This is a good book about a forgotten fire that claimed the lives of over 600 people. It describes the theatre industry at the beginning of the 20th cThis is a good book about a forgotten fire that claimed the lives of over 600 people. It describes the theatre industry at the beginning of the 20th century and describes the reasons behind the disaster. Overspending, lack of planning and inspection, and lack of emergency equipment, exits and procedures all contributed to the disaster. The author has done a good job assembling and sorting through facts to provide a clear picture of this long-ago incident. If you are interested in disasters, fire safety or the early history of live theatre in the United States this is a good book to read....more
This is an excellent book. The author describes in technical detail the migration of the Taino Indians from South America through the Caribbean IslandThis is an excellent book. The author describes in technical detail the migration of the Taino Indians from South America through the Caribbean Islands and the flowering of their civilization on Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The final chapters describe the meeting between the Spanish and the Tainos and the destruction of the Taino culture. This is not a casual read. Much of the story is told through the study of archaeological evidence including a detailed analysis of pottery. It is a scientific study, not a social study. Despite this, it is a key English language publication on a subject with sparse information. ...more
This is a great book. The author has gone through a traumatic loss that caused her to look at how accidents occur. I have been a safety and environmenThis is a great book. The author has gone through a traumatic loss that caused her to look at how accidents occur. I have been a safety and environmental consultant for over 30 years. I do not agree with all she says, however, she makes a great point on many issues and shows how a different mindset can make the difference in safety and the difference between life and death. If, after 30 years I agreed with everything in her book I would have to be stupid ........ or be her. I am neither. I do not state that she is wrong, just that we have a difference of opinion. The insight on 90% of the issues is spot on. This is a book that I will recommend to colleagues in my line of work. If you are involved in safety in any facet, this is a great book to read....more
This is a very intimate and touching story of a Czechoslovakian Jew who grew up in the pre-WWII republic. It is told by the subject's daughter who wasThis is a very intimate and touching story of a Czechoslovakian Jew who grew up in the pre-WWII republic. It is told by the subject's daughter who was inspired by letters and notes she found in her father's possession after he died. It chronicles his life in the Czech army, his escape to China where he served as a doctor, and his marriage to an American missionary and his subsequent migration to the United States. It also contains the feelings about the loss of his parents in the Sobibor concentration camp. It is a very good book....more
I have not read much science fiction in years. The classic writers have disappeared and many of the newer writers use dwarves, dragons, and warlocks wI have not read much science fiction in years. The classic writers have disappeared and many of the newer writers use dwarves, dragons, and warlocks which is not my thing. I had mixed feelings about this book. On one level it was a bit simplistic and formulaic though the characters had decent depth. There were plenty of twists and turns. Additionally, most of the main characters were females. The unique thing was it was set in Africa and related a resurgence of the long-ended Biafra War from the 1960's. This is important in the development of Nigeria and is little known by many if the west. It weaves in the use of child soldiers and drugs as well. Overall, I decided to give the book a 4-star rating for what the author accomplished and will be reading the sequel as well. ...more
This is an interesting book about a plane crash in the mountains of British Columbia in the 1950s. It provides interesting insight into the efforts taThis is an interesting book about a plane crash in the mountains of British Columbia in the 1950s. It provides interesting insight into the efforts taken to find the plane initially and efforts, once the plane was found, to recover the bodies in a very harsh and dangerous environment. It is an example from the early days of emergency response.
It was also interesting to see the efforts taken by the Canadian government to prevent desecration of the crash site by souvenir hunters. The discussion is something you do not see in most books about disasters.
I have owned this book for a while and had not gotten around to reading it. It is very interesting in that the author shows the manipulation of South I have owned this book for a while and had not gotten around to reading it. It is very interesting in that the author shows the manipulation of South American Politics by the bankers and merchants of the British Empire, primarily in the 19th Century. I have read a fair amount about these conflicts and have seen little or no mention of this before. The author backs his research with lengthy passages from newspaper sources at the time. This is also the chief drawback of the book. It is at times tedious. Despite this, if you are interested Britain's role in 18th Century geopolitics or more specifically, about the causes of wars in 19th Century South America, I strongly recommend this book. It gives a good solid view of the reasons for the conflicts of the time....more
This is a great well-written book. It clearly explains the reason that US withdrawal from Afghanistan became a rout and a debacle. It shows the blindnThis is a great well-written book. It clearly explains the reason that US withdrawal from Afghanistan became a rout and a debacle. It shows the blindness of the President to history and his need to force a nonsensical deadline. It also shows the issues related to allowing the State Department to administer a wartime effort.
I did not give this a 5-star rating as I found the book to be a bit too partisan. First, I don't like Biden much more than the author does, but a few of the mistakes cited by the author were a bit petty and out of place. Secondly, I do appreciate the length that the author went to in explaining the issues between the State Department and the military. But, having recently read The Secret Gate by Mitchell Zuckoff, I feel that he missed something.
I read the first book in this crime thriller series a few years ago. I enjoyed this book, though the plot twists and turns and the large number of chaI read the first book in this crime thriller series a few years ago. I enjoyed this book, though the plot twists and turns and the large number of characters makes it a book that has to be read slowly. I am sure the book can be read as a standalone novel, but I believe it is easier to understand the context of the events if you have read the first one.
Natta och Dag's descriptions of the seamy side of Stockholm are impeccable. The scenes of poverty and crime described are both horrific and depressing. I am not a fan of confined spaces and the scene involving the drain made my hands sweat.
Great job. I will be reading the 3rd volume. ...more
I don't read many graphic novels. I read this one in serial installments while I was in college many years ago. The graphics are great and highly erotI don't read many graphic novels. I read this one in serial installments while I was in college many years ago. The graphics are great and highly erotic. The story line is pure pulp comics in the classic style. Although it is probably not politically correct today, I enjoyed the book very much....more
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is the 27th in a series started by the author's father. Both Bernie Manuelito and her husband Jim Chee are back. It is nI enjoyed this book a lot. It is the 27th in a series started by the author's father. Both Bernie Manuelito and her husband Jim Chee are back. It is nice to see the Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn prominently figured in the book. It seemed at different points there were three completely different stories going on that were only tangentially connected. Hillerman does a nice job bringing it all together in the end. If you like the series, this is a good one. If you are just starting it, it works nice as a standalone book. ...more
This is a very good book about the founding of Rhode Island by Roger Williams. It covers the relationship between the outcasts from the Puritan coloniThis is a very good book about the founding of Rhode Island by Roger Williams. It covers the relationship between the outcasts from the Puritan colonies and the Narragansett Indians. It is set against the backdrop of the foundation of the New England colonies, Puritan expansionism and intertribal warfare. I recommend this book....more
This is a horrifying memoir of a young man who became part of a cult while attending St. Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. The account is stomThis is a horrifying memoir of a young man who became part of a cult while attending St. Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. The account is stomach churning in its details of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. If you have a family member in a cult this book will help you understand the manipulation that they go through.
My biggest problem with the book was it stopped a bit too soon. A little more detail in the epilogue about what happened to other cult members, the leader, the leader's daughter, and the state of the author's current life would have rounded out the book for me. But it is not my story to tell. ...more
Very short. I like the author's work, but this was a bit too short even for his novellas.Very short. I like the author's work, but this was a bit too short even for his novellas....more
This is a very informative short book about the Mafia in Montreal. I live on the Canadian border and was an avid listener of CJAD in Montreal for yearThis is a very informative short book about the Mafia in Montreal. I live on the Canadian border and was an avid listener of CJAD in Montreal for years. I regularly heard of the war between the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine and about the gangland murders of Italian mob. This book ties everything together I have had heard about over the years from the English radio station. Seguin tells the story of the war that tore apart the Montreal mob though the eyes of his informant Andrew Scoppa, a high-ranking narcissistic Mafioso.
Though I enjoyed the book very much I did not care for the lengthy passages quoted directly from the Montreal newspapers. The passages were very informative, but it is not a style I care for. All in all, it is a great book and one I recommend for people interested in the mafia or in Canadian crime....more
I originally read parts of this story in Heavy Metal magazine many years ago. I love the artwork. Bilal tells a good story too. Though I did find the I originally read parts of this story in Heavy Metal magazine many years ago. I love the artwork. Bilal tells a good story too. Though I did find the final book in the trilogy to be a bit muddled. It is a great graphic novel for fans of the artist....more
I have enjoyed this author's writing in the past. The Frontiersman was not a disappointment. It tells the settlement of Kentucky and the Old NorthwestI have enjoyed this author's writing in the past. The Frontiersman was not a disappointment. It tells the settlement of Kentucky and the Old Northwest through the trials and journeys of frontiersman Simon Kenton. We see the Native American side of the story embodied in the history of the Shawnee through Cornstalk, Black Hoof, Blue Jacket and Tecumseh. The book is best described as panoramic and detailed. It covers events from shortly before the American Revolution to the War of 1812. Eckert's book combines historical fact with made up, but likely dialogue. While they cannot be looked at as history, they can be looked at as historically accurate.
I enjoyed this book as I have others by this author. I highly recommend it....more
I found this book as a recommended reading from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ based on my reading history. I perused the description and decided to buy a copy. I was not I found this book as a recommended reading from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ based on my reading history. I perused the description and decided to buy a copy. I was not disappointed. It is the story of early aviation and its aviators. It covers the WWI escapades of some of the big players in the race. The dogged drive and determination of Billy Mitchell is featured as well as that of Belvin Maynard, acknowledged winner of the race. It discusses the crashes and fragility of the early aircraft as well as putting the race in its proper place in American history. I learned a lot from reading this book. In under two decades man had gone from barely powered flight to being able to fly completely across the country .... and back. If you are interested in early aviation, Billy Mitchell or just life in the US just after WWI, this is a very good book. I highly recommend it....more
This is an excellent addition to the series. By this time Sergeants Sueno and Bascom are familiar characters, along with Riley, Strange, Kim, Oh and IThis is an excellent addition to the series. By this time Sergeants Sueno and Bascom are familiar characters, along with Riley, Strange, Kim, Oh and Inspector Gil. The books do not disappoint. The action is fast paced, and Koreans are treated very fairly. I have spoken with Koreans living in Korea and the books are widely enjoyed and considered accurate in their background details. I have thoroughly enjoyed the series and highly recommend it. ...more
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