reviews

Greatest hits from beginning to end... Author:  Nick Lane It’s happened literally millions and millions of times, yet scientists have never been able to actually see it.  The countless moments when one species becomes two – never to reunite – form the essential scaffolding that the entire science of biology is built upon.   While it’s hard to even define when speciation has actually occurred, there undoubtedly have been some moments that have been more profound than others.  In Life Ascending, British biochemist Nick Lane has selected his top ten favorites, spanning from life’s very beginning to its bitter end. While [...]

Two sisters, two Americas: a twinhood split down the middle Author: Brit Bennett I can’t think of any other new release in fiction this year that is as heartbreakingly relevant as Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half. Her marvelous follow-up to The Mothers is a saga that digs into matters of race, sexuality, and the nuances—both seen and unseen—of one’s identity. It is an important and weighty story, but Bennett’s writing style, which flows as smooth as the river running through Mallard, Louisiana, will mesmerize readers from the very first page. “The river would right her. She would stand on the [...]

Archaeology and Adventure! Author:  Douglas Preston Quick!  Who is your favorite George Lucas movie character?  If you didn’t hesitate to scream “Indiana Jones!”, I’ve definitely got a book for you.  Based deep in the treacherous jungles of Honduras, The Lost City of the Monkey God is a real-life adventure that is sure to entertain your inner archaeologist.  It’s a thrilling recounting of the intrepid real-life adventures of novelist/journalist Douglas Preston, who somehow managed to live to tell about it. Long the stuff of rumor, also known as La Ciudad Blanca, the titular city has been tantalizing archaeologists and treasure hunters [...]