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Elif Shafak’s There Are Rivers in the Sky, Alexis Pauline Gumbs’ Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde, and Moon Unit Zapa’s Earth to Moon all feature among the best reviewed books of the week. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home...

What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

As the last days of summer approach, we’re getting some great summer reading recaps. Most recently, three Bookshop.org members have rounded up their three favorite or recommended reads for summer. It’s a good mix of new, relatively new, and older releases. There are brilliant biographies, sobering sci-fi tales, and ravishing romances.

The 9 Best Books of the Summer, According to Bookshop.org

Louisville Public Media

NPR spoke with Appalachian fiction and nonfiction writers about this moment and how they are building a tapestry of what they know as home.

'Hillbilly Elegy' is back in the spotlight. These Appalachians write a different tale

InsideHook

August can be a bittersweet month, the point at which summer begins to wind down even as the weather turns ever more dank. With that in mind, our August book recommendations cover a lot of potential reactions to the month at hand. Looking for a gripping thriller to page through at the beach? We can help you there. In search of the perfect read for a new European soccer season? There’s something for that as well. Throw in memoir, cultural history and a retrospective of a beloved television show, and you have a reading list that should keep you busy this month.

The 10 Books You Should Be Reading This August

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Paisley Marten

This article may contain AI-generated images. The 19th century was a time of significant social and economic transformation, marked by the decline of feudal systems and the rise of industrialization. However, in many parts of Europe, particularly in Russia, serfdom persisted as a brutal and dehumanizing institution. This article provides a historically accurate and chronologically detailed account of serfdom in the 19th century, exploring its origins, conditions, and eventual abolition, with a look at its lingering effects up to the present day.

Serfdom in the 19th Century: A Condition Worse Than Slavery

Connecticut Public

It's time now for our regular science news roundup with our friends at NPR's Short Wave podcast, Regina Barber and Emily Kwong. Hey to both of you. EMILY KWONG, BYLINE: Hey, Ailsa. REGINA BARBER, BYLINE: Hey, Ailsa. CHANG: So you've brought us three science stories that caught your attention this...

This week's Short Wave news roundup

Interesting Engineering

Archaeologists uncovered a rare hoard of Persian gold coins in the ancient city of Notion in Turkey that most likely belonged to a wealthy mercenary soldier.

Pot filled with gold coins buried by soldier 2400-year-ago discovered

The Independent

 A famous portrait of King Henry VIII, long considered lost, has been found after an art historian spotted it in the background of a photo shared on social media.The painting in question was once part of a famous set of 22 portraits commissioned in the 1590s by tapestry maker Ralph Sheldon. The portrait hung originally in Weston House, Sheldon’s Warwickshire home, but barely a handful of paintings from the collection survive today.Art historian Adam Busiakiewicz, who works as a consultant for famous auction house Sotheby’s, spotted the painting in the background of a picture posted by the Warwickshire Lieutenancy...

Missing portrait of Henry VIII discovered after historian spots it in background of post on X

On October 26, 1881, the most famous Wild West battle took place, and it only lasted 30 seconds. This is thanks to Doc Holliday, a dentist, deputy, and outlaw. His story has inspired many books, music, TV shows, and movies. But how many of these fictional Doc Holliday stories are true?

Hollywood Westerns Lied To Us – Here’s The Truth About Doc Holliday (The Photos Are Chilling)

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Golden Glitter

The world of the paranormal continues to captivate and mystify, with recent reports of ghostly encounters, haunted locations, and unexplained phenomena coming in from various corners of the globe. As technology advances and the curiosity surrounding the supernatural grows, more individuals are diving into the eerie and often unsettling world of the paranormal. Here are some of the most intriguing recent developments and stories that have emerged in 2024.

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Paranormal: New Stories and Sightings in 2024

Los Angeles County, CA

Herbie J Pilato

As Alfalfa in the classic Our Gang/Little Rascals comedic feature film shorts-turned-TV-series, former child star Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer brought to the screen his unique brand of humor, coupled with an unmelodic voice, freckles, and a protruding hair cowlick. The Gang/Rascals franchise was later rebooted on the big screen with a cast of new young stars.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer: A Tragic Child Star Story of a Dog, a Few Dollars, and a Deadly Altercation

The majority are likely already familiar with the fighting that took place in the Pacific Theater, but the 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific shines a whole new light on the conflict and its major moments, as well as shares facts some mightn’t have been aware of. The show came...

Facts About ‘The Pacific’ That Prove It’s More Than Just a War Story

War History Online

Every conflict has its unsolved mysteries, including World War II. The following is a list of those that captivate historians to this day.

The World War II Mysteries That Are Still Haunting Us To This Day

Summary: Fernand Braudel’s book offers a vivid exploration of the harsh realities of pre-industrial life, from deadly wildlife encounters and frequent famines to the widespread use of primitive table manners. Braudel delves into the grim aspects of daily existence, highlighting the pervasive dangers and struggles that defined life before modern advancements. His work paints a stark picture of a world where survival was precarious, and comfort was a rare and costly luxury.

Grim Old Days: Fernand Braudel’s Structures of Everyday Life

You probably studied Native American culture in school, but chances are your teacher only covered a fraction of Indigenous history. Native American tradition and accomplishments are vast and steeped in incredible feats. From women warriors to your favorite movie snack, Native American tribes have contributed more to society than you...

19 Facts Many People Don’t Know About Native Americans

Arkansas State

In the mid-20th century, the treatment of Native Americans in the United States was fraught with systemic injustices and cultural erasure. One haunting example of this is a 1952 letterApril 18, 1952 letter. This letter provides a chilling glimpse into the commodification of Native children, illustrating the harsh realities faced by Indigenous communities.

The Stark Reality of Native American Treatment in the 1950s

CAROL KANE: (As Carla) Do you know that I taught music for 42 years, until they kicked me out of there last summer? [Expletive]. Forty-two years. JASON SCHWARTZMAN: (As Ben) Mrs. O'Connor. KANE: (As Carla) Wait, do I know you?. SCHWARTZMAN: (As Ben) Ben. Ben Gottlieb. Benjamin Gottlieb. Little Benny,...

Carol Kane on her new movie 'Between the Temples'

And just like that, after a summer that felt like it was entirely made up of heat waves and tropical storms, we are preparing for fall. I’m going to be real and say that, at first, I was scoffing a bit at the fall book lists I started seeing about a week ago. Weather forecasts still had a lot of us firmly in the 80s and 90s, temperature-wise, and outside was giving more iced tea than pumpkin spice.

The Biggest Book Club Books Coming Out This Fall

Singer and songwriter Shelby Lynne has known heartbreak and devastation for much of her life. There were tears when we spoke, but also some laughs. We began with a story that drives her and her music, and it is disturbing to hear. Nearly four decades ago, when Shelby Lynne was just 17, her father shot and killed her mother and then turned the gun on himself.

Shelby Lynne on her new album 'Consequences of the Crown'

Emily Standley Allard

Sharing a living space with someone on the daily is rarely a walk in the park. Everyone has their little strange quirks, moods and habits that can drive another person crazy. However, some zodiac signs are known for being particularly demanding or having personality traits that naturally make cohabitation a little more challenging to say the least. Let's see which zodiac signs are the most difficult to live with and tips with how to cope!

The 3 Most Demanding Zodiac Signs to Live With

NewsBreak

Harriet Constable on her historical fiction novel 'The Instrumentalist'

Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi has been famed for centuries. Anna Maria della Pieta has not. A new novel, she is the musician behind Vivaldi's more enduring...

Harriet Constable on her historical fiction novel 'The Instrumentalist'

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