The Los Angeles Central Library suffered a serious fire in 1987. More than a million books were damaged or destroyed. An arsonist was thought responsiThe Los Angeles Central Library suffered a serious fire in 1987. More than a million books were damaged or destroyed. An arsonist was thought responsible and the identity of the culprit was debated for years. A primary suspect is given much attention in the book. The author goes into great detail about the history of the library and some of the delightfully colorful characters who helped build the collections over the years. Orlean also spends abundant time with the current library staff, giving us glimpses of the archipelago of the branches surrounding the Central Library. A lively and gripping read. Orlean’s writing kept my interest and I found myself using every opportunity to read the book....more
A comprehensive study of the socio-political and cultural morass that was Vietnam before, during, and after French colonial occupation. Also includes A comprehensive study of the socio-political and cultural morass that was Vietnam before, during, and after French colonial occupation. Also includes the US military's fumbling attempt at convincing Vietnamese people to resist communism and fight for democratic freedoms. The lesson here is the French did not bother to reach out to the farmers and peasants and the Americans did not understand Vietnamese culture and customs and a very complicated political history. This should be required reading at all of the US military academies. Better yet, let's not commit military troops to a country that we don't completely understand....more
Before a prospective reader decides that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is antithetical to his or her ideas on race, racism, and identity politics, they sBefore a prospective reader decides that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is antithetical to his or her ideas on race, racism, and identity politics, they should read this book. It's 129 pages. A determined reader can get through the book in a few hours and be VERY well informed on what CRT really is. It poses no threat to Republican or conservative polity - it is simply a broad beam of light on our country's dismal past in relation to non-white - African Americans in particular - citizens. Our young students should not be "protected" from CRT, they should all learn of our troubled past with regard to our treatment of non-whites in the past and how the state of play is today.
The author, Victor Ray, is an African-American scholar who is often mistaken for a white man. His perspectives on race are particularly relevant to the topic....more
Like many Baby Boomer school children, I learned of the Alamo by way of 1950s black & white television and grade school history - such as it was back Like many Baby Boomer school children, I learned of the Alamo by way of 1950s black & white television and grade school history - such as it was back then. Crockett, Travis, Sam Houston, et al, were heroic American frontiersmen who paved the way for American progress and tamed the rugged and dangerous wilderness so we could live lives of peace and prosperity. This is all we knew back then and, OH MY! were we misinformed! Or underinformed.
Bryan Burrough's exhaustively researched book tells a much different story. Now, I had heard over the years that perhaps Santa Anna wasn't the REAL bad guy in this story. I knew the Texans - with the US's help - defeated Mexican efforts to maintain their sovereignty over Texas. 'Forget the Alamo . . .' filled in a lot of blanks and answered many questions. That the narrative is still in contention and in thrall to competing political interests is most surprising of all. History is history and, like any discipline, dogged research often turns up new wrinkles to old "facts". Unless one lives in Texas . . .
I felt a bit of schadenfreude as I read this book. As an American, I have a vested interest in the political chicanery that continues to be played out to this day, both in Texas and nationally. As a person who has never set foot in Texas, I am by turn, appalled and laughing out loud amused by the idiotic contretemps between various interested parties in San Antonio and Texas, generally. The dustup continues to this day and heavily involves, of all people, Phil Collins of the rock band Genesis. I highly recommend this book - it is a fun read and has lots of skullduggery, deception, and stupidity on so many levels. Reads like tragi-comic fiction. ...more
This is essential reading for everyone - not just women. This book was published in March of 2022 and it should have been introduced to wider acclaim.This is essential reading for everyone - not just women. This book was published in March of 2022 and it should have been introduced to wider acclaim. Women's health has, historically, taken a back seat to men's health since time immemorial. That women's reproductive anatomy has only recently been described accurately is inexcusable. Also, the author's descriptions of endometriosis are horrific.
On a related note, google Jessica Pin and learn her story. Fortunately, women's reproductive anatomy is becoming an actual thing in modern medicine. Better late than never, I reckon. Read this book!...more
A well-written and exquisitely researched book that focuses on Luther's rabid hatred of Jews. It seems he tried to reconcile and reason with them not A well-written and exquisitely researched book that focuses on Luther's rabid hatred of Jews. It seems he tried to reconcile and reason with them not long after he sparked the revolt against the Roman church. In his later years and not long before he died, he wrote a short book called, "The Jews and Their Lies". While it wasn't well-received at the time, it was seized upon by the Nazis in the early 1930s and used by their anti-Jewish propaganda machine. Long before Luther came on the scene, Jews were persona non grata nearly everywhere in Europe. Even 500 years ago, there were people in power who wanted to have the Jews return to Palestine and reestablish the Jewish state of Israel. Luther never advocated the killing of Jews but he did little to discourage such activity either. He was hidebound in his approach to how the Roman church ought to behave but, unlike John Calvin, he wasn't a murderer. Calvin was another major figure during the Reformation and he absolutely refused to brook ANY sort of disagreement - as Fr. Michael Servetus learned to his horror....more
I had earlier read large portions of John Bolton's book, The Room Where it Happened. Too Much . . . was much better and more personal - and far shorteI had earlier read large portions of John Bolton's book, The Room Where it Happened. Too Much . . . was much better and more personal - and far shorter in length (a good thing, as Martha Stewart might opine). Mary Trump eviscerates her uncle with a touch of pity: Donald J Trump, as damaged as he is, is probably that way because of his father, Fred. Fred Trump is the true villain in this book. According to Mary Trump, Fred Trump had little interest in his family and massive interest in his wealth and empire. As one reviewer noted, there's not that much new information in this book, but the human side and the interactions between family members paint a very dark picture: Nearly everyone in the family - with one or two exceptions - are greedy, heartless, and self-serving people. This is a short read - I finished it in 2 or 3 sessions. Recommended....more
I typically do not read romance novels. I’m glad I read this one. It’s more like an adventure book in that the love affairs we see in this book are seI typically do not read romance novels. I’m glad I read this one. It’s more like an adventure book in that the love affairs we see in this book are secondary to the narrative. The story of five women who start and run a library for citizens living in the hills of eastern Kentucky. Using horses and mules, the women travel into the backwoods country loaning books to families who are unable to come into town. There are many obstacles including a local coal baron who is predictably evil. One of the librarians is an Englishwoman who happens to be married to the coal baron’s handsome son. Things begin to unravel, and the packhorse library’s very existence is threatened by townspeople who see some of the books being loaned as a threat to the conservative lifestyles of the town’s leaders. Everything comes to a head in a jail and a courtroom. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Highly recommended....more
She was dismissed and ignored and treated poorly and yet managed to become the premier linchpin of the French resistance during WWII. She wasn't FrencShe was dismissed and ignored and treated poorly and yet managed to become the premier linchpin of the French resistance during WWII. She wasn't French. She wasn't British. She was an American woman with a wooden leg. In spite of the multiple rejections and dismissals, her contribution to the Allied victory during the war earned her a Distinguished Service Cross. Despite all the rejection - simply because she was a woman - she persisted. Her contributions to the war effort read like fiction. But it was no fiction that her work significantly shortened the Nazi occupation of France. Sonia Purnell's work creating this biography/adventure is masterful....more
I started reading this book in 2017. I finished it last night (7/9/19). Why so long? I often have multiple books underway at any time. I set it aside I started reading this book in 2017. I finished it last night (7/9/19). Why so long? I often have multiple books underway at any time. I set it aside in the past - probably in one of several stacks of books that decorate my home - and rediscovered it a few weeks ago.
This is the story of the liberation of Paris during the second world war. French and American forces marched into Paris during the summer of 1944 and met with fierce German resistance. Hitler was keen on seeing the city completely destroyed hence his periodic query: "Brennt Paris?" or: "Is Paris burning?". General Choltitz, the German commander of greater Paris, was reluctant to carry out der Fuhrer's orders because - well, he loved Paris. Before the war, he and his wife often visited the city and loved it. The struggle by the Allies and the Germans plays out like fiction. The many personal vignettes by the many players in this incredible soap opera make this book eternally compelling. Published in the 1950s, it is still approachable and relevant. Recommended....more
This book was a gift from a friend. It's very possibly the best gift I got last Christmas. I finished the book in three sittings. The entire book was This book was a gift from a friend. It's very possibly the best gift I got last Christmas. I finished the book in three sittings. The entire book was outstanding: excellent writing, thoroughly researched and emotionally overwhelming. The reader may want to have a box of tissues handy while reading. Most people know that WW2 was pure hell for hundreds of millions of people. Tens of millions died as a direct result of the conflict. Tens of thousands of US aviators died in training and combat missions.
Our book is the story of two aviators - a German fighter pilot and an American bomber pilot. They crossed paths once during the war but didn't meet face-to-face until long after the war was over. This is their story and it is both thrilling and wrenching. It stands up very favorably when compared to "Unbroken" and "The Boys in the Boat". Look at the ratings on Amazon and you'll want to read this book too. Yes, it's only February, but it's the best book I've read this year....more
I first read this book more than 50 years ago. The latest reading was as if I had never read it. This is a book every thinking person should read at lI first read this book more than 50 years ago. The latest reading was as if I had never read it. This is a book every thinking person should read at least once. We all know the basic story, but her day-to-day life in the Secret Annex was excruciating. Sadly, her dream of being free to wander outside never came about. She and her family were betrayed and all but Anne's father were murdered by the Nazi death machine. Anne and her older sister, Margo, died in Bergen-Belsen from typhoid. As I finished the book, I realized that, had Anne survived the war, we would have never had access to these pages. I also realized that Anne was far more intelligent than she and her housemates dreamed. Her writing skill - that of a 14 to 15-year-old girl - was far beyond her years. Had she survived, she might have become a well-known writer - she was that good. I purchased my copy in the Secret Annex, in Amsterdam, in June of 2015....more
Few will disagree that slavery was - and is - a terrible institution with no redeeming features. In antebellum America, the southern states that is, iFew will disagree that slavery was - and is - a terrible institution with no redeeming features. In antebellum America, the southern states that is, it wasn't just accepted, it was staunchly defended by Bible-waving white slave owners who relied on free labor to harvest cotton, tobacco and keep house. Many of these unfortunate people (the slaves, that is) were often beaten, tortured and sometimes killed with impunity � and immunity - by their masters. Into this world was born Harriet Jacobs. Her early years weren't too bad. But then she was sold and her new master soon had his eye on her for nefarious reasons. He wanted desperately to have sex with his young slave. Harriet wasn't having any of it. For years, he pursued her and Harriet resisted. She grew so tired of his advances and brutal treatment that she went into hiding and eventually escaped to the north. This book, first published in 1861, is a first-person account of what it was like to be a young female slave in the south. The story is compelling and tender even as the reader will be infuriated at southern white attitudes towards their slaves. It’s easy to see why, after the Civil War, it took another century for black people to finally win a measure of respect and civil rights. My copy of the book was “read� as an audio book. Disclaimer: I am personally acquainted with “Audio Elan�. Her work in vocalizing Harriet’s story is very good, nay, excellent. Highly recommended. ...more
A fascinating autobiographical re-imagining of Livia Drusilla, third wife of Rome's first emperor, Augustus (Octavian). Livia has been cast by some hiA fascinating autobiographical re-imagining of Livia Drusilla, third wife of Rome's first emperor, Augustus (Octavian). Livia has been cast by some historians as a vengeful and controlling harridan. Phyllis T Smith treats her much more sympathetically. The historical events are real. The dialogue and interpersonal relationships are imagined but done so thoughtfully. I look forward to reading more of Smith's writing. Highly recommended!...more
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