The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold ISBN-13: 9781328663818 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Released: April 9, 2019

Source: ARC review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Miscast in the media for nearly 130 years, the victims of Jack the Ripper finally get their full stories told in this eye-opening and chilling reminder that life for middle-class women in Victorian London could be full of social pitfalls and peril.

The "canonical five" women murdered by Jack the Ripper have always been dismissed as society's waste, their stories passed down to us wrapped in a package of Victorian assumptions and prejudice. But social historian Hallie Rubenhold sets the record straight in The Five. In reality, only two of the victims were prostitutes, and Rubenhold has uncovered entirely new research about them all--in some cases, material no one has ever seen before.

The Five tells for the first time the true stories of these fascinating women. It delves into the Victorian experience of poverty, homelessness, and alcoholism, but also motherhood, childbirth, sexuality, child-rearing, work, and marriage, all against the fascinating, dark, and quickly changing backdrop of nineteenth-century London. From rural Sweden to the wedding of Queen Victoria, from the London of Charles Dickens to the factories of the Industrial Revolution and the high-class brothels of the West End, these women were not just victims but witnesses to the vagaries and vicissitudes of the Victorian age.


My Review:
The Five focused on the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper, not their deaths. The author researched what's know about the woman, from birth until death. In addition to information about their lives, we learn about the times--how marriage laws, housing, workhouses, etc., worked at that time. How respectable working-class woman with families ended up sleeping on the streets, vulnerable to attack. I found the information very interesting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

100 Dives of a Lifetime by Carrie Miller

100 Dives of a Lifetime by Carrie Miller ISBN-13: 9781426220074 Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: National Geographic Society Released: Feb. 26, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Explore 100 breathtaking scuba diving sites around the world--from the cenotes of Mexico to the best wreck in Micronesia--through stunning National Geographic photography, expert tips, and cutting-edge travel advice.

Filled with more than 350 images from National Geographic, 100 Dives of a Lifetime provides the ultimate bucket list for ardent scuba divers and aspirational travelers alike. From diving with manta rays at night in Kona, Hawaii, and swimming with hammerheads of Cocos Island in Costa Rica to exploring caves in Belize's Lighthouse Atoll and diving beneath the ice floes of Antarctica, this exquisite inspirational book is filled with beautiful imagery, marine life guides, trusted travel tips, and expert diving advice from world-famous National Geographic divers and explorers like Brian Skerry, Jessica Cramp, and David Doubilet. Organized by diving experience and certification level--from beginner open water and wreck dives to expert cold water and cave dives--each location offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the magic of our world's oceans--from your armchair or with your scuba gear in tow.


My Review:
100 Dives of a Lifetime talked about 100 dives, mostly beginner or intermediate skill, but also some expert dives. They range from reef dives to wrecks, canyons, and caves. There were lovely photos--usually one per dive, but sometimes several for one area. Each suggested dive area was described plus it had information about what you'll see, water temperature, visibility, and depth.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Down By the Sea by Claudia Nice

Down By the Sea by Claudia Nice ISBN-13: 9781440301131 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: North Light Books Released: April 9, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Nobody captures seascapes quite like Claudia Nice. In this guide, she shares her approach to creating dynamic watercolor compositions textured with pen & ink, acrylics and gouache. More than 60 step-by-step demos, simple enough for beginners, teach how to create all sorts of beach scenery, from waves crashing, to people relaxing while the sun slowly sets, and more.


My Review:
Down By the Sea is an art instruction book with a focus on sea scenes. The author focused on several different types of sea scenes, from tropical beaches to mud flats. She mainly used watercolor, but she also provided instruction on acrylic, pen and ink, and a mix of these in one painting.

She described the color mixes and the process for creating different scenes. She provided step-by-step instructions on how to draw animals and humans (including children) and how to draw buildings, boats, and such in proportion. She provided step-by-step instructions and tips on how to create waves, splashes, rocks, vegetation, good composition, and more.

Since she teaches the process, a reader following the instructions can use the same process to create their own scenes. The instruction is basic enough to be helpful to a beginner while providing tips that could be helpful to an intermediate artist. Overall, I'd recommend this useful art book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

How to Do Things by William Campbell, Brian Barth

How to Do Things by William Campbell (Editor), Brian Barth (Foreword) ISBN-13: 9781452171678 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Chronicle Books Released: April , 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For anyone who wants to learn how to catch a runaway pig, mend a fence post, milk a cow, or throw an unforgettable barn party, this engaging volume delivers timeless advice on accomplishing tasks big and small around the house, garden, and farm. Featuring original text and illustrations from the 1919 first edition, this 100th-anniversary volume presents a new generation of readers with expert guidance on every facet of homesteading in a very handsomely crafted package. With projects that range from practical (ridding a yard of poison ivy) to downright bemusing (organizing a potato peeling contest), this delightful book is equal parts useful and entertaining. An ode to self-reliance brimming with wit, wisdom, and nostalgia, this is a must-have for anyone who enjoys doing things with their own two hands.


My Review:
How to Do Things was published in 1919 as a collection of the best articles from The Farm Journal. It's an interesting look at farming at a time when technology was changing things. They talked about a wide variety of topics, like how to best do various farming activities (relating to cattle, pigs, chickens, and horses) and pest control, or the most efficient way to wash dishes or clothing, or how to build an ice house or cellar, or the best layout for a barn or porch, or food recipes and information on canning, carving and preserving meat, or a long list of indoor and outdoor games (which usually only used common objects). It's an interesting read for those curious about how things used to be and, in some cases, useful advice on how to do things even now.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.