52 Book Challenge

Can a city really be lost? In this book, Annalee Newitz writes about four ancient cities: "the doorway" Catalhouk, "the street" Pompeii, "the reservoir" Angkor and "the plaza" Cahokia. Newitz takes readers on what at times feels like an archeological dig through history. In the book, she argues that cities can't really be abandoned and takes a clearer look at the real story of these famous ancient places. 

In this episode, Kara discusses Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age and why readers should pick up this book to use the past to learn more about ourselves today. 

Audiobooks have increased dramatically in popularity in the past few years. Can they count for my book challenge? In this episode, Kara discusses the dos and don'ts of audiobooks. 

The Wright brothers left an indelible mark on human history with their flying machine. In this podcast episode, Kara discusses The Wright Brothers  written by Pulitzer prize winning author, David McCullough. Perfect for aviation nerds and history nerds alike, this book will have your soaring through one of history's greatest moments, when humans conquered the sky. 

In the book, Daughters of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, Harrimans: A Story of Love and War by Catherine Grace Katz, the reader gets to experience the Yalta Conference through the three daughters of world leaders trying to come to agreements after World War II. This book is written by a woman who tells us about three women who influenced history, but whose story has remained largely untold. 

In this episode, Kara shares how the three daughters: Anna Roosevelt, Sarah Churchill and Kathleen Harriman helped their fathers during the Yalta conference and explains why this book she be next on your reading list. 

At 768 pages, A Promised Land by Barack Obama will be a longer read for your 52 book challenge, but certainly a worthwhile one. In this episode, Kara talks about Obama's book and why readers are sure to enjoy it! 

Have you ever thought about starting or joining a book club? The book in this episode is a great option for starting a book club with your friends. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is a historical fiction novel that takes place in the hills of Kentucky during the Depression. As part of Roosevelt's government program, the "book woman," Cussy delivers books to clients in far-off hills and hollers.  Meanwhile, her father seeks to marry her off and keep her from doing the job she loves. 

Later in the episode is a guide to starting your own book club.  Participating in a book club is a great way to reach your reading goal for the year along with being a fun way to socialize and discuss good books. This episode will give you a few tips on how to get started with a book club and set you up for reading success! 

With the chaos of 2020 did you get a chance to check out all the new books that came out? This podcast talks about three books published in 2020. The first book, Dear Edward is a coming-of-age novel sure to tug at your heart strings.  The second book is perfect for any Jeopardy! fan. The last book is for anyone who has ever considered showers to be overrated. Sound interesting? Check out this quick episode to see if these are your next favorite reads! 

Book List 

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano 

Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! by Claire McNear 

Clean: The New Science of Skin by James Hamblin 

Have you ever wanted to start a garden? Only have a little space? Small-plot, High-yield Gardening by Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan is a great book to get you started! This book will teach you everything you need to know about 100% organic gardening, even with minimal space. Highlights of the books include information about companion planting, organic fertilizers and composting, garden plan drawings for a variety of available space and different needs and a year-long gardener's schedule. If you've been gardening for a while, this book offers new tips and tricks to get you out of a rut. 

In the second half of the episode, Kara discusses her experience with gardening, proving even a beginner can have some success! 

Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: Grow Like a Pro, Save Money, and Eat Well from your Front (or back or side) Yard 100% Organic Produce Garden 

by Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan  2010 Ten Speed Press 

After starting this podcast, lots of people have told me they WANT to read more, but just can't get into it. In this episode, I discuss four reasons why everyone should read.