It’s that time again, where there are three books sitting next to my laptop, waiting to be shared, but they have nothing in common.

Come along! There is fiction, nonfiction, and beautifully illustrated science, coming right up.

1. Big Stone Gap, by Adriana Trigiani

If you grew up in a small town like I did, you may recognize the characters in this story. They are relatable, imperfect, and likeable. At one point in the book, I realized I liked the characters so much that I didn’t care how it ended as long as they got what they needed. I was just rooting for them, and enjoying the ride.

There’s a movie adaptation that isn’t half bad, aided by the fact that the screenplay was written by the book’s author. Since the author wrote the screenplay, I was able to understand and forgive plot and character changes, because they were blessed by the original storyteller.

My favorite themes were explorations of male/female friendship, and the ways we humans can pass each other in the dark if we don’t understand one another’s motives. Also, what happens when you keep giving and never take care of yourself.

Fun fact, this book is technically historical fiction, as it happens in a real town, and is centered around a real event in history. If by history, you mean 1978. For a trip back in time to how the media treated this event, check out the SNL skit with an extremely young Bill Murray.

2. Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys, by Mike Unwin, ill. by Jenni Desmond

Each animal featured in the book is accompanied by beautiful mixed media illustrations, and a story about what we know about the animals’ migratory habits. Remarkably, scientists don’t know where one species of fish ends up, how many arrive there, or how they get back. A couple of featured species complete their migration over the course of generations.

There are the familiar favorites from nature documentaries, like the monarch butterfly and the emperor penguin. The book closes with a world map tracing the paths of each of the featured animals.Migration takes what we know from science, and uses art and good storytelling to make it even more appealing.

3. The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence, by Gavin de Becker

I enjoy reading Carolyn Hax’s advice column, and after she recommended this book for the third time, I finally requested it from the library. Who wants to read a book about violence and fear?

Well, now I’m convinced. The book teaches you how to rely on your intuition to know when you need to be afraid, and when and how you can begin to reduce worrying about things that aren’t likely to actually harm you. There’s a little bit of real crime intrigue with GdB’s anecdotes, but with just a few exceptions, he avoids being gratuitous. He also uses some humor to communicate his points.

Some of the stories are funny because of what happened, not because they were trying to be humorous, like a particularly hair-raising stalking situation with a celebrity actress that GdB assisted with. I was falling off my chair with each plot twist.

This book is very matter-of-fact (GdB’s writing style reminds me a little of Micky Singer), but the information he provides is on point. I read part of the chapter on how to turn a guy down to my daughters: “I Was Trying to Let Him Down Easy.” It teaches women not be too nice when telling someone you aren’t interested. A certain type of guy will take this to mean with persistence, he will eventually get a “yes.”

I really resonated with the chapter “The Gift of Fear,” which has some gems like “The very fact that you fear something is solid evidence that it is not happening.” GdB distinguishes fear and worry and helps the reader to do the same. It takes the sometimes abstract “will I get jumped in a parking garage?” and the “What if…?” worries of every day life and puts all of it in proper perspective.