In the Middle East, a bayt, literally meaning “home,” is sacred. It is, as Anthony Shadid says, “the identity that does not fade.” With these words, a journey is born.

Pulitzer-prize winner Anthony Shadid was released from captivity in Libya and decided to return to his ancestral home in Lebanon. House of Stone, his last work before his untimely death earlier this year, chronicles his journey as he rebuilt the house and paints a vivid picture of his family’s flight to America.

The memoir is filled with descriptive passages that make the readers feel like they too are part of the struggle to restore Shadid’s bayt. He introduces his family, both still living and long gone, and he introduces his town, Marjayoun, located near the Lebanon-Israel border.

As Shadid works to return his house on the hill to its former grandeur, members of his family become a part of the story, as they work and live, play and escape.

These sections about his family are the true gems of the book. They show a journey of hardship that many of our ancestors -– or maybe we ourselves –- faced, fleeing to America. These scenes bring more meaning to the house than Shadid can explain just through his experiences restoring it.

Shadid spent years in the Middle East as a foreign correspondent for The Washington Post. His work covering the Iraq War earned him two Pulitzer Prizes, and he died of an asthma attack while covering the uprisings in Syria in February.

As House of Stone is Shadid’s final work, reading this very personal tale is all the more special. I highly recommend it for people who have ever tried to discover their family roots.

House of Stone is available from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing at a list price of $26.

Book Review: House of Stone The Saturday Evening Post

Avry is awaiting execution when she is rescued by a band of rogues who want to take her through the mountains to heal their dying prince – whom Avry blames for starting the hunt against healers. She is quickly caught in a power struggle between the three remaining rulers of the Fifteen Kingdoms: the obsessively religious priestess, the psychotic life mage, and the dying prince – who is starting to look like the best choice to unite the plague survivors.

But there’s a catch: If Avry heals the prince of the plague, it will kill her.

Through the first-person narrative, Avry takes you on an incredible journey from the devastated kingdoms to the perilous mountains to the heart of enemy territory and she struggles to save her world and pass on her gift. Her friends – including the enigmatic and appealing Kerrick – provide laughs and love and make Avry’s journey even more enjoyable.

I have enjoyed Snyder’s writing for years, and Touch of Power doesn’t disappoint. The book is fast-paced and easy to read; I stayed up late to read it and could barely put it down. Fantasy fans will delight, and for those new to the fantasy genre, this is a great first step into a new world.

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder is available now from MIRA at a list price of $14.95.

Book Review: Touch of Power The Saturday Evening Post

Deborah grew up in Oxfordshire, England, the youngest of seven siblings. Her father loved agriculture and animals, and Debo, as she is known to her friends, inherited that love and spent her childhood roaming her family’s lands with him. When she was older, the family moved to London, where she met Andrew Cavendish, the second son of the Duke of Devonshire.

Andrew’s brother’s untimely death during World War II made him his father’s heir, and when the Duke died, Andrew and Debo gained vast tracts of land in England and Ireland, including the magnificent family seat, Chatsworth.

But it is not Debo’s wealth and position that brings her story to life. Instead, it is the friends and family whose stories she shares. From the antics of her five older sisters—including an elopement to Spain and a prison sentence—to tales of funny friends, like the writer Evelyn Waugh, Debo brings people to life and invites readers to become a part of her captivating world.

My personal favorite recollections are of her times with the Kennedys. Andrew’s brother was married to Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy before his death, and the Devonshires remained close to the family, even being personally invited to sit with the family during Jack Kennedy’s inauguration. Debo also had connections to the greats (and terrible) of Europe: She played host to Prince Philip at her family estate and called Prime Minister Macmillan “Uncle Harold” – and she even had tea with Hitler before the outbreak of World War II!

Duchess Deborah led an amazing life, traveling the world and meeting incredible people. She also inherited the writing bug that bit two of her sisters, Jessica and Nancy, and her witty and insightful comments bring her characters alive and draw people into her world.

This book is for Anglophiles, but it’s also for anyone who loves a well-told story or longs to spice up their usual fiction with a terrific memoir.

Wait for Me! is available now from Picador at a list price of $18.

Book Review: Wait for Me! The Saturday Evening Post

In her novel The Golden Mean, Annabel Lyon brings these ancient heroes back to life with the story of Aristotle’s beginnings at the Macedonian court and his adventures in teaching the impetuous young prince Alexander.

From the beginning, Alexander is short-tempered and reactive, and Aristotle has his hands full trying to teach the young man that there is more to life than war and conquest. Meanwhile, the philosopher has to vie for Alexander’s attention with the prince’s mother, other tutors, and Aristotle’s own wife—the young and beautiful Pythias.

The book shifts between this time period and Aristotle’s past as a Macedonian youth. The contrast between cautious, scholarly Aristotle and brash, adventurous Alexander is clear from their first meeting. Lyon’s imaginative take on their friendship shows how their budding relationship took several sharp turns as Aristotle had to teach Alexander how to be a true prince.

Their strange, nuanced relationship is what drives the book. Aristotle dwells upon thoughts of the future hero often, but their interactions are humorous and sometimes bittersweet as the young prince struggles to win his father’s approval.

The book does contain some sexually explicit scenes, but they can be easily skipped. Even without these sections, the novel is unique in its take on Aristotle and definitely worth a read. History lovers will enjoy the book, as will anyone who has ever tried to teach a child.

The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon is available from Vintage Books at a list price of $15.95.

Book Review: The Golden Mean The Saturday Evening Post

The late Don Asher and Dr. Lois Goodwill, his partner of more than two decades, discovered their answer and share the tale in the memoir Entangled: A Chronicle of Late Love.

Don Asher was an 80-year-old pianist in San Francisco, and Lois, who goes by Sarah in the book, was a 69-year-old semi-retired clinical psychologist with a penchant for travel and art. They seemed happy together, but after twenty-two years with Don, Lois met a former Jesuit priest and formed a startling romantic connection with him, triggering an excitement in her that she hadn’t felt since she was young.

The results of her departure and subsequent love affair obviously shook both Don and Lois and Entangled offers both sides of the couple’s story. (Don’s perspective is written after the events while Lois’ diary is written during them.)

It’s not easy to read about Don’s depression and anxiety, but the memoir paints a vivid picture of the fractured relationship, and the story of how each of them picked up the pieces and moved forward is both intense and startlingly beautiful.

Surprisingly, I was most drawn to Lois’ diary entries, written while she was embarking on a new course and starting a new relationship. Her thoughts, worries, and pleasures make her seem open and alive, still enjoying life at nearly 70 years of age.

Don Asher previously wrote for the Saturday Evening Post, and his half of the book is equally intense as he lets us into his life, revealing his fears about returning prostate cancer and his sadness about losing his love.

Entangled is truly a story of new life and new love, showing us that love and affection never truly die, even as we get older.

Entangled: A Chronicle of Late Love is available from Heyday at a list price of $14.95.

Book Review: Entangled The Saturday Evening Post

Mark Duxbury was a drug salesman for Johnson & Johnson company Ortho, tasked with selling the performance-enhancing drug Procrit as an alternative to blood transfusions. Duxbury’s belief in the drug, combined with his natural charm, allowed him to become one of the best Procrit salesmen in the country.

And that’s when things started to fall apart.

Sharp traces the story from the drug’s development in the 1980s and Duxbury’s early days at Ortho through Duxbury’s descent and his struggle to bring a lawsuit against the company for illegal selling practices and for encouraging non-FDA-approved uses of Procrit. Sharp continues the story through 2010, during which the lawsuit was still ongoing.

Though this compelling tale is a work of nonfiction, it reads like a thriller. Sharp’s exclusive rights to interviews with Duxbury and other key players allow her to give readers a thrilling look into the world of Big Pharma and whistleblowers. I particularly enjoyed the way Sharp tells not only the story of Duxbury’s time with the company but also the aftermath of the lawsuit and the way it shaped his personal life. Moreover, she thoroughly covers the histories of his friend and co-claimant, Dean McClellan, and their lawyer, Jan Schilchtmann, Esq.

Most importantly, the book isn’t just entertaining, but also informative. Sharp educates readers about the inner workings of pharmaceutical companies and medical practices, making this book a useful addition to the bookshelf of every patient and family member dealing with cancer and dialysis.

Blood Feud: The Man Who Blew the Whistle on One of the Deadliest Prescription Drugs Ever
by Kathleen Sharp is available now at an Amazon list price of $27.95.

Book Review: Blood Feud The Saturday Evening Post

When Cecelia was 15, she accompanied Fanny on a trip to Niagara Falls. So close to freedom in Canada, she took a chance and escaped from captivity. In Canada, she created a life for herself as an independent woman while Fanny went back to her home in Kentucky, where she married and had children.

Years later, Fanny and Cecelia began a cordial correspondence through the mail. Over the years, they sent many letters back and forth, keeping each other updated on their lives. Cecelia also used their relationship to search for her mother, who had not escaped slavery with her.

Not all of the letters survived, but Fanny’s son collected as many as he could find and kept them safe. Through these letters—as well as birth certificates and other records—Asher follows the two women throughout their lives. The story moves back and forth between Cecelia and Fanny, but Asher’s meticulous research weaves the two tales together. His additional writing helps to brings the story alive as well; the little details about Fanny’s family and Cecelia’s independence make the book even more interesting.

The story of Cecelia and Fanny is fascinating. Asher gets credit for taking historical facts and using them to write a riveting book that gives us look at a surprising friendship that stands as a testament to both human compassion and the ability to overcome remarkable adversity.

Cecelia and Fanny: The Remarkable Friendship Between an Escaped Slave and Her Former Mistress is available now from The University Press of Kentucky at a list price of $30.

Cecelia and Fanny The Saturday Evening Post

In his most recent book, Alexander the Great, classics professor and author Philip Freeman explores the ancient ruler, whom he calls “fascinating.” Freeman begins his tale with Alexander’s father, King Philip, and continues all the way through Alexander’s life and conquests to his death and legend.

Alexander the Great could be a boring book, fit only for history majors and Plutarch fans. Fortunately, Freeman set out to write “a biography of Alexander that is first and foremost a story”—and, in this, he succeeded. The book is not full of historical mumbo-jumbo that only scholars can understand and enjoy; rather, Freeman tells us about Alexander’s life like a novel—a remarkably interesting novel, to boot. Freeman brings the characters to life, making them seem real and relevant rather than people whose bones have long since faded to dust.

We learn in the book that Alexander’s yearning for conquest began at an early age, as he followed in the footsteps of his mighty father, who felled the city-states of Greece. Freeman relates events from Alexander’s youth, including his parents’ divorce and his annihilation of the famous warriors of the Theban Sacred Band. My personal favorite anecdote, however, is the story of his acquisition of Bucephalas, the horse who would follow him “to the ends of the earth” on his quest to dominate.

Freeman details Alexander’s conquests right up until the king’s death, concluding with the redistribution of his empire and the effect of his legacy. Along the way, he explores what drove Alexander’s passions and the battles and conquests that earned him the title “the great.”

The greatest victory of the book, however, is Freeman’s storytelling. This biography stands out from others written about Alexander thanks to its smooth flow and interesting narrative. It is, as Freeman hopes, a history book for those readers who are not already experts on Alexander or his world.

Alexander the Great is available now from Simon & Schuster at a list price of $30.

Alexander the Great The Saturday Evening Post

There’s nothing quite like a teddy bear. At some point, every child has—and loves—a stuffed bear. But for one family, a teddy bear wasn’t just a childhood playmate; it was the key to millions of hearts all around the world.

That bear’s name, of course, was Winnie-the-Pooh.

In her new book Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh, The: The Teddy Bear Who Inspired A. A. Milne, Shirley Harrison goes beyond the books, movies, and TV shows, delving into the bedroom of the real-life Christopher Robin where the stuffed bear and his friends once played.

Christopher Robin’s father, A. A. Milne, was enchanted by his son’s teddy bear, which was brought to life by Christopher Robin’s mother, Daphne. His wife and son’s imaginative games inspired Milne to pen stories about the bear and his friends—which were later adapted to the silver screen by Walt Disney.

In her book, Harrison shares intimate knowledge of the Milne family as well as stories collected from family and friends about the real Christopher Robin’s childhood and his famous stuffed companion. She recounts Pooh’s journey from London to the English countryside to New York—where he and some of his co-stars remain to this day. Harrison also shares the details of Pooh’s “life,” including his friendships with famous authors and his travels on both sides of the Atlantic as he was given the VIP treatment.

I loved Winnie-the-Pooh as a child, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his creation in Harrison’s charming book. To me, Winnie-the-Pooh was always an animated bear in a red shirt who loved “hunny” and playing with his animal friends. Reading this well-researched account gave me the opportunity to discover the story of the real Pooh—from the moment Daphne Milne brought him home to his journeys in the U.S. to his philanthropic activities. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever visited the Hundred-Acre Wood.

Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh, The: The Teddy Bear Who Inspired A. A. Milne by Shirley Harrison will be available as a 192-page hardcover from Pelican Publishing on October 1 at a list price of $24.95.

The Life and Times of the REAL Winnie-the-Pooh The Saturday Evening Post

In her book Tea Culture: History, Traditions, Celebrations, Recipes & More, Beverly Dubrin covers many tea-related topics—from a brief history of the discovery of tea to information about different kinds of tea and their respective health benefits. Readers will discover a wealth of information about the drink and how people have consumed it over the centuries. Dubrin, a longtime tea fan, gives tips on how to steep different types of tea and how to get the best-tasting beverage.

In addition to fun informational snippets, Tea Culture includes dozens of full-page photographs with subjects ranging from 19th-century tea drinkers to tea plantation workers. Dubrin also includes recipes for different types of tea drinks as well as some sandwiches and snacks to make every tea party complete! For our own tea party here at the Post, we decided to try two recipes from the book—Spicy Apple Tea and Marion’s Dream Bars. They were both delicious! In fact, we liked them so much that we decided to include the recipes elsewhere on the site.

As someone who drinks tea in part to alleviate blinding headaches, I particularly appreciated the section of the book on the health benefits. Much is made of its miracle effects on such serious problems as heart disease and cancer, as well as its power in calming anxiety, aiding digestion, and lowering blood pressure; it’s good to get the true story and learn about which teas and tisanes help with specific ailments.

Tea Culture: History, Traditions, Celebrations, Recipes & More, a 144-page hardcover from Imagine Publishing, is available now at a list price of $18.95.

Tea Culture: History, Traditions, Celebrations, Recipes & More The Saturday Evening Post

In her latest autobiography, DeGeneres shares her thoughts on becoming a CoverGirl model, hosting a season of American Idol, and dealing with everyday life—including the best ways to meditate, why you should make a pro/con list, and how hard it is being royalty (she’s related to future Queen of England Kate Middleton!).

DeGeneres is as funny as she is genuine as she catches us up on what’s been going on in her life since her last book (published in 2003)—she got married, landed her own TV show, and was knighted by the Queen of England.* Although the book is a laugh-out-loud recounting of her journey, she clearly puts her heart into her writing, candidly sharing her story with her fans.

In addition to the biographical stories, DeGeneres also discusses how best to fall asleep (reading a math book), how to be polite (say “G’day, mate” a lot), and the secret to becoming a billionaire (“Make a lot of money. Don’t spend it”).

As a longtime Ellen fan, it was great to get the inside scoop with all of her usual humor. She’s as funny in her book as she is on the air (if not more so). Every page is better than the next; I raced through it, eager to see what else she had to say.

Seriously…I’m Kidding, a 256-page hardcover book, will be released on October 4 by Grand Central Publishing at a list price of $26.99.

*Unconfirmed at the time of publication. Something about her not being a British citizen disqualifying her from being knighted….

Seriously … I’m Kidding The Saturday Evening Post

Now, in his book, Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever, the artist shares some of his most fascinating, eye-popping, and humorous pieces from across the globe. Here are a few examples of the kind of amazing images you’ll find in the book.

Philadelphia Eagle

In Pennsylvania, Beever created “Philadelphia Eagle,” a huge drawing featuring a bald eagle landing triumphantly on an American Flag.

Meeting Mr. Frog

“Meeting Mr. Frog” was created in Salamanca, Spain, and features a realistic-looking frog sitting on a lily pad.

Swimming Pool On High Street

My personal favorite is “Swimming Pool in the High Street” from Brussels, which portrays a woman relaxing in a swimming pool—a swimming pool sunk into the middle of the street, that is! (Considering the hot weather lately, I’d like to jump right in.)

Beever’s artwork is truly jaw dropping. You’re sure to spend ages flipping back and forth, astounded at how one man can create what looks like a three-dimensional design on a flat surface with just a bit of chalk. From animals to superheroes to famous buildings, the whimsical paintings are a wonder to behold.

Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever is definitely worth a look. And another look. And another…. This 112-page hardcover book is available now from Firefly Books at a list price of $29.95.

Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever The Saturday Evening Post

In their book Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them, the Graedons discuss potentially fatal medical errors that occur in hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and elsewhere. The book includes ways that patients can be on the alert to make sure nothing happens to them—including what questions they should ask, how to ensure they’re getting the right medications, and so on. The authors also note that having a friend or family member come with you to the doctor to act as a note-taker and an advocate is always a good idea.

The Graedons have been involved with patient advocacy for more than 25 years, and this book is the culmination of their long experience. However, even though the statistics they quote are scary, there’s no reason to panic. The authors are quick to point out that if you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, you should speak to your doctor first. The book isn’t about making people distrust doctors; it’s about making sure patients are armed with the knowledge they need to significantly reduce the chance of mistakes. Remember: Although you need to be careful and alert, you should still trust the medical professionals who treat you.

In addition to their own experience, the Graedons consulted Dr. Peter Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., who created a five-step checklist to increase safety at hospitals. For more on Dr. Pronovost’s work, check out his profile in the Post.

Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them is an easy-to-read book with an important message. As the Graedons point out, taking charge of your health and safety by asking questions and making sure you know what’s going on is one of the best way to reduce potential mistakes. If you or a relative is often in and out of the hospital or has a revolving carousel of medications, you should read the Graedons’ book. Forewarned is forearmed, and having this knowledge could stop a potentially fatal error.

Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them will be available from Crown Archetype on October 4, 2011, at a list price of $26.

Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them The Saturday Evening Post

History is full of bizarre people and events, and Joe Rhatigan chronicles them in his book Bizarre History: Strange Happenings, Stupid Misconceptions, Distorted Facts and Uncommon Events
. Rhatigan takes us through history, from ancient Egypt to the Middle Ages to the 20^th century, revealing everything from strange wars to crazy rulers.

This book is everything that you never learned in a history class: early campaign mudslinging (John Adams’s people said that Jefferson would burn Bibles and outlaw marriage while the Jefferson camp claimed that Adams planned to start a new royal line as King John I), embarrassing family members (Jimmy Carter’s brother judged a world belly flop competition and endorsed a beer), presidential pets (including some alligators), the history of high heels (not just for women!), and more.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and Rhatigan proves it with this laugh-out-loud history of the world. Even the biggest history buffs are sure to learn something as the book travels from the American heartland to the steppes of Asia and back with humorous and completely true anecdotes.

Bizarre History is a must-read for everyone who thought that high school history was lacking a little something. This hilarious collection of historical footnotes certainly kept me turning its pages!

Bizarre History: Strange Happenings, Stupid Misconceptions, Distorted Facts and Uncommon Events by Joe Rhatigan will be released as a 157-page paperback from Imagine Publishing on October 1, 2011 at a list price of $7.95.

Bizarre History The Saturday Evening Post

But pirates operated in other waters as well. In his latest book, Pirates of Barbary: Corsairs, Conquests and Captivity in the Seventeenth-Century Mediterranean, historian Adrian Tinniswood delves into the world of North African pirates under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

The Barbary corsairs wreaked havoc from Gibraltar to the Dardanelles for more than a century, earning the wrath of the great European nations and making names for themselves in history. They had their own heroes—John Ward, an English traitor who turned corsair and sailed the seas with his captured fleet; Simon Dansekar, the “Devil Captain of Algiers”; and the Barbarossa brothers, who are credited with the rise of Ottoman strongholds along the Barbary Coast.

But who were these men who ruled the Mediterranean and earned the enmity of European nations? Tinniswood recounts their exploits—from attacks on Spanish ships to raids on British-held Ireland. He also goes deeper, sharing the stories of their lives—their struggles, their loves, their victories, and their deaths.

Tinniswood tells the whole story, from the pirate Hizir’s conquest of North Africa to the death of Hamidou Rais, the “last of the great corsairs.” Pirates of Barbary is about the bloody conquest of the Mediterranean: land raids for captives that went as far north as Ireland; battles over the islands and the fight for the control of Crete; and the Ottoman takeover of North Africa. These corsairs battled and pillaged, fighting for money, empire, God, and control of the Mediterranean.

But this is not just a story about the Barbary corsairs; it is also the story of the European men who fought them, bargained with them, and—in some cases—came to respect them. These are the men who experienced firsthand life on the Barbary coast—Thomas Baker, an English consul in Tripoli who worked to keep peace between the nations; Edmund Cason, who tried to free European slaves held captive in Algiers; William Okeley, a former slave who led a successful escape attempt; and Sir Robert Mansell, who led an expedition against the Barbary Coast.

In Pirates of Barbary, Tinniswood gives readers a glimpse at real-life piracy that will thrill—and, at times, frighten—lovers of fantasy pirates like Captain Jack Sparrow. Given time, the heroes and villains of the Barbary Coast might just grow into legends to rival their Caribbean counterparts.

Pirates of Barbary: Corsairs, Conquests and Captivity in the Seventeenth-Century Mediterranean, a 343-page hardcover book from Riverhead Books, is available now at a list price of $26.95. It will be available in paperback on September 6 for $16.00.

Pirates of Barbary The Saturday Evening Post