Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar | Review - The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan [CC] @bethannebruninga-socolar | Uploaded November 2020 | Updated October 2024, 11 hours ago.
I really appreciated this book - great survey of the history of Central Asia and the Middle East. Perfect as a jumping off point for deeper reading about specific areas, peoples, times that grabbed my interest.
Because I got interested in the Sogdians mentioned in the book, here's an interesting article from the Smithsonian about them:
https://sogdians.si.edu/introduction/#:~:text=The%20Sogdians%20were%20an%20Iranian,the%20Achaemenid%20Persian%20Empire%20Fig.
stevecochrane823.com/2016/05/28/peter-frankopan-and-the-sogdians
Other reviews of this book:
Chareads - youtube.com/watch?v=Rj70JhQIe_8
Marko - youtube.com/watch?v=KiMsifCWFJw&t=239s
Music:
Primavera en la Guerra de Sonido by Silva de Alegria
freemusicarchive.org/music/Silva_de_Alegria/Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido/Silva_de_Alegra_-_Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido_-_10_Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido
About me:
Hi, I'm Bethanne! I'm a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) I'm an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post every Tuesday, with occasional bonus posts on Saturdays. Follow me on Goodreads:
goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar
I really appreciated this book - great survey of the history of Central Asia and the Middle East. Perfect as a jumping off point for deeper reading about specific areas, peoples, times that grabbed my interest.
Because I got interested in the Sogdians mentioned in the book, here's an interesting article from the Smithsonian about them:
https://sogdians.si.edu/introduction/#:~:text=The%20Sogdians%20were%20an%20Iranian,the%20Achaemenid%20Persian%20Empire%20Fig.
stevecochrane823.com/2016/05/28/peter-frankopan-and-the-sogdians
Other reviews of this book:
Chareads - youtube.com/watch?v=Rj70JhQIe_8
Marko - youtube.com/watch?v=KiMsifCWFJw&t=239s
Music:
Primavera en la Guerra de Sonido by Silva de Alegria
freemusicarchive.org/music/Silva_de_Alegria/Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido/Silva_de_Alegra_-_Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido_-_10_Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido
About me:
Hi, I'm Bethanne! I'm a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) I'm an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post every Tuesday, with occasional bonus posts on Saturdays. Follow me on Goodreads:
goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar
![Review - The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9hDdzGK9v7g/hqdefault.jpg "Review - The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan [CC]
I really appreciated this book - great survey of the history of Central Asia and the Middle East. Perfect as a jumping off point for deeper reading about specific areas, peoples, times that grabbed my interest.
Because I got interested in the Sogdians mentioned in the book, heres an interesting article from the Smithsonian about them:
https://sogdians.si.edu/introduction/#:~:text=The%20Sogdians%20were%20an%20Iranian,the%20Achaemenid%20Persian%20Empire%20Fig.
https://stevecochrane823.com/2016/05/28/peter-frankopan-and-the-sogdians/
Other reviews of this book:
Chareads - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj70JhQIe_8
Marko - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiMsifCWFJw&t=239s
Music:
Primavera en la Guerra de Sonido by Silva de Alegria
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Silva_de_Alegria/Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido/Silva_de_Alegra Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido 10_Primavera_en_la_Guerra_del_Sonido
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post every Tuesday, with occasional bonus posts on Saturdays. Follow me on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Books about Bugs! The Butterfly Effect and Bugs in the System [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A0Kj4LLEpzU/hqdefault.jpg "Books about Bugs! The Butterfly Effect and Bugs in the System [CC]
Well, if Im going to read books about insects for work, I might as well talk about them here, right?
The Butterfly Effect: Insects and the Making of the Modern World by Edward D. Melillo
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-butterfly-effect-insects-and-the-making-of-the-modern-world-edward-d-melillo/13340233?ean=9781524733216
Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs by May R. Berenbaum
https://bookshop.org/p/books/bugs-in-the-system-insects-and-their-impact-on-human-affairs-may-berenbaum/11882664?ean=9780201408249
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Review - Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ACGsQm7TWeM/hqdefault.jpg "Review - Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire [CC]
5 star book, 5 star series!
Channel mentioned:
Joshs Bookish Voyage - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_AL_AmWFPwo64h-f0UuHzw
His review of this book + entire series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5x4i8Pkqgo&t=462s
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![My thoughts on imposter syndrome [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B5Klkn_S8gk/hqdefault.jpg "My thoughts on imposter syndrome [CC]
A somewhat rambly video agreeing with this article: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BC6A6f873Lw/hqdefault.jpg "Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin [CC]
#BookTubePrize reading! I read this one for the Octofinals, Translated Fiction group C. This advanced into the Quarterfinals from my group, along with Brickmakers by Selva Almada and The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter. You can see the Octofinals results video of the BookTube Prize here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cil8UIxQN10
You can see MY rankings for my group here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE-R_gaEPXQ (Spoiler: Only 1 of my top 3 advanced to the next round!)
Check our Rainers review of this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_u5ApAbfAE
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Friday reads - romance and YA! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B_2aj_CTCU4/hqdefault.jpg "Friday reads - romance and YA! [CC]
Books I read lately:
American Dreamer by Adriana Herrer: https://bookshop.org/books/american-dreamer-an-lgbtq-romance/9781335469458
Feeder by Patrick Weekes: https://bookshop.org/books/feeder-reprint/9781534400177
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![June reading wrap-up | Fantasy, queer romance, sci fi thriller! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BcPytq_JGwE/hqdefault.jpg "June reading wrap-up | Fantasy, queer romance, sci fi thriller! [CC]
Its only the end of July so Im not too late, right? ;)
Stick around for some bee, prairie, and grasshopper photos at the end where my video crapped out! Hurray, technology!
Check out Margaret Pinards channel if youre not already subscribed and join us in her Patreon book club!
Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC315Rc3qIIC77BW4-lHObVw
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/margaret_pinard/posts
Books I read in June:
Escape Reality by Kayla Frost (group read with Megans Reading Revelations discord: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmX0661Xu7mFnEttonuQDg)
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUovbE4d8tk)
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hivlt6jPkDo)
The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lilian Jackson Braun
American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera (my review of the 1st book in the series, American Dreamer, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_2aj_CTCU4)
A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUovbE4d8tk)
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Omnivore Reader Tag! in which I make up genres! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bwrm9W81XZ0/hqdefault.jpg "Omnivore Reader Tag! in which I make up genres! [CC]
The Omnivore Reader Tag, in which I make up genres with abandon!
I was tagged by Katja Weinert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvP_EmtWaxk&t=925s
Original tag by Emma at A Cup of Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBvHA008uY&t=1s
I tag:
Margaret Pinard: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC315Rc3qIIC77BW4-lHObVw
Amy at AStar Reads: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEdnGJA8k5eKBACkiZZ4J7w
Liz at forbookingoutloud: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYo9xBP2pm91GSyYyjRZ3aA
Kazen at Always Doing: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjHvaXh3_4G_47FTWk_5Rg
Rana Najjar: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXge5aonANbHGb1DR125XEQ
Prompts: choose 4 genres and sub-genres and answer the following questions for each.
1) What is your favourite book from this genre?
2) What book are you currently reading/just finished from this genre?
3) What book on your TBR from this genre do you think you’ll read next?
Books mentioned:
Miss Buncles Book by D.E. Stevenson
Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
The Harvestman by Gene Stratton-Porter
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
Leafy Rivers by Jessamyn West
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson
Under the Sea Wind by Rachel Carson
The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Extreme Life of the Sea by Palumbi and Palumbi
Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
About me:
Hi, Im Bethanne (she/her)! Im a scientist by day but I love reading anything I can get my hands on in my limited free time. :) Im an outdoors enthusiast, cat lover, mama, millennial. I post Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![November wrap-up! Fantasy, mystery, romance! [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C34RCc19BEs/hqdefault.jpg "November wrap-up! Fantasy, mystery, romance! [CC]
Only 5 books in November but they were fun ones!
Other channels mentioned from buddy read of The Mad Ship:
David Wiley - https://www.youtube.com/user/wileydavid1
Rachel is Reading - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiUj6_ROqBgpDsvg2CIRyvw
Time stamps
0:00 Intro stuff
00:57 Sanctuary and Harbor, both by Rebekah Weatherspoon
3:38 The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan
4:27 The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
6:45 The Shy Tulip Murders by Rebecca Rothenberg
Link to my Ireland book haul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et6X8fWpGn4
Link to my review of Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFsdMmfENuw
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![Review - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C4EiwlW6dCA/hqdefault.jpg "Review - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata [CC]
Have you read Convenience Store Woman? What did you think??
I first heard about this via Scott @ Gunpowder Fiction and Plot in his September 2020 reading wrap-up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGmevKTyDKQ
Find me elsewhere and say hi!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethannereadsbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beepunstings
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bethannereadsbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4779183-bethanne-bruninga-socolar")
![The Whale Tag [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cgk2Xl5EniE/hqdefault.jpg "The Whale Tag [CC]
Well, I ramble on for a little while in this one! Fun tag created by Ryan at Book Time with Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tJDPT5uC4 As a biologist and all-around nature lover, I had to jump in on this one!
QUESTIONS/PROMPTS:
1. BLUE WHALE – The blue whale is the largest, heaviest animal on earth, ever. What’s the longest book you’ve read or want to read? Or what’s the “heaviest” subject you’ve read about?
2. SPERM WHALE – Sperm whales routinely dive to a depth of 2,000 feet to feed on squid but can dive to a depth of 10,000 feet. What is a book that has motivated you to look deeper into a subject, character, situation, or series?
3. HUMPBACK WHALE – Humpback whales sing long, complex songs they have in common with other individual humpback whales. These songs can change uniformly for entire groups of whales. What is a book that has changed meaning for you over the years? Why did it change?
4. ORCA – Orcas or killer whales are incredibly smart, social whales (dolphins). What’s a book you felt was especially smart, fiction or nonfiction, and made you really think?
5. BELUGA – Belugas are nicknamed the canaries of the seas because of the sounds they make. What’s a book you wanted to talk to others about after reading it? Why?
6. NARWHAL – Male narwhals, known as the unicorns of the seas, have two teeth, including one long spiraling tooth that can grow nearly 9 feet long. What’s a book you heard great things about before reading only to discover it was less magical after reading it?
7. BOWHEAD WHALE – While it’s evident bowhead whales live well beyond 100 years of age, there’s evidence they may live to be 200 years old. What is the oldest book in your collection or what book has been in your collection the longest?
8. ATLANTIC GRAY WHALE – Atlantic gray whales were sadly wiped out by humans. Today only Pacific gray whales remain. Save the whales! What’s one book that’s either out of print or out of fashion that you wish would make a comeback?
BONUS – MOBY DICK – Moby Dick was the great white sperm whale Captain Ahab never caught. What is a book you want to own but haven’t found or bought? What’s stopping you from hooking that book?
Scientists tag whales to help study their behaviors, such as migration. Tag 5 BookTubers to complete this tag. And remember, SAVE THE WHALES!")
