Paraguay

 Jermyn, Leslie. Paraguay. Part of the Cultures of the World series. 2000. 128p. ISBN 9780761409793. Available at 989.2 JER on the Library Shelves.

Paraguay is a study in contrasts. Lacking in mineral wealth, isolated from the rest of the world and without access to the ocean, Paraguay was inhabited by two large groups, the Guaraní, who were farmers and who  lived in the eastern parts of Paraguay, and the Guaycuruan, nomads who lived in the desertic western part of Paraguay. Unlike other South American countries, Spanish colonists never flocked to Paraguay in large numbers, and its native population continued to thrive. To this day, Guaraní is one of the two official languages, the only South American country to retain one of its native language, which is spoken by a majority of the population.

Falling under Spanish domination in the 1500s, Paraguay became independent in 1811, and a dictator assumed power. Paraguay has been plagued with mismanagement and dictatorial governments for much of its history, leaving its people in relative poverty. Ill-advised wars in the 1800s and 1900s cost the country territories and devastated its population. The country continues to suffer from these decisions, but in the 21st century it has been relatively stable.

Culturally, Paraguay remains fairly insular, with traditions adapted from this mixed heritage of Spanish and Guaraní. People in the countryside are poorer than their urban counterparts, and educating its population continues to be a challenge. Despite these problems, Paraguayans are proud and love their country, and tourists find themselves welcome and appreciated.

Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith

 Ellis, Grace and Hannah Templer. Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith. 2022. 208p. ISBN 9781419744334.

Patricia Highsmith is a writer who finds herself working for a publishing house writing comic book texts. She's been shopping her novel around, but her agent is not very diligent about finding a buyer, as there is some animosity there. Patricia is the only woman working in an office full of men, and her attraction to other women in an era where good girls are expected to marry and have children adds to her conflicting relationship with herself and with others. In therapy to "solve" her rampant lesbianism, Patricia is not sure she actually wants to be cured.

Meeting Stan Lee, Patricia begins writing comics for a competitor. And just when things feel like they can't get any worse, her novel sells, and she suddenly becomes a successful writer. Her next novel, however, is what would be considered a LGBTQ story today, and publishers don't want to touch it. One daring publisher agrees to do so, but as a paperback, and Patricia will have to use a different name. That book too becomes wildly popular, but she's not able to enjoy the success as no one knows she actually wrote it.

A conflicted individual who was angry with the world and struggled to find a place where she could belong, Patricia Highsmith remains famous for her mystery books such as The Talented Mr. Ripley. Flung Out of Space accurately describes her life as a struggling writer at the beginning of her career, and emphasizes her efforts to become a writer.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

 Larson, Erik. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. 2015. 430p. ISBN 9780307408860.

In 1915, the First World War was raging in Europe. German forces were engaged against combined British and French armies on the Western Front, while America remained neutral and did not wish to become embroiled into a foreign war. Americans, however, continued to support commerce, so when the British implemented a naval blockade of Germany, Americans complained loudly. To counteract this British move, Germany sent submarines to break the blockade and sink Allies ships.

Despite the war, passenger ships still ferried people between the United States and Great Britain. The passenger ships of the time were faster than any submarine, and their speed was deemed protection enough against attacks. In theory, the only way a submarine could sink an ocean liner would be to find itself at the right place at the right time, something very hard to accomplish in the thousands of square miles in the North Atlantic. 

The Lusitania was the pride of the Cunard Line, and it could cross the ocean in less than 8 days. Along with more than 1,900 passengers and crew members, the ship was carrying 173 tons of badly needed munitions from American factories to be delivered to the British army in Liverpool. On May 7, 1915, as the ship was nearing the end of its transatlantic voyage from New York to Liverpool, it was torpedoed by a U-Boat, and 1,200 people drowned, including 128 American citizens. Though this did not result in the United States entering the war, popular opinion moved decisively against Germany.

Dead Wake tells the story of the Lusitania and of the people on board, and pairs it with the story of Captain Schwieger, commander of the U-Boat, and the people on board the submarine. Told in riveting action-packed chapters, this naval tragedy marked the consciousness of the country at the time, and it continues to elicit conspiracy theories to this day. Fans of history will love the narrative tale woven by Larson about a moment in history most of us have heard about, but in the end know very little about it.

The Revenge of Power: The Global Assault on Democracy and How to Defeat It

Naím, Moises. The Revenge of Power: The Global Assault on Democracy and How to Defeat It. 2021. 320p. ISBN 9781250279200.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, a wind of hope blew around the globe. Democracies had won the Cold War, and now could cash out the peace dividend that was promised by moving spending away from defense and into social programs. Authoritarian regimes, it was thought, were heading for extinction as people secured rights through civilian government, court enforcement of legal judgement, and civilian control of the military. Having lost their backers, authoritarian regimes were destined to the dustbin of history

Unfortunately, this peace proved short-lived, as authoritarian regimes found new ways to survive and even thrived in a unipolar world. As democracies sat on their laurels and focused inwards, authoritarians like Vladimir Putin of Russia, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, and Jair Bolsonaro of Brasil came into power with claims that inside and outside forces were corrupting their countries, and they were the only ones who could save them. Once in power, these individuals used power to serve themselves, to eliminate the opposition, and to undermine the rule of law. Post truth and alternative facts become part of the narrative, and are present not necessarily to be accepted, but to undermine the conversation and alter the perception of reality, instilling doubt into people's minds.

The danger of authoritarian regimes is not limited to illiberal democracies like Poland and Hungary and autocratic states like Russia and Turkey. It can, and has affected democracies that people would never have thought could fall prey to populist right wing sentiment. Yet, both the United Kingdom and the United States elected demagogues as leaders, and those leaders were willing to do everything to retain power, even if it meant undermining the rule of law, allowing corruption to fester, and promoting the welfare of themselves and their cronies at the expense of the public good.

In a compelling argument, Naím argues that democracies must do more to protect their societies from the disinformation coming from authoritarian regimes. They must rein in their social media platforms to avoid the kind of manipulation Russia engaged in during the 2016 U.S. election and Brexit. Democracies and their citizens must push back against populism, polarization, and the concept of post truth. What this book lacks, however, is a narrative that outlines steps we can all take to prevent the further slide of our democracy into autocracy. Still, The Revenge of Power is clear, concise, and does a great job of outlining the steps autocrats take to guarantee themselves power. It is a must read for fans of history, as it accurately describes the world of the last few decades.

A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power

 Carter, Jimmy. A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power. 2014. 211p. ISBN 9781476773957. 

Despite the advances made by women's rights in the last quarter century, discrimination and violence of all kinds continues to afflict the female population of the world, stealing their human rights and depriving humanity of its potential. In A Call to Action, former President Jimmy Carter lays out the plight women and girls encounter around the world today, and provides startling examples of this oppression. World leaders have used excuses such as religious texts and strict interpretations of gender norms to repress and exploit their female population. Possible solutions are presented, but it will not be until societies around the globe change their view and recognize women's vital roles that things will get better.

Mere Christianity

Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. 2009. 1942. 227p. ISBN 9780060652883

What is Christianity? On the surface, this seems easy to answer: A faith that believes in Christ and a loving God who provided his son to redeem our sins, making the world a better place. But when you dig down deeper, you suddenly realize that the solid rock on which the faith is build fritters away. However, there is a solid foundation that is common across all denominations of Christianity, whether it be Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, or other. In Mere Christianity, Lewis sets out to explore the commonality that marks the experience of every Christian. A believer, Lewis does not set out to convert in this book, but rather to explain why Christianity as a faith can be so powerful to salve the soul and satiate one's spiritual hunger. Those interested in learning more about the faith, and those interested in religious arguments, will appreciate the concise yet well thought out arguments Lewis makes in defense of Christianity.

One Punch Man, Vol. 3

One. One Punch Man, Vol. 3. 2015. 210p. ISBN 9781421564616. 

Saitama is the strongest man alive, and he has defeated all monsters who have attacked him with one punch. But no one knows who he is, and as a result he lives in a run-down section of town and must shop for bargains. Now that Genos is in his life as his apprentice following One Punch Man, Vol. 2, Saitama learns of the Hero Association, the group that most heroes have joined. Heroes are ranked on their prowess, abilities, and results, and are compensated and celebrated based on that rank. Genos successfully convinces Saitama to take the placement test. While Genos scores a perfect 100% and is immediately ranked S-class, Saitama barely passes with a 71%, and is ranked C-class. His strength, however, is unparalleled. 

With their Hero Association card in their pockets, Saitama begins Genos' training in earnest, but through it all he thinks he's a fraud, for he has really nothing to teach Genos aside from the fact that hard training is what made him powerful. Genos, however, refuses to accept this truth, and continues to search for Saitama's secret. He even moves in with Saitama, hoping to learn more from him. To keep his rank, Saitama wanders the city, looking for opportunities to be a hero ...

The story continues in One Punch Man, Vol. 4.

Pretty Dead Queens

 Donne, Alexa. Pretty Dead Queens. 2022. 336p. ISBN 9780593479827. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Cecelia lost her mother to a brutal cancer, and with no father in the picture she has to move from Los Angeles into her grandmother's house in a small coastal California town located hours from anywhere. Cecelia doesn't know much about her grandmother, with whom her mother cut ties with years ago, except that she is a successful murder mystery writer. The large Victorian house on the edge of town is as creepy a place to live as any of the settings in her novels, and Cecelia has difficulty adapting to a new routine with someone who might be flesh and blood, but who is a virtual stranger.

Cecelia also enrolls in the local high school, where she soon discovers that divisions run deep. Decades ago, the girl who was crowned homecoming queen was murdered in the school's pool, and the custodian who was convicted of the murder continues to proclaim his innocence. Relatives of both the victim and the convicted still live in town, and the tragedy, which was at the center of Cecelia's grandmother's first book, continues to fascinate the locals and the fans who come from far away to visit the murder scene. Enterprising high schoolers even offer a performance during the weekend, recreating the tragedy, much to the delight of the tourists who visit the town.

With so many secrets carefully piled on top of each other, Cecelia's arrival is bound to destroy the harmony the town settled on to move past the tragedy. Except that on Homecoming night, the new queen, who happens to be the Mayor's daughter, is found dead in the pool by Cecelia, wearing a similar outfit to the first girl. A copycat killer has just recreated the same scene. Secrets upon secrets begin to unravel as Cecelia's morbid fascination with the murder turns into her own private investigation. As she unearths more clues, she gets closer to the killer, who could maker her the next victim ...

Fans of murder mysteries will enjoy this fast-moving and suspenseful tragedy and copycat murder. 

Doing Hermeneutic Phenomenological Research: A Practical Guide

Dibley, Lesley, Suzanne Dickerson, Mel Duffy, and Roxanne Vandermause. Doing Hermeneutic Phenomenological Research: A Practical Guide. 2020. 232p. ISBN 9781526485724.

Studying how people experience a phenomenon through a phenomenological approach can be rewarding, but the concepts behind phenomenology emerge from philosophy instead of a quantitative research tradition. Thus, mastering the elements that constitute a phenomenological study can be daunting to the novice researcher. The authors, all professional nurses and nurse educators, set out to clearly explain the history of phenomenology, the philosophical discussions and assumptions that underpin much of its theoretical framework. the methodology that is used hermeneutically, and provide specific advice on how to conduct such a study, from inception to delivery of an article to a scholarly journal, while engaging reflexively with the entire process to ensure that it truly reflects the thematic that arise out of the lived experience of the subjects.

The Maze Cutter

Dashner, James. The Maze Cutter. Book 1 of the Maze Cutter series. 2022. 328p. ISBN 9798985955200. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

At the end of The Death Cure, Thomas and the remaining survivors of WICKED's Maze escaped to an island, away from the Flare apocalypse that had devastated the rest of the world. Seventy-three years have gone by, and the memories of the Flare and of the Cranks is nothing but urban legends in the eyes of the island's residents, especially its teenagers like Sadina and Isaac. Not many old folks remain who were there during the Maze, but Old Man Frypan regales the youths of his village with tales of the Gladers and the evils of WICKED. The Book of Newt also serves as a repository of stories from this time.

When a ship shows up on the shores of the island, the inhabitants realize that their safety has finally been wrecked. The only surviving person on board the ship admits she killed the rest of the crew so that she could complete her mission, which is to take some of the Islanders back to America, for they are the only ones who can prevent a tragedy of immense proportions.  

Meanwhile, up in Alaska, the Godhead has put in place a plan to fore the next evolution of humanity. In the east, the Remnant Nation has armed orphans on its borders, with orders to shoot anyone who crosses the line. An orphan, who has named himself Minho in a small act of rebellion, escapes the Remnant Nation and heads west, towards Alaska.

Sadina, Isaac, and even Old Man Frypan agree to return to the mainland and help out. They soon find themselves chased by the Godhead and the Remnant Nation, as they realize that Cranks and the Flare are still very much plaguing the world. Will the islanders have enough time to figure out why everyone wants to capture them before it's too late?

A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them

Bradbury, Neil. A Taste for PoisonA Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781250270757.

Throughout humanity's history, poisons have been used to eliminate vermin, treat injuries, but also to kill people. A trope of mystery novels, poisons can be deadly and are often undetectable to the human senses. From arsenic to ricin, poisons have been used by jealous lovers, people who want to inherit fortunes, and those who seek the thrill of the kill. Prior to modern medical techniques, it was very difficult to determine that a poison had been the cause of death. Now, with advances in technologies and medical knowledge, it is next to impossible to poison someone and get away with it.

But what happens when someone is poisoned? Where does the poison come from? In A Taste for Poison, Bradbury discusses eleven poisons that have been used in the last sixty years to kill people. He describes the case in which each was used, the effect it had on the victim's body, the history of the poison, and how it is manufactured and delivered. Part mystery novel, part true crime podcast, and part history, this book explores the deadly yet fascinating dark side of the human mind and body.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 7

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 7. 2012. 1922p. ISBN 9781421542621. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

In Blue Exorcist, Vol. 6, Mamushi, a member of the Myodha sect, stole the right eye of the Impure King. Now chased by all exorcists, Mamushi finds Todo, who had taken the left eye of the Impure King, only to realize that Todo's plan is vastly different than hers. Instead of undermining the sect, Todo wishes to free the Impure King from his prison under the abandoned temple guarded by the sect. Betrayed, Mamushi escapes and manages to warn the exorcists about the coming catastrophe.

Meanwhile, Rin is still in prison, awaiting judgment and possible execution for defiling a direct order not to use his demonic powers. Reading through a letter sent to him by Tatsuma, head monk of the sect, Rin discovers valuable information about Father Fujimoto, the man who raised Rin and his brother Yukio, along with the role that Fujimoto played in acquiring the famous Koma sword. 

With the Impure King now on the loose, Rin is released by Shura, and is equipped with the Koma sword. However, it appears that he cannot pull it out of its scabbard. Has Rin lost his demonic abilities?

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 8.

Swing

Alexander, Kwame. Swing. 2018. 448p. ISBN 9780310761914. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Seventeen-year-old Noah is in love with his best friend Sam, ever since she saved him from a pounding in third grade. But Sam likes Noah as a friend, and nothing more. His mind filled with poetry, Noah keeps trying to convince himself to speak to Sam and confess his love for her. His friend Walt, who calls himself Swing, keeps pushing for Noah to finally step up and take a chance that his love for Sam might be reciprocated. And Walt knows just how to get the girl: Noah needs to talk to his cousin, who bills himself a relationship guru. The cousin's advice? Listen to the Woohoo Woman podcast, and learn what women like!

The boys have tried out for the school's baseball team for three years in a row, and each time they haven't made the cut. Swing swears that he will play on the team, despite the fact that he is not really good. Noah doesn't really care, and wouldn't mind to stop trying for it. For his mother's birthday, Noah scours the thrift store and finds a keepall, a type of bag that can be used to keep papers. Inside are dozens of love letters, each a spark of inspiration for Noah, who begins writing anonymous poems to Sam.

As Noah navigates the choppy waters of unrequited love, he also learns about jazz, and discovers that to be cool does not mean following the crowd. Risking his friendship with Sam, Noah decides to take a swing, hoping for a home run ....

Written in the free verse style, Swing will not leave the reader indifferent. The characters are realistic, and their relationships are complicated and representative of a turbulent period in one's life. Fans of poetry will appreciate this story with a bittersweet ending.

Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan

O'Reilly, Bill, and Martin Dugard. Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan. Book 6 of the Killing series. 2016. 323p. ISBN 9781627790628.

By the fall of 1944, the war was winding down in Europe. Allies had landed in Normandy, the Soviet Union was pushing into Eastern Germany, and the Nazis had only one more offensive left in them before the end. However, in the Pacific, the war continues to rage on, with an increased tempo in death and destruction. Japanese soldiers fight tooth and nail for every each inch of every island, opposing American efforts to conquer islands and get closer to Japan. Japanese soldiers would rather die in suicide waves than surrender to those they perceive as uncouth and violent barbarians.

With the bloody body count fast increasing, the Americans devise mass destruction plans for Japanese cities, dropping incendiary bombs on Tokyo and others, burning down several square miles. General MacArthur, how has returned to the Philippines, is now planning an invasion of Japan proper, with over 2 million soldiers. 

Shore and plane bombardments destroy island beaches and mountains, without being able to dislodge Japanese defenders, as American marines and soldiers hop from island to island, getting ever closer to the Japanese mainland. And in the desert of New Mexico, a new weapon, the atomic bomb, is being worked on in secret.

Within one year, the world will be drastically different as the inevitable defeat of the Japanese brings an end to the Second World War, but ushers in the Cold War. Fans of history will love this fast-paced conclusion to the largest war in human history, and will be left wondering whether such a war could ever happen again.

This series also include Killing England and Killing the SS.

Supernova

Meyer, Marissa. Supernova. Book 3 of the Renegades series. 2019. 549p. ISBN 9781250078384. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Having infiltrated the Renegades, Nova discovered in Archenemies where Ace Anarchy's helmet was being kept. Working with the Anarchists, she came up with a plan to rescue the helmet and deliver it to her uncle Ace, so he could regain his power. The helmet amplifies any prodigy power. This way, Nova hopes, the Renegades will be brought down once and for all. Unfortunately, the plan that she get close to Adrian, son of two of the Renegades Council Members, has worked too well, and Nova is feeling like she is falling for Adrian. Conflicted, she's not sure what is right and what is wrong anymore. The Renegades did not save her family, but most of the ones she met are good people who want to see the best for their city. As Nightmare, she wants to destroy them, but as Insomnia, she's made fast friends with many of them.

For Adrian, his prodigy power as Sketch are eclipsed by those he tattooed on himself, allowing him to become the Sentinel, a rogue prodigy that is wanted by the Council and hated by Nightmare. He too is falling in love with Nova, but doesn't know how to deal with this complicating situation. 

With the development of Agent N, which neutralizes prodigy powers, the world has become a much more dangerous place. Nightmare and the Sentinel are on a collision course as both sides get ready for the most epic battle yet, while Nova and Adrian are getting closer to each other. Can both of these realities exist at the same time?

A satisfying conclusion to the Renegade trilogy, Supernova will still leave fans craving for more!

The Order of Time

Rovelli, Carlo. The Order of Time. 2018. 240p. ISBN 9780735216105.

What is time? Why is time so important in our lives? What role does it play? Does it really exist? These are all questions that arise as one ponders the nature of time itself. Scientists, artists, and philosophers have all attempted to explore the true nature of time, without much success and with some contradictions. Time passes faster in lower gravity, so that someone standing on top of a tall mountain will live less time than someone at sea level. It wasn't until the telegraph, which ushered the means of communicating around the globe almost instantaneously, that the world suddenly needed to synchronize clocks. Prior to that, noon in one spot was the time where the sun was highest, and because of slow transportation methods, it didn't really matter that the time in a neighboring town wasn't quite the same.

An industrial and communications revolution later, however, it became necessary to track time in precise intervals, to ensure the smooth operation of the marketplace and of the government. But for humans who had spent thousands of years experiencing time based on the sun's movements in the skies, this transition to accurate time keeping shook the very foundations of how we perceive time. In The Order of Time, Rovelli seeks to reconcile us with a concept that may be more in our head than an actual immutable law of physics.

Fans of philosophical musings and those who enjoy reading scientific information will appreciate the questions that this book sparks, and will wonder at the true nature of time.

Naruto, Vol. 3

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 3. 2000. 208. ISBN 9781591161875. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following their battle with Zabuza in Naruto, Vol. 2, Kakashi needs time to heal. Instead of traveling back to their village, he decides to assign tasks to his three young charges. Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto must learn how to use their chakra to climb a tree by only using their feet. Whereas Sakura is able to accomplish this feat right away, both Naruto and Sasuke are stumped. Naruto devotes himself to learning the art of manipulating his chakra,

They learn the story of Inari, and how his father was a hero appreciated by all. He rescued the town during a flooding, but was executed by the evil narco-lord Gato because he opposed the leadership. Ever since, the village has been growing poorer and more desperate, which is why it is important for Tuzana to finish his bridge, so that the village no longer has to pay Gato. 

As Kakashi suspected, however, Zabuza survived the attack, and he has also healed enough to challenge Kakashi and his students, with the help of his own apprentice, Haku. As the two groups meet again in battle, the element of surprise concerning their abilities has been lost ... or has it?

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 4.

Chains

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. Book 1 of the Seeds of America series. 2008. 316p. ISBN 9781416905851. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In the midst of the American Revolutionary War, Isabel and her young sister Ruth are owned by an old woman who in her will promised to free them. Except that the old lady's nephew and her lawyer conspired and the will disappeared. Isabel and Ruth were sold to a couple of New York City tories, the Locktons. Mr. Lockton is in league with the Mayor of New York to facilitate the return of British forces, while Mrs. Lockton is violent and abusive towards her slaves. Isabel suffers many a beating at the hands of her malicious mistress, but as long as she can protect Ruth, she's willing to put with the abuses.

Isabel is introduced to Curzon, another young slave about her age, who is on the side of the American patriots. Curzon asks Isabel to spy on her owners and report any actionable intelligence. Isabel does not want to be a spy, but when Mrs. Lockton sells Ruth, Isabel finally realizes that no one but her will have her back. Will Isabel joining the patriots and help them build a case against Mr. and Mrs. Lockton help her rescue her sister Ruth?

In an era where loyalty, much like slaves, can be bought and sold, Isabel's bondage depends on an entire system preventing her escape. Through sheer force of will, Isabel demonstrates that though others stole her agency, she fought long and hard to take it back. Fans of historical novels will find this plunge into a turbulent period of American history intriguing, and will cheer Isabel as she fights for her freedom.