A Painful (Re)Collection

Pauline Harmange remembers the difficult decision she (and her partner) made to terminate a pregnancy in this small but potent book. Her experience led her to tell not only her own story but those of other women. The result is, as one who thinks may expect, that one can feel conflicting emotions at the same time. And that despite sadness over what might have been, sometimes people are hanging on by a thread and a baby would break the tenuous hold one has on sanity and/or stability. The stories told here are raw and emotional, and definitely gave me something to think about. Just because it may have been the right decision at that time, it doesn't mean it's ever "over" for the woman (or man) involved.

A Life of Adventure

Local Niles resident, Rick Burgess relates some of his most incredible memories in this self-published memoir. From his childhood tales of cozy community camaraderie to the airwaves to aeronautical dramas, he's lived a full life. Honestly, it makes me feel more than a little boring . . .

A Chance Meeting That Changed the World

One night in 1850, Harriet Beecher Stowe was called upon to hide a fugitive, John Andrew Jackson, a runaway slave. Her interaction with that man would have a deep effect on her and bring about staggering nationwide fractures that resonate today. The inspiration for Uncle Tom's Cabin was a real man--a man who had incredible drive, courage and guts. From a start in bondage to international fame, his story arc is related astonishingly in this well-researched book. Not all ended up rosy for Jackson, but his story is fascinating.