March might be known for madness, but around here it brought motivation! Our No Chapter Left Behind crew kept the pages turning and made serious progress on those many books adorning our shelves. Each month, members select books they already own (because let’s face it, those TBR piles aren’t shrinking themselves). Optional themes add a…
February might be the shortest month but it’s not too short to make progress on our overflowing book shelves! Here’s a roundup of what we read in the No Chapter Left Behind Book Club in February. Each month, members choose books from their own shelves—no pressure, just progress—and have the option to follow a fun…
The first month of the year is the perfect time to dive into the books we’ve been meaning to read, and the No Chapter Left Behind Book Club kicked off the year with an inspiring selection! Each month, members choose books from their own shelves—no pressure, just progress—and have the option to follow a fun…
If you give a widow a house, she’ll roll it off into the country… History is full of odd little stories like this one. Most of them will remain hidden in the past but every now and then, one of them is discovered, dusted off, and brought into the light of the present day to…
Does this idea intrigue you? If you passed by a museum of ordinary people on your next vacation would you stop inside to see what it’s all about? I definitely would! I love all museums but I hold a soft spot in my heart for the small, quirky museums dotted around the countryside. Museums created…
Everyone knows about the Pony Express. It’s one of the most romanticized failed business ventures in American history. I am one of many Americans fascinated by the legend of the Pony Express. I have visited a Pony Express museum, and a Pony Express station, and even sent letters via the Pony Express. Clearly, I am…
“A good puzzle makes the solver feel smart.” David Kwong A Brief History of the Crossword Puzzle The first crossword puzzle was created by journalist Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World on Sunday, December 21, 1913. Other publications also began to publish similar puzzles and it had become a popular fad in…
In a recent poll, twenty percent of the people said that they wanted a pet giraffe. I already liked giraffes myself but after researching these stories a bit more, I am definitely part of the giraffe-loving crowd. Of course, I was also ready to get a camel after researching them a few months ago. Do…
West with Giraffes is an emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. “Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…” Woodrow Wilson Nickel, West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge Official Synopsis Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his…
Once upon a time, I met a camel named Ali and he told me all about his time in the US Army Camel Corps. He was born in Egypt but was captured by humans and loaded into the belly of a ship that spent 3 months sailing from Egypt to Texas. Sounds pretty unbelievable, doesn’t…
Did you say horse diving? Yes, apparently horse diving used to be a thing. It was the brainchild of Dr. Carver who claims he once had a horse that loved jumping off bridges into the water. Horse Diving eventually became a headline act at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City and in many smaller fairs…
If you’re like me, you’ve seen The Wizard of OZ movie many times. But have you ever stopped to wonder how it came to be? It turns out that The Wizard of OZ has quite the backstory and history! I don’t remember now why I decided to read Finding Dorothy. My to-be-read pile is quite…