This month I read two great books. Please read on below to see more, as well as purchase.
In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
“He belonged to the men who have cared for great things, not to bring themselves honor, but because doing great things could alone satisfy their natures.”
I had the pleasure of meeting the author Hampton Sides in 2020, in a small, private discussion of his latest book “On Desperate Ground”. I have been hooked on his exceptional writing ever since (got my father and son hooked as well!) “In the Kingdom of Ice” is the third book I have read by Sides; it is a non-fictional survivor story and account of a doomed expedition to the north pole. I had never read about polar exploration; it is a fascinating subject, and often tragic, as was the case with the USS Jeannette and a group of brave men led by Commander George W. De Long. Throughout the book, I was astonished by the commitment, navigation and engineering skills and ingenuity; also the breathtaking description of life and the sea in the coldest parts of the world. Little known today, at the time, this 1800s exploration had the thrill and glory equal to the 1969 United States moon landing! Entirely in the name of science and exploration, this book speaks to human gifts of selflessness and bravery in its highest form. It has something to offer for everyone, and I would highly recommend!
The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State by Jenna Krajeski and Nadia Murad (Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize)
“I want to be the last girl in the world with a story like mine.”
Nadia Murad’s memoir resonated with so many of my emotions ranging from joy, trust and awe, to fear, disgust, sympathy and ultimately, triumph. From her beautiful accounts of pre-war life as a Yazidi in her village of Kocho in northern Iraq, to her painful story of captivity; this book is the ultimate quandary; you do not want to continue reading, nor do you want to stop. Nadia delivers a moving and clear-eyed description of her crushing journey starting in August 2014 when militants besieged Kocho, executed nearly all the men and older women—including Nadia’s mother and six brothers—and sold Nadia and hundreds of village girls into sexual slavery. After months of torture and what seems like the impossible, Nadia finds a way to survive and eventually escape. Through bravery and strength, Nadia today is a human rights activist on the world stage. Her inspiring voice and incredible story are a rousing call to action, a testament to the human will to survive, and a love letter to a lost country and a family torn apart by war. Most compelling of all – this is a story that has not ended, for Nadia or the thousands of Yazidis still in captivity.
This month's tea indulgence has been Yogi's Vanilla Spice Perfect Energy. Delicious!
If you would like to purchase any of the books mentioned, please use our Amazon affiliate links listed below here:
The Kingdom of Ice - https://amzn.to/3a4VA5N
The Last Girl - https://amzn.to/3fWKNyq
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