Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

Feathered Canyons by Jeannette Hanby and David Bygott is a memoir of historical significance. Hanby was born during WWII and raised by protective parents in a safe environment. Once she graduated from California's Berkeley in 1962, she decided to explore life deeper and learn more about her fellow Americans with different skin colors or social backgrounds. She started working at McLaren Hall with troubled and often abused children. Hanby, along with her co-worker and friend, Perky, wanted to visit Mexico and even purchased tickets for their trip, but Perky got sick at the very last moment. Hanby confessed that she was still eager to go on her big adventure and wanted to move to Big Sur in Northern California, where there was a job opportunity at the Nepenthe restaurant, famous for its bohemian atmosphere. Jeannette met Bill Hargis, who soon became her mentor, friend, and love of her life. Bill invited Jeannette to join his gold mining venture in the Feather River Canyon. This unique experience would change the course of her life for good.

After opening Feathered Canyons, be prepared to hear the mighty ocean waves, smell the magnificent Ponderosa pines, and hear the roar of the wild and beautiful Feather River. It invites you to participate in a sensual, thrilling adventure. Jeannette Hanby's prose is powerful and leaves readers almost breathless. This is a captivating story of a young Hanby, who is shy, socially awkward, and knows the darker side of life from experience. The pictures show that she is also strikingly beautiful; it was easy to connect with her on an emotional level. I liked her curiosity and big heart so much. She is concerned with environmental challenges and takes action to save the wild beauty of the Feather River, leading by example. Hanby's relationship with Bill Hargis is the centerpiece of the story; I was amazed by how openly and genuinely Hanby speaks about it. I particularly enjoyed the chapter about Hanby's trip to Mexico, for she showed a true sense of travel, exploring different cultures with tremendous respect and admiration. The wonderful illustrations by David Bygott are an essential part of the story, allowing us to grasp the beauty of Big Sur. I also loved the amazing poems by Genetta opening most chapters. Feathered Canyons is for readers who love memoirs, inspirational tales, and nature. I would especially recommend it to readers of all ages looking for their path in life.

Reviewed by Christine Nguyen for Readers' Favorite

Hangmen: Riding with an Outlaw Motorcycle Club in the Old Days is a raw and gritty memoir that takes readers into motorcycle gangs in the 60s and 70s. Dale E. Arenson was a high school dropout from a broken family. His two options were enlisting in the Vietnam War or hanging out with an infamous motorcycle club called Hangmen. His parents refused to permit him to enlist in the army, so Dale ended up as a Hangmen biker. He chronicles the highs and lows of first being a hanger-on at age 17, then becoming a prospect at 19, and finally becoming a fully-fledged patch holder of the Hangmen. The motorcycle gangs had a tight brotherhood that revolved around riding, drinking, drugs, women, sex, and fighting. Their shenanigans are highlighted in an honest portrayal of what the motorcycle lifestyle was all about.

Dale E. Arenson writes with honesty about his experiences without romanticizing the motorcycle gang lifestyle or downplaying its brutality and violence. This book is not for the faint-hearted. Hangmen is an action-packed, white-knuckle, adrenaline roller coaster ride that will mesmerize you until the end. This is a nostalgic glimpse back into Californian history that should be preserved, no matter how controversial. I thoroughly enjoyed the numerous photographs of the Hangmen included in the book as they also told another more visual story that captured my imagination. I did not know that so many motorcycle gangs were operating, as I have only heard about the Hell’s Angels. This was an addictive read that had me continuously on the edge of my seat.

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite

Cory Mortensen sees life as a series of opportunities and knows how difficult it is to choose among several options. He left his job to embark on a journey into the unknown. He narrates how each day's events develop without a concrete plan or a specific route to follow. This time we will learn about his journey from the Mexican border to Antarctica. In Unlost, he tells the experiences with an excellent touch of humor, but he is also illustrative, giving honest descriptions and interesting facts about the places visited. Cory provides images of maps and some personal photographs. Unlost is the second part of The Buddha and the Bee series, and it also shows how following your instinct can lead you to unexpected places.

Reading Cory Mortensen's book is like talking with a friend who tells you his anecdotes. His narrative is relaxed and fun. He knows how to connect his stories with explanations of historical facts. He shares the culture he is acquiring and shows you his ability to solve problems with astuteness. I admire his courage to travel into unknown territories. He is truthful when mentioning complications, such as finding accommodation or dealing with people who only want money from foreigners. Cory has a friendly personality and a contagious spirit, so he makes friends in every country he visits. His enthusiasm motivates you to want to embark on an adventure. Unlost also has a good presentation. I loved the photographs and would have liked to see more to learn about the places visited. Unlost is the ideal book to get to know the world in a relaxed and entertaining way.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Unhinged in Ethiopia: Two Thousand Kilometers of Hell and Heaven on a Bicycle shares the fascinating adventure of George Balarezo as he explores Ethiopia's mountainous terrain on his bicycle and learns about the continent's rich cultural legacy. Balarezo teaches English in South Korea and when he lands a job at a university that includes four months of paid vacation each year, he goes on a bicycle tour of exotic places at every opportunity. After tour cycling in China and Mongolia, his next destination is Africa’s most mountainous country. With his newly purchased second-hand bicycle, he lands in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital. While waiting to cross a busy street, two children persistently ask him for money; his adventure has just begun and this is his story.

George Balarezo’s Unhinged in Ethiopia is an informative and mesmerizing tale of his journey through a beautiful, poor, and culture-rich country. Written in the first-person, it felt akin to accompanying him on his tour. Balarezo writes in vivid detail, especially about the people that he meets along the way. It's a must-read for those who want to experience the world on a bike and learn from their experience. Struggling with the heat, illness, mountainous roads, and children throwing stones at him, he ends his tour with a better understanding of himself and the world in general. I found the African proverbs that introduce most chapters very interesting. Balarezo reveals to us his mindset while traveling and it is very enlightening. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Baikonur Man: Space, Science, American Ambition, and Russian Chaos at the Cold War’s End by Barry L Stoddard is a non-fiction drama set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The story is about an American start-up forging a secret deal to place American scientific payloads aboard the Soviet space station MIR. This agreement was negotiated and approved behind the backs of NASA and Congress, with the assistance of officials inside the Commerce and Defense departments. This grueling saga of how science, camaraderie, hardships, and madness led to the first American experiments and payloads to be brought to space on Russian rockets, as recounted by one who witnessed history itself. Stoddard was present when the company founder of the start-up met with three students and their professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is his story.

Barry L Stoddard’s Baikonur Man is an ambitious and gripping narrative about how a group of young scientists and a small company ran experiments in space in the 1980s. However, it is more than just about our world's social or political landscape. Stoddard goes personal as we are immersed in a first-person adventure full of unexpected moments, wit, humor, drama, and hope. This fascinating narrative is much more than just about science. It is also about the resilience and beauty of the human condition during sociopolitical change. It's a must-read for those interested in science and history. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Weathered: Finding Strength on the John Muir Trail by Christy Teglo is a fascinating memoir that follows the author’s one-of-a-kind hike along the John Muir Trail. What is even more amazing is the fact that it is her first time on such an adventure. No one believes her in her office when she tells them what her plans are. After six months of research, she sets out to hike more than 220 miles in the High Sierra Mountains of California. On this journey, she experiences inclement weather, hail storms, losing her way, and meeting new people. But what stands out in the story is the confrontation with herself as she discovers a strength she never thought she had and a vulnerability that will enable her to have a fresh perspective on life.

The memoir is gripping and expertly written. The author shares her emotions vividly, infusing the writing with powerful and compelling descriptions, evoking imagery that will captivate the imagination of readers. While this book follows the author’s hiking adventure, it has a metaphorical nature as it describes the author’s journey to the center of her life. While hiking, she has time to be alone with her thoughts and to review her life, her struggling marriage, and her work. Themes of friendship, adventure, nature, and love are brilliantly written. Follow Christy Teglo’s exciting adventure as she braves challenging moments hiking the different mountain passes. Weathered: Finding Strength on the John Muir Trail is a hiking experience that takes the author through an exhilarating journey into herself. It is a book that will appeal to readers who have always wanted to do something similar and haven’t mustered up enough courage to actually do it. It is written in beautiful prose with imagery that will stay with readers.

Reviewed by Trevor Otieno for Readers' Favorite

In 1969, Paul Gorman, who was 19 years old at the time, embarked on a backpacking trip across Europe. Gorman had grown up in a large family with a forgiving mother and a violent father. Gorman had just arrived in Luxembourg and was departing for the Canary Islands. He eventually learned how to rely on his resources to shape a sense of identity through the course of his voyage, following the unbelievable difficulty he encountered when attempting to forge a few travel checks. During this process, he matured from youthful innocence to the experience of age. Interspersed throughout this account are observations about Gorman’s troubled relationship with his father, his never-ending thirst for life, his search for love, and his other struggles. For more insights on the unfolding of events, grab a copy of Into Trouble by Paul Gorman.

In his writing, Gorman discusses his yearning for adventurous travel, his desire to flee his controlling father, and his fear of being recruited into the US Army. Trouble develops and ruins his ideal journey when he arrives at the sunny sandy beaches of Spain’s Canary Islands. Into Trouble was a fulfilling and fun read for me. My interest was maintained throughout while tension was built. This biographical coming-of-age tale of a naïve young American’s troubled journey to Europe is diligently told by Paul Gorman. I’ve been irrevocably affected by Gorman’s change and would suggest this book to all readers. They won't want to miss it because it offers a fantastic experience and a variety of lessons.

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss by Susan Cole chronicles a family’s sailing journeys and their thrilling Caribbean adventure. Inspired by his own childhood experiences, John wanted his daughter, Kate, to feel excited about their upcoming sailing journey. Contrary to Kate’s reaction, Cole struggled to leave behind the community and home she had established before the move. But John was determined and his adventurous spirit began to rub off on Cole. In the memoir, Cole shares their adventures, the challenges involved including the times their commitment was tested. Nothing, though, could deter them. In a journey that began as a search for adventure, along the way they found love. They also developed the courage to face their greatest fears and follow their unconventional dreams.

From the sinking of their boat to Cole facing a hurricane by herself while John was away, the memoir is filled with many absorbing events that show the family’s resolve. I loved that the memoir also follows the couple’s love story which is made more captivating by their dissimilar viewpoints and backgrounds. Despite their differences, Cole is willing to abandon the perspectives she grew up with and follow John on an extraordinary and scary journey. There are also many endearing scenes of family moments and bonding experiences onboard the boat, Laughing Goat. Riveting descriptions of the cultures and political state of the places they visit are also included. I loved this book. It is captivating and well-written throughout. Holding Fast by Susan Cole is a powerful memoir that captures a family’s loving journey and their daring sailing adventures.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Home for Friendless Children: Finding Hope, Joy, and a Place in the World by C.L. Olsen is a non-fiction memoir detailing a life of survival that transcends into one of true living. Olsen writes in the first person, but the narrative is actually that of her husband, Rob, a little boy who is introduced alongside his earliest memory, setting the tone for a childhood of near-perpetual trauma. Rob is one of several children from a father who left his wife and kids to fend for themselves and a mother who cannot find enough solid footing to raise any of them. Rob, his brothers, and two sisters, who are ultimately removed from his life for decades, are left picking up the pieces with varying degrees of success.

C.L. Olsen does an excellent job of giving her husband a voice in The Hope for Friendless Children. There is a profound innocence in the early chapters of storytelling that genuinely does sound like a child’s narration. With years and, in the case of the memoir, pages that translate into years, the narrative matures. Rob is unquestionably an individual who in his youth had socio-economic disadvantages, and his ability to rise above them is fortunate. Others are not so fortunate, not for want of trying but for the degree to which a child can be hardened. There is a misconception that individuals “choose” not to elevate beyond traumatic childhoods out of a lack of grit—which is absolutely false—but reading about one person who found strength always gives me the warm fuzzies. Recommended.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

A New Day Dawns by Terry Lister is a non-fiction travelogue that follows its author as he explores countries in West Africa, making this the second volume in his Travels With Terry series. The book begins with an introduction to Terry for those of us who are just meeting him for the first time, followed by eight chapters of travel content that covers his time in the coastal countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. Lister provides historical and cultural backstory to each place he visits and commingles the narrative with photographs and his own personal journey. These range in tone and tenor from the small, such as a three-hour wait for a mediocre dinner in Sierra Leone, to a slave castle and the infamous Door of No Return in Ghana.

Terry Lister is the guy that everybody wants to be friends with. He's well-traveled, articulate, and makes you feel like you've known him for years a few pages in after cracking open his book. A New Day Dawns is written simply and conversationally, in a way that connects his work to his organic experiences. Some of the photographs are blurry and faded and, frankly, really add to the charm of an already enjoyable experience. Sure, there are fancier travel books out there, but what sets Lister apart is the authenticity of his text. This is a man on a journey that transcends travel for the sake of travel.

This is an immersive experiment that is relayed to readers who, like Lister, want to dig below any and all superficial surfaces. In the small details, Lister shines, like the recounting of a journey from Monrovia to Zwedru that was supposed to take eight hours but eclipses 25. To this end, he states naturally, "This is Africa!" Thank you, Terry, for taking us along! Very highly recommended.