Voyages to Paradise: Exploring in the Wake of Captain Cook by William R. Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Voyages to Paradise is another book that has been on my National Geographic Society bookshelf for 31 years. I have always enjoyed the photographs by Gordon W. Gahan, and now I enjoyed the text by William R. Gray.
Gray writes a history lesson about Captain James Cook and his three voyages of exploration that goes far beyond the information taught in my U.S. classrooms. Gray and Gahan traveled for a year to "retrace the life and travels of the man who opened up more of the world than anyone before him."
I recommend this book to armchair explorers.


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The Blue Light Project by Timothy Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received The Blue Light Project as a Free Friday Selection from Nook over a year ago, and its light price is currently $10.68.
It is a well-written book which I am not going to be recommending to any of my friends soon. It is currently a bit too close to current events: an unidentified man storms a television studio and takes hostages in the book while the news is still full of stories about the shootings in the theater in Aurora, Colorado.
It might be good for discussions in a book club because its themes are about the clash between street art and advertising, fame and uncivil actions hidden from the public eye, and the formations of mobs.

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Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali by Kris Holloway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Monique and the Mango Rains has been on my to-read list for several years. It was recommended by a booklist from my public radio station.
The author Kris Holloway was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali where she learned from the midwife Monique how to help a village. The author does a good job describing the village and how their culture works for them.
I recommend this book for armchair travelers and for readers who enjoy memoirs with a theme of friendship.

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The First Confessor by Terry Goodkind
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I eagerly awaited the release of this chronological prequel to the Sword of Truth series for I enjoyed this series and I always looked forward to learning a new wizard's rule in that series.

I like the book in an ebook format. Its 1,162 pages add no more weight to the reader I already use. I wonder what Goodkind's self-publisher policy will be toward downloadable library books which are meant to be borrowed and shared. It is not yet available from my local library.

I recommend this for fans of the series. I think this book is best enjoyed after reading the completed series.



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Isles of the Caribbean by Robert L. Breeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another book from my National Geographic Society shelf in my home library.
As always the pictures are beautiful. The text is dated as it was written 32 years ago.
This book transports the armchair reader to different places and a different time.

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The Mighty Aztecs by Gene S. Stuart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Mighty Aztecs is another book from my home library shelf of books published by The National Geographic Society. Now, I take the time to read the text that accompanies the photographs by Mark Godfrey. Seven chapters have seven essays. "The Setting" introduces us to the geography and climate of Mesoamerica where the early tribes such as the Olmec and Toltec built their cultures. "The Wanderers" tells how this wandering tribe fought their enemies and sacrificed them to build "The City" and "The Empire."
If a student needs a reference for a report about the Aztecs, then this book can still be an excellent reference.

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The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin by Bernard Meehan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a souvenir of my short visit to the Book of Kells exhibit during a visit to Dublin.
The text explains the history, some of the more important folio pages, the materials used, and some of the decorative themes. The text had too many reference notes to make smooth reading for me.

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The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone---Especially Ourselves by Dan Ariely
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I heard about this book through an interview with the author plus advertisements and recommedations through BN.com and goodreads. I enjoy well-written nonfiction which interprets current social science research.
This book answers a question of who is more dishonest: bankers or politicians. It explores how altruism may contribute to dishonesty. There really is a what-the-hell effect. We poor humans, how easy it is for us to rationalize our impulses!
I recommend this to all readers, and I think this book is an excellent choice for book club discussions.


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The Front Porch Prophet by Raymond L. Atkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was a Free Friday section from Nook in 2011, and now it is no longer free. Its current price of $3.82 is affordable for this entertaining novel about A.J. Longstreet, his friend Eugene Purdue, and other family members and friends.
I recommend it to those readers who enjoy the novels by Fannie Flagg and Jan Karon.

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