Check It Out: ‘12 Days’ final trio includes pipers, drummers and lords

Well, I’ve reached the end of my “Twelve Days of Christmas” series, and let me tell you, this final trio of True Love’s gifts has been challenging. In relation to the song, I can’t imagine what anyone would do with ten lords a-leaping, eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming – sounds entirely too chaotic and noisy, in my opinion. In relation to the column, would you be surprised to learn that leaping lords and piping pipers are not well represented in the book world? Challenging? Yes, but not to worry. If you’ve been following “Check It Out” this month, you’ll recall that I advised in part one of this series that readers will need to “go with the flow.” Therefore, let the flow begin.

“Born to Drum: The Truth About the World’s Greatest Drummers — from John Bonham and Keith Moon to Sheila E. and Dave Grohl” by Tony Barrell.

You may not want twelve drummers descending upon your household during Christmas celebrations, but a book about real drummers might be the perfect holiday read. No beating around the bush: this book celebrates all things percussion.

“Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other” by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish.

Pipers and bagpipers — that feels like a good fit. Someday I would love to visit Scotland (I have genealogical ties); in the meantime, I can experience my homeland through the adventures of others like Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. The Campbells are coming, tra la, la la …

“DIY Industrial Pipe Furniture & Décor: Creative Projects for Every Room of Your Home” by James Angus.

If you can’t find a piper, a pipe will have to do — that is, a book about interior design using industrial pipes. Check out this unique guide, and get creative with cylinders and tubes.

“The Everything Rock Drums Book with CD: From Basic Rock Beats and Syncopation to Fills and Drum Solos — All You Need to Perform Like a Pro” by Eric Starr.

Do you walk to the beat of a different drummer? Perhaps you need some drum lessons; or, if you’re more of a do-it-yourself type of learner, maybe you need to get in the groove and check out this book from the library. As the title states, it has “all you need to perform like a pro.”

“Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy” by John R. Hale.

When I searched the term “lords” in the library’s catalog, I didn’t find any that were leaping. A fair number of titles covered the war on drugs (drug lords, you see), but that topic sounded too dark for a late December column. Because there is a bit of a naval theme this time (see “That Hamilton Woman”), a history of the Athenian Navy — that’s ancient Greek to you and me — seemed quite appropriate and interesting.

“That Hamilton Woman: Emma and Nelson” by Barry Gough.

I’m a huge fan of old movies, so when I came across this book, I immediately thought of “That Hamilton Woman” starring Vivien Leigh as Emma (Lady Hamilton) and Laurence Olivier as Admiral Horatio Nelson. As it turns out, Admiral Nelson was also known as Lord Nelson, but I couldn’t say if he ever went a-leaping. No matter, the story of the love affair between Emma and Horatio is one for the ages with or without leaping.

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