Rebecca Mehalic

I've read well over 100 books while earning my M.A. in History. Some were amazing, some okay, and others I quickly sold after the class ended. Out of all the books I read, these were the best of the best that were not only well-written but challenged me to think outside the box. My coursework focused primarily on American and Japanese history, with some European history thrown in here and there.

As someone who holds an M.A. in History and thus avid lover of history the world over, I've read hundreds of history books since I was a kid. These are the ones that adorn my shelves and I continue to go back to for research or pleasure-reading. I've divided this list into parts of the world, periods (ancient), and general history (e.g., micro histories, overview-style history books).

As in years past, I'm trying to read at least 100 books in 2026. There are bound to be some new favorites, some horrible ones and a couple in-between. I'll be recommending any of those new favorite reads or ones that I'd give at least a 4 (out of 5 stars) here.

I have been reading manga for over twenty years, and have read across multiple genres from Science Fiction to Josei, Shonen to Horror. Some have been incredible, some decent but not memorable and others just terrible. This list is comprised of my all-time favorite manga from the many I've read: the ones that I would never get rid of in my collection and enjoy rereading.

The world can be an anxiety-inducing place sometimes, and sometimes we just have a bad day where we need to shut out everything. Manga can be a great escape from reality and this is my list of favorite manga to read on those kinds of days. Please note that all manga listed have been licensed in North America.

Time travel is a theme that pops up in media as a whole from time to time and manga (Japanese comics) are no different. Here is a curated collection of manga featuring time travel as a prominent theme. Please note that any manga on this list has been licensed in english in North America.

Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming--where should I stay? Do I need to know Japanese? What region should I visit? What do I need to pack? I can answer the last one for you based on my trip to Japan.

Fredericksburg is one of my favorite cities to visit for a day because it has a lot to offer and a little bit of something for everyone. This list highlights some of the best spots I've found.

Luray is a quiet town nestled in the outskirts of the Shenandoah National Park. It's the perfect place for anyone who wants to get away from it all and enjoy the great outdoors. I've been here many times since childhood and I always find something new and exciting when I visit. These are my favorite spots to visit or take people to.

The leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler and after a day working, venturing to festivals or grabbing a pumpkin its nice to relax at home and play a game. These are my favorite cozy games to play as the weather begins to chill for the PC and Switch. Some games are on both so I've included those games in both sections (unless the performance is bad on one).

My favorite type of video games are RPGs (Role-playing games) and list catalogs RPG games that I can highly recommend for the PS5. It is important to note that several games on this list are playable on other consoles, so I've done my best to mention that where applicable. I do enjoy JRPG's the most, so many recommendations will be those with a couple others like FRPG's (French Role-playing games) thrown in.

Every month new board games come out which expand beyond the traditional games of monopoly, checkers and Risk, and in many ways are more complex. Board games have become one of my favorite past times with friends and family and this list includes several of my favorites. If you're looking for something new for your next get together with friends or family board game night, look no further than this list!

Horror books can be read anytime of year but there's something special about reading them during September and October (aka Spooky Season). I enjoy horror books (primarily psychological horror and thrillers without too much blood and gore) and these are some of my top picks.

Vampires and similar incarnations of them go back hundreds of years. As a result, they've been reimagined in numerous ways and this has been showcased in historical books, games, and movies, fictional stories and more. I've read several stories featuring vampires and these are my top picks when you're in the mood for the infamous bloodsuckers.

There are quite a few horror manga out there that have been translated into English. These have ranged from more comedic series' like DanDaDan to iconic ones like Junji Ito's work and others that embrace a lighter approach to horror like xxxholic. In many ways, it can be almost overwhelming to figure out which ones are worth giving a try. With that in mind, this list are my personal top picks for horror manga that have been released in the United States.

Got someone in your life who plays Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Flesh & Blood or other TCGs (Trading Card Games) and need to get them a gift? Then look no further than this list! I've been playing TCGs for over twenty years and everything here I've loved and regularly use.

The Peanuts comic series celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025, and in that time has become one of the most beloved and recognizable comics in the world. It's characters of Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and others are well-known, but the most famous (and my absolute favorite character of any media) is Snoopy. I'll admit, I own a decent amount of Snoopy items that have been collected since early childhood and I continue to purchase today. Got a Snoopy fan in your life? These are my recommendations for gift ideas based on what I've gotten for myself and others, and loved.

I'm going to age myself here and note that I've been a fan of Pokemon since it first hit the United States in 1998. Almost 30 years later, I've played a vast majority of the games (all the main line titles and several spin offs), watched some of the anime, all the movies…and just been a fan of the franchise in general. This is my list of gift ideas for the Pokemon fan in your life (or suggestions for gifts for yourself).

Time travel has always fascinated me. It's become an increasingly popular theme across movies, books, shows, and games. This list compiles anime movies I've seen where time travel plays an important role. Sometimes it results in a great film while other times not so much. This list compiles the many anime movies I've watched featuring time travel that are worth watching.

I love the concept of time travel in media and film is no exception. I've watched a lot of movies featuring time travel, some amazing, some terrible and some that are just plain weird. This list compiles time travel movies I've seen that are worth watching, organized by the overarching theme (e.g., romance, correcting history etc.)

There were a lot of amazing movies that came out in the 90s and some have aged really well and are enjoyable even as an adult (others, more like old milk). This list are the movies I loved as a 90s kids that held up as an adult.