Are Male and Female Brains Different?

For centuries there has been a bias toward describing the sex differences between men and women seen in social behavior as due to differences in the brain. Early research on the brain, as the author points out in the first section of the book, appeared to uphold this hypothesis. However, careful analysis of the research findings suggests that many of the studies were flawed, or biased toward generating the results they produced. I found these first chapters fascinating. It’s a cautionary tale that in order to understand the results we must look at methods, and samples. Too often the news trumpets the results with no understanding of how they were achieved.

The second half of the book looks at more modern research utilizing functional MRI and brain imaging techniques. The chapters on research on newborns are fascinating. What they’re finding is that many of the myths about babies and small children are not accurate. Boys are supposed to be more interested in mechanical gadgets and girls in dolls. The more researcher bias is removed from the experimental setup, the more this difference washes out.

I agree with the conclusion of the author that it would be a good idea to pay more attention to individual differences. When large data sets are used many interesting findings are washed out as outliers. I think this is a very promising area of research.

I highly recommend this book if you’re interested in sex differences. The question of nature vs nurture is well explored and suggests that environment plays a significant role in how boys and girls see each other and themselves. This has implications for education and the socialization of young and not so young children.

I received this book from Pantheon for this review.

Make Your Closet Better and More You

I love fashion. From the time I learned to sew, I’ve been fascinated by fabrics, color and design. This book is a treat for anyone who loves clothes and wants a more functional wardrobe at a reasonable price that says who you are.

Much as clothes are wonderful mood lifters, they can also be a drag on the environment if we don’t choose carefully and take care of what we have. This book goes into all aspects of the fashion industry. It discusses the political and social ramifications of poorly made clothes that are quickly thrown away.

Cline presents a better way to enjoy fashion than following every trend, being left with a stuffed closet, and then trying to decide how to get rid of things that no longer work. Her suggestions are excellent. Buy quality if you can. It’s also possible to buy used clothing that is in good shape at significantly reduced prices. There are even sites on the Internet where you can buy and sell your castoffs.

It’s important to learn to take care of your clothes so they will last, but when you want to get rid of them, it’s also important to do so responsibly. Rather that tossing them in the garbage to clog the landfill, there are places like some thrift shops that responsibly recycle clothing and make it available to people in need.

I enjoyed this book. It makes you aware of the place of the clothing industry not only in your closet, but in the overall economy.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Build a Legacy for Your Grandchild

Time passes quickly and suddenly babies are college students. As they grow, they want to know more about who they are and that includes their grandparents: where they lived, how they grew-up, and what their lives were like. This hardcover book offers a delightful way to tell your grandchild (or children) about who your are and leaves them a permanent keepsake.

The book is easy to use. There are pages that encourage you to tell you story by answering questions children often ask. Envelopes are attached to some pages for special letters. Ample space for pictures is included, and there is a sheet of photo corners to attach the photos.

I found the family tree particularly helpful for organizing my ancestors. There are many other places for special memories about trips or favorite recipes. This book is a wonderful way to give your child a gift he or she will always treasure.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for this review.

A Plea to Teach Creationism

Schabacker believes that creationism should be taught as well as evolution in the public schools. This book lays out several scientific reasons to believe creationism:

• Creation of the earths geologic features can be explained by catastrophic processes better than gradual erosion.
• Mutations which are often rare and detrimental to the organism are an insufficient way to explain evolution of complex species.
• Stories from the Bible such as the great flood have corroboration in diverse historic accounts.

The book gives additional details for believing that creationism is a good theory for explaining the development of the world as we know it.

The book is easy to read. Detailed analysis is not provided in this very short book, but the author gives an extensive bibliography for readers interested in following up on his ideas. The final sections of the book are devoted to a plea to Christians to join together to support teaching creationism in the public schools.

I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.

WWII, the Resistance, Love, and Betrayal

Divorce left Liv Kent feeling that she had lost everything until Edith, her French grandmother, arrives and spirits her off to France. Grandmother Edith has a story to tell. It’s difficult for her, but she knows Liv needs to hear it.

The story takes place during WWII in the champagne region of France. Ines is a young woman married to Michel, an older man who owns famous champagne cellars. She is struggling to find her place in the life of the chateau when the Nazis cross into France. Now they must hide the champagne and hope the invaders leave them to work the vineyards.

Celine, almost Ines’ age is married to the chateau’s chef de cave. She is half Jewish and the risk for her with Nazis in the area is tremendous. The fear of being shipped off to one of the death camps dogs her life. Although terrified, she joins Michel and Ines in the Resistance.

The intertwined lives of Ines, Celine, and Michel are the story Grandmother Edith must tell, but it isn’t easy for her.

This is a story of love, betrayal, and redemption. The setting in WWII and the adversity of that era is the background for the tragedy. I found the plot interesting, but the characters at times seemed rather thin. In the beginning Ines is young, naive, and rather self-centered. Celine and Michel are more mature, but I had trouble liking them.

The discussion of wine making is very interesting. The author has done a considerable amount of research, and it ads realism to the story. If you enjoy romance with a background of WWII this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Bringing Electricity to a Hospital in Liberia

When Stephen Vincent went to the United Conference of the United Methodist Church, he had a project in mind. After his talk with Sam Dixon, he had a new mission: electrify the hospital in Ganta, Liberia. The hospital had been severely damaged during the war. Physicians were operating with flashlights. They couldn’t sterilize equipment well because of the lack of electricity. It was a challenge, but Vincent wanted to take it on.

This is the story of how they got equipment to this remote location, enlisted to local population to help in the installation, and provided needed electricity to a facility that served 450,000 people in need of medical care. I loved several things about his story. One is that Vincent was willing to take on the challenge. The other was that they involved the local population in getting the job done.

This is a story on two levels. On one level, it is a story of faith and how even the most difficult tasks can be completed when God helps. The other is an adventure. How to get equipment to a remote location, set it up and have a working system.

I recommend this book for two reasons. It’s the story of how to get something done. Vincent and his team were well versed in how to do a project in a place like Liberia still there were many challenges. The second reason I liked the book was the way the team worked with local people. In my view, we can never be successful working in third world countries unless we’re willing to let them have a share in getting the project done.

I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.

The Outsize Role of the Mosquito in the Sweep of Human History

For a tiny insect the mosquito has had a major role in shaping human history. Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Malaria, West Nile Virus, and other diseases are caused by agents injected into the human host by one or another of the species of mosquitoes in the environment. The early chapters of the book give a graphic description of the diseases and suffering. It makes you want to wear protective gear when going outside in the summer.

For centuries it was unclear that the mosquito was responsible for the scourge of diseases that wrecked havoc with armies and empires. The American Revolution saw Washington’s army as well as the British ransacked by malaria. The scourge of the Civil War and building the Panama Canal was Yellow Fever.

One of the protections against malaria is sickle cell anemia, a mutation of the blood cells that survived in Africa because it gave protection to the person. Unfortunately, sickle cell itself is a killer, as the author points out.

I enjoyed this book. It’s full of historical information about the interaction between mosquitoes and humans. The writing is clear and subject matter so interesting you want to keep reading. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about how the environment can affect civilization.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Fabulous Opportunity That Goes Staggeringly Wrong

When she stumbled on the advertisement, Rowan thought it too good to be true, a nanny for four children in a house in the Highlands. The salary is generous and food and lodging are included. Rowan wants the job so badly she fudges her resume. She needn’t have worried. The family has recently been through four nannies with concerns that the house is haunted, and they’re desperate for a replacement.

Rowan starts the job immediately because the parents, who have an architecture firm, are going on a two week trip. At first the house is wonderful, beautifully restored and updated with all the smart home gadgets. Unfortunately, the smart home seems to have a mind of it’s own with lights and music turning on and off at will.

Tragedy strikes the family, and when the story opens Rowan is in jail on a murder charge. She is accused of killing one of the children. The story is told from her point of view through letters to the lawyer she hopes will represent her.

At first I found the use of letters clunky. Rowan is obviously upset and keeps repeating herself. However, as she got into the story it was more interesting. Still, I didn’t care for the use of letters, particularly an excessively long letter to tell the story.

If you enjoy Gothic tales with a surprising twist at the end, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Debauchery and Murder in Kenya in the 1930s

Darcy promised Georgina a special honeymoon, but she had no idea it might be in Kenya. At first she’s thrilled with the exotic beauty of the place, but as she meets the residents of Happy Valley, she suspects Darcy has been sent on assignment. He tells Georgina that jewel robberies have taken place in London and the authorities suspect someone has escaped to Kenya. She accepts the explanation, but wonders if it’s true.

The newly weds, at least Georgina, are shocked by the debauchery in the Happy Valley. Drugs and sex are the main occupations with considerable imbibing of alcohol. One of the ring leaders is Lord Cheriton. He makes a pass a Georgina who puts a stop to that quickly. Then he’s found dead. It’s a lonely stretch of road, and it appears that Lord Cheriton was attacked by an animal. The more Darcy and Georgina learn, the less realistic this seems.

This novel is based on a true unsolved crime in Kenya. The historical scene including the debauchery is quite realistic. I enjoyed the background and learning more about Kenya under the British. However, it wasn’t a pleasant story. Aside from Georgina and Darcy, the characters were uniformly unpleasant.

The murder plot was interesting, but I felt not enough was done to build up the minor characters so the ending while a surprise seemed rushed. I enjoy this series, but aside from seeing Darcy and Georgina finally married, it was one of my least favorites.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Grave Robbers, Cotton Mills, and a Dawning Romance

In 1824, Jessie Clayton is gravely ill, but she doesn’t want to die. Dr. Chadwick is there, a doctor she’s been assisting for some time. He shakes his head there’s nothing he can do, but then Jessie wakes up on an operating table. She’s the next corpse Dr. Chadwick plans to dissect for his research. Shocked that she’s alive, he wants to kill her to cover his crime of body snatching. Everyone already thinks she’s dead anyway, but Jessie pleads with him, and she’s spared. The deal is that she will become Jessie Clay and go to work at a cotton mill. She will also scout fresh bodies for the body snatchers by pretending to be a mourner.

Accidents are rife at the mill, and Jessie becomes well known for her healing remedies. The manager, Braham Taylor, notices her for her healing gift. They become friendly and romantic feeling develop between them. It is because of Braham that she will face her greatest test and decide her own fate.

This historical mystery revolves around the practice of body snatching, stealing recently dead bodies for medical research. It was strictly illegal, and if the snatchers were caught they faced severe penalties. The cotton mills were another factor in life in Massachusetts and other states. The conditions were dangerous and the workers were mostly young women, factory girls.

The history in this book is well researched. Although it’s hard to read about, it’s interesting to learn more about body snatching. The plot draws you in centering on Jessie’s religious scruples and her need to continue to help the body snatchers to save her father from debtors prison.

The characters are likable. You can feel Jessie’s conflict about the role she’s playing. The budding romance between Jessie and Braham is sensitively written. There is no promiscuous sex, so it’s suitable for young readers.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.