team soon discover an ancient city preserved beneath the waters of a frozen lake. Within the city they also find bodies…not all the bodies appear completely human. The mystery thickens as more discoveries are made that point to the city being inhabited by an ancient race of humanoid. Who were these beings? How did they die? Soon the scientists find that not all of these beings are quite dead…they start to get picked off one by one. Will anyone survive and escape the Antarctic base?
After reading this action/slasher/horror read I found that this is the first in a trilogy. I plan on reading the following books. I also wish to note that though this is an intense and bloody read, the ending gave me a good chuckle. (Disclaimer: This book is a work of fiction unlike most of this list, please do not fear.)
Click HERE to request Subhuman!
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
I requested this book off of Libby in October around Halloween. Due to it’s popularity it took me until March of this year to actually get my hold and be able to read it. Luckily I am always in the mood for a good horror novel so was rewarded for the long wait! If you like horror novels that keep you thinking long after the book is over then this is a good book for you. It defied my expectations on what I thought was happening and included many twists and turns. The story follows Eve and Charlie who buy houses to flip and sell. They currently are working on a rather large one that happens to be up a mountain in the middle of nowhere. The story is told from Eve’s perspective and the creepy factor starts when there is a knock on the door. Charlie is out running errands and there happens to be a blizzard. Eve, being a complete introvert yet wanting to people please answers the door. Opening the door she finds a seemingly innocent looking family. The dad explains that he grew up in this house and was wondering if they could come and have a look around. Eve agrees. In doing so she may have made the worst mistake of her life. Strange things start happening around the house as soon as the family comes inside and events transpire where it seems the family will never leave. As a people pleaser myself I felt connected to Eve on a deep level and personally I think this added to the horror factor for me. There are plenty of scary scenes in this book that would work perfectly in a horror movie as jump scares so I hope the rumor that Netflix wants to make this into a mini series is true. Buckle in for a mind twisting ride that will test your sanity when you read We Used to Live Here.
Click HERE to request We Used to Live Here
Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans
I love ballet. As a child I was briefly very fascinated by the Barbie Swan Lake movie. This past winter I was lucky enough to see the ballet preformed at the Weill Center in Sheboygan by the Ukrainian Ballet. That was an absolutely magical evening. This experience made me curious about the history of ballet, how it came to be and the many stories acted through dance. Apollo’s Angels has answered all of my questions and many more I did not know I had. The book takes us back to the beginnings of ballet and the glittering court of Louis XIV. You will travel in time to see the effect of the French Revolution on the evolution of ballet as the common people claim the dance that had been the primary domain of the monarchy. The book covers the development and evolution of the ballets we know and love as they spring forth from beloved fairy tales. I was very surprised to learn how much Swan Lake has changed over the years. It once had a much more depressing ending. It was also exciting to learn about ballets that used to be very popular such as La Slyphide and the overdone Italian ballet, Excelsior, which involved actual horses and elephants. Apollo’s Angels also covers ballet in Danish, Russian, and American history. Besides the classics, I learned of a few other ballets I would like to see. The Russians produced the ballet, Spartacus, about the Roman gladiator. This ballet apparently involves a lot of scantily dressed dancers and an extreme dance off at the end between opposing forces. I would also like to see the American produced Fall River Legend, a ballet based on the true story of Lizzie Borden. Apollo’s Angels is a very dense read so this may not be for everyone. I must say it was enjoyable to learn what people of the past found to be popular entertainment. (Reading this book may have the unintended side affect of making you want to dance and pretend you are a ballerina.)
Mead Public Library Blog 