Books: Nina Siegal On "The Diary Keepers" Who Chronicled World War II In The Netherlands

 

The Diary Keepers: World War II in the Netherlands, as Written by the People Who Lived Through It

By Nina Siegal

Ecco; hardcover, 304 pages; $29.99

Nina Siegal is a journalist who has worked for the New York Times as a writer for the City section covering Harlem and The Bronx, as well as The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, among other outlets; and a novelist who has authored two books, A Little Trouble with the Facts and The Anatomy Lesson. Siegal is also a doctoral candidate in the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory, and Material Culture at the University of Amsterdam. She received a 2021 Writing Creative Non-Fiction Grant.

MLB Games Will Look A Whole Lot Different This Season

Yankee Stadium's famous facade. Photo by Jason Schott.

When fans tune in to the Mets' spring training opener tonight against the Miami Marlins, they will get the chance to see baseball in a whole new way.

The game has never been altered the game as much in its history, as Major League Baseball has made three massive rule changes - all of which were largely expected - that will essentially give the sport a clock and affect strategy.

The three new rules that have been implemented for the 2023 season are: there will be a pitch timer, defensive shifts will be outlawed, and the bases will be bigger.

Books: "The Cliff's Edge," The Latest In Charles Todd's Bess Crawford Series

 

The Cliff's Edge

By Charles Todd

William Morrow; hardcover, 320 pages; $27.99

Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling author of mystery series featuring Bess Crawford, and focusing on Inspector Ian Rutledge, which includes A Divided Loyalty (click here for our review from January 2020) and A Fatal Lie (click here for coverage from February 2021). This has been a renowned mother-and-son writing team, and sadly, Caroline passed away in August 2021, and Charles lives in Florida.

Books: "The Education Of Kendrick Perkins" By An Anchor Of The Last Celtics' Championship

 

The Education of Kendrick Perkins

By Kendrick Perkins, with Seth Rogoff

St. Martin's Press; hardcover, 304 pages; $29.99; available today, Tuesday, February 21st

Kendrick Perkins was one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, most known for anchoring the paint for the 2008 Boston Celtics, the hallowed franchise's 17th championship, and first since 1986.

Books: "Lefty and Tim" Documents McCarver and Carlton's Historic Pairing In Philly

 

Lefty and Tim: How Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver Became Baseball's Best Battery

By William C. Kashatus; foreword by Larry Christenson

University of Nebraska Press; hardcover, 376 pages; $34.95

The baseball world was saddened this week by the passing of longtime catcher and announcer Tim McCarver. While most people, especially younger generations, in New York know him for his work calling games for the Mets and Yankees, and nationally on Fox, his playing career was just as compelling.

Tim McCarver, Voice Of Baseball For Mets & Yanks, Plus Nationally, Passes Away At 81

 

Photo by Jason Schott.

Tim McCarver, known as the catcher of the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies during a successful playing career, and as a distinguished announcer for the Mets and Yankees in New York, in addition to his national work for outlets including Fox, passed away on Thursday at 81 in Memphis.

Books: "Winning Fixes Everything" On The Houston Astros' Rise & Fall

 

Winning Fixes Everything: How Baseball's Brightest Minds Created Sports' Biggest Mess

By Evan Drellich

Harper; hardcover, 368 pages; $32.00; available today, Tuesday, February 14th

The Houston Astros won the World Series last fall, their second in franchise history, and the first one, in 2017, gained a lot of notoriety, if not shame, when a scandal erupted after they were found to have cheated during that season.