"Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren

Lab Girl is a deeply moving, personal, at times heartbreaking and always candid memoir and account of one woman's love for science. This small non-fiction book contains some of the most lyrical passages devoted to plant life I have ever read. Jahren candidly talks about her struggle to make meaningful personal connections, devotes pages to efforts of getting her mental illness under control, and always warmly talks about Bill, her fellow scientist and life-long friend and lab brother.

I loved the way she described her pregnancy, childbirth and being a mother. Those pages are filled with the wonder of unconditional, immeasurable love and the horror of the accompanying deepest insecurities and fear. Jahren is an amazing writer. To pull off such a book, which is largely about her life-long fascination and study of trees and other plants, is nothing short of amazing.

She also delves into the intricacies of obtaining scarce grant funding, and the challenges female scientists face in a male-dominated field. This is the first book I've read where a real-life scientist talks about her curiosity-driven research and all the attendant difficulties. Since her work has no military application and does not pursue any pharmaceutical breakthroughs, her ability to secure research funding was unbelievably limited. I loved this book, the writing, the message. It all felt genuine and heartfelt. 5 out 5 stars.

"The Winter of the Witch" by Katherine Arden

The Winter of the Witch is book 3 in Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy. I read and reviewed the first book The Bear and the Nightingale on this blog over a year ago. Having now read the entire trilogy, I can confidently say that this is one of my favorite fantasy series. The trilogy is based on Russian fairy tales and folklore, and is set in the 14th century Muscovy. The main character Vasilissa (or Vasya) comes from the line of women who are able to see pagan spirits and deities, which gradually weaken as the Christian faith becomes more dominant throughout Russia. Vasya is certain that the old beliefs can co-exist with the new ones in harmony. However, not everyone considers her views and unusual abilities to be harmless.

The last book in my opinion was perfect. All the various plot lines were brought together and tied nicely off. The historic setting, which frankly was vague in the first two books, became crystal clear. And the Battle at Kulikovo, whose historic significance is in the unification of Russia under the banner of Moscow, was the perfect way to bring all of Russia (its saints, warriors and pagan spirits) together in fight for independence from the Tartar yoke. The way Vasya and Morozko's relationship evolved was also satisfying to me as a reader. And even the demise of the evil priest came about in a meaningful way. I highly recommend the entire trilogy. It was clearly well thought-out, has an elaborate and polished plot line and interesting characters. I personally am already planning a re-read of the series. 5 out 5 stars.

The Classics Challenge: "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

In an effort to start working on my goals of reading more classics this year, in January I picked up Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. The book was originally published in 1903 so this will satisfy my challenge to read a classic published between 1900 and 1969. The story is about the life and adventures of a dog named Buck. He is a crossbreed between a Saint Bernard and a shepherd, whose early years were spent leading a leisurely life in Santa Clara Valley, CA, on the estate of a wealthy local judge. Buck’s life changes dramatically when one day he is kidnapped and transported up North to be a working sled dog as the gold rush strikes the Klondike region of Canada.

The book relates the hardships Buck goes through and the lessons he learns along the way. Some parts of the book describe the brutality of the life on the trail in vivid detail. Life was hard for both men and animals, and not all humans had the talent to understand and bond with dogs. The reckless and the careless are mercilessly punished by “the wild” – the nature and the hardships of climate and living conditions. For Buck, the return to the wild and getting in touch with his animal nature is a slow process, but one he masters brilliantly. In addition, the book shows a beautiful bond a man and an animal can forge under the hardest of circumstances.

I ended up really enjoying this short book and would highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.