Happy Holiday Reading
December 01, 2011
BOOK REVIEW:
The Wave; In pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean
by Susan Casey
I recently read The Wave by Susan Casey, which was a New York Times Bestseller. We have a copy in the Media Center, and the book was published by Random House/Anchor Books in 2010.
This book was interesting to be because of a fascination with large waves and anything to do with the ocean. The book is very well written and will keep the reader captivated, especially if they are interested in learning more about surfing, islands, ships, and the Maritime Industry. The book also looks at the courage - and possibly the insanity - of those who risk their lives to confront nature at it’s most powerful moments, probably because they are extreme adrenaline junkies. The book details the life of the legendary big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and his surfing partners, Dave Kalama, Brett Lickle, and others.
But the book is not only about surfing, specifically “tow surfing,” it also discusses the scientific research of waves and the fact that a great deal of information about large waves is still unknown.
Also covered in the book are historical accounts of shipwrecks as well as ships narrowly escaping disaster, and tsunami’s - and the psychology of what drives surfers to risk their lives on a regular basis, and be completely addicted to doing it. The surfers themselves compare big wave surfing to a heroine addiction.
In the Chapter titled “The Wild Coast” the book chronicles some of the world’s most dangerous ocean locations, such as the Agulhas Current off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa which is one of the busiest maritime shipping lanes. The Agulhas Current is notorious for huge waves and regular ship disasters and sinking.
This book has amazing photographs, maps and illustrations, and it is an excellent non-fiction addition to our library. I encourage reading it to anyone interested in our seas, our planet, and the mystery of nature's waves.
Christmas Facts
from www.History.com
- Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.
- Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
- In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today's Mardi Gras parties.
- From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
- Christmas wasn't a holiday in early America—in fact Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the country's first Christmas under the new constitution.
- Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
- The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607 Jamestown settlement.
- Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
- The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
- Rudolph, "the most famous reindeer of all," was the product of Robert L. May's imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
- Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
Reference: History.com, A&E Television Networks, LLC.
http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/page2 12/1/2011
New Books for December:
One Frosty Christmas by Laura Hesse
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana DeRosnay
Wave Warrior by Lesley Choyce
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill
Living with Depression - Teens Guides by Allen R. Miller
Teen Cyberbullying Investigated by Judge Tom Jacobs
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011 by World Almanac Books
Firefighters; Their Lives in Their Own Words by Dennis Smith
The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka
True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun
Surviving the Angel of Death, The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Buccieri
Camping’s Top Secrets by Cliff Jacobson
Expedition Canoeing by Cliff Jacobson
Hands on Science Series; Atmosphere & Weather by Karen Kwitter & Steven Souza
Have a Great Holiday Season!!!
On Display this month in the Media Center:
Don’t Judge a Book by it’s Movie. There are a number of great titles which were made into movies on display, so please check them out!!
Go Raiders - Best of Luck this Basketball and Wrestling Season!!
