Charleston Reading Circle shares book reviews | Entertainment

Recent Zoom programs have included three book reviews.

Brenda Crimmins reviewed “Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Bioweapons” by Kris Newby. After taking on the personal challenge of being cured of Lyme disease, Newby was compelled to understand the origin of the disease and why it is so misunderstood.

Her quest led her to Willy Burgdorfer, the discoverer of the Lyme microbe, who revealed that he had developed biological weapons during the Cold War and believed the disease had emerged from a biological weapons research lab. The investigative trip reveals secrets about Burgdorfer and raises uncomfortable questions about why chronic Lyme disease is so difficult to classify, diagnose and treat. The book is well researched and is written in an engaging narrative style.

Chris McCormick reviewed “Susan, Linda, Nina and Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of NPR’s Founding Mothers” by Lisa Napoli. Lisa Napoli begins this book with the life story of each of these four stellar female journalists. She has been weaving the lives of everyone in the history of National Public Radio since its dawn in the 1970s. underpaid but welcoming journalistic opportunities.

Each of the Founding Mothers has become an essential contributor to NPR; Susan Stamberg and Linda Werthheimer launched the flagship news program “All Things Considered”, Nina Totenberg became the Supreme Court’s widely recognized expert, and Cokie Roberts was not only well known and loved by NPR, but she also sailed on television. as a reporter and commentator for ABC.

These four revolutionary women journalists were colleagues; they and their families were friends and generous mentors to young women entering journalism careers. The Founding Mothers were among the first women to hold the journalistic microphone on politics and current affairs.

Sallie Cougill reviewed “Two Ropes” by Dr. Bernard Robinson. The book is the author’s astounding story of life as an African American growing up in Plant City, Florida, a racially divided city in the 1950s and 60s. Dr. Robinson comes from humble beginnings and has overcame many challenges to become one of the first African Americans to be admitted to the University of South Florida in Tampa.

While at the University of South Florida, he decided to pursue medical school. After he married his wife, Shirley, also a resident of Plant City, he attended Howard Medical School in Washington, D.C. After graduating from medical school, he enlisted in the United States Army and eventually became the first African-American neurosurgical intern at Walter Reed Military Hospital.

He is recognized as one of the best neurosurgeons in our country and is recognized internationally for his surgical skills. Robinson’s military career included tours to Walter Reed, South Korea, and Hawaii, where he eventually retired with his family.

The program for the Zoom meeting on Friday March 18 will be the presentation of the annual reports by the secretary and the treasurer.

For more information, contact Mary Jorstad at 217-871-5129.