Falcon's Bookshelf

What is your favorite genre?
Ever since I was young, my favorite genre of books to read has been nonfiction historical or biography/autobiographical books. I remember buying a book at ToysRUs about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad and receiving books about the lives of Ruby Bridges and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Which do you avoid?
I stay away from science fiction books. I have never been interested in this particular genre, and maybe I haven’t found the right book.

What book is currently sitting on your nightstand?
I am embarrassed to share that I am still working to finish reading Indigenous Content: The Epic Contest for North America by Pekka Hamalainen, a national bestseller. I should have finished this book already, but life has been busy, and I have read other things in between.

What is your ideal reading experience?
My ideal reading experience is sitting at a table or desk in a quiet area with a hot cup of coffee or tea. I lose focus if I am too comfortable on the couch or in bed. I don’t know how the younger generation can listen to music, have loud background noise, and read. If I have a pair of headphones on, they are noise-canceling. I have always been this way ever since I can remember. I was the student who asked my teacher to sit outside of a noisy classroom to read in the hallway.

What book might people be surprised to find on your bookshelf?
People might be surprised to see Bombshell: A Hell’s Belle Novel by Sarah MacLean sitting on my bookshelf at work. I participated in Book Buddies in partnership with Harris Public Library in the fall of ‘23. At our closing ceremony, big and little buddies got to choose books, and my little buddy chose this book for me.

Have your reading tastes changed over time? Do you think they will change in the future?
No, my tastes have not changed over time. However, I believe they are changing as I work to read more about financial literacy, health, and personal development books. As I get older and mature, my tastes change regarding health, fashion, diet, and overall lifestyle, so my reading preferences shift and align.

What do you plan to read next?
I am planning on reading Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo, which is next on my reading list. This book is on the New York Times bestseller list. I saw it on social media and am interested in the topic, so I requested it for my last book order.

Where do you find your books? Where do you look when you’re searching for your next great read?
I receive recommendations from colleagues, friends, and social media. I follow other educators and historians who post what they are reading or have read. I am also part of Facebook groups where book recommendations are shared, and I trust these individuals, so I am likely to read those titles suggested. I have also searched online for new books to see what some of the bestselling titles are.

Is there a book you are looking forward to reading?
One book that I am looking forward to reading once it is released is…. I am a fan of Alan Taylor, a historian, and he has a book that will be released in May: American Civil Wars: A Continental History, 1860-1873, which I have already pre-ordered, of course. I have read some of his previous work and have been able to apply it to the course I currently teach. I am looking forward to doing the same with this one as well.