Summer Reads……Sort of

 1. The Beast in the Garden by David Baron.
This non-fiction book takes us to Boulder, Colorado.  If you love Colorado, this is a good book for you.  The story revolves around the unlikely but very real cougar encounters and attacks in the late 1980s.  David Baron worked for National Public Radio and is an award winning journalist.  I finished this book in 3 days.  

2. How Animals Grieve, by Barbara J. King.  I'm halfway through it but I can recommend it to animal lovers.  Scientific without being dull, she groups chapters by animal.  There is a vast difference between the reactions of some animals when they deal with the death of another in their species.   Rabbits grieve?  You'll think so after you read that chapter.  Monkeys carry their dead babies around for a week, or one for 46 days until it mummified.  
Not all animals seem to grieve…..
this is a fascinating look at an emotion we know too little about in the human race let alone the animal kingdom. 

3. Storm King by Lee Sandlin.  I'm halfway through and have to admit I skimmed the in-depth isobars chapter to get to the Peshtigo   account that is riveting.   There was a more devastating fire than the Chicago fire that took place in Wisconsin within 24 hours of Mrs .  O leary 's cows debacle.   Tornadoes of fire actually exist. 

One thing I was fascinated to read about was this:  the author tells a story of a man, who knowing the fires were going to break out, dug into the earth and buried valuable things and then covered them with ash and dirt.   

On my Hungarian side, there are two ornate clocks and a small dresser that were buried during the Chicago fire.  I have the dresser in my home.  I have never been able to validate that people really buried things during the Chicago Fire.   I was overjoyed to read this in the book.  Thanks Zach for a great read.

4. Finally, Gulp by Mary Roach is on my iPad   My first I book.
I had to put it down during the stomach flu.  Did it give me the stomach flu? nah.  It is another very interesting look at the history of the way we became  knowledgeable about the digestive tract. 
It is a good interesting read.  

So that's all I have for you.  All non -fiction.   If you read them, or have done so, I'd love to know what you thought. What are you reading?