Tag: #non-fiction

Posted in #BookTours

My Next Breath: A Memoir

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The gripping and inspiring story of acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner’s near-fatal accident, and what he learned about inner strength, endurance and hope as he overcame insurmountable odds to recover, one breath at a time.

Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner was the second most googled person in 2023… and not for his impressive filmography. His searing portrayals on film ranged from an Iraq-based army bomb technician in The Hurt Locker and a Boston bank robber in The Town to a crooked Camden mayor in American Hustle before he became heir to the Jason Bourne franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Amongst other iconic roles, he also captured hearts as fan-favorite comic book marksman Hawkeye in seven Marvel films.

Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.

In this debut memoir, Jeremy writes in blistering detail about his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between reader and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.

The Reviews

Amber B
5.0 out of 5 stars 
Inspiring story of a miracle! Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2025
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Wow! My intention for the night was to just sit down and briefly page through the book, looking at the pictures and knowing I didn't quite have the time to read tonight. However, page 1 sucked me right in and now I'm at Chapter 4, page 59 and might very well read this in one sitting tonight. I've been a huge Jeremy Renner fan since SWAT, Tag is my go-to comedy movie when I need a good laugh, and being an archery enthusiast myself, Hawkeye instantly became my favorite Avenger. I followed him on social media before this happened so once he started posting his recovery, I checked in frequently to help heal my broken heart I felt for him. The way he details every second of that gruesome day makes you feel like you're right there with him on the ice, holding his hand, cheering him on and reminding him to breathe and stay alive for his beloved family. I watched him on Diane Sawyer so it's easy to visualize the area he's describing and the treacherous conditions of the roads, but hearing his own words brings to life the horrific trauma he endured. It is perfectly written and very easy to follow, and I can't put it down. We already knew it was indescribable what he went through, but to see it in words makes me just cringe in my chair and thank God repeatedly that he survived and is doing so remarkably well! What tenacity he has to pull through and focus on everything important in his life, and not wallow in torture and give up. He's a superhero on screen, but seems he is the very definition of it in real life. His family is superb, his love for his daughter makes my heart explode (I have 3 girls, I know the feeling!), and his will to not only live but to thrive is beyond admirable. I'll likely be finishing this tonight, and anxiously awaiting Mayor season 4 to cheer him on! Get this book and be prepared to read it all at once! God bless, Jeremy Renner. The world is so happy you are still here. Much love!

Update: it's 2:00am and I read the whole thing today. He sure didn't have to share this story with the public, but I can imagine perhaps it was therapeutic to relive it, but likely not always in a good way as it's got to be so hard detailing the worst experience of your life. The book had my emotions all over the place; I laughed along with his stubbornness as I could feel it emanating off the pages, and I understood that desperate need to escape the hospital. I teared up as he described the anguish and guilt he felt for "causing" this, though I can't imagine his family holds him guilty for it. I felt so awful for the excruciating pain he had to endure. If I didn't know what the future held for him, this book would have been so much more emotionally difficult to read, but having seen him on Mayor season 3 and numerous times on talk shows and social media, I at least felt relief knowing how well he pulls through before I even got to those parts of the book. However, it's clear that it didn't come without a hefty mental, emotional and physical price tag that he paid in his recovery. Eternally grateful you are still here and proud of you for living with a new outlook and so much positivity. You are an inspiration!

Posted in #BookTours

The Blue & Gray Almanac: The Civil War in Facts & Figures, Recipes & Slang

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree
  • “Help[s] readers to examine this period in history with a more cultural perspective than other books have . . . clear, concise, and crisp . . . fascinating” (San Francisco Book Review).
  • • During the final days of the war, some Richmond citizens would throw “Starvation Parties,” soirees at which elegantly attired guests gathered amid the finest silver and crystal tableware, though there were usually no refreshments except water.
  • • Union Rear-Admiral Goldsborough was nicknamed “Old Guts,” not so much for his combativeness as for his heft—weighing about three hundred pounds, he was described as “a huge mass of inert matter.”
  • • 30.6 percent of the 425 Confederate generals, but only 21.6 percent of the 583 Union generals, had been lawyers before the war.
  • • In 1861, J.P. Morgan made a huge profit by buying five thousand condemned US Army carbines and selling them back to another arsenal—taking the army to court when they tried to refuse to pay for the faulty weapons.
  • • Major General Loring was reputed to have so rich a vocabulary that one of the men remarked he could “curse a cannon up hill without horses.”
  • • Many militia units had a favorite drink—the Charleston Light Dragoons’ punch took around a week to make, while the Chatham Artillery required a pound of green tea leaves be steeped overnight.
  • • There were five living former presidents when the Civil War began, and seven veterans of the war, plus one draft dodger, went on to serve as president.
  • These stories and many more can be found in this treasury of anecdotes, essays, trivia, and much more—including numerous illustrations—that bring this historical period to vivid life.
Posted in #BookTours, About Me

Standing Bear Is a Person

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The True Story of a Native American’s Quest for Justice

In 1877, Standing Bear and his Indian people, the Ponca, were forcibly removed from their land in northern Nebraska. In defiance, Standing Bear sued in U.S. District Court for the right to return home. In a landmark case, the judge, for the first time in U.S. history, recognized Native American rights-acknowledging that “Standing Bear is a person”-and ruled in favor of Standing Bear. Standing Bear Is a Person is the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of that landmark 1879 court case, and the subsequent reverberations of the judge’s ruling across nineteenth-century America. It is also a story filled with memorable characters typical of the Old West-the crusty and wise Indian chief, Standing Bear, the Army Indian-fighting general who became a strong Indian supporter, the crusading newspaper editor who championed Standing Bear’s cause, and the “most beautiful Indian maiden of her time,” Bright Eyes, who became Standing Bear’s national spokesperson. At a time when America was obsessed with winning the West, no matter what, this is an intensely human story and a small victory for compassion. It is also the chronicle of an American tragedy: Standing Bear won his case, but the court’s decision that should have changed everything, in the end, changed very little for America’s Indians.

Editorial Reviews 

From Booklist

In 1877 the Ponca Indians were forcibly and illegally removed from their fertile croplands in Nebraska and taken to barren land in Oklahoma by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Standing Bear, a clan leader, told the BIA that the land was unsuitable for farming, and that the Ponca wished to return home. Their request was denied, and by the end of the year, 158 Ponca had died. Desperate, Standing Bear and 27 others decided to escape to the reservation of the Omaha, their cousins. Once there, Omaha chief Iron Eye, along with his daughter Susette, a school principal, met with Brigadier General George Crook, one of two white initiates to the Omaha Soldier Lodge brotherhood. These three then told their story to T. H. Tibbles, deputy editor of the Omaha Daily Herald, whose coverage inspired attorney John Lee Webster to represent Standing Bear. In re-creating this important chapter in Native American history, Dando-Collins captures the full drama of Standing Bear’s struggle, which culminates in a riveting courtroom scene in which the judge rules in his favor. Rebecca Maksel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Compelling and historically important…a fascinating read.” — Flaunt

“An inspiring and informative book [that] brings to light a heretofore unknown nugget of our heritage.” — Curled Up With a Good Book 12/6/04

“[A] remarkable history.” — Washington Times 2/20/05

“A taut tale…A great story.” — Roanoke Times 2/6/05

“Brisk but evocative…an eloquent reminder of a fight well fought.” — Kirkus Reviews 10/1/04

“A fascinating behind-the-scenes story.” — Arizona Daily Star 11/21/04

Amazon

Posted in From My Kitchen

82 Breakfast Recipes That Make It Easy to Rise and Shine

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Our Best Breakfast Ideas

Maybe it’s just us, but the thought of syrup-drenched pancakes (and some bacon and eggs on the side!) make it so much easier to spring out of bed and tackle the day. So, it’s no wonder that we’ve got more than a few great ideas for your morning meal. You’ll find something for everyone in this roundup, from healthy breakfasts that’ll keep you full and fueled to ones that you can make on the fly and enjoy as you’re running out the door. With easy recipes for muffins, French toast, breakfast casseroles and more there’s no reason you should ever have to skip breakfast again. Wondering where to start? Try a chaffle. A chaffle is a low-carb, cheese-and-egg-based waffle that’s taken the world by storm. One look at its fluffy texture and crispy edges and it’s easy to see why.

Food Network

Posted in My Likes and Dislikes

Robinson Crusoe, USN #BookReview

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Despite the title, this is a non-fiction book. It is what I consider to be a forgotten piece of American WWII Pacific history.

Let me tell you more. My husband and I were watching “Donovan’s Reef” the other day, and a section of the movie reminded me of this story. To my delight, I found it on Amazon.

The Beginning

Thanks to this speech, the world remembers what happened on December 7, 1941. What seems to have been lost is what happened the day that FDR gave this speech.

On December 8, 1941, the Japanese dropped their first bomb on American held Guam. As you can imagine, it caused quite a panic. Both the military and the civilians weren’t entire sure of how to react. What they did know is that they couldn’t hold out for long.

What Came Next

George Tweedy takes us inside what happened on the island after the Japanese took over until the time that the American’s returned. The story is told in an easy-to-read conversational style. You can feel everything that is happening around him as if you were really there. I loved it.

The Reviews

Yablonsky

5.0 out of 5 stars 
Great Book! Would recommend to anyone interested in knowing World War II history.

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

I've read this book twice now. I had heard about the basic story from my father saying to watch the movie "No Man is an Island" as it covers your Grandfather's history in the Navy. He was a Radio Operator and was one of the few that ran into the bush to escape capture by the Japanese when they attacked and captured Guam. The story is very riveting as it covers Tweed's run into the bush and how the Chamorros had helped him and the others. My Grandfather's death is described her also, which really got my attention. He was beheaded by the Japanese for unknown reasons, even the Navy records don't mention how he died, but George found the truth. After reading it, I have great respect for the Guamanians and what they endured to protect Tweed and the others. I've purchased several copies and sent as gifts and to family and all say the same things about it being such a great book and excellent true story.



The movie this is based on with Jeffrey Hunter was good, but there were extra Hollywood additions to the story. What Hollywood movie doesn't exaggerate the story to better the film or make it more exciting.



I hope you enjoyed the book as much as I did.
Stan

5.0 out of 5 stars 
I could NOT put it down!

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have not read a book from cover to cover in over 30+ years without stopping! This book was one I started reading one evening around 8:00 PM and only laid it down briefly when I finished it at 4:49 AM in the morning. It was riveting. Tweed the "Robin Crusoe" ran up against incredible dangers and difficulties I could not even comprehend. The ingenuity he possessed made Robin Crusoe look like small potatoes. He devised a way to create his own electricity for lights, make a radio, and an alarm system that was pure genius, furniture, and clothing in the 2 1/2 years he was in a dangerous situation. I was struck with the tenacity and sheer drive he had and will to live that this man possessed. This is a book to own and pass down to your children, grandchildren to read one day! This gripping story happened on Guam during WWII when the Japanese captured Guam. Tweed had a choice of surrendering or being taken prisoner by the Japanese invading forces. Tweed escaped into the countryside. Aided by Chamorro natives who risked their lives and the lives of their families to keep him alive and safe, Tweed survived for 2 1/2 years until he was eventually rescued by a U.S. Navy ship that came close to firing on him and ending his life. This was an incredible read. Period!
D. W. Young, Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars 
I would have attempted what Tweed accomplished.

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2019

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed 18 months of Navy duty on Guam some two years before the movie was released. I trust the book Tweed wrote is so much more real/accurate than that portrayed in the movie that was NOT EVEN filmed on Guam. A few have criticized Tweed for endangering the lives of the Chamorian occupants who helped him survive; perhaps even causing the Japanese occupiers to murder those who were suspected of shielding him. As much danger as Tweed was in during the 31 or so months he was surviving, a few captured US Navy personnel were extremely fortunate the Japanese never discovered the true nature of their mission.