Tagged: 5/5

The Traveling Photographer’s Manifesto

The Traveling Photographer’s Manifesto: A Guide to Connecting with People and Place by David Hobby, 5/5

When a book is written well by someone with personality who is passionate about a topic on which they have expertise, the subject becomes almost irrelevant. In these circumstances, I can and have enjoyed reading about everything from botanical art to infrastructure. But when a book checks all of these boxes and is also about two of my passions–photography and traveling–what a treat!

Though I am not (and do not aspire to be) a street photographer or photojournalist, I enjoyed absorbing the author’s practical advice, technical guidance, interesting anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes perspective. Perhaps most influential of all is the well-developed, people-first photography philosophy that permeates every page and is clearly the product of an open and enquiring mind.

I knew beforehand that this independently-published book contains no photos and, by the end, had even convinced myself that it doesn’t need any because it is so philosophical in focus. Then I came across the author’s PetaPixel article about the book, saw the accompanying photographs, and immediately changed my mind. The photos were so beautiful and, having read so much about their context, so meaningful, that I felt it was a crime that none were included in the book. Yes, there is a helpful Supplemental Visual Notes document, which the author e-mailed to me (along with a kind, personalized note) almost immediately upon request. But this book deserves to be picked up by a publisher, expanded, given a proper cover design, and filled with photographs.

Why I read it: I learned about the author through his popular website, “Strobist.”

Charles Harper’s Birds & Words

Charles Harper’s Birds & Words, 5/5

Charming bird portraits in Harper’s trademark “minimal realism” style combine with witty text to create a feast for both the eyes and the nature-loving mind.

Why I read it: A Christmas gift from my sister-in-law.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, 5/5

These poems are utterly charming, sophisticatedly silly, and exquisitely illustrated by the inimitable Edward Gorey. I read the entire collection in one go and found myself practically tapping my toe to the flawless rhythms, which beg to be read aloud.

Why I read it: a thrift store find.

The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha

The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha (NRSV 5th ed.), edited by Michael D. Coogan, 5/5

The Apocrypha is one of those literary works that is impossible to approach without some pre-conceived expectation, since the very name is steeped in mystery. Raised Christian, I cannot remember ever being explicitly told to avoid these noncanonical ancient writings, however they were not included in my Bible and I had a vague conception of them as useless at best, and untrustworthy at worst. At some point in my spiritual meandering, I started to suspect that the Bible may have been compiled by a bunch of card-carrying HOA Karens and maybe the Apocrypha was simply too fun and awesome to be included. At any rate, I expected to encounter bizarre prophecies, entertaining stories about Jesus as a child, and lots of enticing, controversial ideas.

Not for the first time, my preconceptions turned out to be wildly inaccurate. I was surprised to find that most of these ancient writings fit pretty clearly and uncontroversially into the categories of history, storytelling, or praise, and, while I enjoyed reading these works, the Bible feels complete to me without them. My favorite book was Sirach, with its deeply relatable and often snarky proverbs. There were a couple quotes that I wished were in the Bible, but it was clear from context that Ben Sira had a lot of his own ideas and issues to work through. Overall, I found the Apocrypha to be a fascinating and occasionally inspiring collection of historical writings, regardless of any Biblical associations.

Why I read it: My husband was listening to the Book of Enoch and it sounded so wild that I wanted to check it out for myself. I just assumed it was in the Apocrypha and didn’t realize it wasn’t until I was about 80% done. Next stop–pseudepigrapha, I guess.

The King of Diamonds

The King of Diamonds: The Search for the Elusive Texas Jewel Thief by Rena Pederson, 5/5

Pederson takes the reader on a ride-along as she investigates the most glamorous cold case imaginable: a brazen and idiosyncratic jewel thief who terrorized the fabulously wealthy of Dallas for a decade. Over seven years of research is condensed into a satisfying page-turner that weaves history, biography, and true crime together, while exploring the good, the bad and the ugly of 1950s and ’60s Dallas society, from the richest philanthropist to the shadiest gangster and everything in between.

Why I read it: I think I saw an author interview on social media and the story sounded fascinating.

Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, 5/5

I am not a fan of Neil Gaiman’s work in general, but there is no denying the excellence of this retelling of tales from Norse mythology. The tone is fresh, without too much anachronism; sensitive and poetic, not melodramatic; and witty without flippancy.

Why I read it: my husband enjoyed the audiobook and I liked the bit that I overheard, so he bought a hard copy.

All That the Rain Promises and More…

All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms by David Arora, 5/5

Don’t be fooled by the frankly insane cover photo and title–this helpful book is packed with color photographs and well-organized descriptions of the most common mushrooms found in the western United States, interspersed with additional info, poetry, recipes, and anecdotes collected from the mycophile community. Yes, it’s a little silly at times, but the author is deeply knowledgeable about the topic and I appreciate the sense of humor and passion that are reflected in this conveniently-sized book. I found the closing essay to be particularly compelling on the topic of over-regulation of hunting/gathering activities:

“In other words, the largely urban-suburban vision of nature as a beautiful, peaceful refuge from the stresses and conflicts of civilization, is in fundamental conflict with the rural or less “civilized” perception of nature as a provider of sustenance and wealth. Therein lies a great irony: it is the cities that suck food, energy, and resources from the landscape, yet there is a long and tragic history of industrial and agricultural peoples persecuting “savage” outsiders (in the most literal sense of the word) who hunt and gather (253).”
…
“No doubt the admonition to “take only photographs, leave only footprints,” is desirable in certain sensitive or pristine areas. But it is inappropriate in most situations because it is a fundamental denial of who we are: creatures of the earth whose most ancient heritage (or birthright, if you will) is foraging for food in the forest.
This enforced separation of human being from the natural world can only undermine support for the public acquisition and protection of habitat. The more we view the forests and fields as a resource […] the more likely we are to cherish that resource (254).”

Why I read it: I find mushrooms fascinating and love to spot them around the yard.

My Favorite Intermissions

My Favorite Intermissions: Lives of the Musical Greats and Other Facts You Never Knew You Were Missing by Victor Borge and Robert Sherman, 5/5

I half-expected this collection of loosely opera-themed musical anecdotes to be outdated and cringey, but I was so wrong. The passage of time and changing tastes have not dampened Borge’s trademark hilarity.

Why I read it: I loved watching Victor Borge on VHS as a child and this book was a welcome thrift store find.

Bel Canto

Bel Canto: A Novel by Ann Patchett, 5/5

This exquisitely written character study of a group of hostages and their guerilla captors is effortlessly beautiful and surprisingly well paced, given the confined context provided by the story’s extreme constraints with regard to location and plot. Like a poet adhering to a particular rhyme scheme, the author works within these constraints to explore the inner workings and relationships of a seemingly disparate cast, including a world-famous soprano, her most devoted admirer, rebel generals, child soldiers, assorted international businessmen, and the translator whose language skills link them all together.

Why I read it: I encountered a glowing review on Facebook, which was almost definitely, in retrospect, written by AI.

Birth Skills

Birth Skills: Proven Pain-Management Techniques for Your Labour and Birth by Juju Sundin with Sarah Murdoch, 5/5

Juju’s approach to natural birth differs from most in that she does not encourage idealistic expectations or a skeptical view of modern medical interventions. Her focus is not on helping women achieve an unmedicated birth, per se, but on empowering them to understand the process and cope with pain the best they can, regardless of final outcomes. I believe this healthy approach might help those with perfectionist and control freak tendencies (like myself) to avoid some of the mental anguish and trauma associated with “unnatural” birth experiences that may fall far short of their expectations.

These birth skills were originally meant to be imparted through a multi-week, interactive, in-person class, so the fact that I speed-read the book shortly before my baby’s due date was clearly not ideal. However, thanks to the author’s straightforward style and intentional use of repetition, I felt like I had a decent understanding of the main principles and hoped to avoid an epidural by using movement, breathwork, mantras, visualization, and a birthing comb. Perhaps I have a very low pain tolerance or was not fully invested in the techniques–I certainly was not well-practiced–but I did not end up coping well with the pain of active labor. Vomiting from contractions that felt like being stabbed in the abdomen with a red hot poker, I was thankful for even the temporary relief a faulty epidural provided. The fact that I absolutely crumbled under what felt like unbearable and excruciating pain is humbling, but just because I literally cannot imagine how it would have been possible to endure the experience unmedicated is no reflection on this book and the positive effect it has had on numerous women’s labor and birth experiences.

Why I read it: a recommendation from an Instagram comment.