Diligently researched, intriguing history says Western Roman Empire fell for lack of food. Whether the Western Roman Empire fell with a bang or a whimper—or fell at all—remains earnestly debated and somewhat nebulously questioned. In... Read More

Tales of women’s struggle for independence and self-worth in Southeast Asia are not uncommon, but April Tiang’s authentic storytelling and fearless treatment of a woman’s desire for love is an important contribution. In The Opera... Read More

The Gist of Life: Ain’t What it Was Book 2, by octogenarian Robert Perdue, considers diverse topics, most of which center on the “days of yore” and “modern social blight” from a traditional, circumspect vantage. Tinged with... Read More

"The Grip of Fear" is teen author Solur Zeng’s second novel, following the pattern of The Pilgrim’s Progress by personifying emotions and turning them into antagonists. Like his father, Luke is an inventor, and it is his life’s... Read More

Reading a memoir of a prison gang member is unusual fare for those completely unfamiliar with the correctional system of the United States. Violence? Check. Drugs? Check. Odd Nicknames? Check. Girlfriends? Check. Illegitimate children?... Read More

In the age of the fifteen-minute doctor’s appointment, it is difficult to conceive of medical treatment that lasts months, or even years. And yet, not all ills respond to quick cures. This is particularly true in the mental health... Read More

Max Xylander feels she has plenty of reasons to be angry. After surviving a serious illness, she still has to tolerate her obnoxious sister, parents who don’t understand her, and ignorant kids like the boy who just insulted her best... Read More