This week, we feature the inspiring story of an immigrant’s journey from Nazi Germany and the swashbuckling nautical tales of a Napoleonic-era captain.
Nonfiction
‘My American Dream: A Journey From Fascism to Freedom’
By Barbara Feigin
In this autobiography, Barbara Feigin writes of her family’s escape from Nazi Germany when she was 2 years old, her love affair with American freedom, her many years in advertising, and the triumphs and travails of her own family. “Dream big; work hard; never quit” was her mother’s mantra, and the author lived by those words and passed them on to her children. This story of a female pioneer in the ad world, who is also a loving mother and wife, reminds us of the true meaning of the American dream.
Five Star Press, 2024, 276 pages
History
‘Over There in the Air: The Fightin’ Texas Aggies in World War I, 1917-1918’
By John A. Adams Jr.
Texas Aggies, those who attend the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now called Texas A&M), have always answered the nation’s call whenever the United States went to war. The First World War really sealed the tradition of Aggies fighting for their country. This book examines one aspect of Aggie participation in World War I: the air war. It offers a fascinating look at an era very different from ours.
Texas A&M University Press, 2019, 142 pages
Historical Fiction
‘Tyranny’s Bloody Standard: An Epic Napoleonic Naval Adventure’
By J.D. Davies
Philippe Kermorvant is an officer in the Revolutionary French navy in 1794. An aristocrat, he is a French patriot first. This novel opens with Kermorvant’s daring escape from British captivity. Given command of a frigate in the Mediterranean fleet at Toulon, he is sent on a diplomatic mission to Corsica by a Corsican-born French artillery general. Treachery, murder, and revenge follow Kermorvant to Corsica and beyond. Naval adventure in the spirit of the Hornblower series follows, but with a French hero.
Canelo Adventure, 2023, 304 pages
Fiction
‘Damascus Station’
By David McCloskey
The reality of espionage in spy novels is often exaggerated to the point of absurdity and entangled with impossibilities. David McCloskey, an actual former CIA analyst, has adopted the le Carré method of remaining within the realm of possibility. His debut novel creates a world of deadly intrigue that is all the more suspenseful due to the author’s understanding of the CIA, Syria, and the world of spies and spy-catching. For those looking for the next great spy novelist, Mr. McCloskey looks to be it.
W.W. Norton, 2021, 432 pages
Classics
‘Readings: Essays and Literary Entertainments’
By Michael Dirda
Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for criticism, this witty and erudite bookman takes readers for a delightful spin on the byways of literature. On this excursion, Michael Dirda references scores of historic literary figures, from Shakespeare and Pascal to Dickens and Kipling. He is particularly a huge fan of P.G. Wodehouse, and is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the organization of Sherlock Holmes fans. These entertaining essays provide a festival of fun for all lovers of literature.
W.W. Norton, 2003, 232 pages
For Kids
‘Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH’
By Robert C. O’Brien and Zena Bernstein
A widowed field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, sets out on a quest to save her ailing son Timothy. Along the way, she encounters an array of characters, including a colony of rats who possess exceptional skills resulting from secret medical experiments. This exciting tale highlights the indomitable power of love, bravery, and determination.
Aladdin, 1986, 240 pages
