BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Recommend this book:
Feathers of Wisdom
Words and Art Illuminating the Legends and Myths of Indigenous Women throughout the Ages
Leigh Podgorski, Kait Matthews
2026 Finalist
294 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Feathers of Wisdom by Leigh Podgorski shares the stories of women whose lives influenced their tribes and the world around them across generations. In Maya tradition, Ixchel’s presence as the Moon Goddess shaped the cycles of life by bringing water to the land and guiding birth and healing, and her connection to the Sun-God and her children tied her to creation itself. Among the Cahuilla, Menily rose to instruct her people in daily life and ritual practice before ascending to the sky to mark the first New Moon. In Inuit stories, Sedna’s descent into the sea transformed her into the ruler of marine life, shaping both the bounty and dangers faced by hunters. A Piegan Blackfoot woman devoted to the Sun guided Scarface through a journey that led to the creation of the first Medicine Lodge. Each story closes with a direct message and attributes.
Leigh Podgorski’s Feathers of Wisdom is illustrated by Kait Matthews and is a luminous celebration of Indigenous women, with each entry featuring a gorgeous visual of the woman in a contemporary graphic design style in earth and jewel tones. It's really hard to pick a favorite, but the standout is Dream of Double Woman, where Double Woman appeared in a dream to a Sioux maiden, teaching her to make quillwork buffalo robes, where she remains still sewing hides in moonlight. In The Legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman, Lakota hunters are instructed to build a medicine lodge and a pipe of buffalo calf that embodies prayer, peace, and where the arrival of sustenance is given as a sacred gift. She then rises as four buffalo before vanishing. This is a spectacular book and an extraordinary way to honor these women and carry on their stories. Very highly recommended.
Feathers of Wisdom by Leigh Podgorski shares the stories of women whose lives influenced their tribes and the world around them across generations. In Maya tradition, Ixchel’s presence as the Moon Goddess shaped the cycles of life by bringing water to the land and guiding birth and healing, and her connection to the Sun-God and her children tied her to creation itself. Among the Cahuilla, Menily rose to instruct her people in daily life and ritual practice before ascending to the sky to mark the first New Moon. In Inuit stories, Sedna’s descent into the sea transformed her into the ruler of marine life, shaping both the bounty and dangers faced by hunters. A Piegan Blackfoot woman devoted to the Sun guided Scarface through a journey that led to the creation of the first Medicine Lodge. Each story closes with a direct message and attributes.
Leigh Podgorski’s Feathers of Wisdom is illustrated by Kait Matthews and is a luminous celebration of Indigenous women, with each entry featuring a gorgeous visual of the woman in a contemporary graphic design style in earth and jewel tones. It's really hard to pick a favorite, but the standout is Dream of Double Woman, where Double Woman appeared in a dream to a Sioux maiden, teaching her to make quillwork buffalo robes, where she remains still sewing hides in moonlight. In The Legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman, Lakota hunters are instructed to build a medicine lodge and a pipe of buffalo calf that embodies prayer, peace, and where the arrival of sustenance is given as a sacred gift. She then rises as four buffalo before vanishing. This is a spectacular book and an extraordinary way to honor these women and carry on their stories. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
I'm History...But Do I Repeat Myself?
Lee Knapp
2026 Honorable Mention
318 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
I'm History...But Do I Repeat Myself? is a work of non-fiction penned by author Lee Knapp in the memoir, slice-of-life, and inspirational writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. The author recounts her return to teaching history at her old public high school amidst personal upheaval. In this memoir, Knapp reflects on the transformation of her alma mater, once predominantly white but now diverse, symbolizing broader shifts in America. With wit and insight, she navigates the intersection of her evangelicalism, Southern heritage, and suburban upbringing against the backdrop of societal change. Knapp skillfully weaves significant historical moments into her personal narrative, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and unexpected second chances.
Author Lee Knapp has crafted a poignant and enlightening journey through her personal experiences at her alma mater. Her candid reflections on navigating changes while teaching history offer a unique perspective on identity and belonging, and I loved the warmth and honesty of her prose. Knapp's adept storytelling is laced with detail, wit, and style, drawing readers into the complexities of her journey from grappling with her own beliefs to embracing unexpected opportunities for growth and connection. The memoir's exploration of historical parallels to contemporary issues is well-paced and explored naturally in the flow of narration, without ever feeling forced, prompting readers to reflect at their own pace on the cyclical nature of history and its impact on individual lives. Knapp's natural voice is both engaging and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights that sound like they’re coming from a dear old friend. Overall, I'm History...But Do I Repeat Myself? is a compelling read that resonates long after the final page, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to memoir fans everywhere.
I'm History...But Do I Repeat Myself? is a work of non-fiction penned by author Lee Knapp in the memoir, slice-of-life, and inspirational writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. The author recounts her return to teaching history at her old public high school amidst personal upheaval. In this memoir, Knapp reflects on the transformation of her alma mater, once predominantly white but now diverse, symbolizing broader shifts in America. With wit and insight, she navigates the intersection of her evangelicalism, Southern heritage, and suburban upbringing against the backdrop of societal change. Knapp skillfully weaves significant historical moments into her personal narrative, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and unexpected second chances.
Author Lee Knapp has crafted a poignant and enlightening journey through her personal experiences at her alma mater. Her candid reflections on navigating changes while teaching history offer a unique perspective on identity and belonging, and I loved the warmth and honesty of her prose. Knapp's adept storytelling is laced with detail, wit, and style, drawing readers into the complexities of her journey from grappling with her own beliefs to embracing unexpected opportunities for growth and connection. The memoir's exploration of historical parallels to contemporary issues is well-paced and explored naturally in the flow of narration, without ever feeling forced, prompting readers to reflect at their own pace on the cyclical nature of history and its impact on individual lives. Knapp's natural voice is both engaging and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights that sound like they’re coming from a dear old friend. Overall, I'm History...But Do I Repeat Myself? is a compelling read that resonates long after the final page, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to memoir fans everywhere.
Recommend this book:
Forbes
A Story of Scotland
B.R. Forbes
2026 Bronze Medal
198 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite
Are you ready for a compelling deep dive into Scottish history? In Forbes: A Story of Scotland, B.R. Forbes chronicles the fortunes of the Forbes clan as it navigates the fallout of a turbulent relationship with neighboring England's rulers and its evolving religious structures. Claiming descent from a legendary Irish hero, the Forbes land charter is first confirmed around 1271 by King Alexander III. But the relative peace soon shatters when the second Forbes laird must make the ultimate sacrifice during Scotland's War of Independence. Centuries later, with Scotland torn apart by the Jacobite rebellion, two different clan branches find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Now in the twenty-first century, the Forbes legacy has expanded to include excellence in the military, arts, sciences, and commerce. It also reaches new shores in North America and New Zealand.
While Forbes: A Story of Scotland began as a project to update an earlier manuscript, author B.R. Forbes expands this initial objective into a wider study that uses clan identity as a gateway to understanding past struggles that were uniquely Scottish. Through its intimate examination of clan dynamics, it often adds an important layer to historic conflicts. At times the narrative reads like a real-life Game of Thrones, minus the dragons, of course, and grounded in historical records. There are feuds over legendary beauties, and tales of valor earned in jousting tournaments or on the battlefield, but also sobering tragedies. One intriguing section deals with Scotland's brief but devastating attempt to establish a trading station in the Americas. The book is a must for history geeks and a great read for anyone interested in the history of Scotland. But at its heart, it also reads like a deeply meaningful labor of love.
Are you ready for a compelling deep dive into Scottish history? In Forbes: A Story of Scotland, B.R. Forbes chronicles the fortunes of the Forbes clan as it navigates the fallout of a turbulent relationship with neighboring England's rulers and its evolving religious structures. Claiming descent from a legendary Irish hero, the Forbes land charter is first confirmed around 1271 by King Alexander III. But the relative peace soon shatters when the second Forbes laird must make the ultimate sacrifice during Scotland's War of Independence. Centuries later, with Scotland torn apart by the Jacobite rebellion, two different clan branches find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Now in the twenty-first century, the Forbes legacy has expanded to include excellence in the military, arts, sciences, and commerce. It also reaches new shores in North America and New Zealand.
While Forbes: A Story of Scotland began as a project to update an earlier manuscript, author B.R. Forbes expands this initial objective into a wider study that uses clan identity as a gateway to understanding past struggles that were uniquely Scottish. Through its intimate examination of clan dynamics, it often adds an important layer to historic conflicts. At times the narrative reads like a real-life Game of Thrones, minus the dragons, of course, and grounded in historical records. There are feuds over legendary beauties, and tales of valor earned in jousting tournaments or on the battlefield, but also sobering tragedies. One intriguing section deals with Scotland's brief but devastating attempt to establish a trading station in the Americas. The book is a must for history geeks and a great read for anyone interested in the history of Scotland. But at its heart, it also reads like a deeply meaningful labor of love.
Recommend this book:
We Are as Gods
A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance (Exponential Technology Series)
Peter H. Diamandis, Steven Kotler
2026 Silver Medal
320 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In We Are as Gods: A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance, Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler revisit an assertion that humanity is acquiring powers once reserved for the divine and test that claim against measurable technological capability. Beginning with the early space age and the dawn of computing, they track how exponential advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and energy systems are redefining what is materially possible. The book positions AI as both a catalyst and a coordinator of accelerating domains, shaping medicine, manufacturing, and planetary management. Alongside these changes, the authors examine how a mind evolved for scarcity responds to abundance and what governance structures must adapt as machine intelligence increases. The result is a forward-looking examination of whether emerging tools expand human agency or outpace it.
Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler’s We Are as Gods brilliantly takes the1968 idea that humans are picking up godlike abilities and then actually measures it against real life. I wasn't completely sold initially, but became hooked as soon as they started to reference miracles from scripture and then line those up next to contemporary capabilities, like retinal implants that help the visually impaired see again. The timing of the book is on point, and the writing is academic but accessible, so even those who are less inclined to understand tech feel included. This is amplified by the fact that most readers will have used a lot of the tech themselves. The standout to me is the explanation of how the brain predicts patterns to save energy, which then transitions into the well-known reality that most of us outsource basic memory to search engines. Overall, this is an excellent book for readers curious about artificial intelligence, biomedical breakthroughs, science policy, or big entrepreneurial ideas, giving us a front row seat to what humans are building next.
In We Are as Gods: A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance, Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler revisit an assertion that humanity is acquiring powers once reserved for the divine and test that claim against measurable technological capability. Beginning with the early space age and the dawn of computing, they track how exponential advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and energy systems are redefining what is materially possible. The book positions AI as both a catalyst and a coordinator of accelerating domains, shaping medicine, manufacturing, and planetary management. Alongside these changes, the authors examine how a mind evolved for scarcity responds to abundance and what governance structures must adapt as machine intelligence increases. The result is a forward-looking examination of whether emerging tools expand human agency or outpace it.
Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler’s We Are as Gods brilliantly takes the1968 idea that humans are picking up godlike abilities and then actually measures it against real life. I wasn't completely sold initially, but became hooked as soon as they started to reference miracles from scripture and then line those up next to contemporary capabilities, like retinal implants that help the visually impaired see again. The timing of the book is on point, and the writing is academic but accessible, so even those who are less inclined to understand tech feel included. This is amplified by the fact that most readers will have used a lot of the tech themselves. The standout to me is the explanation of how the brain predicts patterns to save energy, which then transitions into the well-known reality that most of us outsource basic memory to search engines. Overall, this is an excellent book for readers curious about artificial intelligence, biomedical breakthroughs, science policy, or big entrepreneurial ideas, giving us a front row seat to what humans are building next.
Recommend this book:
Mud, Microbes & Medicine
How a Curious Anthropologist Got to the Boardroom
Elizabeth Reed Aden
2026 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Mud, Microbes & Medicine by Elizabeth Reed Aden is a memoir that is definitely a study in two parts. As a young PhD anthropology student in the 1970s, the author sought a topic for her doctoral thesis. Searching the world for a suitable environment, she dismissed Alaska as too cold, the Middle East and Africa as too hot, and eyed the South Pacific as a suitable venue. Ultimately, she chose what was then known as the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), a joint British and French colony. With little knowledge of what she would be facing and an overbearing and manipulative PhD mentor back in the States, she had an enormous culture shock. Her project of documenting the population of the small island of Malo, and testing their blood for malaria and Hepatitis B, both endemic diseases, would see her devote many years to the health and well-being of the islanders, whom she grew to love. From a wide-eyed PhD student, she would ultimately reinvent herself and enter the fast-paced and results-driven world of Big Pharma, where she would again excel.
Mud, Microbes & Medicine is a wonderfully charming read. Elizabeth Reed Aden has had an amazingly diverse life. I loved her attitude to authority and her willingness to stand up to the intensely patriarchal and misogynistic world of academia. What readers will appreciate is the author’s summing up at the end of each chapter or adventure in her life. Her “Lessons Learned” was a reflection of the thoughtful and methodical way she organized her research and her life. These lessons learned will resonate with many readers, as they did with me, and form a valuable part of the story. I admit to losing myself in the more technical aspects of her research, and later, when she was at the forefront of drug companies’ research into new life-saving drugs. I also greatly appreciated the details of Vanuatu’s struggle for independence and nation-building. The transition to a new independent government, despite differing factions, was achieved without significant bloodshed, and the author was there to witness it. Ultimately, this book is about connectedness and humanity. It is powerful, motivational, and fascinating. I recommend it.
Mud, Microbes & Medicine by Elizabeth Reed Aden is a memoir that is definitely a study in two parts. As a young PhD anthropology student in the 1970s, the author sought a topic for her doctoral thesis. Searching the world for a suitable environment, she dismissed Alaska as too cold, the Middle East and Africa as too hot, and eyed the South Pacific as a suitable venue. Ultimately, she chose what was then known as the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), a joint British and French colony. With little knowledge of what she would be facing and an overbearing and manipulative PhD mentor back in the States, she had an enormous culture shock. Her project of documenting the population of the small island of Malo, and testing their blood for malaria and Hepatitis B, both endemic diseases, would see her devote many years to the health and well-being of the islanders, whom she grew to love. From a wide-eyed PhD student, she would ultimately reinvent herself and enter the fast-paced and results-driven world of Big Pharma, where she would again excel.
Mud, Microbes & Medicine is a wonderfully charming read. Elizabeth Reed Aden has had an amazingly diverse life. I loved her attitude to authority and her willingness to stand up to the intensely patriarchal and misogynistic world of academia. What readers will appreciate is the author’s summing up at the end of each chapter or adventure in her life. Her “Lessons Learned” was a reflection of the thoughtful and methodical way she organized her research and her life. These lessons learned will resonate with many readers, as they did with me, and form a valuable part of the story. I admit to losing myself in the more technical aspects of her research, and later, when she was at the forefront of drug companies’ research into new life-saving drugs. I also greatly appreciated the details of Vanuatu’s struggle for independence and nation-building. The transition to a new independent government, despite differing factions, was achieved without significant bloodshed, and the author was there to witness it. Ultimately, this book is about connectedness and humanity. It is powerful, motivational, and fascinating. I recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Las Crosses
An Unwavering Journey to a New Life in America
Apple An
2025 Finalist
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite
What is more engaging to Americans than the first impressions of foreigners in our country? And especially those from mainland China. Apple An’s memoir Las Crosses: An Unwavering Journey to a New Life in America gives us just that in a fresh, uninhibited, and delightful reminiscence of her travels to the New Mexico State University. In the 1980s, she studied computer science as a graduate student. What a new land it was to her! And how beautifully she writes about her delights, her trials, and her errors, from bouncing her first two checks in our confusing banking system to introducing herself in her first conversational English class (while also instructing us how to make a good first impression). Ms. An’s eyes back then were wide open to every new cultural experience, much supported by the aid of a woman named Yolanda who showed her the ins and outs.
My main reaction to her memoir is that I smiled a lot. Hardly a page went by without a chuckle whether she tried to understand our Christmas routines, longed for her mother’s noodle soup, bought her first TV, her first bike, and her first car (a used Pontiac), or learned to drive a stick shift. And though Ms. An was welcomed by her American contacts with open arms, she also writes of her difficulties in love. Amazing to me is that her favorite movie was the Stallone film First Blood and that in her youth in China, she and her friends danced fervently to Michael Jackson’s Beat It, seeing these pieces as endorsing freedom and self-worth as opposed to the hiding-in-the-background lessons she learned growing up in China. And the photos she includes bring more smiles. The book ends with her moving from New Mexico State University to the University of Texas for her Ph. D studies, and I look forward to the next installment. In today’s world with tensions growing, Apple An’s memoir Las Crosses brings a delightful smile of harmony. It is a must-read.
What is more engaging to Americans than the first impressions of foreigners in our country? And especially those from mainland China. Apple An’s memoir Las Crosses: An Unwavering Journey to a New Life in America gives us just that in a fresh, uninhibited, and delightful reminiscence of her travels to the New Mexico State University. In the 1980s, she studied computer science as a graduate student. What a new land it was to her! And how beautifully she writes about her delights, her trials, and her errors, from bouncing her first two checks in our confusing banking system to introducing herself in her first conversational English class (while also instructing us how to make a good first impression). Ms. An’s eyes back then were wide open to every new cultural experience, much supported by the aid of a woman named Yolanda who showed her the ins and outs.
My main reaction to her memoir is that I smiled a lot. Hardly a page went by without a chuckle whether she tried to understand our Christmas routines, longed for her mother’s noodle soup, bought her first TV, her first bike, and her first car (a used Pontiac), or learned to drive a stick shift. And though Ms. An was welcomed by her American contacts with open arms, she also writes of her difficulties in love. Amazing to me is that her favorite movie was the Stallone film First Blood and that in her youth in China, she and her friends danced fervently to Michael Jackson’s Beat It, seeing these pieces as endorsing freedom and self-worth as opposed to the hiding-in-the-background lessons she learned growing up in China. And the photos she includes bring more smiles. The book ends with her moving from New Mexico State University to the University of Texas for her Ph. D studies, and I look forward to the next installment. In today’s world with tensions growing, Apple An’s memoir Las Crosses brings a delightful smile of harmony. It is a must-read.
Recommend this book:
Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida
America's Most Unusual School
Jack Dancer
2025 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Jack Dancer’s Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida: America’s Most Unusual School offers a riveting and eye-opening exploration of a radical educational experiment that dared to defy conventional norms in mid-20th century America. At its core, this book is a homage to a unique school and its visionary founder, Reverend George von Hilsheimer, who sought to create an environment where individual freedom, creativity, and human dignity could flourish. Inspired by A.S. Neill's Summerhill School, Green Valley aimed to be a beacon for free education. The strength of the narrative lies in Dancer’s detailed portrayal of Reverend George, who was equally inspiring and controversial. His complex persona—an ordained preacher by age 14—sets the tone for the institution he created: idealistic, daring, and, at times, chaotic.
Dancer doesn’t shy away from the darker side of this story, either. Through an impressive array of research, including interviews, court documents, and media coverage, he exposes how Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida, became a target of governmental and political forces that couldn’t understand or tolerate its nontraditional methods. The most gripping sections of the book recount the lengths to which the opposition went, culminating in a sensationalized trial designed to crush the school's influence. This book is an engaging read for those interested in education, history, or stories of rebellion against the status quo. It prompts us to consider the challenges faced by those who dare to think differently and the enduring impact of their efforts, making it a relevant read. The Reverend George’s quotes really put into perspective life in the 1960s and 70s. I enjoyed this book tremendously.
Jack Dancer’s Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida: America’s Most Unusual School offers a riveting and eye-opening exploration of a radical educational experiment that dared to defy conventional norms in mid-20th century America. At its core, this book is a homage to a unique school and its visionary founder, Reverend George von Hilsheimer, who sought to create an environment where individual freedom, creativity, and human dignity could flourish. Inspired by A.S. Neill's Summerhill School, Green Valley aimed to be a beacon for free education. The strength of the narrative lies in Dancer’s detailed portrayal of Reverend George, who was equally inspiring and controversial. His complex persona—an ordained preacher by age 14—sets the tone for the institution he created: idealistic, daring, and, at times, chaotic.
Dancer doesn’t shy away from the darker side of this story, either. Through an impressive array of research, including interviews, court documents, and media coverage, he exposes how Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida, became a target of governmental and political forces that couldn’t understand or tolerate its nontraditional methods. The most gripping sections of the book recount the lengths to which the opposition went, culminating in a sensationalized trial designed to crush the school's influence. This book is an engaging read for those interested in education, history, or stories of rebellion against the status quo. It prompts us to consider the challenges faced by those who dare to think differently and the enduring impact of their efforts, making it a relevant read. The Reverend George’s quotes really put into perspective life in the 1960s and 70s. I enjoyed this book tremendously.
Recommend this book:
A Guide to Jazz in Japan
Michael Pronko
2025 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
A Guide to Jazz in Japan by Michael Pronko is an invaluable companion for music lovers eager to explore one of the world’s most dynamic and underappreciated jazz scenes. Whether you’re a visitor, an expat, or an armchair traveler, Pronko’s detailed guide leads you through more than 40 jazz clubs and over 200 musicians across Japan. Beyond being a practical resource, the book includes thoughtful essays on Japan’s unique jazz history and the cultural currents that shape its distinct sound. From intimate Tokyo basements to polished venues in Kyoto and Osaka, Pronko captures the spirit of a community that is both deeply rooted in tradition and constantly evolving. Equal parts guidebook and cultural analysis, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is a celebration of artistry, place, and the global language of music.
Author Michael Pronko has a passionate energy for music and culture that comes off this brilliant book in waves from the very first moments in a read that is both a travel guide and a love letter to Japan’s thriving jazz culture. As a fan of both subjects, I was enraptured right from the start, and Pronko’s lively details and brilliant hands-on research result in a beautifully written and meticulously researched resource that jazz fans will treasure, and travel fans will be inspired by. It certainly made me want to plan a trip to connect the fantastic historical details of the book to the real-world settings and legendary people that the author features. That makes this more than just a guidebook, but a tale of a musical movement that is as vibrant as it is unique. Overall, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the soul of Japanese jazz, and how to find it when you get there, and I for one would highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip.
A Guide to Jazz in Japan by Michael Pronko is an invaluable companion for music lovers eager to explore one of the world’s most dynamic and underappreciated jazz scenes. Whether you’re a visitor, an expat, or an armchair traveler, Pronko’s detailed guide leads you through more than 40 jazz clubs and over 200 musicians across Japan. Beyond being a practical resource, the book includes thoughtful essays on Japan’s unique jazz history and the cultural currents that shape its distinct sound. From intimate Tokyo basements to polished venues in Kyoto and Osaka, Pronko captures the spirit of a community that is both deeply rooted in tradition and constantly evolving. Equal parts guidebook and cultural analysis, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is a celebration of artistry, place, and the global language of music.
Author Michael Pronko has a passionate energy for music and culture that comes off this brilliant book in waves from the very first moments in a read that is both a travel guide and a love letter to Japan’s thriving jazz culture. As a fan of both subjects, I was enraptured right from the start, and Pronko’s lively details and brilliant hands-on research result in a beautifully written and meticulously researched resource that jazz fans will treasure, and travel fans will be inspired by. It certainly made me want to plan a trip to connect the fantastic historical details of the book to the real-world settings and legendary people that the author features. That makes this more than just a guidebook, but a tale of a musical movement that is as vibrant as it is unique. Overall, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the soul of Japanese jazz, and how to find it when you get there, and I for one would highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip.
Recommend this book:
Korea Reunited
A Family's Lifelong Dream
Irene H. Kim
2025 Gold Medal
258 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Afifa Raisa for Readers' Favorite
Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream by Irene Kim presents a poignant recollection of how the turbulent past of Korea tore families apart, including that of the author’s father. Kim Chi-Jeon, Irene’s father and the central figure of the book, reveals through rounds of interviews with his daughter the painful separation from his family as he fled from the northern areas to the south. Starting with the Japanese occupation to the devastating wars and the formal division of Korea, his childhood had been rough. Despite his eventual settlement in the United States, the agony never left him. The book includes an account of the author and her father as they set off for North Korea in a desperate quest for their lost family.
Irene Kim’s Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream is an incredibly touching story that is much more than mere history. In her father’s voice and her own, Irene shows how the challenging times left a lasting impression on their lives. From the experiences and interactions presented in the book, the universality of certain human emotions becomes obvious. Irrespective of where people are from or what circumstances they find themselves in, there is always something they have in common, something that makes everyone human. As a reader, one cannot help but wonder what became of the individuals who were mentioned in the narration and how many stories revolving around the country's separation will remain untold. The book is recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs and history.
Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream by Irene Kim presents a poignant recollection of how the turbulent past of Korea tore families apart, including that of the author’s father. Kim Chi-Jeon, Irene’s father and the central figure of the book, reveals through rounds of interviews with his daughter the painful separation from his family as he fled from the northern areas to the south. Starting with the Japanese occupation to the devastating wars and the formal division of Korea, his childhood had been rough. Despite his eventual settlement in the United States, the agony never left him. The book includes an account of the author and her father as they set off for North Korea in a desperate quest for their lost family.
Irene Kim’s Korea Reunited: A Family’s Lifelong Dream is an incredibly touching story that is much more than mere history. In her father’s voice and her own, Irene shows how the challenging times left a lasting impression on their lives. From the experiences and interactions presented in the book, the universality of certain human emotions becomes obvious. Irrespective of where people are from or what circumstances they find themselves in, there is always something they have in common, something that makes everyone human. As a reader, one cannot help but wonder what became of the individuals who were mentioned in the narration and how many stories revolving around the country's separation will remain untold. The book is recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs and history.
Recommend this book:
Even Flowers Know That Water Is Useless Without Roots
Poetry, Essays, and Stories
Gloria D. Gonsalves
2024 Finalist
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Even Flowers Know That Water Is Useless Without Roots by Gloria D. Gonsalves is a mesmerizing collection of poems, essays, and short stories. This anthology contains some personable poems that shed light on the rich and colorful cultural heritage of East Africa, covering topics such as love, food, national pride, etc., and showcasing the abundant natural beauty and diversity of Tanzania. In "Chicken Soup Prayer," the narrator reveals the mystical healing properties of a hot bowl of chicken soup. "Remember Those Days" is a nostalgic throwback to a bygone era. In "Who Am I," the author explores her roots to figure out her own place in the world. The collection also includes some haikus that describe the majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro as well as the inevitable necessity of household chores.
Gloria D. Gonsalves takes readers on a journey through the diverse terrain of East Africa with this marvelous poetry collection. Even Flowers Know That Water Is Useless Without Roots is poignant yet light-hearted, touching upon some relevant social issues while offering you a heartwarming sense of belonging to a place you've most likely never been to before. Gonsalves also shares parts of her own life in her verses. There's an essay on the Kiswahili-speaking East African community, a eulogy for the veteran Tanzanian journalist Gabriel Pereira Mgaya, and a thought-provoking short story about a young woman from a remote village in northeast Tanzania who becomes an international fashion model. This is one of the best collections I've read this year. If you're a poetry enthusiast, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Even Flowers Know That Water Is Useless Without Roots by Gloria D. Gonsalves is a mesmerizing collection of poems, essays, and short stories. This anthology contains some personable poems that shed light on the rich and colorful cultural heritage of East Africa, covering topics such as love, food, national pride, etc., and showcasing the abundant natural beauty and diversity of Tanzania. In "Chicken Soup Prayer," the narrator reveals the mystical healing properties of a hot bowl of chicken soup. "Remember Those Days" is a nostalgic throwback to a bygone era. In "Who Am I," the author explores her roots to figure out her own place in the world. The collection also includes some haikus that describe the majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro as well as the inevitable necessity of household chores.
Gloria D. Gonsalves takes readers on a journey through the diverse terrain of East Africa with this marvelous poetry collection. Even Flowers Know That Water Is Useless Without Roots is poignant yet light-hearted, touching upon some relevant social issues while offering you a heartwarming sense of belonging to a place you've most likely never been to before. Gonsalves also shares parts of her own life in her verses. There's an essay on the Kiswahili-speaking East African community, a eulogy for the veteran Tanzanian journalist Gabriel Pereira Mgaya, and a thought-provoking short story about a young woman from a remote village in northeast Tanzania who becomes an international fashion model. This is one of the best collections I've read this year. If you're a poetry enthusiast, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Contact Author -
