Tag: Non-Fiction Page 1 of 32

PUB DAY REPOST: Elf Unwrapped by Andy Richter with Aaron Karo: A Love Letter to The Movie, Cast, and Crew

DETAILS:
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Publication Date: November 3, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 224 pg.
Read Date: October 21-22, 2026

What’s Elf Unwrapped About?

This is an oral history of the movie Elf from its initial idea through several studios, a couple of stars attached, several rewrites, and finally into the hands of an untested director and an equally untested lead (for movies, anyway).

The book is a straightforward recounting of the making of the film—with parts of interviews, anecdotes, and jokes along the way.

The Tone of the Book

The book reads like you’d expect a book from Andy Richter to read—it’s happy, it’s jokey, it’s upbeat. Plus, from time to time, it gets really earnest and heartfelt (the closing, in particular).

That tone is matched by the quotations selected from everyone involved in the making of the movie. Obviously, no one knows what didn’t make it into the book—but you walk away with the impression that everyone involved loved the process and the final product.

So, what did I think about Elf Unwrapped?

One thing that comes through loud and clear—is that the authors are fans of the movie, of everyone involved, particularly the way that the impulses and tendencies of Ferrell and Favreau balanced each other out and made the film what it is. Their enthusiasm for the movie connects with the reader’s and carries you through this book. If the reader doesn’t have a decent level of enthusiasm for the movie, they wouldn’t be reading a book about it.

There is just so much trivia about the movie in these pages that I know my family is already making plans to skip our annual viewing of the movie just to avoid me pausing it every now and then to share something I’ve learned. Which is completely understandable—Richter and Karo have given me so much to be annoying with. For the trivia alone, the book is worth picking up.

But it’s about more than that—it’s about a celebration of a piece of filmmaking, how it makes the audience feel, and what the cast felt like during the process. A celebration of individual performances and the fun had off-screen.

I’m not sure what else to say—it’s what you want in a book like this. If you’re a fan of the movie—you’re going to want to read this. If you’re not…skip it. Although you probably don’t need me to tell you that.

It’s a book I think I’ll come back to just to verify my memory about a point—and then get sucked into and will read at least a chapter or two after that. Much the same way that when you’re flipping through selections and find Elf on TV, you’ll likely end up watching a lot of it (if not the rest of the movie). Assuming you still flip through channels.

You’re in for a real treat if you give this a chance.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Dey Street Books via NetGalley—my thanks to both for this. This post contains my honest opinion about a book I chose to read.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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What Saith the Lord? by Mark Ward: While God’s Word Doesn’t Change, Our Words Sure Do

By HCNewton

On November 1, 2026

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

What Saith the Lord?:
KJV Words We’re Getting Wrong—And How to Get Them Right

by Mark Ward/a>

DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: November 3, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 304 pg.
Read Date: November 11, 2026

What’s What Saith the Lord? About?

Ward starts off with a basic premise—languages, like English, change over time. There are several reasons for this—some good, some bad, some…just happen. This is how languages work. So despite Elizabethan (more specifically, Jacobean) English and contemporary English both falling under the category of “Modern English,” there are a lot of ways they differ—even when it comes to specific words. So a book published in 1611 is going to use many words differently than even a highly educated and well-read person in 2026—much less your man/woman/child on the street today.

One such book published in 1611 is the Authorized Version of the Bible—better known as the King James Bible. Ward sets out to look at 38 words that most of us think we understand (and we do), but not in the way the translators of the KJV did.

Ward’s goal is not to discredit the KJV—he uses it and appreciates it (and wrote a whole book talking about how it can/should be used today, Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible—a book I meant to read 7 years ago, and was only reminded of when I started this). His goal is to help users understand it better—and to equip them to do so.

Ward’s Method (also a weakness for reading the book)

Yes, Ward wants to impart some understanding of the 38 words he selected in this book (he has a list of 150 that would’ve worked as an appendix). But his approach follows the pattern of “give a man 38 fish, you’ve fed him for 38 verses (or so); teach a man to fish, you’ve fed him for a whole translation.”

He has five steps to use for one of these “false friends” (as he calls them)—and walks through those steps in each chapter—giving each chapter pretty much the same outline (he varies how much space he uses on each step per chapter).

This is the biggest weakness of the book—it gets a bit repetitive if you read it in big chunks like I did (it’s probably just as repetitive if you read a couple of chapters at a time, but it’s just not as mind-numbing)

Another problem I have is how often he repeats certain disclaimers—for example, no, he doesn’t think the KJV translators got a word wrong, they just didn’t realize what would happen to the language over 400 years. I didn’t bother counting how many times he said that—but I do wish I had to make this illustration better. I assume this was done because he can’t assume the reader will go cover to cover, but might just tap into a chapter here and there: “What’s up with ‘passenger?'”, “‘By and by’ used to mean something else?”, “I always wondered why Pastor said, ‘drink ye all of it'”

These don’t detract from the value of the book, it just makes reading the book in one sitting a little sluggish (okay, one sitting with a nap-mid way through)

Strengths

This is a word-nerd’s delight—especially if you’re into Bible Study. I picked up so many handy insights and trivia, along with a better understanding of some phrases/words that I’m calling this a win. There were only a couple of chapters that didn’t interest me (“ass” and “bastard” are good examples, everything he gave was pretty obvious to me in them—although his application of 1 Cor. 14 in the “ass” chapter made it worth it—we need to make sure the words we use mean what we think they do for the unbeliever in our midst)

He makes few outright jokes (and those he does are pretty good), but throughout he keeps things light and fun. Because there aren’t a lot of people that relish the history of the meaning of “sodden” or “replenish” the way Ward and I do, so his light tone is the proverbial spoonful of sugar for most readers. And it’s just a nice bonus for the nerds among his readers (he uses the term for himself in this context, it’s not derogatory).

He Was Maybe Too Successful

Frankly, I walked away from this book thinking that people should really rely on the KJV less than they do. I’m not going to get into textual criticism or any of the other things Ward (wisely) avoids. He’s trying to make the KJV more accessible, which is a fine motivation. But I think he was too successful in showing the damage these words can do to one’s understanding.

The old line that so many give (and he repeats here), “if you have a question, use a Dictionary” is good and sound. But there several words he focused on here that Ward didn’t realize were a problem until he started writing the book—some he learned about just before he wrote a chapter (i.e., it wasn’t on his original outline for the book). If the guy who’s whole shtick is “watch out for these tricky words” didn’t know he wasn’t seeing a problem, how are us non-Biblical scholars?

Also, the tools he recommends using aren’t cheap. And really should be used with a decent understanding of Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek. So, he might have tried to teach me to fish, but he really didn’t take into account that I get my metaphorical fishing gear from thrift stores and charity shops—and I think most of his readers are at similar levels.

So, what did I think about What Saith the Lord??

Other than where I think he overshot his goal, this book is great.

It’s incredibly approachable—readers from 7th grade to 90 years can read and benefit from it. The tone is good, the information is solid and useful.

And for those who have the means and the time, his research steps would be very helpful, I think. I can see myself doing them (if I read the KJV often).

I strongly recommend regular users of the KJV pick it up—especially if you don’t think you need a book like this. Word nerds who looked at any of my examples above and said, “ohhh?” should also get it. Really, anyone interested in the use of the KJV or semantic drift would benefit from this.

Really, it’s a winner all around. Maybe even better than the author meant it to be.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Baker Books via NetGalley—my thanks to both for this. This post contains my honest opinion about a book I chose (and asked) to read.

Elf Unwrapped by Andy Richter with Aaron Karo: A Love Letter to The Movie, Cast, and Crew

By HCNewton

On October 27, 2026

In Non-Fiction

Elf Unwrapped:
Behind the Scenes of a Modern Christmas Classic

by Andy Richter with Aaron Karo

DETAILS:
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Publication Date: November 3, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 224 pg.
Read Date: October 21-22, 2026

What’s Elf Unwrapped About?

The book is a straightforward recounting of the making of the film—with parts of interviews, anecdotes, and jokes along the way.

The Tone of the Book

So, what did I think about Elf Unwrapped?

You’re in for a real treat if you give this a chance.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Dey Street Books via NetGalley—my thanks to both for this. This post contains my honest opinion about a book I chose to read.

Irreplaceable: Humanity, Vocation, and the Limits of Technology by Gene Edward Veith Jr and A Trevor Sutton: Close, but No Cigar

By HCNewton

On October 18, 2026

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Irreplaceable:
Humanity, Vocation, and the Limits of Technology

by Gene Edward Veith Jr. and A. Trevor Sutton

DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2026
Format: TEXT
Length:TEXT
Read Date: TEXT

We may be God’s agents, but we also have our own agency. God works through us when we love and serve our neighbors, but we also resist him using the very gifts he has given us to love and serve ourselves, even when that means harming our neighbors. That is to say, we are sinners. We sin in our vocations. And we sin in and through and by means of our technology. In fact, if technology is a medium that extends and strengthens our human powers, it can extend and strengthen our sinfulness as well.

What’s Irreplaceable About?

Essentially, the authors set out to take the Protestant (particularly Lutheran) idea of vocation and apply it to the technology of the mid-2020s. Automation, algorithmic decision making, generative AI, and similar technologies make big promises—but how do they relate to human work, human service, human vocation?

How do we harness technologies as a tool and use them as such, rather than let them displace human workers and diminish them?

Where the Book Succeeds

“Chapter 1: Mediated Work: Our Tools and God’s Tools,” is the best part of the book—and it’s not even close. There’s a lot of wisdom here and it should be meditated on.

A lot of the later chapters about “Technology in ____ Vocations—dealing with work, family, society, church and so on, have a lot to offer as well. Some things that aren’t really worth talking about, too.

The more abstract the book gets, the better it is. It’s when Veith and Sutton try to get their hands dirty and deal with particulars that I find them struggling.

Where the Book Falters

Primarily it’s in what the book doesn’t do or try to address.

“H.C.,” you say, “is that fair? No book can do everything.” This is very true—it can’t and I shouldn’t expect it to. But in a book exploring ethical responses to emerging technology from a Christian perspective, I would like to see some things addressed. The ethics behind the development of this technology—the exploitation of the workers, the theft of intellectual property, the goals and methods of the producers. The impact this technology and its growth can have on the word around us—politically (both in party and governmental senses as well as in what it does to human society) and environmentally. Lastly, the effects it can have on the human mind, not just human vocation.

ChatGPT and the Writing of the Book

Chapter 3 starts with a dialogue between one of the authors and ChatGPT—copied and pasted for our benefit, as an illustration (at least partially). I thought it was interesting—particularly because I thought doing so clashed with a point made later in the chapter.

But I have to think a little—how much more of this book was done aided by it (or a similar product)? While I’d prefer the authors to be able to say straightforwardly “There was no AI involved outside this one illustration,” (or, not at all). I’d really like to read what else they got some help with.

Why did I pick this up?

To say that Gene Veith’s book God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life, was formative for me is to understate it. I can still hear passages and concepts from it as I think through things today. So another book by him related to the idea of vocation? Sign me up without hesitation or forethought. (which is literally how I got this copy, as soon as I saw the title and author, I requested it immediately)

Secondly, I’ve found myself in conversation and books this year about AI/Large Language Models/Generative AI-or whatever you want to call it. Really only one book was a conscious decision to explore it more (I really thought I could dip into things with Doctorow’s book and walk away, rather than getting curious enough to dive deeper)—and thoughts from a Christian who thinks seriously about things (as I assume his co-author did, too), seemed like a good follow-up.

So, what did I think about Irreplaceable?

While the present technological landscape will soon change, God’s plan for human work as a locus for loving our neighbors will remain. While new and difficult questions will arise with each new technological development, God’s callings on our lives and our vocational identities will remain. The more that technology changes the world, the more important it will be to discern God’s work in us and through us and how it has the power to bring about enduring faith, hope, and love.

If I had written this a day or two after finishing the book, I’d have been a lot more positive. But the more I think about it, the more problems and questions I have. So I’d better get this written now, before it becomes a pan, eh? (that was a joke, it’s not pan-worthy).

I do think the book fails to address the AI industry as it actually is, instead presenting it in a way as it’s sold on being and working. Were this book written a few years ago, before the folks at OpenAI had released anything, and instead focused on emerging technologies, social medias, and that sort of thing, I’d be speaking much more positively about it. This it too much about the idea of AI, not the reality as it now is (and seems to be headed).

I don’t need Veith and/or Sutton to be running around like a Chicken Little (even a correct Chicken Little), but I think we should take off the rose-colored glasses for a bit. I did write down a couple of times in my notes, “this is too pie in the sky.” And I probably could’ve done that more.

I like the thoughtfulness of the book. I really did think about some things in a fresher way—and anyone who can invoke the Sewing Riots, the Luddites, and Milton from Office Space within a page or two to build an argument, deserves reading.

We need more books like this, we need more people interacting with Biblical wisdom, insights from the ages past, and contemporary technology—both the doomsayers and the proponents. The conversation started here needs to continue.

Irreplaceable just didn’t deliver everything it should’ve—it took the easy way out on some topics, and skirted others. I think the authors are capable of more, and just didn’t deliver. But, I encourage those curious about addressing the ideas and issues from a conservative Protestant prospective, to pick it up and wrestle with it.

And maybe to come back and tell me where I’m wrong.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program—a book that I requested. However, as always here, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Confederacy Myth by Connor Williams: A Pro-U.S.A. Apologetic

By HCNewton

On October 13, 2026

In Uncategorized

The Confederacy Myth:
How an Insurrection of Slaveholders Tried to Destroy the United States

by Connor Williams

DETAILS:
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 13, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 288 pg.
Read Date: September 29-October 8, 2026

What’s The Confederacy Myth About?

I’ve been struggling to find a concise way to describe this book without being too oversimplified or too detailed. Then, as I was starting this post, I noticed a couple of things on Williams’s website that helped. The last time it was updated, when he was just starting to write this book, the title was going to be Our Domestic Enemy: The Confederate Insurrection and the Civil War that Saved Our Nation, which gives a slightly different flavor than the final title. He describes the book as “leapfrogging back over a hundred and fifty years of sentimentalized stories and takes readers back to the causes, courses, and consequences of the Confederate insurrection, centering us squarely in the actions and writings of the American people as they fought the bloodiest war in our nation’s history.”

That’s a really nice way to put it. Williams tackles some of the myths about the Confederacy and the insurrection it started that have captured the imagination of many, looking at the data, the statements of people both in the USA and in the rebellion, and the results to help us see with a clear vision that the reason “the United States prevailed in the Civil War: five out of six Americans resisted the Confederate insurgency and instead put everything on the line to fight for democracy…our Republic.” (from the Publisher’s description).

The Book’s Argument

Williams, standing on things said by Lincoln, Douglas, various newspapers (loyal to the US and not), other government officials, and leaders of the rebellion, focuses on seeing the war as just that: a rebellion. One that fomented for decades—with some surprising support from within the U.S. government.

He shows how the slave states didn’t care for states’ rights before Lincoln’s inauguration—in fact, they used the federal government to override the laws of “free” states with the Fugitive Slave Act; how the would-be government of the C.S.A. didn’t believe in succession from it, making their effort to leave the U.S.A. more than a little hypocritical (as well as illegal and unconstitutional); how the insurrection was largely armed through stolen weapons and was outfought throughout the conflict. Yes, they did some major damage, but it was never a serious military (or economic) threat to the government.

Williams is also clear about the sound strategies of the U.S. Army in the West, as well as the struggles in the East (for too long). He’s not hagiographic about Lincoln or anyone else, but does emphasize the overarching goals of those loyal to the Constitution and freedom.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I picked this up because I was hoping for a brief book countering the “Lost Cause” kind of thinking—and got it.

But I got so much more. On the one hand, who really thinks we need an apologetic for the U.S. in the 1860s? But that’s what this is—it’s not so much contra-Lost Cause as pro-America (which carries the former with it).

Just that slight difference of angle makes all the difference.

So, what did I think about The Confederacy Myth?

This was hard to read—especially as it covers the years pre-Ft. Sumter. Don’t get me wrong—I was well aware of all the problems that existed around slavery and the machinations of politicians around it. But in the years since I did any semi-serious reading on it, my memory had gotten too fuzzy. The United States really had fallen short of its ideals, and the politicians/courts weren’t helping much with the way they treated that issue.

Once we get to the chapters post-Sumter, it becomes easier to read, in a way. It becomes a us vs. them (or U.S. vs. Them) story, one that’s familiar. But Williams’s recounting doesn’t allow for romanticizing or glamorizing the insurrection along the way.

We don’t get a lot of post-Appomattox material, but we do get some—and can see how things might have been different (and might not have been), had Lincoln not been assassinated. It’s good to see a Congress that takes its job seriously and made sure that Andrew Johnson wasn’t able to make too much of a mess of Reconstruction and was able to move civil rights forward (not enough, but that’s a story for another time).

The number of things I highlighted and made notes about…if this were a hard copy, I’d probably have increased the weight by 50%. There’s just so much gold to be mined here.

This is a solid work, full of things we need to remember and consider today. It’s definitely going down as one of my favorites of the year and one I’ll recommend for a long time to come.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley—my thanks to both for this. This post contains my honest opinion about a book I chose to read.

Quick-Take Catchups: The Leftovers from May

By HCNewton

On September 16, 2026

In Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction

I’m even behind on my catch-ups…this summer really did a number on my organization. Let’s see if I can get some of it back. Again, I want to remind the reader that the point of these quick-takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.

The Frame-Up

by Gwenda Bond, read by Shannon McManus (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 11 hrs., 3 min.
Read Date: May 4-6, 2026

This was a solid heist novel with just a dash of magic thrown in. Honestly, I’m not sure the magic was necessary—Bond has enough going on with the dash of romance, the family drama (increased by a “can’t go home again” story arc), and the art heist.

But throwing in the magic just kicked everything up a half a notch, if not a full notch. So I’m not complaining–I’m just trying to say that the criminal found family of it all was enough.

This is my second novel by Bond—and it’s enough to make sure that I’ll take a second look at other books by her.

The Terminal List

by Jack Carr, read by Ray Porter

DETAILS:
Series: The Terminal List, #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hrs., 24 min.
Read Date: May 7-11, 2026

Ugh. How did this get so popular? I’m not really that willing to spend time on talking about it. I can’t think of a single moment that I enjoyed–even Ray Porter couldn’t save it. I kept listening to see if it climbed up out of the horrible pit to make it to “extraordinarily mediocre.” Also, because I wanted to be able to tell someone that I gave it a full try.

Both are choices I regret. Cookie-cutter action from a Gary Sue super-soldier. Completely uninspired and derivative. And there are how many sequels???

The Arkadians

by Lloyd Alexander, read by Words Take Wing Repertory Co

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: November 9, 2010
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hrs., 49 min. 
Read Date: May 18-19, 2026

I feel disloyal to my grade-school self in giving a Lloyd Alexander book a “meh.” But this one pretty much deserved it. Alexander’s playing around with Greek myths fell pretty flat for me, I didn’t connect with the characters, the story (especially the results for each character) was predictable, and the whole thing felt written by a formula. I did find some scenes amusing and/or effective, but I doubt I’ll return to this one again and again. (I probably will give it one more chance down the road, just to be sure it wasn’t my mood)

Booked

by Alison Gaylin

DETAILS:
Series: Sunny Randall, #13
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Length: 320 pg.
Read Date: May 25, 2026

This was entirely too quick to read–but I find that’s a thing with Gaylin’s Sunny book–she just gets in the groove and you’re rocketing through the thing. I really liked what she did with the recurring characters here, especially Blake. I’ve given up hope of a decent Richie storyline, but I didn’t mind this one. As far as the latest Malanie Joan drama–this might be my favorite use of her. The mysteries involved were pretty well executed, and I bought the way that Sunny finally uncovered the link that tied it all together. I’d seen the link (or something very much like it) coming for several chapters, but wasn’t sure Gaylin would pull off Sunny’s discovery. I think I’ve learned now to trust her. No Sunny Randall book has ever blown me away–but Gaylin makes me happy to see the series continuing and delivers a satisfying read every time.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

by Amanda Montel, read by Ann Marie Gideon

DETAILS:
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 21 min.
Read Date: May 21-26, 2026

This was truly disappointing—the subtitle made me think it would be one thing, and while the text would occasionally tip that way, it didn’t stick with it. Honestly, you should go read what Kathy @ 746 Books had to say about it. She captured my ideas better than I could.

Unread:
A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok

by Oliver James

DETAILS:
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: February 24, 2026
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 10 min. 
Read Date: May 26-27, 2026

James’ achievement—as well as his openness about the life experiences that got him to this point—should be celebrated. Seriously, I’m impressed and would love to sit and chat with him about it.
Everyone should be upset at the education system that failed him—and almost certainly fails many others like him every year.
There’s a lot to commend about this book.
This is not good book. There’s too much redundancy that feels like it was included to make an arbitrary word count. The timeline is a bit muddy, and would’ve been better to follow had it been presented linearly. If it were a series of blog posts, or a book half the length, I wouldn’t have complained.
To reiterate: this is a criticism of the book, not of the author, what he’s doing or how he’s doing it.

Starship Troopers

by Robert A. Heinlein

DETAILS:
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: June 27, 2006
Format: Paperback
Length: 288 May 25-27, 2026

There’s a lot to like in this—there’s a lot to be disappointed in, too. I was pretty much in until the big battle scene. But after that? It all fell short after that. Heinlein clearly had things he wanted to say about the role of a citizen, the role of the military, war, and so on—and he used this book to say them through various mouthpieces. Sadly, most of what we got was talk, theory, just ideas, unlike similar books that put the talk into action (albeit fictional, it’s more than just haverings).

I walked away dissatisfied. I know I open myself up to ridicule, mockery, and disdain for that—but that’s how it is. Others who’ve clearly been influenced by this novel have done a better job with it (e.g., Scalzi, Hurley, Card).

After the Fall

by Edward Ashton, read by John Pirhalla

DETAILS:
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: February 24, 2026
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 56 min.
Read Date: May 28-29, 2026

Maybe because of Ashton’s reputation, I went into this with expectations that were too high. Because I felt like I should enjoy what I was hearing more than I did throughout the whole book–and there’s no reason for me to think like that. It was a solid premise, and Ashton (and Pirhalla) did a good job in executing it. But the whole time I kept thinking, “he’s about to knock my socks off in the next development/chapter/scene,” and that never happened. There’s a lot to praise here, but it never made the jump from “pretty good.” And since I came in expecting more and didn’t get it, the book felt like a letdown. I don’t think I’m being fair to the book, but…

Remington Platypus

by Steve Nash

DETAILS:
Publisher: Northodox Press
Publication Date: July 31, 2025
Format: eBook
Length: 362 pg.
Read Date: May 28-30, 2026

I really thought I’d written a full post about this, and I’m rather annoyed to find out that it doesn’t exist.

This is a fairly-standard, but well-executed, Police novel about a grizzled detective who does what it takes to get the job done—sort of a Harry Bosch figure. Although he’s on better terms with his superior and some of his colleagues. He’s taking on a drug supplier and goes too far, resulting in him being transferred to a small town, his hometown, where he struggles to fit in—except for the few who remember him. There he encounters some crimes that lead him right back into investigating the same supplier. And things get ugly from there.

But here’s the thing—all the creatures are animals. Animals who have formed a parallel society to humans, complete with schools, police services, and drug gangs. There are some animals who haven’t taken this civilization thing to heart—and remain wild and without speech, higher thoughts. We’ve seen a lot like this before, but not like this.

Combining these two tried-and-true story types is just brilliant. You make these people instead of animals and most of the novel works just fine. You take out the crime element and just leave the inter-animal conflicts in and it’d be a pretty cool story. The mashup of the two elevates this to something else. The only comparison that jumps to mind is the comic Fables combining crime fiction and fairy tales.

Raven was raving about this last year, and it’s easy to see why. You need to check out their post.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

An Icelandic Adventure by S. Bavey: Traveling with the Baveys

By HCNewton

On September 16, 2026

In Non-Fiction

An Icelandic Adventure:
One Family’s Mostly Successful Quest for Puffins, Pleasure, and Perfect Pizza

by S. Bavey

DETAILS:
Publication Date: November 23, 2024
Format: eBook
Length: 118 pg.
Read Date: September 14, 2026

What’s An Icelandic Adventure About?

This is a day-by-day recounting of the Bavey family’s vacation to Iceland in June 2024—a great way to get away from some record heat in New England. The two parents and two teen children visited a number of places in their seven-night trip along the south coast (and back again).

Bavey gives a detailed itinerary, shares some nice photographs, and provides pronunciation guides throughout—I’m sure even with that help I didn’t read correctly, although I tried. That’s on me, not her.

Why did I pick this up?

I helped out with the book’s cover reveal back in November 2024, and picked it up when it came because it sounded fun. And it was.

But what led me to finally getting around to it was The 2026 BookTempter’s TBR Challenge prompt, “Treat yourself to a book that is not from your usual genre. Expand your minds!”

So, what did I think about An Icelandic Adventure?

One—it was a perfectly pleasant read. Bavey writes with a light, conversational touch—and did make me grin a few times. I do wonder about the level of detail when it comes to what was eaten, restroom breaks, and whatnot—and then the relative lack of detail when it comes to descriptions of some of the attractions.

Two, it felt like sitting down with a friend describing a family vacation—you can enjoy it, but not really get invested in it. Particularly if it’s somewhere you’re not terribly interested in visiting yourself.

Three, despite those two thoughts—there’s a reason this is not “a usual genre” for me—I really don’t have a desire to track down more things like this. It’s really not for me. Which isn’t to say that if Bavey, or some other aquaintence/friend, writes something like this in the future that I won’t pick it up (and likely have fun), but I’m not going hunting for them.

I do recommend it for a quick, pleasant read—full of nice tips if you’re visiting Iceland, including some great links in the back to various places.

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Parks and Rec by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong is worth at least 4,999 Candles in the Wind

By HCNewton

On September 10, 2026

In Non-Fiction

Parks and Rec:
The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America

by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

DETAILS:
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: April 7, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Length: 268 pg.
Read Date: August 13-28, 2026

What does the Dust Jacket Flap Say About Parks and Rec?

More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming staple. It’s beloved for its jokes, characters, and expressions—the show even created a now widely observed holiday, Galentine’s Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the authoritative history of the show, which is as full of humor, optimism, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself.

Through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office’s success and Obama-inspired optimism, how producers assembled one of TV’s most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic.

Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work.

The Heart of the Book

The subtitle tells the reader what to look for: “The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America.” But it’d be clear without that. The Introduction, as it should, points you in the right direction, but the ninth chapter, “‘A Singularly Compelling Representation of the Liberal Spirit’: Political Philosophy in Parks and Rec,'” is Armstrong cutting loose and saying most of what she wants to say about the show, what she’s been slipping in here and there throughout.

The final chapter, “‘Rupture and Repair’: Parks and Rec Meets the Modern Moment,” comes close to that—it focuses on the lasting impact of the show, the popularity on streaming (especially during the pandemic years of 2020/2021), as well as the brief reunion show during the early days of the pandemic.

It felt to me that these two chapters were what Armstrong really wanted to talk about, and she did the rest of the research and writing as an excuse to get them on paper. I’m sure that’s not true, but it really felt that way to me. Honestly, I’d have taken more of Chapter 9—either as a lengthier chapter or with a follow-up chapter on a similar theme. One, because they did seem like Armstrong’s voice and perspective came out clearer there than in the other chapters—but also because I think she probably had more to say on the topic.

My one question about it, however, is the placement. After a few chapters focusing on the individual seasons, we cut away for a look at the political philosophy—before returning for the last two seasons. It was jarring to be taken out of the BTS of the seasons for this discussion, and then jarring to go back to it. There’s a little overlap with the themes of the chapters on either side of it, but it wasn’t enough for me to feel comfortable. It also seems like a good wrap-up chapter before the last chapter.

The One Drawback

Armstrong—as I’m sure she was trained to do—keeps the prose straightforward and fairly dry. Yes, it’s clear that she loves the show, knows a lot about it (probably before her research, too), and appreciates the humor.

But none of that humor comes through. Compare that to What’s Next, about The West Wing (a drama), the authors are joking throughout—about the actors, the characters, stories/scenes. But this book about a comedy? Outside of the foreword, it’s practically without humor (it might even be more than practically, but I might have forgotten a little)

Although, if you really want all that, you can check out Jim O’Heir’s Welcome to Pawnee.

The Foreword

I don’t want to say too much about Nick Offerman’s foreword other than it’s possibly the best one I’ve read this year. It’s funny and heartfelt—it’s everything a fan wants to read a cast member from a beloved show say about that beloved show.

So, what did I think about Parks and Rec?

This was a strong and loving tribute to the show, the spirit of the show, and the ideals it was built on. What Armstrong gained from the interviews and relayed was great. Sure, some of it differs from, if not downright contradicts, what I’ve heard in interviews with various cast members—but that probably says more about the cast’s individual memories than it does Armstrong’s work. (it’s probably safer to believe her version)

One of the primary things I judge a book about a TV show on is: does it make me want to watch the show? Yes, yes it does. Granted, almost anything does—but this book really made me want to pull out my Blu-Ray box set and ignore the world for a couple of days.

I gained a greater appreciation for a lot of what the writers and actors were trying to accomplish; I loved some of the BTS material about episodes/scenes that mean a lot to me. And hearing about the appreciation that the cast had for each other, that guest stars had for their experiences, and that the writers and crew had for the project, just made me enjoy it all the more.

If you’re a fan of the show—or think you should be one—grab this.

Detained: A boy’s journal of survival and resilience by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales

By HCNewton

On August 14, 2026

In (Auto)Biography, Non-Fiction

Detained: A boy’s journal of survival and resilience

by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales

DETAILS:
Publisher: Atria/Primero Sueno Press
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Length: 241 pg.
Read Date: July 20-August 1, 2026

The Politics of Immigration

Is something that I won’t be addressing. And really, neither does this book, no matter what your first impressions are. (I had similar ones, too) Yes, the primary author clearly acted in a way that indicates a certain perspective on it—as much as a 13-year-old from Honduras might have one.

Anyway, the book isn’t about that. I’m not going to talk about that either—and I will trash any comments that do, too.

But enough of that:

What’s Detained About?

After his grandmother died, 13-year-old David Esperanza tries to provide for himself and his cousin in their small Honduran home. His parents went to the States when David was so young he can’t remember them, really. Aside from the weekly phone calls, anyway.

David finally admits he can’t make enough money to keep them fed and housed, so he and his cousin decide to join his parents in Nashville. David doesn’t relate this information to them, sure they’d forbid it. But he feels that he has no choice. They have great misconceptions about how long their journey will take, but it doesn’t take long for them to learn that lesson.

They stop in Guatemala to spend a day or two with an aunt, who sends her two sons with them for many of the same reasons. Hope for work, hope for food, hope for peace exists in the U.S., not where they live.

It’s not easy to get through Mexico—but they manage, relatively unscathed. One cousin has to turn back, but the rest make it. They get separated on the other side of the border and David spends months bouncing around from one facility to the next, waiting to learn what will happen to him. Throughout it all, he journals as often as he can.

Those journals—cleaned up and filled out a little bit—make up this book. Telling his story from before his grandmother’s death through his days in the various facilities.

Well, This is Just Too Eerie

So, so, so many of the events that happen to David and his cousins on their journey North—and what happens to David when he crosses the border felt familiar.

There’s a young character in Winslow’s Cartel trilogy who goes through so many similar things—I believe he’s sent North by his mother to prevent him from being forcibly initiated into a gang, so he can live with his aunt and uncle (it’s been a few years, so forgive me if my details are wrong). But the more exciting events on the walk/ride through Guatemala and Mexico are pretty much what befell David and his cousins (except condensed into one person), and a good deal of the events in the States were similar, too.

I have to wonder if Esperanza was interviewed by Winslow—although I can’t imagine that his experiences are all that unique, either. Anyway, it was just one of those parallels that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

A local bookstore was selling this as a fundraiser for a charity that I felt interested in supporting—and the book looked like it could be interesting, too.

I kept reading because I wanted to see how the kid came through it all—and maybe how. I wanted to see how many adults treated him decently, how he clung to and/or found some hope…something.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

On July 13, 2018—roughly two and a half months after he was apprehended by Immigration officers—David wrote:

…ever since this morning, I’ve been thinking a lot about a story in the Biblia that Padre Juan talked about at church once in Naranjito. It’s about a man who gets beat up and thrown in a ditch by a gang, just like what happened to Damián. He’s hurt and lying in this ditch, and a priest walks past without helping him, because it’d be too much work or he’s afraid it’s a trap or he doesn’t want to get his clothes bloody or whatever. The man only gets saved when a buen Samaritano stops to help him. In a way, even though the priest didn’t do anything, he was just as bad, or almost as bad, as the gang that beat the man up. Padre Juan says the priest in the story was bad because he didn’t do anything. I thought it was interesting that Padre Juan told us about it, even though the bad person is a priest like him.

The point is, there are two ways you can hurt people. You can hurt a person actively, like by punching them or stealing from them or whatever. But you can also hurt a person passively, by refusing to give them help when they need it, or by pretending you don’t see them, or by acting like they don’t exist.

Since leaving Naranjito, there have been a few adults who have tried to hurt me actively—like the hombres del cartel who shot at us while we were riding La Bestia, or the pissed-off Migra guys who put me and my cousins in a refrigerator to freeze half to death. And all that was horrible, obviously. But in a way, when someone hurts you actively, the damage is mostly just physical. Back home, gangs are a fact of life, and even though I was always lucky—I was never directly targeted until the cartel chased me off La Bestia—there’s always a risk that someone will hurt you in an active way. But that doesn’t give me this horrible, whole-body feeling of worthlessness. In Naranjito, I never saw anyone get passively hurt. I’m sure some kids had parents and family who were bad to them, but in some ways, anyone’s kids were like everyone’s kids. Ifa kid was hungry, obviously it was their parents’ job to feed them, but if thelr parents were missing for some reason, the rest of the pueblo wouldn’t just let the kid starve to death.

Since crossing the border though, until breakfast this morning, I don’t think a single adult in los Estados Unidos would have cared if I’d starved. In los Estados Unidos, the passive pain has been the worst feeling of all. Passive pain is a little harder to explain than active pain, but I’ll try;

It hurts in a different way. The adults who have tried to actively hurt me aren’t as bad as all the adults who stand around, seeing what’s happening doing nothing. Looking bored. This has been everywhere since I got to el Norte. There have been a million examples: the woman behind the desk at oficina de la Migra who called Papa and filled out my registration on her computer before her buddies in green uniforms stuck me in a refrigerator. The bus drivers who shuttled me and a vehicle full of innocent kids from one kind of jail to another and never stopped to ask what we did to deserve this, why we weren’t in school, why we weren’t with our parents, why we were crying, why we were dirty, why my foot was oozing blood and pus and stinking up the entire bus like roadkill. The servers in the cafeteria who see this food is making us sick but won’t do anything about it, who won’t let us grab another box of Frosted Flakes. The worst of all are the tíchers, these useless tíchers who call us by our bed numbers, these grown-ups who speak fluent English and could really do something to help us, but who just stand around looking tired and annoyed while kids like me are kept from our parents for no reason, tíchers who don’t sound any alarms when nine and ten-year-olds are passing out on the campo de fútbol because they’re afraid to drink water, because they’re afraid to use the bathroom.

Sometimes it makes me want to grab a piece of cardboard and write I’m a kid, do something on it. It makes me want to grab a megaphone and scream “I’m a person! I’m supposed to matter!” But more often, it makes me wonder if maybe I don’t matter, it makes me want to collapse, it makes me want to give up, it makes me want to melt into my bunk, it makes me want to climb down the porta-potty pit and dissolve in the chemicals. It makes me never want to look anyone in the eye again.

The hope-giving thing there is that “until this morning”—but that event (a tícher letting them have an extra serving of Frosted Flakes—without knowing that was unacceptable) isn’t common. This book doesn’t paint a particularly pleasant picture of humanity—especially in the United States.

So, what did I think about Detained?

As I said at the outset, this is not a book about Immigration politics. It’s about how we treat people—particularly children—who have been apprehended by Immigration officers. It’s about how a children are treated little better than animals—despite everyone assuring them, in practically a gaslighting way, “You’re safe.” A sentence that I can’t believe David would ever believe again.

There are moments of joy, of relief, of hope. David’s first experience with Elote, the day before they cross the border brought a smile to my face (and made me crave some). And there are more moments with that tícher above. Like, in Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America, there are moments of friendship and happiness to be found in the camps, too.

Is the writing the best? No. But it’s based on a semi-literate (even in his native language), barely educated 13-year-old’s journals—you’re not going to find Gabriel García Márquez-level prose here.

But the story David tells is engaging, gripping, heartbreaking, and tension-filled. You will get drawn in very quickly and you won’t be able to stop reading until the end. You won’t be able to stop rooting for him—even if you’re not crazy about his choices (or downright disapprove), it’s more than easy to understand them.

The book will exercise your compassion. It’s definitely worth the (minimal) effort to read—and you’ll find it rewarding. I strongly commend it to your attention.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

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The Irresponsible Reader On…Self-Published Non-Fiction

By HCNewton

On July 21, 2026

In Books, Miscellany, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

(updated 7/21/26)

From the first moment that people did the strange thing of asking me to talk about their books on my blog, I’ve been impressed by the quality of a lot of what’s been published by authors going out on their own, taking all the risks, shouldering all the responsibility, and doing all the work to get their words, their dreams, their blood, sweat, and tears on to the page (paper or electronic). This should be celebrated—it’s definitely appreciated, as we’re trying to show this week.

As part of this week-long celebration, I’m continuing my habit of highlighting the self-published works that I’ve blogged about over the last few years (or meant to blog about, but at least read)—just a sentence or two. Hopefully, this’ll be enough to make you click on the link to the full post. Beyond that, it’d be great if I inspired you to add a few of these to your TBR. Also, be sure you check out the other posts over at the SPAAW Hub.

Today I’m focusing on Self-Published Non-Fiction—which are primarily memoirs at their core, it’s what the authors do with the memoirs that makes these really stand out. But there are a few other things, too.

bullet Life and Death Behind the Brick and Razor: Code Red Diamond by Isaac Alexis, MD—A prison doctor uses his experiences to give suggestions for a healthy/healthier life. (my post about it)
bullet Life Lessons by Titan as told to Melaney Taylor Auxier—Illustrated by photos of the dog himself, Titan teaches about friends, making mistakes, eating well, being grateful, that sort of thing. (my post about it)
bullet How Not to Be an *SS: Essays on Becoming a Good & Safe Man by Andrew J. Bauman—Bauman calls men to an authentic, Biblical masculinity—one built on humility, kindness, and service. While offering concrete ways to set aside patterns of abuse and neglect. (my post about it)
bullet Kneading Journalism: Essays on baking bread and breaking down the news by Tony Ganzer—This is a collection of essays about the state of journalism, how people relate to and view the media we consume, and what the future may hold. Oh, and bread recipes, of course. It makes sense in context (and is a really great idea). (my post about it)
bullet Grammar Sex and Other Stuff by Robert Germaux — quick essays with humor and heart (my post about it)
bullet More Grammar Sex: Essays About Life and Stuff by Robert Germaux — more quick essays with humor and heart. (I apparently didn’t post about this…but basically see what I said about the previous book here )
bullet No Problem, Mr. Walt: Building a Boat, Rebuilding a Life, & Discovering China by Walt Hackman—Hackman was one of the first self-published authors to reach out to me, and I’m so glad he did. A fascinating read about a man deciding to have an authentic Chinese junk built for him to use as a houseboat in California. (my post about it)
bullet Fifth Sparrow Rising by Cindi Hartley—A little bit a bit of Hartley’s personal story and faith, a little bit of the experiences through some of the hardest parts of her life, and things she;s learned through it all. All told in the hope that she can show others they are “not alone and that there is a way to find light again, as well as be a light, even when one has lived through darkness.”
bullet Finding Hope in Hard Things: A Positive Take on Suffering by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—The central premise is that God uses the “hard things” in life to shape us into the people he wants us to be, and uses some of the hard things in his life as case studies to demonstrate how they were used so the reader is equipped to look at their own lives and see the purpose in their suffering. (my post about it)
bullet The Great Lie: What All of Hell Wants You to Keep Believing by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—Paired with Hibbs’ characteristic clear prose and gift with language and illustrations, Hibbs reminds the reader that God is always speaking to us, through both the Creation and His Word. (my post about it)
bullet In Divine Company by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—Pierce’s treatment of prayer focuses on the communicative nature of God and His image bearers and then nurturing that in our lives to improve our prayer. (my post about it)
bullet Struck Down but Not Destroyed: Living Faithfully with Anxiety by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—Drawing on what he’s learned from over 12 years of anxiety, Hibbs talks about learning to see what God’s purpose in the suffering is (anxiety disorders specifically, but easily transferable to other types), understanding that His hand is guiding all things—including our problems—so how do we in faith (without denying the suffering) rest in faith. (my post about it)
bullet And Drink I Did: One Man’s Story of Growing Through Recovery by Jay Keefe—It’s all there in the subtitle, Keefe tells about his OCD, his alcoholic days, his getting sober, and how he’s trying to help others since then. Powerful stuff. (my post about it)
bullet If You Give A Mouse Metformin by Nikhil Krishnan, i Cenizal (Illustrator) — 1 part picture book parody, 1 part satire, 1 part good look at the pharmecutical process (the good and the bad) (my post about it)
bullet Killer Conversations with Rex Stout and John McAleer—a collection of interview snippets between Stout and his biographer touching on topics like: his writing, the Wolfe mysteries, plotting, the modern detective story, talking about other authors and more. (my post about it)
bullet How to Take Over the World: Practical Schemes and Scientific Solutions for the Aspiring Supervillain by Ryan North—A tongue-in-cheek way to talk about some of the most advanced science around and how it can (and in some ways is) be used to destroy the world. (my post about it)
bullet The Genius’ Guide to Bad Writing by R.T. Slaywood, R.C. Martinez—A guide for the writer who is tired of success and wants to reclaim their lives from answering the siren call of fortune and fame that comes to every author. Slaywood and Martinez have a 10-Step program guaranteed to ruin a novel or two and stop a career dead in its spot. (my post about it)
bullet Uber Diva by Charles St. Anthony—a humorist writes a memoir of a Lyft/Uber driver mixed with a guide to starting/surviving/thriving as one in a tough market. St. Anthony also has a few other books out now that are probably worth a read. (my post about it)
bullet Flying Alone: A Memoir by Beth Ruggiero York—A female pilot’s memoir of her path from flight school to flying for TWA (now that I have a son learning to fly, some of her more harrowing experiences keep flashing through the back of my mind). (my post about it)

If you're a self-published author that I've featured on this blog and I didn't mention you in this post and should have. I'm sorry (unless you're this guy). Please drop me a line, and I'll fix this. I want to keep this regularly updated so I keep talking about Self-Published Authors.

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club