Looking for a book that's new - or new to you? Enjoy these favorites recommended by our Downtown library staff!Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam
Betty read this book and said it is one of the best books she's read in several years; in fact, she has put a hold on the sequel. The movie October Sky is based on this man's life. It's the story of Homer and several of friends, going to high school in the 50s in a poor mining town and building rockets by trial and error for their science fair project. They had no books on how to do this and no money. In the age before internet, how they got the townspeople to help them was heartwarming - a Cinderella story where they went all the way to the National competition and won it all. Three of the four friends went on to be engineers and Homer went on to work for NASA. Betty started the book Saturday morning and finished it Sunday morning, she said it is that good!
Battlefield Angels by Scott McGaugh
Linda found this book very well written. She couldn't say she loved it due to it being somewhat graphic, but she said it gave her a profound appreciation for the people who served as battlefield medics. Corpsmen started in the Revolutionary War, blood typing was discovered in WWI, and antibiotics came about during WWII, among other medical technology advancements. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific war. You don't need a medical background to read this book, just an interest in history.
Leonardo's Legacy by Stefan Klein
Chris would have rated this higher; however, there were copious footnotes and there were cases where the footnote had information too good to ignore. The book begins with Da Vinci's death and the some 10,000 notes left to his personal assistant. The author talks about many of his ideas and the people he worked for, how he was a contradiction in what he believed and what he proposed to build for his employers. The author also talks about the Mona Lisa in great detail, analyzing why it is so unforgettable. Did you know that when people are asked to name a famous piece of art, 85% name the Mona Lisa? This book is for anyone who is curious to know more about Da Vinci. Chris was absolutely fascinated.
Betty read this book and said it is one of the best books she's read in several years; in fact, she has put a hold on the sequel. The movie October Sky is based on this man's life. It's the story of Homer and several of friends, going to high school in the 50s in a poor mining town and building rockets by trial and error for their science fair project. They had no books on how to do this and no money. In the age before internet, how they got the townspeople to help them was heartwarming - a Cinderella story where they went all the way to the National competition and won it all. Three of the four friends went on to be engineers and Homer went on to work for NASA. Betty started the book Saturday morning and finished it Sunday morning, she said it is that good!
Battlefield Angels by Scott McGaugh
Linda found this book very well written. She couldn't say she loved it due to it being somewhat graphic, but she said it gave her a profound appreciation for the people who served as battlefield medics. Corpsmen started in the Revolutionary War, blood typing was discovered in WWI, and antibiotics came about during WWII, among other medical technology advancements. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific war. You don't need a medical background to read this book, just an interest in history.
Leonardo's Legacy by Stefan Klein
Chris would have rated this higher; however, there were copious footnotes and there were cases where the footnote had information too good to ignore. The book begins with Da Vinci's death and the some 10,000 notes left to his personal assistant. The author talks about many of his ideas and the people he worked for, how he was a contradiction in what he believed and what he proposed to build for his employers. The author also talks about the Mona Lisa in great detail, analyzing why it is so unforgettable. Did you know that when people are asked to name a famous piece of art, 85% name the Mona Lisa? This book is for anyone who is curious to know more about Da Vinci. Chris was absolutely fascinated.
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