While I fashion myself a history nerd, I have to admit to knowing very little about Kublai Khan before picking up Emperor of the Seas by Jack WeatherfWhile I fashion myself a history nerd, I have to admit to knowing very little about Kublai Khan before picking up Emperor of the Seas by Jack Weatherford. In fact, if you asked me to spell it, I would have failed quite badly. Now I am educated!
Weatherford tells the story of Kublai's rise from a child to becoming, well, that is a bit complicated. First, there is a not a ton of documentation on the life of the Khan's on account of being nomadic and prone to taking over other societies. The other reason his title is complicated is that Kublai and various family members were very scattered and the question of who was truly the successor to the Great Khan was up for debate. Kublai was mainly based in China and carried with it a lot of uncertainty. Weatherford unpacks this all very well in easy to read prose and an eye for interesting detail (when it is available). Kublai would eventually create a navy with varying initial success which is unusual for a bunch of reasons that are better if Weatherford tells you.
I'd say the sole weakness of the book would be some extraneous information. A chapter on cuisine seems out of place, and there are too many chapters after Kublai's death which could have been cut or shortened. I still enjoyed the book immensely and learned quite a lot.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Bloomsbury.)...more
I have a visceral reaction to anything which is even tangentially about Cape Cod. I grew up spending summers there staying with family friends who ownI have a visceral reaction to anything which is even tangentially about Cape Cod. I grew up spending summers there staying with family friends who owned a house on the Cape. When I saw that The Innermost House by Cynthia Blakeley was about her childhood growing up in Wellfleet on the Cape, I knew I had to give it a read. I was left disappointed.
As with all memoirs I rate, a disclaimer is needed. My rating of the book has nothing to do with Blakeley's life experience. My rating is entirely based upon how well the author presents and explains those life experiences to the reader. Also, Blakeley does not use the setting of Cape Cod very often as part of her narrative. For the most part, her stories could happen at any beach town which has the ebb and flows of summer migration. This was personally disappointing, but I didn't ding the book for it because the story is what is important.
Blakeley has had an interesting life with many colorful characters around her. Some of these people are loving but with their own quirks. Others are malevolent and readers should be warned that a sexual assault is depicted rather graphically. There are many ways Blakeley can tell these stories for the readers to take away some sort of life lesson or realization. We all have our memories where maybe we had family members who were our favorite while a sibling hated them or our first crush in high school. The issue with this book is not the subject matter because there are many avenues for Blakeley to explore.
The problem comes down to execution and lack of clear purpose. Blakeley's chapters cover various topics and jump in time periods. For example, one chapter deals with her father and their relationship up until his death and the aftermath. Following chapters will then jump back to a time when her father was alive and then back again. While a memoir does not have to be linear, the reader needs to feel comfortable with how stories fall in the timeline. I was consistently forced to stop and think about how old the author was and who was alive, dead, off in Vietnam, or married. Characters will also be put into the narrative only to disappear without any resolution.
The lack of clear purpose is what truly ruined the book for me. Blakeley will often drone on with comments about dreams and memories. Blakeley has experience with dreams and psychoanalysis, but she does not provide this information in a way which convinces the reader that she is making a point steeped in sturdy science. These diatribes often break the flow of a truly interesting family story. Instead of insight to what we just read, it sounds like someone who is talking off the top of their head and never reaching an actual conclusion about what it all means. This was a major problem for me because Blakeley even discusses in the book that much of her research required speaking to her mother and grandmother who were seemingly re-traumatized by her questioning of their histories. Ultimately, I don't think Blakeley makes a strong enough point to the reader that this was all worth it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and the University of Massachusetts Press.)...more
Please indulge a personal diatribe, dear reader, before I dive into my review of Trial by Ambush by Marcia Clark. (And yes, the author is THAT Marcia Please indulge a personal diatribe, dear reader, before I dive into my review of Trial by Ambush by Marcia Clark. (And yes, the author is THAT Marcia Clark. She's so self-aware that it is literally her Twitter handle and no I will never call it X.)
When OJ decided to take his very slow drive in 1994, I was 12 years old. Even as an east coaster, the OJ trial was everywhere you looked. While there are many memorable aspects of the case, one thing I remember vividly is the first time I recognized sexism on a big scale. Sure, I had seen sexism before, but what I recall is thinking in my not quite developed brain, "Hey, they seem to be treating the lady lawyer a lot different than the guy lawyers." I then immediately laughed when someone said, "Let the juice loose!" Again, undeveloped brain. Please forgive the young idiot.
Is any of this relevant to my review of Trial by Ambush? Actually, yes! The book is about the 1953 murder of Mabel Monohan in one of the dumbest home invasions of all time. Was Barbara there? Did she assault Mabel? According to the prosecution, Barbara was a vicious killer and they would do whatever they could to make sure she was issued a state-sponsored passport to the afterlife.
This is not a traditional true crime book and it is exceptional because it isn't. The vast majority of the narrative is not the crime and the investigation, but Clark excoriating the prosecution's case which is held together by hidden evidence, shoddy ethical questioning, and the over-reliance on an accomplice who shouldn't be trusted at all.
I am generally against authors in non-fiction inserting themselves into their stories. However, Clark is speaking from her own extensive experience with prosecuting people. It is very much an expert walking you through the back and forth of the case and adding insight a non-lawyer wouldn't have. Yes, she does reference the OJ trial but also other cases she tried. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, this is not a legal treatise, but a true crime book with a bigger focus on the trial and the tricks used which led to (probably) a miscarriage of justice.
I wonder if Clark had any experience with one of those in her career? Eh, who knows. The book is great and you should read it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer Books.)...more
I had high hopes for Estelle Paranque's Thorns, Lust, and Glory. I have always wanted to read a book which could shed more light on Anne Boleyn which I had high hopes for Estelle Paranque's Thorns, Lust, and Glory. I have always wanted to read a book which could shed more light on Anne Boleyn which balances the popular portrait of her while not lionizing her image either. Paranque's book is focused on how Boleyn was betrayed by France while being accessible to general audiences. Unfortunately, I think these aims caused massive problems with the overall narrative.
In Paranque's attempt to make this more exciting for general audiences, she makes three bad choices. First, Paranque states she "recreates" dialogue. Also, the recreated dialogue is not tagged in a way for the reader to know as far as I can tell. I don't know why authors write history instead of historical fiction when they feel the need to create scenes and dialogue. Yes, a historian like Paranque may know the material well enough to guess quite well what people may have said. The simple fact, though, is that we don't know and creating something makes it fiction. This is no longer non-fiction.
The second problem is massive amounts of supposition. To be clear, this is not entirely the author's fault as much of Boleyn's writings were destroyed. However, I started highlighting the sections where the author uses phrases like, "there is no doubt that," or "but surely she must have felt." In a history book, these types of leaps need to be grounded in sound research and common sense. These examples of supposition often did not have a corresponding reference. Yes, it is completely reasonable to assume anyone who saw the Field of Cloth and Gold would be awed because we have enough evidence to make that short leap. It would not, for instance, be safe to assume that because Boleyn filtered information to her father about an ailing queen that she cared about the health of said queen.
The final problem is the framing narrative. Paranque wants to prove, in essence, that Boleyn was betrayed by France due to politics. This is a strange stance to take since in reference to the betrayal of Cardinal Wolsey in this book, Paranque herself writes that there are "no friends in politics." If so, Boleyn wasn't betrayed, it was just politics. Also, in trying to prove this thesis, Boleyn is totally sidelined and robbed of agency in the narrative. Having to explain all the politics of the age means Boleyn herself takes up very little page count in the overall narrative. The space she has is mostly taken up by Paranque projecting onto Boleyn. Boleyn is not given the spotlight needed for the reader to feel for her in her fall from grace.
(Tangent: We do not give Henry VIII credit enough for being the absolute worst. Please look out for my book, Henry VIII: He Sucked So Much and We Need to Talk About it More. Please note I just made that up and I will never write a book because it's really hard.)
As I just said, writing a book is hard with numerous pitfalls. I think Paranque started this with a sincere attempt to re-frame Anne Boleyn's life, but the very thesis required too many diversions and filling in of a lot of blanks. I think if Paranque turned this into historical fiction, she could have produced something much more solid.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Hachette Books.)...more
I read all of Tom Clavin's books and this is just another wonderful entry about the end of the Wild West. I'm not going to complicate this review becaI read all of Tom Clavin's books and this is just another wonderful entry about the end of the Wild West. I'm not going to complicate this review because whether or not this book is for you is very simple.
When Clavin writes about the Wild West, there is going to be some guaranteed elements. First, sardonic wit. Clavin will not let a good zinger go by. If there is a dark joke to make about a guy's nickname ending up being the way he dies, then Clavin will say it.
Second, there are a lot of characters. Clavin can not and will not let a good story go by. Sure, the character may show up for a few pages and disappear forever but this is about entertainment. Clavin has gathered you around the fire to tell you stories not just a single story. Admittedly, I usually ding books for having too many characters, but when it is done well and brings more color to the book, I not only let it slide but thoroughly enjoy it.
Finally, while it may seem the narrative jumps around, there is always a larger point being made in the narrative. Yes, it seems like the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are the main story, but it is really about the end of the Wild West. This book is another look at the how and why the outlaws couldn't go on forever both literally and figuratively. If you like Clavin's work, this is just another must read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)...more
What about Canada, eh? I've read many books about World War II. References in most of these books to the people from the Great White North usually amoWhat about Canada, eh? I've read many books about World War II. References in most of these books to the people from the Great White North usually amount to, "Oh, yeah and the Canadians were there, too." Tim Cook seeks to address these historical gaps in The Good Allies.
Cook is very successful when it comes to providing new information not covered in those other books I mentioned. The vast majority of the narrative focuses on Canadian Prime Minister King and the march towards war. To make a long story short, I learned a lot, but I did not enjoy the journey as much as I had hoped.
The book clocks in at over 500 pages. At the same time, it felt like a very high-level overview of Canada and World War II. Cook's research is excellent but there is no narrative tension and he tries to cover a lot of ground. For instance, Cook doesn't even get to D-Day until the very end of the book and it only takes up a few pages. While it is just one day in the war, the event is too hallowed to not spend more time on it. It's a symptom of Cook's attempt to jam everything into one book. The same issues happen with specific characters as well. The author tells us a lot about PM King, but often it is literally telling us things like, "Cook didn't like Churchill." I would much rather have a few quotations of King's showing us why as opposed to the other stating it. Show, don't tell.
Ultimately, if you want to learn a lot about Canada and U.S. relations before and during World War II, then this book will satisfy your need. It's a dry read but not without merit.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada.)...more
I've read hundreds of books and now I can finally confirm I've read one with a chapter from the point of view of a ferret. Did I ever expect to write I've read hundreds of books and now I can finally confirm I've read one with a chapter from the point of view of a ferret. Did I ever expect to write this sentence? No. Am I glad I can? Yes, and I have Adrian Bliss to thank.
Bliss is a very well-known content creator on social media. No, don't run away! Come back! Don't judge the author by their fame vehicle! Thanks for coming back. Okay, hear me out.
If you spend any time on the apps (as the kids call them), then you have run into his videos. He has a distinctive voice and a very "Monty Python" way of delivering his humor. Before picking up the book, I went back and watched some of his content to remind myself what I was getting into. What I failed to pick up on first viewings is that Bliss needs to have an understanding of history for many of his videos to work. Like most comedy, you can't get away with it for very long without some intelligence behind it.
With this in mind, I dove into The Greatest Nobodies of History and enjoyed the hell out of it. Each chapter tackles a story from history from the perspective of a "nobody." This nobody may be a ferret, a horse, or a king's groom. Crucially, my biggest problem with historically based comedy books is handled right away. I hate reading comedy books based in history where I am left guessing what was real and what was invented for a laugh. In this book, I found that at the end of each chapter is a handy rundown of the actual history from the chapter. Yes, I just read about the Great Emu War from the point of view of the "Emu in charge", but when I finished laughing, I got a full accounting of the facts in the story I just laughed through. Like Bliss' videos on the apps, it is easy to laugh and not take anything seriously, but there is thought and real work behind the final product.
I should also point out that there is real emotion to some chapters. In fact, a story set on an isolated island is fully dramatic with no humor to be seen. It took me by surprise and the tone change didn't ruin my enjoyment. Bliss is not a one trick pony, but I wouldn't put it past him to play one in his next video.
The book is a great time. Give it a read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Ballantine Books.)...more
Oh, sure, the book jacket may tell you that Ben Macintyre's The Siege is about the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian embassy in London. However, thisOh, sure, the book jacket may tell you that Ben Macintyre's The Siege is about the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian embassy in London. However, this is selling the story short. You see, I have read many of Macintyre's books, and I can say without hesitation that they are always about people. Events just happen to occur near those people. The Siege is no different.
For those who don't remember (like me because I wasn't alive yet, and I don't get to say that much anymore), terrorists took over the Iranian embassy in London which included 26 hostages. I won't get too detailed about the terrorists as their point of view is rather surprising. Macintyre takes his time as he slowly peels back the layers of the story around the hostages, terrorists, and the people trying to bring this crisis to a peaceful end. I can't stress enough how masterfully each person is revealed as a flesh and blood person regardless of which side they are on. Some people would prove themselves heroes and others villains.
Something else I have found in all of Macintyre's books is humor. I don't know how, but the author continues to find sly humor in the darkest of places. His last book, Prisoners of the Castle, was closer to Hogan's Heroes than anyone would have expected even though it is the true story of captured Allied POWs. The Siege isn't laugh-out-loud funny, but Macintyre lightens the mood whenever possible without cheapening the drama around the story.
It would not be a spoiler to say that the final act of this story is heavy on action. I appreciated the way it is handled in the book. Most chapters are about the same size except for the last one which covers everything that happens during the (to quote the subtitle) "special-forces operation that shocked the world." Instead of breaking up the story with needless cliffhangers, the narrative just takes off until everything goes quiet.
The book is simply fantastic, and you should read it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Crown Publishing.)...more
I try not to reinvent the wheel when a book has a perfect title so I think Season of Shattered Dreams by Eric Vickrey is exactly what you expect it toI try not to reinvent the wheel when a book has a perfect title so I think Season of Shattered Dreams by Eric Vickrey is exactly what you expect it to be. The book looks at the 1946 season of a baseball team which is horribly derailed by a bus accident that kills multiple players. While the bus crash is the major event of the book, there is a lot more to it.
I am giving this book high marks with the caveat that this is for baseball lovers. Vickrey tells the story of multiple players and their paths through baseball. At this time, it wasn't quite what we know today with MLB and its minor league system. Free agency didn't exist and choice for the players was in short supply. As I said, for the baseball lover looking to learn a little bit more about the history of the game, this is catnip. Vickrey looks specifically at two players post-crash and that takes up the last 20% of the book. It is sad but also enjoyable.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the author.)...more
There is a special kind of worry specific to history nerds. What happens when one of your favorite authors teams up with an author from another genre?There is a special kind of worry specific to history nerds. What happens when one of your favorite authors teams up with an author from another genre? In this case, a personal favorite of mine, James M. Scott, is partnering with Jack Carr, author of the wildly popular Terminal List and other thrillers to produce Targeted: Beirut. What will result when history meets thriller? Will I throw the book across the room?
No, I shouldn't have worried and no, I didn't throw the book. To quote what my 9-year-old told me last week, "You worry too much."
Targeted: Beirut tells the story of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. The bombing is an example of a strange oxymoron in history. It is often referenced whenever terrorism is discussed, but this is the first book I have seen on the subject. For those unfamiliar, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan decided to involve itself in the affairs of Lebanon in the 1980s. To say it did not go well is a massive understatement. The entire episode is complicated, ripe for second guessing, and contains a large amount of finger pointing. The good news is that Carr and Scott are up to the challenge. The book deftly handles the political, military, and humanitarian sides of the story and the narrative never slows. The sourcing and research are top notch, and I felt like it was handled with clear-eyed discernment.
The book is so good that I was tempted to actually read fiction for once and pick up a Jack Carr book. For those of you who know my aversion to fiction, this is the best compliment I can give.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Atria Books.)...more
You (very sarcastically): "Brendan, you are the perfect person to review a book about Black NFL quarterbacks. I've alwayI know what you are thinking.
You (very sarcastically): "Brendan, you are the perfect person to review a book about Black NFL quarterbacks. I've always wondered what a pasty, uncoordinated history nerd would think about a book on this topic."
Me: "Ok, first of all, I played football in high school. The fact that I was one of the worst football players to ever exist is immaterial. I am a huge football fan and have loved the Giants since I was born (and even now when they SUCK). And I'm not pasty. I was at the beach recently so I would argue I am closer to a lighter shade of super white. And none of this has to do with book reviewing so back off, dude."
Now that you and I are back on track, let's talk about The Great Black Hope by Louis Moore. The basic gist is this. The NFL, for a very long time, did not think Black men could be quarterbacks for various racist reasons and actively made them switch to other positions on the field. I remember this controversy from when Rush Limbaugh (yes, that Rush Limbaugh) made comments on ESPN (because he WORKED there at one point) about this topic and had to immediately resign after. (Seriously, does everyone remember when ESPN hired him? The early 2000s were WILD!) Moore traces these issues back much further than that incident and what was most eye opening about the subject was the number of quotes Moore could pull from major newspapers for decades about this subject.
Moore makes the narrative an easy read from a prose perspective. He's done some excellent research and I think he definitely makes his arguments for the most part. There are certain sections where I felt he tried too hard to not make it the fault of certain players he was talking up. Football historians could probably have a field day arguing about the merits of all the Black quarterbacks listed in here, but most are well before my time.
The book is best when Moore focuses on his two main QBs which are Doug Williams and Vince Evans. This is almost a dual biography of the two and the narrative somewhat revolves around a game they played against each other. The game is not nearly as impactful to the overall narrative because there is still a good amount of story left after the game. It's not a problem as the book is interesting throughout.
As for how impactful these two men had on the Black communities around them, I am completely unqualified to answer that question. All I know is that I'd kill to have Patrick Mahomes on my team and I wouldn't dare ask him to change positions.
(This book was provided as a review copy by PublicAffairs.)...more
Fun fact: No one actually gets bit in Operation Biting by Max Hastings. Some Nazis do get a measure of comeuppance, though which is nice.
Operation BitFun fact: No one actually gets bit in Operation Biting by Max Hastings. Some Nazis do get a measure of comeuppance, though which is nice.
Operation Biting is about a 1942 British commando raid to steal a radar from the Germans in occupied France. The Allies really wanted to know what the Nazis had going as far as their radar was concerned, and this raid was audacious. I don't use "audacious" a lot because I need to really mean it. Operation Biting fits the bill. Commandos landed in the middle of the night, charged into a German base, stole technology, and then had to rendezvous with the navy before being killed. As someone who has jumped out of military planes before, I can assure you this was a bonkers plan.
Hastings tells the story succinctly. This is not a World War II book which explains every aspect of how England got to this mission. There are a lot of characters, but Hastings dispenses with any detail not needed to understand the story. This is a double edged sword. I really appreciated the stripped down narrative, but I also found myself wanting to spend a little more time with some characters. This is a nitpick, though. Any World War II nerd will want this book on their shelves.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harper Books.)...more
Oh say can you see....how this would be a really good book!? (No, I will not apologize for that opening line.)
Tom McMillan tackles the history of the Oh say can you see....how this would be a really good book!? (No, I will not apologize for that opening line.)
Tom McMillan tackles the history of the Star Spangled Banner in his book Our Flag Was Still There. It turns out there is a lot to cover when discussing how a flag can go from flying over a fort to a museum 200 years later. But I am sure you want to know what I wanted to know which is if McMillan answers the questions we really want answered. A sample of the things keeping me up at night:
1. Is the flag in the museum the real one? 2. How racist was Francis Scott Key? 3. Is The Star Spangled Banner itself racist? 4. How'd we win that battle anyways? 5. Did we really land on the moon in 1969?
Great news, he answers 4 out of 5! You'll have to read the book to find out which one. However, you will learn about how the Armistead family cared for the flag for generations and why there might be a few pieces missing. This book is a lot of fun.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the author.)...more
A funny thing happened to me while reading David Randall's Into Unknown Skies. The story, which follows the first flight around the world by American A funny thing happened to me while reading David Randall's Into Unknown Skies. The story, which follows the first flight around the world by American pilots, has everything you need for a page turner. There are underdogs, rivals, near death experiences, and irrational perseverance. Unfortunately, I was not mesmerized by the story. Instead, I found my mind wandering. I wanted to get through the book instead of enjoying it.
I racked my brain wondering why. Randall has some excellent research and his writing doesn't contain anything egregious such as run on sentences or lack of overall story through-line. It took my a while, but I finally put my finger on it about halfway through. The story is not told with a laser-like focus and there are small diversions which are consistently taking away from the main story.
For example, at one point, the pilots are in the vicinity of Bering Island. If you don't know the story of how it got its name, well I assure you it's riveting. Randall takes a page of so to tell a high-level summary of the story. The problem is that this story adds nothing tangible to the one Randall is telling. The pilots aren't forced to live on the island for months and what you have is a diversion to something immaterial (but admittedly, cool as hell) and it breaks the flow. This is not the only example and Randall will often then revert to the type of writing where this happens then this happens then this happens. The pilots are often in death defying circumstances and Randall probably needed to focus on making those sections as strong as possible as opposed to diversions like what I mentioned above or the pilot of another country who doesn't really matter to the narrative.
As always, there is no accounting for taste. Randall chose to tell the story this way and there may be many readers who are not as turned off by the tangents and sometimes stilted writing like I was. I wouldn't warn someone away from this book, but I can't say I was engaged as much as I had hoped.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Mariner Books.)...more
I'd like to open this review with a stipulation. Men and women are not treated equally, especially in earlier times, when it comes to sexual conquestsI'd like to open this review with a stipulation. Men and women are not treated equally, especially in earlier times, when it comes to sexual conquests. Much of what I write from here can be rebutted with, "But what about the man in this situation?" Totally valid, but this is a biography of Pamela Harriman and she is the focus of the review. Inequity in attitudes of sexual exploits is hereby stipulated so let's get on with the review!
Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell is the biography of Pamela Harriman. If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it is that Harriman lived a hell of a life. You may call it a bad life, a good life, or somewhere in between, but she lived a lot. She was the daughter of an English baron, daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill (I'm going to call him Winston the Younger for simplicity), and US ambassador to France. These are all facts and basically everything else is a lot murkier.
Ultimately, Purnell's treatment fell flat for me because of one major reason. Purnell far too often took the rosier view of Pamela and exaggerated her contributions in some egregious cases. Specifically, Purnell at one points seem to suggest that a picture of Pamela and Winston the younger had a major effect on whether Lend-Lease in World War II would move ahead. This is not an isolated incident and the reader is led to believe Harriman might be one of Churchill's most important assets in World War II. This is not in any way to question Purnell's work factually. Instead, I am merely questioning the level of causality in her conclusions. It probably did not help that much of her work in this book is shaded by new sources which are predominantly from Harriman herself in previously unavailable papers and interviews. Everyone is the hero of their own story.
Unfortunately, this made me wary of Purnell's judgement in the rest of the book as wave after wave of people who hate Harriman with a passion are dismissed or downplayed. She cut off friends and family as soon as they were no longer useful, she used people for money, and she actively would destroy marriages with zero compunction and regard for who would be hurt.
Here's the thing, I would still love to read a book about a person like this! However, I want the author to be as objective as possible. For example, I find FDR to be reprehensible as a person. He used people and discarded them with no remorse to a level only a sociopath could understand. However, as a politician he was masterful and books about that side of him always sell. I think a book which focused on how Pamela used soft power while acknowledging her myriad of personal failings would still be an excellent read without having to exaggerate her importance.
To give Purnell credit, she seems to figure this out towards the middle of the book. For example, Purnell is more willing to point out Harriman's failings as a mother without qualification. (Side note: It needs to be stated that Winston the Younger's father, Randolph Churchill SUUUUCKED.) My problem with the middle section of the narrative is that it began to read like a gossip column because Harriman's life was basically relationship to relationship. Seemingly all of these would end with a cadre of stepchildren who detested her for various reasons. Lawsuits would later abound.
By the time of Harriman's blossoming as a full-blown political power player in American politics, I found myself detached. I don't know how much her PamPAC actually accomplished, but I didn't fully trust Purnell not to inflate her importance. (Tangent: I was young when PamPAC was a thing so I wasn't immersed in politics. However, I vividly remember my father yelling every Sunday at the people on The McLaughlin Group and I never heard Harriman's name. Does that prove anything? Absolutely not. But it popped in my head and I wanted to share it because I thought you might like it.)
Whew, this is a long review for me. Let's end here. Purnell is a good writer and my dislike of this book comes down to the choice of perspective rather than ability. Purnell's previous book, A Woman of No Importance, is on my shelf and I am not dissuaded at all from reading that eventually. Pamela Harriman was hypocritically criticized for her sexual exploits. That doesn't mean she should be excused for her personal failings, though.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Viking Books.)...more
I live just outside Washington D.C. and one of the most important things in my life is GPS. I actually have an excellent sense of direction, but navigI live just outside Washington D.C. and one of the most important things in my life is GPS. I actually have an excellent sense of direction, but navigating D.C. is an exercise in insanity unless you have a trusty app like Waze to keep you from completely losing it.
How we got GPS is the focus of GPS Declassified by Richard Easton. The book looks at many different aspects of GPS such as how satellites got to space, the battles over how GPS would work, and even what it would be used for. There are some amusing diversions such as imagined conversation between Captain James Cook (famous explorer and very dead at this point) and someone who understands the GPS science of today. The book is a quick read (clocking in at just over 200 pages) and there are numerous interesting tidbits.
I'm going with three stars for the book mainly because it is very niche and probably won't translate to the average reader. There is a bit of padding even with the shorter overall page length such as the aforementioned conversation with Captain Cook. In summary, if you are a science nerd and think this is for you, I'd recommend it. If science isn't really your thing, then this one might not work for you.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the author.)...more
Ever get in a reading rut? You know, that feeling where you read just a little slower or your attention starts to fray just a bit? I felt myself slippEver get in a reading rut? You know, that feeling where you read just a little slower or your attention starts to fray just a bit? I felt myself slipping into one and then came across the jolt that is Henry V by Dan Jones. I will make no secret that Jones is one of my favorite writers. That said, even I was a bit taken aback at how seamlessly Jones tells the story of one of England's greatest kings.
Jones even admits in the introduction that he intentionally put off this book because he wanted to be more experienced before he tackled his white whale. (Side note: Dan Jones has sold over one million books. If he is worried about how good he is at his craft, what hope is there for the rest of us?) He also notes an uncommon choice for a history narrative. He wrote the book in the present tense. I have only run into this particular choice once before in Michael Finkel's exceptional The Art Thief. In both books, I found it to be an inspired choice. The story has more propulsion and feels more intimate. Instead of being a passive passenger reading centuries later, each action feels fresh to the reader. It may not work well in other books, but Jones does it masterfully.
As for the subject, Henry V, there is a lot to be said. Jones wanted to create a more full biography of the king as opposed to a rushed narrative barrelling towards Agincourt and immortality in Shakespeare's play. I expected Jones would do a fair bit of editorializing on the way Henry is portrayed in various books/media, but instead he stays laser focused on Henry's life as documented. Mainly, the book is about killing the idea of Hal and Henry as two separate phases of the king's life. The dichotomy being that Hal was a young rapscallion who puts on the crown and becomes the austere and serious Henry by some God given clarity. Instead, Jones posits that they were always one in the same. The difference is the presentation and not the man. Henry was always there, but he was trained perhaps better than any other prince to be king and to project a regal air when his time came.
The book is fantastic and is written so well that I would even recommend it to non-history nerds. A great book is just a great book.
(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by Netgalley and Viking Books.)...more
I can think of very few things more difficult than trying to write a book which is effectively Christians vs. Muslims. Simon Mayall tried it. and it tI can think of very few things more difficult than trying to write a book which is effectively Christians vs. Muslims. Simon Mayall tried it. and it turned out great in his book The House of War!
Let's get the big question out of the way first. Who is Mayall pulling for in this book? Great news, he is team no one! Joking aside, Mayall puts on a masterclass in not taking sides. He writes an overview of the religions starting from the beginning (which is a great place to start) that wouldn't irk anyone on either side of the theological debate except the people you really should not be hanging out with. The House of War then looks at various battles in history where Muslims and Christians did battle. Obviously, today we know many of these wars had nothing to do with religion in the slightest. However, Mayall doesn't get caught up in the semantics and minor debates. Sure, the crusades had very little to do with religion, but for the men on the ground an indulgence was not nothing.
The problems I always run into with books like this are twofold. First, there is the issue of what I call "name vomit." This is where you have to introduce so many people and places to set the stage every chapter because you jump around in time. Second, there is the extensive backgrounds themselves just to set up the stakes of the upcoming battle. While both issues are present in Mayall's narrative, I have to say he minimized them. More importantly, when he gets to the actual fighting, the storytelling is exceptional. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Osprey Publishing.)...more
A kingdom for a horse.....book? Listen, I didn't see myself reading a book called The Horse by Timothy Winegard. Yet, here we are and I enjoyed it!
WinA kingdom for a horse.....book? Listen, I didn't see myself reading a book called The Horse by Timothy Winegard. Yet, here we are and I enjoyed it!
Winegard looks at the entirety of the existence of the horse and I mean all of its existence. Winegard begins with what would be considered the first horse or at least a horse ancestor and then examines the evolutionary mechanics which brought us to today's wonderful animal. The book is strongest in parts like this one. When the full attention is on the horse, Winegard's book is truly riveting and makes you wonder just how much we take the horse for granted as humans. Did you know horses were used to make vaccines? Yeah, me either!
My critique of the narrative would be the times where the horse falls to the background. Winegard is an excellent writer so when he digs into a famous battle, it's never a bad time. However, I found myself wanting the spotlight back on the title of the book or to at least make a more concerted effort to break down how vital horses were during specific battles. Also, at over 450 pages it feels like a good amount could be cut to make this a slimmer tome. That said, it's still a good time and I recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advanced copy by the publisher.)...more
I've spent an inordinate amount of time trying to come up with a hook for this review. I wanted to somehow convey how well paced, researched, and presI've spent an inordinate amount of time trying to come up with a hook for this review. I wanted to somehow convey how well paced, researched, and presented this book is. Then it hit me like a torpedo.
Dominic Etzold's Reaping the Whirlwind asks the reader, "Hey you know submarines in World War I did more than just sink the Lusitania, right?"
What follows is a fantastic rundown of the submarine war in the Atlantic mostly told from the point of view of the Germans and Americans. I especially appreciated Etzold's note in the beginning of the book where he jettisons any ideas of partisanship. The Americans aren't the heroes and the Germans bloodthirsty villains. These were all men serving their country and the stories are told without chest thumping.
In the end, this review is simple. This is exquisite military history. If you like that sort of thing, you should read this.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher and author.)...more
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