This book tells the story of a search for a (possibly fictional) Lost City of White or the City of the Monkey God in the rainforest of Honduras. The wThis book tells the story of a search for a (possibly fictional) Lost City of White or the City of the Monkey God in the rainforest of Honduras. The writer (half of the team of Preston & Childs of the thriller genre) attaches himself to an expedition to find a lost city in one of the most remote regions of Central America. Much like The Lost City of Z, this book is a story of a place that may or may not exist) It relates the problems of accessing the region (controlled by the narco-trafficing groups. Using a high tech system of remote sensing radar, the team enters the rainforest. The encounters with insects, spiders and the fearful fer de lance snake will make your hair stand on end. The research (actually a film making crew) had to deal with the unstable Honduran government and criticism from archeological experts who thought the expedition was only a publicity stunt. You can judge for yourself. I found it a compelling read...(but I liked the Lost City of Z better)....more
I wanted to read this book before I saw the movie by Martin Scorsese. It brings up many serious questions of faith, devotion, guilt and the ultimate qI wanted to read this book before I saw the movie by Martin Scorsese. It brings up many serious questions of faith, devotion, guilt and the ultimate question of the silence of God in the face of human suffering. The narrative follows two Jesuits who sneak into Japan in the 17th century to continue to spread the word of Christ...even though Christianity has been outlawed. A side plot is that the priests want to locate a former teacher of theirs (back in Portugal) who has become an apostate. The book explores the limits of and the true meaning of faith. Interwoven throughout the narrative is the story of Judas and the betrayal of Christ. The principal narrator is Sebastian Rodrigues and the apostate he is seeking is a man called Ferreria (who was a historical figure in Nagasaki of the 1600's). They eventually meet and there is much to be said by both men as they try to understand why Christianity could not take root in Japan of centuries ago....more
This book is an excellent history of one of most famed hospitals in America. Oshinsky's narrative links the history of health care in NYC to the strugThis book is an excellent history of one of most famed hospitals in America. Oshinsky's narrative links the history of health care in NYC to the struggles of Bellevue to survive. The hospital's mission is to turn no one away who is in need of care. It is a story full of failures and successes for this great institution. I highly recommend this book....more
This slender volume was an interesting read on several levels. The title says it all...there is a great deal of American history that is linked to ourThis slender volume was an interesting read on several levels. The title says it all...there is a great deal of American history that is linked to our drinking habits. The opening line: "The Pilgrims landed on Cape Cod...in the Mayflower...because they ran out of beer..." That's a compelling start and it gets more interesting as Susan Cheever moves through important periods and events in our history and demonstrates a link to alcohol. She reveals bits of history you won't hear in school. Out Founding Fathers, apparently had a penchant for "the drink" in ways that are seldom written about. Cheever raises many provocative questions: How drunk were the soldiers of the Civil War? Where was Lincoln's bodyguard that fateful night at Ford's Theater? (In a tavern.) JFK's Secret Service detachment were not running on all cylinders (many, it turned out, partied in the wee hours of the morning of November 22). The author covers the Prohibition Era in a concise way. She even addresses the issue of why many of our great writers of the mid-20th century were drinkers. This section was interesting but, as we know, Susan's father, John Cheever was an alcoholic (he joined AA and stopped drinking, as did Susan herself. When writing about AA and her family history, there is just a hint of finger-wagging...she gets just a tiny bit 'preachy' about drinkers...a small dose of judgmental writing can go a long way. But, overall, the book is a fascinating read about a rather obscure part of our shared history....more
If you ever drive by a former insane asylum and wondered, if the walls could talk, what stories would be told...this book is a good way to start. ThisIf you ever drive by a former insane asylum and wondered, if the walls could talk, what stories would be told...this book is a good way to start. This book is a brief history of approximately sixteen of New York State's most famous and curious institutions. There are tales of the Bloomingdales Asylum for the Insane, which was on the site of present-day Columbia University in NYC. You can read of strange happenings behind the walls of the dreaded Willard Asylum in Central New York. The list goes on. The book is full of interesting facts and details that aren't usually found in regional histories. One chapter that I found especially interesting is the story of the NYS Inebriate Asylum at Binghamton (I once lived a short distance away). This is where the first lobotomy was performed. One could always use the book as a guide to reputed 'paranormal' sites. Many of these former hospitals, if not all, are considered to be haunted by ghost hunting groups. If you're interested in the dark side of 19th century approaches to mental illness, this is a great book to begin your research....more
This is not your average travel memoir. No, Indeed. Richard Grant (this guy is a terrific writer) has obsessions with the dark side of travel and withThis is not your average travel memoir. No, Indeed. Richard Grant (this guy is a terrific writer) has obsessions with the dark side of travel and with people that don't check into your typical Red Roof Inn. No, Grant wants to see the raw and the real...people on the road for the wrong reasons and people one doesn't want to meet in a bar or a wayward roadhouse. You certainly won't find these kind of people that Grant is attracted to in a Marriott Lounge while the house "band" with a name like Two Jacks and a Jill sing "Feelings". In this book, Grant journeys into the heart of the almost totally lawless region of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico...a place where the police snort cocaine and grow the weed outside the station, beyond the parking lot. He meets friendly people, curious people and people who would kill you simply because... This all takes place in the wilds south of the Arizona border and since it was published in 2008, it's a bit dated in reference to the recent political disputes and discussions about illegal immigration. If you love to travel by RV in the Southwest and enjoy the desert sunsets, don't read this rough and disturbing book until you are safely back in Connecticut. The writing style is tough and laced with humor (believe it or not). Grant is a skilled and observant travel writer, quite different than the likes of Steinbeck and Theroux. But, it's a damn good read, that's for certain!...more
Sadly, I found this book toward the end of a road trip that took me through the Desert Southwest of the USA. I wish I had this amazing anthology at mySadly, I found this book toward the end of a road trip that took me through the Desert Southwest of the USA. I wish I had this amazing anthology at my side for my jaunts into Death Valley, the Mojave Desert, Zion, and the Empty Quarter of west Arizona. The editor, Peter Wild, was the perfect choice to provide introductions to the essays found in these pages. He begins his examination of the desert-ness of the American landscape, chronologically with the legends and lore of the Native Americans before taking us on a harrowing journey alongside Cabeza de Vaca and others. Included in this book are writings from the obvious like Edward Abbey to the lesser known western writers like Mary Austin. I discovered many names in reading this book that will enhance my understanding of the arid regions of this awesome landscape. Don't carry this book along on the trails and dirt roads to learn the names of the cactus you just brushed against, or the name of that bird that just sang at the sundown. Instead, you will find reflections on what the desert landscape has meant to so many people and you will possibly gain a deeper understanding of how special and delicate the waterless landscape really is. If you plan on visiting Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California or Utah, this book should be by your side. Highly recommended....more
I have been fascinated with wanderers, drifters, hobos and nomads for much of my life. Perhaps that comes from living within the sound of passing traiI have been fascinated with wanderers, drifters, hobos and nomads for much of my life. Perhaps that comes from living within the sound of passing trains and the whistle (more of a horn) that I would fall asleep to as a child. I love to travel and I wish I had a copy of this book "American Nomads" at my side years ago. Richard Grant is a wanderer at heart and in the tradition of Paul Theroux and Bruce Chatwin, he is a careful observer and recorder of the sights and sounds of life on the road. In Grant's case, this means America. He is a Brit and sees this country the way 'outsiders' see it, a land of immense expanse and endless roads to travel and trails to hike. I believe this particular book is out of print, but it is well worth...I would go so far to say 'essential' to have in any library of exploration. The author is witty and personal in his reflections. The historical aspects of the book, dealing with cowboys, Native Americans, rodeo bronco riders and truckers are detailed in historical fact. He even covers the phenomena of the RV'ers of present day that follow the sun from Florida to Yuma. If you looking for a great read about the motivation that drives people to take to the road and follow an instinct rather than a map or GPS, then take the trouble to find this book! You will not be sorry. ...more
I am so glad that I spotted this book before I made a visit to the Everglades National Park. Grunwald gives a detailed history of the numerous failed I am so glad that I spotted this book before I made a visit to the Everglades National Park. Grunwald gives a detailed history of the numerous failed attempts to "tame" the wetlands of southern Florida. The story he tells is one of over-development, greed, political corruption and mis-directed environmental efforts to deal with this fragile ecosystem. I am only a visitor to Florida, but I feel that after reading this book, I know the state far better than I did before. I wasn't pleased by much of what I read. My view of Florida as a state that puts the environment second to the interests of realtors and mall builders is NOT incorrect. The only complaint I have about the book: The copyright date is 2006. I believe a new edition is needed with a up-to-date revision. The reader is left in the middle of the Bush years, and the future of the quality of the Everglades is in question. I would like to know what has happened in the last ten years since publication....more
When we think of the Golden Age of Polar Exploration, we usually think of Scott's Last Expedition or the truly amazing story of Shackleton's adventureWhen we think of the Golden Age of Polar Exploration, we usually think of Scott's Last Expedition or the truly amazing story of Shackleton's adventures on South Georgia Island. But, many students of Antarctica and the men who were drawn to it in the early part of the 20th century, believe that the achievements of Sir Douglas Mawson are, quite possibly, the most awesome and heart-rending. This is the story of his 1913 Australian Antarctic Expedition. It makes for a page-turning read. This is a story of survival that exceeds all others, at least as I see it. Mawson's solo journey back to his Base Camp after loosing two of his companions, the near starvation, the intense cold and incessant winds all point to a man who performed near super human deeds of endurance. David Roberts is a master story teller and this book belongs on the shelf of any of the "classics" of the genre. ...more
My internal reading compass often forces me to point north. The history of the "polar passion" fascinates me. It was the Golden Age of Exploration durMy internal reading compass often forces me to point north. The history of the "polar passion" fascinates me. It was the Golden Age of Exploration during the 1870's and this book is one of the best accounts of the attempts to reach the North Pole. There is plenty of material in this book to explore in so many ways. The history of how the New York Herald got to be the most important newspaper in the USA...and perhaps the world. But, the core of the story is how, using questionable charts and misguided theories about the North Polar Sea being ice-free, an explorer and his crew sail into history. I won't reveal the dramatic ending of the book, only to say that it describes the ravaging nature of the ice-pack and the sub-zero temperatures in such detail, some may want to skip a page or two. One of the very best accounts of polar exploration I've read in years. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what drives some men to suffer inglorious fates in search of a dream, a vision or fame....more
A writer with a curious mind like Bruce Chatwin doesn't come our way very often. The book centers on his investigation into the "songlines" of the natA writer with a curious mind like Bruce Chatwin doesn't come our way very often. The book centers on his investigation into the "songlines" of the native Australian cultures. Songlines are mystical pathways by which the ancient ones "sang" the world into existence [taken from the back cover]. Chatwin has a keen eye for detail and his curiosity leads him into many adventures. The book was published in 1987, so I would suspect that his ruminations on early human fossils, myth and the nature of violence in human culture may be a bit outdated when one considers that theories of human evolution are changing with every new discovery. I especially liked his entries about the nature of travel and movement in human nature. His digression on the moleskin notebook is amusing, especially considering the fact that the moleskin is my notebook of choice. For those interested in deep history of Australia, the human need to keep on the move and pecular characters found in and around Alice Springs, this is a must read....more
My first issue with this book is this: Where has this been all my life? I (like the author) have had a long time love affair with ghosts and ghost stoMy first issue with this book is this: Where has this been all my life? I (like the author) have had a long time love affair with ghosts and ghost stories. There are numerous anthologies of works by M. R. James, Lovecraft and Dickens, but very little objective material is available on the subject of the current state of paranormal investigations. Yes, there is plenty of material out there, but much of it is slanted toward the pro-ghost ideology. This book fills in a much needed gap. Clarke gives a great deal of space and back stories to the famous hauntings, i.e., The Cock Lane Ghost of London. The short biographies of such people as A.B. Ford, Dr. Rhine, and the famous ghost-buster of the last century, Harry Price are fascinating to read. Roger Clarke is a writer based in the U.K., so much of the material is devoted to one of the early questions he posits: Why is England so haunted? Why are the "Most Haunted" places in the world located in England? He even give the roots of the classic Christmas ghost story that Dickens popularized. There are reasons why we see snowy scenes of London streets and country inns and think of ghosts. The range of the subjects covered is very wide. Not much in our western culture of spirits is not found here. We learn about the Fox sisters and the table knocking. The famous (still unexplained) ghost picture taken in 1936, of a specter descending a staircase in Raychem Hall is given special scrutiny. The style of Clarke's writing is light and easy to comprehend. He has a quirky sense of humor. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the supernatural, either as fiction or social history. I loved this book and I'm sorry I finished it so quickly. It's one of those rare books that I'd read again someday to clarify something or find the location of a place (a haunted place) to visit on my next trip to England....more
A great deal has been writing about Hitler, the Holocaust and the nazis. We read about Himmler, Geobbels and Eichmann but there has been little publisA great deal has been writing about Hitler, the Holocaust and the nazis. We read about Himmler, Geobbels and Eichmann but there has been little published to date about the role that women played in the "Final Solution." From the late 1930's until the mid 1940's, women were encouraged to go east to help in the process of creating the "new" Germany that was to come in the area that is now the Ukraine. Female teachers, nurses and clerical workers went there by the thousands to find adventure and new careers. A fair number of them became involved in the work done in the "killing fields." Some were shocked by what they witnessed...others, willingly took part in the actual murders. It's a complicated story, but one that needs telling. Wendy Lower presents her research into the motives of a select number of these women. She also included a section at the end about whether or not these women answered for their crimes during the post-war tribunals. Some of the results may shock you. The book can be a bit sluggish at times, but it is necessary reading if you want to fill in the gaps of your knowledge about this dark corner of a dark time in 20th century history....more
I enjoy reading true crime books. Small books about small crimes, abusers and stalkers don't interest me as much as the iconic crimes that are ingrainI enjoy reading true crime books. Small books about small crimes, abusers and stalkers don't interest me as much as the iconic crimes that are ingrained in our popular culture. I just finished a book about Charlie Manson. I love it. I noticed that there was a book about Bonnie & Clyde by the same author. This is the book I'm reviewing here. The author takes us on a real page-turning adventure of two people on their way to certain self-distruction. There is enough back-story to enable you to get a firm grip on the infamous couple. Jeff Guinn is a masterful reporter. Narrative -wise, you're in good hands with him. I don't romanticize criminals, but there was a creepy sense of pity for these two lost souls who basically are driving ninety miles an hour to their deaths. The interesting thing is: they knew it and they accepted it. One cannot rationalize cold-blooded murder, but I feel that, even though Clyde pulled the trigger on more than one occasion, he was something of a victim as well. Raised dirt-poor in West Dallas, he was caught in a lose-lose situation. He was not well educated (his father was illiterate) and he found that once he had established his reputation as a small-time car thief, the local police never tired of dragging him in for questioning...for things he did not do. We are in the dust bowl of Texas and Great Depression. Corruption and dirty politics were rife throughout the country (especially in the nearly lawless areas of rural Texas). Clyde made a choice of following the path that led to the wrong side of the law...and he paid the price. But, he knew who he was and was honest about his crimes. Clyde never deluded himself or others into a false sense of "honesty" that many politicians cloaked themselves. Bonnie was a tragic figure on many levels. In a day when women were very subservient to men, she chose to follow Clyde down the dark road. But, she was a moralist and realist with a poetic sense of fate. Read her poem "The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde". Everyone in those days and that place of our country wanted to profit from something. B & C profited from robbing banks...his killers profited from the collectables salvaged from the famous 'death car'. Don't think the movie "Bonnie & Clyde" will give you any real history. Read this book for the most balanced and complete story of these 'lawless' American icons.
This book is both captivating and alluring as well as strangely seductive in the darkest way you can imagine. The prose is elegant and conjures a worlThis book is both captivating and alluring as well as strangely seductive in the darkest way you can imagine. The prose is elegant and conjures a world of honey and spices. But, just as you're caught up in the language and imagery, along comes the description of something horrific and unthinkable. Most, but not all of the story is how an Armenian girl who has been raised by Turks sees the world. The time is 1915-1917. This is the story, told from differing voices of the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Turks. Some scenes are difficult to read but it's worth the effort to keep all the strands of the narrative flowing...that way the reader gets the full impact of the conflicts that may have set the stage for the Holocaust of the Jews starting in the late 1930's in Germany. Parts of this story reads like a slasher movie...but the real horror is knowing that these things took place in history...and to this day, Turkey continues to deny that it was a true holocaust. Read this important book and decide....more
This volume is a true story of how one individual became a side-show con artist. It describes the techniques the 'carnies' use to empty the pockets ofThis volume is a true story of how one individual became a side-show con artist. It describes the techniques the 'carnies' use to empty the pockets of the rubes that enter the tents of the traveling fairs, carnivals and circuses. I recommend this book if you want a 'beyond the canvas' look at what it takes to scam the innocent and live the life of a showman...on a fairly low level of the entertainment business. ...more
It's classic. An average girl (Grace Brown) from a worn out farm in central New York State goes to work in a factory in Cortland, NY to make extra monIt's classic. An average girl (Grace Brown) from a worn out farm in central New York State goes to work in a factory in Cortland, NY to make extra money and begin a life of her own. She's smart and pretty. Along comes a guy (Chester Gillette) with a reputation with the girls (not a good reputation) and begins to woo her. His main purpose (allegedly) was to seduce the young woman. He succeeds to bed her and she gets pregnant. They go away on a vacation (she's hoping a surprise marriage will happen). They check into a remote hotel in the Adirondacks. They go out in a row boat. The boat drifts along shore, later, empty. No woman, and no Chester Gillette. It's a classic plot line for a Victorian novel, right? Of course it is, except that this a true story. The rest of the tale comes out in the murder trial (after Gillette is arrested at a nearby hotel). The prosecution claimed it was murder. That Chester threw her overboard and hit her with an oar. The defense claimed that she fell in and couldn't swim. The trial was held in Herkimer, NY. and the result made sensational headlines across the country. Theodore Dreiser wrote the novel "An American Tragedy" about the case. It was made into a major Hollywood film. It seems the story would end within the walls of the Auburn Prison, but as the author of this volume states..."We'll never know" if Chester really did the deed. I recommend the book for anyone interested in turn-of-the-century true crime and New York State history....more
This book is a compelling examination of the nature of faith, cults, belief, religion. It traces the origins and evolution of Scientology, considered This book is a compelling examination of the nature of faith, cults, belief, religion. It traces the origins and evolution of Scientology, considered by some to be the only path to saving civilization and by some to be simply a wacky belief system that "extorts" millions of dollars from its followers. I confess that I find modern religious movements fascinating. I would also find them amusing if it were not for the dark side of these beliefs that sometimes lead to mass suicide. Consider the Jonestown mass suicide of the 1970's. L. Ron Hubbard, was an extremely prolific author of science fiction during it's "golden era" of the 1940's and 1950's. He holds the Guinness Book of Records title as the most published author in modern times. At some point in his post-war years, he began to cultivate ideas that mixed a bit of psychology with bizarre elements taken from his fiction writings. The result was a huge seller "Dianetics." It's really far too convoluted to even begin to describe in this space...but it began a 'war' between the psychiatric world and his self-created world of self-study and improvement. It all makes for very interesting reading. While a fair number of the tenets of his 'faith' are considered down-right goofy and based on faulty portraits of his own background, the same can be said of most of the main-line faiths that make up the major religions. Main-stream Christians are asked to believe in some events that stretch the imagination. How did Mohammad get to heaven? The Virgin Birth" "The Ressurection" to name a few. All systems that rely on faith and belief share these qualities. What I found most troubling about the nature of Scientology is the secrecy, hidden-truths, accusations of physical abuse and holding people against their will. They are not allowed to read anything that is considered critical to their beliefs. This does not, in my mind, make for rational choices and critical thinking skills. Those who join and are intending to climb the 'bridge' to the upper levels of self-awareness actually sign a contract with the Church of Scientology that binds them to the organization for one billion years! You read that correctly. There is a fascinating description of the roles of major Hollywood stars who play a large part in speaking in defense (and giving money) to the Church. Most notably, Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Again, the detail of research and scope of the content make this a hard book to review in a space less than several hundred pages. I would put this book on my shelf next to "Under The Banner of Heaven." Jon Krakauer's study of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). There are distinct parallels here. Freedom of information, freedom of informed choice and the freedom to walk away from a religious commitment should be a basic human right. This book points out that when considering the Church of Scientology, basic rights aren't so easily obtained....more
This was an interesting look at the women who went to Oak Ridge, TN. to work on a "top secret project." It follows the a small group of these people, This was an interesting look at the women who went to Oak Ridge, TN. to work on a "top secret project." It follows the a small group of these people, who were young woman at the time, as they traveled to a destination that was unknown to them. They took risks in doing so because so explained to them about the nature of their work. That work, of course, was an essential role in the development of the atomic bomb. This is an informative read of the personalities who worked on the "Manhattan Project" without knowing what the outcome was going to be. ...more
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