Platypus Matters is Jack Ashby’s paean to a creature that he proclaims to be his favorite. Ashby, the assistant director of the University Museum of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, first became enamored of the platypus while examining a freeze-dried specimen held in the collections under his care. Freeze-drying leaves animals looking remarkably lifelike […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/23/monotreme-dreams-platypus-matters-jack-ashby/

In the fall of 2012, almost two years into the Egyptian revolution, there began to be more and more reports of sexual attacks on women at demonstrations in Egypt. Since President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February 2011, the country had been undergoing a chaotic, contentious political transition. An interim military government was dedicated to protecting […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/23/rape-and-resistance-in-egypt-radius-yasmin-el-rifae/

That Venice is among the wonders of the world strikes everyone who sees it, but its glory was never greater than in the early sixteenth century, when it was possibly the richest and most cultivated city in Europe. The wealth of its citizens, the splendor of its buildings, the magnificence of the art and tapestries […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/23/a-magic-mirror-of-venice-vittore-carpaccio/

4. Into the upper lip sun—teeth cubed beneath it. Silence jeered on the moss, leaked so incrementally that, in some other realm moreover, a gargantuan flood could click its pen. In a gushing independence, only an ogre kissing guesses could live there. His roof a worsted novel with covers of bloodhound ears are pendulous, but […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/23/from-twenty-collars-farnoosh-fathi/

In 1861 Charlotte Rothschild and her son Natty (the future 1st Lord Rothschild) left their mansion in Piccadilly for a summer holiday in Grasmere. Hotels in the Lake District at that time had a cannon on the balcony to “wake the echoes” from the surrounding mountains, and tourists would go out on boats and call […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/23/the-soft-power-brokers-the-women-of-rothschild/

Narrated by Khristine Hvam, Junkyard War by Faith Hunter is the third audiobook in the Junkyard Cats featuring Shining Smith. This post-apocalyptic science fiction series has been a favorite. Shining Smith is seeking retribution, and she’s willing to die to get it.

Junkyard War
by Faith Hunter
Series: Junkyard Cats #3
Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Length: 6 hours and 35 minutes
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Source: Audible Plus
Purchase*: Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Speed: 1.5x

It’s find retribution or die trying in Shining Smith’s ultimate challenge, from the author of the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series.

Shining Smith and her crew have obtained the weapons they need to rescue one of their own from the grips of their mortal enemy, Clarisse Warhammer. But to mount an assault on her fortified bunker, they have to cobble together an army of fighters.

That could be the biggest battle of them all.

Shining will need to step back into the biker world she left behind to broker an uneasy peace, then lead rival factions into a certain death trap. Can Shining take Warhammer down without having to compel more and more people to do her bidding? And will her feline warriors, the junkyard cats, remain loyal and fight alongside her? Or will Shining have to become something and someone she hates, so that vengeance can finally be hers?

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We are back with Shining and her motley crew as they prepare to mount a rescue and take down their enemy, Clarisse Warhammer. To do this, she’ll need weapons, cats, and bikers from her dad’s past.

The story was intense from the get go. I quickly slipped into the story. I loved the setting, Nanos, and the cats. Her motley crew of friends and allies added to the tale with humor, suspense, and romance. Shining is one tough cookie and she’ll have to use her wits to keep her team alive and work with the biker gangs.

The world is post-apocalyptic and while there is a government of whom, Shining wants to draw zero attention, supplies are limited and it’s very much a fend for yourself, be or be killed kind of world.

The epic showdown was perfectly executed and kept me listening. Hunter took her time, weaved in humor, changed the dynamics between teams and kept me on edge.

The story arc wrapped up well with a curious turn of events. I loved the snark, romantic moments and banter. I am hoping we get more of the Junkyard Cats world and time with Shining.

Khristine Hvam captures Shining’s personality and the tone of the story. She brought the characters to life and made listening pleasurable.

Audible

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2022 Audiobook Challenge

Source

Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/02/junkyard-war-by-faith-hunter.html

Corpse Beneath The Crocus by N.N. Nelson is a collection of poetry written about everyday moments of life, portraying what it means to be human. This provocative book beautifully depicts feelings of rage, loneliness, and anxiety while at the same time illustrating quiet mornings, the depths of love, and the power of silence. In writing about a wide variety of things, N.N. Nelson paints beautiful pictures with words and sheds light on moments and feelings, so many people are afraid to speak aloud.  

This emotional collection contains raw and vulnerable narratives of happiness, heartbreak, anger, wonder, curiosity, lament, and regret. Numerous times, N.N. Nelson depicts being present in the present– recounting details of intimacy and transparency.   Corpse Beneath The Crocus is a fantastic book for people looking to get in touch with their inner selves and process their deepest emotions. This collection of poetry will cause the reader to dive into memories and experiences of their own life while relating to the stories and narratives of N.N. Nelson. By going deep into their innermost thoughts and feelings, the author gives the reader a glimpse into moments and memories the readers themselves may have also experienced in a lifetime. 

Corpse Beneath The Crocus will captivate anyone who is a deep thinker, empath, or introvert. I believe this book would be a great resource for people going through difficult times to find someone to sympathize with and relate to. Readers will find this is a great addition to their poetry collection and depicts moments of everyday life with simplicity, imagery, and poise. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Genuine and eloquently written, this book will be a joy to whoever picks it up off the shelf. 

Pages: 122 | ISBN : 1639887385

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/03/corpse-beneath-the-crocus/

This captivating and detailed piece tells the story of an American girl with Scottish roots named Cynthia. In this diary-like memoir, Cynthia takes you through her mostly abusive but sometimes beautiful childhood that turns into an even more tragic but still sometimes beautiful adulthood. Follow along on this journey with her as she takes readers through the twists and turns of her friendships, family members, lovers, jobs, and a secret heritage that no one seems to know about. 

This shocking and captivating read is set up like a journal with entries from the author that contain dates, times, places, and even images making this an authentic read. The author manages to weave her experiences, adventures, tragedies, and love all in about 150 pages. Cynthia Gunn takes us on the crazy journey that is her life, and if it’s anything like the writing, it truly was a chaotic love story to herself. Jumping around and going off topic sometimes, you can see the passion and fever that Cynthia was writing within every word. The author speaks directly to the reader, and I can sense her heart and the truth that lies in these pages.

I AM WHY THEY KILLED DIANA The Secret of The Red String… is Cynthia’s story and is a fascinating and intriguing account. However, she jumps from one subject to the next and then back to the other, sometimes making it a little difficult for me to keep up with it all. Nevertheless, I feel this is a style choice, and combined with the author’s passion and dedication to her history, it works. I would recommend this riveting read to those who enjoy history, drama, and memoirs, as this book has it all.

Pages: 144 | ASIN : B0026MS6U6

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/03/i-am-why-they-killed-diana/

Scars of Gold is Sharon Stoliar’s true story of giving birth in the hands of a system that failed her and the long-lasting effects it has had on her life. In November 2011, Sharon Stoliar became a mom for the first time. After a fairly unproblematic pregnancy, she was sent off to an emergency cesarean section due to her posterior-facing baby. However, instead of getting to heal and enjoy the precious first moments of her baby’s life, she was faced with the fact that she had developed acute compartment syndrome, a rare complication in the postpartum period that requires urgent decompressive surgery (a fasciotomy) to prevent permanent damage and amputation. Sharon’s case, however, was not handled as it should have been despite her being a midwife herself and trying to open the medical staff’s eyes in order to treat her properly. The poor care she obtained left her with immense problems in her right leg that continue to cause physical challenges in her daily life.

This eye-opening book left me speechless reading the author’s story. Why is the most beautiful thing in the world handled so poorly? Another thing I thought of while reading is all the women whose healthy babies die during birth due to various causes; I can’t even imagine the pain these women face. And finally, the fact that this doesn’t just happen during childbirth; it occurs in all aspects of seeking medical help and all around the world. People end up with a worse prognosis, are severely injured, or even die because of the lack of medical attention or the carelessness of the medical practitioners they relied on to help them.

Sharon is truly a hero and inspiration both as a mother who went through a horrible experience leaving her with lifelong health issues and as a midwife who is passionate about making a change. And on top of that, she doesn’t put the blame on anyone, knowing that there was nothing they could do to prevent her syndrome, but rather encourages her colleagues to listen because if they did, she might have ended up with fewer consequences now.

I genuinely applaud the author for sharing her experience, no matter how painful it is for her, and how time doesn’t heal everything. I commend her for dedicating her life to helping better a somewhat broken system, and I think that this book should be a conversation starter for people who have been wronged and scared by the hands who were supposed to heal them, no matter if it was new moms or patients suffering from anything else. 

Pages: 130 | ASIN : B0BLWCVRTL

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/03/scars-of-gold/

The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.

Award Recipients

Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/03/literary-titan-silver-book-award-february-2023/