Tuesday, December 20, 2016

A WRETCHED AND PRECARIOUS SITUATION : IN SEARCH OF THE LAST ARCTIC FRONTIER
by David Welky

Navy Commander Robert E. Peary was considered to be the world's most famous explorer. His claim to fame was the North Pole. Over a twenty-year span, Peary took four trips to the Arctic but never quite reached his destination (detractors would say that he was nowhere near it). He spent most of that time trying to get benefactors to finance his trips.
In 1906 (which would be his last adventure), Peary tried again and after climbing up a 2,000-foot peak that he named Cape Colgate after one of his financial backers (these monuments to his supporters were all over the place), he saw through his binoculars some snow-clad hills. Oh, boy, undiscovered land! How he wanted to find and explore it, but he no longer had the strength. Peary would name it Crocker Land after a San Francisco banker (George Crocker) who donated $50,000toward the expedition. Somebody else would have to investigate.
A few years later, one of Peary's acolytes (Donald MacMillan) would do just that. Macmillan revered Peary and had actually been on one of his expeditions. He would be the leader of six amateur adventurers who would also do scientific exploration and bring back unheard of specimens.
There have been so many books written about the history of polar expeditions and every one that I have read have been tremendous. A Wretched and Precarious Situation is just as fantastic as the others. Author David Welky is a fabulous writer. He definitely knows how to keep your interest riveted. Welky is very good with details especially in the characterizations of the men, whether they were the native Inuit who accompanied them or his fellow comrades who were along for the journey. The story is compelling and suspenseful. At over four hundred pages, you never feel as if the book is a slog and you want it to end already. Nothing of the sort. I couldn't put it down. If you want to know what happened, get a copy and hunker down. A truly, phenomenal read.
Very highly recommended.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

HERO OF THE EMPIRE : THE BOER WAR, A DARING ESCAPE AND THE MAKING OF WINSTON CHURCHILL
by Candice Millard 

In his mind, Winston Churchill was totally convinced of his importance. (Ego certainly ran in this family.) Churchill believed that he was special. He knew that one day he would become the prime minister of England. In order to achieve his goal, though, Churchill had to do something monumental, which would be on the battlefield. Not that he hadn't tried before. Churchill had already participated in three wars: Cuba, India, and the Sudan, but had not returned home with any medals.
At the age of twenty-four, Churchill went to South Africa in 1899 as a journalist for a newspaper. Since he was an aristocrat, he arrived with his valet and many crates of wine. (Can't be without some kind of comfort.) The British were fighting the Boer rebels, who were not soldiers but farmers and businessmen. They hated uniforms and would certainly not wear one.
The British army was expected to win. Their fighting forces were known and feared all over the world. But they were struggling. The Boers had no intention of losing and their weapons were quite powerful. The British never saw them appear (they were the invisible enemy) until it was too late.
Two weeks after Churchill's arrival, he along with many British soldiers and officers were taken prisoner after their armored train was attacked. When the Boers realized that they had captured the son of Lord Randolph Churchill, they were exultant. Churchill was quickly moved to a POW camp in Pretoria, which was the Boer capital. From that day forward Churchill thought of nothing else but escape.
Candice Millard has written another stupendous goldmine of a book. (This is her third.) Previously, she wrote about James A. Garfield (reviewed in this blog) and Theodore Roosevelt. Millard is a master storyteller and brings a portion of history to life that keeps you riveted. It took her five years to compile all of her research. It's fascinating reading about Churchill's early life, The Boer Wars, and South Africa. Finding an author who has such talent that every book she puts out is just as good as the previous one is wonderful. I'm already looking forward to whoever she chooses to write about next. It will be well worth the wait.
Very highly recommended. 

Monday, November 21, 2016

CHASING PORTRAITS : A GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER'S QUEST FOR HER LOST ART LEGACY
by Elizabeth Rynecki

His paintings were on the walls of the home where she grew up. As a child she took them for granted because they were always there. The lives of Polish Jews during the 1920s and the 1930s were portrayed. Moshe Rynecki was the artist. He painted all the time. When the Nazis entered Poland in 1939 Moshe had over eight hundred pieces of art including some sculptures.
Moshe kept on painting even during the Nazi invasion, but as conditions deteriorated for the Jews, he had to decide what to do about his artwork. His paintings and sculptures were divided into bundles and  he asked friends to hide them. Pretty soon after this was done, Moshe went into the Warsaw Ghetto to live. He did this, willingly. His son, Jerzy, (later anglicized to George when he moved to the United States), who was living outside the ghetto with false papers pleaded with Moshe not to go. He would not listen and said that he wanted to be with his people. Moshe was deported to the Majdanek concentration camp and murdered. His wife, Perla, survived the Holocaust. She looked for the paintings after the war and found 120 of them hidden in a cellar within the Praga district. For over fifty years, the Rynecki family thought that these paintings were all that were left.
In 1992, after Grandpa George died, Elizabeth Rynecki (Moshe's great-granddaughter) began to study Moshe's art. Several years later she built a website of Moshe's works. From this, the Internet, and social media, Elizabeth discovered that many more of Moshe's paintings had survived World War II. Some are held in museums; others are with private collectors. But, not all of the art has been found. Elizabeth hopes that eventually more people will come forward to supply the missing pieces.
Chasing Portraits is a terrific story. Elizabeth Rynecki is a wonderful writer. What she goes through while searching for her great-grandfather's paintings (such trials and tribulations) keeps you on edge. It's fortunate that her grandfather (George) wrote a memoir, which the family did not discover until after he had passed in 1992. That in and of itself is a goldmine. Her other sources include curators, art lawyers, databases, documentaries, auction houses, professors, archives, etc.
It's really too bad that Moshe Rynecki agreed to be led into the Warsaw Ghetto when his own son could have saved him. He could have painted so much more especially if he had come to America with his wife, his son, and his family. His paintings are absolutely amazing! In the middle of the book are twenty-six color prints, plus interspersed throughout are black-and-white drawings. Although Moshe was not famous in Poland, he could have been in America. Needless to say, he would have been very proud of his great-granddaughter who had such dogged determination to seek out his lost paintings and to never give up.
Highly recommended.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

MOSCOW NIGHTS : THE VAN CLIBURN STORY-HOW ONE MAN AND HIS PIANO TRANSFORMED THE COLD WAR
by Nigel Cliff 

Russia and the United States have always had a love-hate relationship. The only thing they really had in common was that both of these nations were world powers at the same time. Ideologically, though, they were complete opposites. America promoted freedom and Russia believed in autocracy. The Cold War era was especially tense between them. 
Into this midst of turbulence (1958) entered a tall, gangly, twenty-three-year-old piano prodigy from Texas named Van Cliburn. He was brought to Russia's attention when he took a trip to Moscow to compete in the First International Tchaikovsky Competition. But, the Soviets had no intention of letting an American win. In their minds, Americans could not possibly understand how to play their music. They had already chosen one of their own, anyway, to win the coveted prize. That all changed when Cliburn began to play. He swept the Soviets off their feet by his stupendous talent, his passion, and his intense love for the music. They thought he was better than their own Russian pianists. The adulation was endless and every time he performed, the crowds just swooned. They couldn't get enough of him. What a love affair! Cliburn's life would never be the same again.
Moscow Nights is a terrific portrait of one incredible musician who brought classical music to millions of people. Author Nigel Cliff is a masterful storyteller and keeps you riveted to the pages. It's fascinating to read about all of the presidents that Cliburn performed for and how much Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev had such a soft spot for him (he thought of Cliburn like a son). The very engrossing prose leads you through Russian history (sometimes this can be deadening, but not at all here) and the Cold War. Through it all, one humble, patriotic, and inspiring man with impeccable manners was able to bridge the gap between two hostile entities by his music.
Very highly recommended. 

Saturday, October 15, 2016

THE FRENCH CHEF IN AMERICA : JULIA CHILD'S SECOND ACT
by Alex Prud'homme

Julia Child was bigger than life, literally. At six feet, two inches tall she towered over everyone. This did not stop her from being embraced by so many adoring fans. By the 1960s, she had become America's first lady of French food (the "French Chef"). That was the name she gave to WGBH when she was filming cooking shows for them thinking that she would change it later. It was ironic that an American woman was considered to be such an authority on French food. Julia also did not consider herself to be a chef, but just a cook. For that alone, she wanted to showcase how ordinary people could recreate spectacular cuisine in their kitchens and not be afraid of doing so. In front of the cameras, Julia was a natural and her robust personality endeared her to millions. Today she would be considered the first celebrity chef before that was even popular. By the late 1970s, that is exactly what did happen to her when she distanced herself from the "French Chef" title and reinvented herself as "Julia Child." It was time for her to become more Americanized as the culinary world was changing fast.
There have been several books on Julia Child, including her own memoir, and I have read them all. The French Chef in America is absolutely delightful to read and Alex Prud'homme, her grandnephew, is a terrific writer. (He collaborated with Julia on the previous book My Life in France.) This volume is chock full of fascinating information, trivia, and fun facts. Julia's persona definitely jumps out of these pages. If you're a foodie and just love reading about cooks, get a hold of this spectacular biography. Julia Child was one of a kind and Prud'homme has crafted a rich portrait.
Very highly recommended.
 

Thursday, September 15, 2016

FAMOUS NATHAN : A FAMILY SAGA OF CONEY ISLAND, THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HOT DOG
by Lloyd Handwerker and Gil Reavill

One hundred years ago (1916) Nathan's Famous was born. Every day, thousands of people thronged the tiny counter space for a frankfurter in a toasted bun that cost five cents at Surf Avenue on Coney Island. At first, during the summer, it was just the tourists who came by. But then the rest of the year, the place stayed open and was monopolized by people who worked in the area. In no time, Nathan's Famous expanded and took over the entire block. It became one of the most popular restaurants in the world. One man brought an innate sense to create a business from the ground up and become quite a success story.
Nathan Handwerker came to America in 1912 from Galicia, Poland. He was one of thirteen children. Both poverty and hunger were the norm. His father, Jacob, was a shoemaker but didn't make enough money to support his family. When Nathan was eleven, he got a job at a bakery and worked there for two years. In the next five years, he helped his mother, Rose, sell produce. It was from this small venture that Nathan learned about supply and demand and how by selling cheap food could eventually reap a fortune. He listened and paid attention. Nathan took the values that he learned from his mother and later applied them to his hot dog stand.
When Nathan arrived at Ellis Island, he was completely illiterate. He could not speak English (only Yiddish) nor was he able to read or write. That didn't stop him. The very next day he was off looking for a job and found one as a shoemaker. It didn't last. He didn't want to be employed in a sweatshop. So, with the help of his brother Israel, Nathan landed a job as a dishwasher at a luncheonette. He knew that he was going to end up in the restaurant business and here was his ticket. Pretty soon he moved up to a busboy, then a server, to working the frankfurter counter learning English along the way. He saved his money and he began to formalize his dream to have his own place (Nathan would call it "the store").
Famous Nathan is a wonderful rags-to-riches story. Written by Nathan's grandson, Lloyd Handwerker, you get a much more personal portrait. Nathan cared about the quality of his food and how important it was to hire the right worker. (He used to say that just by looking at the back of a prospective employee, he could tell right away if that person would be good.) Many of them were quite dedicated and stayed for decades (some for over fifty years). Nathan was intensely loyal to his workers and paid them quite well. There's so many fascinating tidbits to read about in this book: what Coney Island was like at that period of time; the kind of beef that was used in the frankfurters; how money was collected and stored; dealing with inebriated customers; how the store was allowed to remain open during World War II when others had to observe curfew rules; what happened when Nathan's sons got into the business.
This is definitely a great read, especially if you like the food history of New York. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a small black-and-white photo with either quotes by Nathan or other people and sometimes the location of where the photo was taken.
I loved every bit of the book.
Highly recommended. 

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

TRIALS OF THE EARTH : THE TRUE STORY OF A PIONEER WOMAN
by Mary Mann Hamilton 

When Mary Mann was seventeen her father moved his family from Missouri into the "wild country of Arkansas." Within ten days he died of pneumonia, so the two oldest brothers, out of six children, got a job at the sawmill. As their house was the only one livable, they took in boarders. Mary did all of the cooking. It was here that she met Frank Hamilton, an Englishman twelve years older than her who had secrets about his past which he did not share with her. He definitely had an eye for her even though she didn't feel the same about him. But, at the age of eighteen she married him and they took off for the Mississippi Delta. Frank ran logging camps and Mary helped him by cooking for upwards of one hundred men. She would go to bed at 1:00 a.m. and get up at 4:00 a.m. and start preparing breakfast. (She baked 115 loaves of bread every day and thirty pies for dinner.) Besides the preparation of the food, Mary sewed clothes, skinned deer, fought off bears and snakes, gave birth to children, (four of whom died), survived floods, and helped and supported Frank in as many ways as she could. Through hard work, endurance, and persistence, Mary somehow stayed positive and soldiered on.
Near the end of her life, a friend of hers encouraged Mary to write down an account of her life (this was in 1933). It was submitted to the publisher Little, Brown for a writers' competition, but didn't win. Eighty-three years later with the help of Mary's descendants and the publishing company finally realizing that they had made a mistake, Trials of the Earth has been brought to fruition.
Mary Hamilton is a wonderful storyteller and yet it's all true. She definitely keeps you riveted to the page.  Mary's writing is so raw, honest, expressive, and emotional that you feel as if you are right there with her experiencing everything she went through. Life back then was really tough with none of the luxuries that are afforded today. One really had to keep their wits about them. So, the next time you feel as if you are having a really bad day, just read this book and it will put things in perspective.
Very highly recommended. 

Thursday, August 25, 2016

THE ANGEL : THE EGYPTIAN SPY WHO SAVED ISRAEL
by Uri Bar-Joseph

The funeral for Ashraf Marwan in Cairo that took place on July 1, 2007, was a virtual who's who among the Egyptian elite. People from the areas of government, business, and security came to pay their respects to one of their own. They knew about his patriotism to his country and wanted to honor him. But, there were others who did not feel this way. They considered him to be a traitor.
Marwan was the son-in-law of the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and worked as a top-level official in his administration. Nasser never really trusted Marwan and didn't really give him anything important to do. Frustrated by being looked down upon (he had quite an ego), Marwan decided that he wanted to go back to school and get a master's degree in chemistry in London. Nasser approved and off Marwan and his wife, Mona, with their son, Gamal (named after his grandfather) went. London was perfect for Marwan and he had the time of his life. Soon he got into trouble financially (he had a weakness for gambling). Nasser was not too happy and wanted Mona to divorce Marwan, but she said no, that she loved him too much and would stand by him. They returned to Egypt and Marwan was only allowed to go to England for a few days at a time for his studies. He was back to the position where he was constantly scrutinized and he knew that he had to change it. On one of those days where he came back to England to continue his education, Marwan called the Israeli embassy in London and offered his services.
Marwan became a spy for the Mossad (Israel's intelligence service). His handlers called him "the Angel." Israel considered him to be the most important spy they ever had. He saved Israel from losing the joint Egyptian-Syrian attack during Yom Kippur in 1973. Marwan worked for them for years and gave Israel incredible information. After Nasser died of a heart attack, Anwar Sadat took over. He treated Marwan like a son and so Marwan had access to even more secrets. Amazingly, nobody in Egypt knew about his other life. It was not until 2001 that details began to come out.
If you like espionage, you will definitely like The Angel. Without Marwan being around, Israel would have lost the 1973 war. There's so much information here. What is really interesting is the blow-by-blow account before the attack. Anybody who enjoys reading about  Middle Eastern history, military intelligence, and spying should not hesitate to read this book. It's an amazing story.
Recommended.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

THE RETURN : FATHERS, SONS AND THE LAND IN BETWEEN
by Hisham Matar

When Hisham Matar was eight years old, he and his family left Libya in 1979 and settled for a long exile in Cairo, Egypt. They thought they could be safe here. Libya was ruled by Muammar Qaddafi, a tyrannical dictator. If you opposed him, you were hanged in a public square; those who departed were pursued. Hisham's father, Jaballa, was one of these dissidents. Qaddafi considered him to be a dangerous enemy.
Eleven years later (1980) while Hisham was studying at a university in London, his father was kidnapped by the Egyptian secret police. He was brought to a prison (Abu Salim) in Tripoli where the regime stuck people that they wanted to forget. Hisham never saw his father again. He never gave up hope, though. that his father was still alive.
Fast forward to late August 2011. Tripoli has fallen, Qaddafi is deposed, and the revolutionaries have taken over. The prison cells are emptied, but none of the men are Jaballa Matar. There is no sign of him. Nobody knows anything. Hisham decides that he must take a trip and return to Libya to find out what really happened to his father.
The Return is a book that should be read by everybody so that they can learn what it was like to live under a diabolical monster. In beautiful prose, Hisham gives you an early history of Libya, the period of time when Qaddafi was in power (1969-2011), and what's happening currently. The writing is powerful, honest, revealing, and extremely moving. One has to be very strong to go back to the homeland where there are strong memories and where it took so much away.
Highly recommended.

Monday, August 15, 2016

THE WICKED BOY : THE MYSTERY OF A VICTORIAN CHILD MURDERER
by Kate Summerscale

During the latter part of the Victorian era in England (1890s), schoolboys were snatching up at a tremendous rate something called "penny dreadfuls." They were known as the pulp fiction of the day and caused quite a bit of concern to the general public. Wild adventures, escapism, violence, and murder were the usual subjects. For young lads who were bored by their rote learning in school, the "bloods" (what the boys called them), were a wonderful diversion. Unfortunately many of the boys were heavily influenced by these stories.
Robert Coombes, at age thirteen, was one such boy. He committed matricide by killing his mother. His brother, Nattie (age twelve) was at first considered an accomplice but after Robert confessed that he did it alone, Nattie ended up giving evidence against his brother. 
The trial was a huge sensation. Neither the prosecution nor the defense could figure out what Robert's motive was. The judge sentenced him to be incarcerated in the most famous villainous insane asylum in the country: Broadmoor. Robert would spend seventeen years there. 
Author Kate Summerscale has done it again. She is a master of writing books about murder in the Victorian age. Her most famous one is called The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and the review is posted in this blog. Kate's meticulous research on the Coombes family, the brothers (most especially Robert), the trial and how to deal with a child criminal, the asylum where Robert would spend a good portion of his life, and what happens to him after his release makes for quite riveting reading. Even though the subject matter is disturbing, you will want to stick with it and find out what kind of man Robert became.
Highly recommended.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

MELVILLE IN LOVE : THE SECRET LIFE OF HERMAN MELVILLE AND THE MUSE OF MOBY-DICK
by Michael Shelden


When Herman Melville published his novel of epic proportions (Moby-Dick) in 1851, he thought for sure that it would finally catapult him to literary fame. Who better than he could have penned this monumental work? Melville was an experienced sailor and had many years at sea on whaling vessels. He had written other books of adventure previously, but none of them had been lucrative for him. And so it went with Moby-Dick. Most of the reviews were bad. Critics called it blasphemous and irreverent. It was a total disaster and during his lifetime barely garnered many sales.
The reason why Moby-Dick did not do well at that period of time was because in Pittsfield, MA (in the Berkshires), many of the people who were from good families were very straitlaced. Most likely they didn't bother to even read the book after hearing about so many bad reviews. 
Melville wrote Moby-Dick inspired by his lover, Sarah Morewood. She was his neighbor and married to somebody else. In fact, both of them were married. He considered her to be his kindred spirit: passionate, unconventional, literary, and intelligent. She understood him the way nobody else did and thought his book was brilliant. She was his creativity.The two of them carried on an affair for years. Nobody knew about it. The secret endured.
Not until the 1920s did Melville's genius come to the fore with scores of new readers. Finally his reputation was restored and has remained so.
Melville in Love is so beautifully written that I didn't want it to end. Michael Shelden is a great biographer. One of his previous books, Mark Twain: Man in White (reviewed in this blog) was just as tremendous. It's always interesting to learn about the man behind one of the greatest novels of all time and Shelden was able to do that effortlessly by showing us what made Melville tick.
If you're a fan of Melville's works, you will definitely want to grab a hold of this delightful tale.
Highly recommended.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

FOR THE GLORY : ERIC LIDDELL'S JOURNEY FROM OLYMPIC CHAMPION TO MODERN MARTYR
by Duncan Hamilton 

Everyone who has seen the film Chariots of Fire remembers the thrill of seeing Eric Liddell (actually actor Ian Charleson) fly across the finish line and win an Olympic gold medal (Paris, 1924). He was so extremely fast that he was considered to be the number one sprinter in the world. Liddell was known as "The Flying Scotsman" and broke new records when he ran 400 meters. He could have continued on with his racing and become quite a celebrity. But that was not in the cards for him. Liddell had a higher calling.
When the Olympics were over, Liddell became a missionary eventually moving to China. His strong faith in God kept him totally grounded. He was very lucky to find a strong woman, Florence, who he would marry and have three children with. When war started to rear its ugly head, Liddell sent his wife and children out of the country and put them on a ship to Canada. He could have gone with them but he felt beholden to the Chinese and so he stayed. Unfortunately for him and many other westerners, they ended up in a Japanese work camp.
Eric Lidell was the most incredible human being. He was totally selfless, dedicated to his beliefs, faced adversity with no venom, prayed for his enemies, overlooked imperfections, never judgemental, didn't argue, and would not force his religion on anybody else. Liddell lived to help others in every way that he could.
So, if you vaguely remember the film, it's much more important to read For the Glory. It's very well written and succinctly captures true humanity.
Highly recommended. 
 

Sunday, June 5, 2016

PRETTY JANE AND THE VIPER OF KIDBROOKE LANE : A TRUE STORY OF VICTORIAN LAW AND DISORDER
by Paul Thomas Murphy

For those of you who are obsessed with watching Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs and you truly believe the portrayals of happy, large amounts of servants, this was not the norm in 1871. In Victorian England, in order to be considered respectable (middle-class), the family had to hire at least one servant. Two-thirds of young girls (twelve or thirteen) were maids-of-all-work. Their duties were endless: cook, kitchen maid, housemaid, valet, footman, making beds, washing dishes, childcare, cleaning boots, sweeping, dusting, etc. You get the picture. It was pretty much a miserable existence. With long days of constantly cleaning (fifteen to eighteen hours) and not much time off, maids-of-all-work had a lonely, solitary life. Jane Clouson was one of these unfortunates. She began working soon after turning twelve and would eventually end up being employed by the Pook family. Jane lasted there not quite two years before she left on her own saying that she no longer wanted to be a servant. The truth was that she was in love with Edmund Pook, the son of her master and they were planning to get married. Too bad that Jane was so naive. Edmund was a womanizer and particularly liked to prey upon female servants. He, of course, had no intention of marrying her. She meant nothing to him. He knew that he had to get rid of her. Edmund contacted Jane and arranged for them to meet on an isolated road where nobody goes. The following day, while walking his beat, police constable David Gunn finds her barely alive.
Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane is a very persuasive story that keeps you glued to the page. It is very interesting to read about the legal system in Britain during the nineteenth century; the beginnings of forensic science; the police investigation; and life in England within the 1870s. Author Paul Thomas Murphy used primary sources to recreate a tale of a murder (it remained unsolved for one hundred and fifty years). Murphy has degrees in Victorian studies and it shows. He really knows how to write and draw you in.
If you like Victorian drama, especially a murder mystery that is true, you won't be disappointed.
Highly recommended.

 

Friday, May 13, 2016

THE LAST VOYAGEURS : RETRACING LA SALLE'S JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA : SIXTEEN TEENAGERS ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
by Lorraine Boissoneault

How does one celebrate America's two-hundredth anniversary? Reid Lewis, a French teacher from a suburb in Chicago, had the idea of reenacting a 3,300-mile canoe journey from Montreal to the Gulf of Mexico. He wanted to emulate Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle's long voyage. La Salle was the first European that traversed from Montreal to the mouth of the Mississippi River. It would be called La Salle: Expedition II. The expedition would be made up of twenty-three men, sixteen of which would be teenagers who had just graduated high school along with six teachers. They would take the names of the original French voyageurs (look, act, and behave like them), make their own seventeenth-century clothes, build their own canoes, and give performances along the way to the communities. There was no way, though, that Lewis could lead this expedition alone, so he asked his brother, Ken, to help. Canoeing was right up their alley. Just a month prior, the two of them had followed and reenacted the trek of another French explorer (Louis Jolliet), but Lewis and Ken had just paddled half of the Mississippi River. The students would need to do research projects and get up to speed with both the physical and mental trials they would experience. Lewis wanted teachers who could be tremendous assets during the trip. They had two years to plan everything.
The Last Voyageurs is an extremely well-written book about a daring group of young men who were involved in the adventure of a lifetime. For eight months, they left their families and dealt with hardship, difficult personalities, a limited diet, camping out in makeshift tents (canoes turned on their sides with tarps), dangerous waters, learning how to get along with others in very tight spaces, and homesickness. The chapters are laid out with the historical aspect of the original voyage and at the same time, the present trip. In this way, you get the feel of what actually happened three hundred years ago, but also see how the young voyageurs attempted to be like those men and experience what they went through.
I loved reading this story. It's a real page turner. If you enjoy adventure tales, you must get this book. Between the astute sketches of the characters involved and the way author Lorraine Boissoneault melds everything together keeps you riveted. I really did not want this book to end. Hopefully, Boissoneault will surface again with another terrific escapade. I will be eagerly waiting.
Very highly recommended. 

Friday, May 6, 2016

LOUISA : THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF MRS. ADAMS
by Louisa Thomas 

Louisa Catherine Johnson most definitely did not marry for love; that would come later. John Quincy Adams, on the other hand, fell head-over-heels for Louisa and wanted her for his wife. It's odd that he would feel this way, because there was another woman long before Louis showed up and he loved her more, but it didn't work out to what he had planned for the two of them. Considering that Louisa's and John Quincy's courtship was so antagonistic, it's a wonder that they even got married at all.
Louisa was raised quite differently than John Quincy. She was born in London to an American father and a British mother a few months before the Revolutionary War began. Louisa was used to living in opulence, looking pretty, and singing for visitors. John Quincy was taught by his parents to be committed to his country and dedicate himself to public service. Louisa had to learn how to conform,  get along with her in-laws (a mercurial task), and to fit in.
Louisa is a terrific book about a quite remarkable lady. Author Louisa Thomas is a masterful biographer. Not really having any knowledge of who she was, by the time you finish reading this riveting work, you will realize that Louisa Adams was an incredible woman in her own right. Because she became America's only foreign born First Lady she had to reinvent herself and create her own identity. Her marriage with John Quincy was difficult, yet there were times that they needed each other through both the worst and the best times. Adversity made her stronger. For many years she has been overlooked as just another Adams. Not anymore. Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams has come out of the shadows.
Very highly recommended. 

Saturday, April 9, 2016

THE PARKER SISTERS : A BORDER KIDNAPPING
by Lucy Maddox 

Chester County is an area in Pennsylvania along the southeastern border. It abuts the northern boundaries of Maryland and Delaware. In the latter part of the eighteenth century, these boundary lines converged with the fabled line drawn by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. What this means is that Chester County was sort of stuck between the free states to the north of this particular line and the slave states to the south of it. Pennsylvania was a free state then but that didn't necessarily guarantee freedom to anyone who was black due to the slave catchers. They would take them whether they were free or not and sell them across state lines.
In 1851, Elizabeth Parker, a free black child was abducted from a farm by two men and taken to a slave pen in Baltimore. Two weeks later, her teenage sister Rachel was abducted from another farm and brought to the same place as Elizabeth. The man who took both of them was caught in Baltimore and arrested. Thomas McCreary was charged but unfortunately never convicted. So, he was free and the two poor girls who had done nothing wrong spent months in jail. Blame it all on the Fugitive Slave Law of 1950.
There's quite a number of books written about slavery in the south, so finding one that talks about the antagonism between a free state such as Pennsylvania and the slave state Maryland is incredible. The heroics of a small farming community who took matters into their own hands by going after the perpetrators and saving the fugitives themselves is remarkable. Historian Lucy Maddox writes extremely well considering the amount of details and research that she accomplished. In lesser hands, The Parker Sisters could have been quite boring and plodding. Thankfully, it was not. It's most definitely a great read.
Recommended. 

Friday, April 1, 2016

THE CIVIL WARS OF JULIA WARD HOWE : A BIOGRAPHY
by Elaine Showalter 

The lyrics for the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" were written in 1861 by Julia Ward Howe while staying in a hotel in Washington, DC. (She had gone to sleep but then awoke with these lines in her mind, for which she had to quickly write them down.) It was actually a poem that she called "Battle Hymn" and sent it to the Atlantic Monthly. Published anonymously (Howe was paid five dollars) it was renamed "Battle Hymn of the Republic." 
Julia Ward was an heiress from New York (her father had been a wealthy banker) and was instructed by tutors in music (she was a contralto and played the piano) and languages (she spoke six), an avid reader, plus always had an interest in writing (mostly poetry). (She would eventually write six books.)
When Julia met Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, a world-famous doctor who developed a method for educating blind children (Perkins Institution; Helen Keller would eventually be educated here), she thought she had met her match and would have an equal partnership. Alas, it was not to be starting off on the wrong foot after they became engaged. Julia wanted to wait for a couple of years and Howe was ready to get married in three months. The power struggle between them already began to assert its place. Their eighteen-year age difference didn't help. To outsiders, it looked like the perfect marriage. They traveled the world together, were both ambitious, had tremendous energy, were committed to public services, knew many political and intellectual people, and seemed to be united. The reality was that Julia was stifled by Howe. He did not approve of married women working outside the home and expected Julia to be fulfilled in her domestic and maternal roles. Howe tried to stop her writing (she tried to do it in secret) and when he discovered some of it, he was enraged. He made all of the decisions and expected her to abide by them. Julia defied him and after her husband died, she finally had her freedom and came into her own.
Elaine Showalter has done a tremendous job of bringing this incredible, strong woman into the light. The writing is wonderful and never bogs down with irrelevant information as so many other biographies seem to do. I never even knew who originally wrote the famous anthem and after reading this marvelous biography, you understand what made her write it in the first place. Julia rose above the strife in her life and was recognized, appreciated, and revered.
Highly recommended.
 

Monday, January 25, 2016

OPERATION THUNDERBOLT : FLIGHT 139 AND THE RAID ON ENTEBBE AIRPORT, THE MOST AUDACIOUS HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSION IN HISTORY
by Saul David 

July 3, 2016, will be the 40th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe. It has been described as the greatest, most successful counteroffensive of the War on Terror. This onslaught encouraged other countries (primarily Western) to create special counter-terrorist entities. Its legacy has continued.
On June 27, 1976, Air France flight 139, which was supposed to fly from Tel Aviv to Paris, was hijacked by several Arab and German terrorists. The plane was redirected, instead, to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. There were 253 passengers and crew on board and in order for them to be relinquished, the terrorists wanted Israel, Kenya, and Europe to release "freedom fighters" (the terrorists' verbiage) from their jails. Idi Amin (a monster of a ruler in Uganda) was in cahoots with the terrorists, so he was no help.
Israel was only given a couple of days to decide what to do. Yitzhak Rabin (prime minister) was in favor of negotiating, but Shimon Peres (defense minister) was not. They certainly did not want to capitulate to the terrorists nor attempt to rescue hostages, (most of whom were Israelis), because it might end in disaster. It was discussed and argued until with not that much time left, a plan was executed: "Operation Thunderbolt" was born.
Apparently there haven't been too many or any books written on what really happened according to author Saul David. He wanted the perspective of everybody involved and was able to interview quite a good number of them.The book reads like a thriller because of the way he set it up. You get the real time and the location, which is placed above the narrative. Events unfold before your eyes. You learn about the horrible conditions of the Old Terminal in Entebbe where the hostages were kept, the soldiers who were chosen to lead and fight, the governments involved, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), and so much more.
Operation Thunderbolt is spectacular storytelling that will keep you riveted.
Very highly recommended. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

THE ONLY STREET IN PARIS : LIFE ON THE RUE DES MARTYRS
by Elaine Sciolino 

The rue des Martyrs is not listed in most of the Paris guidebooks. It is only half a mile long and very narrow. There are no landmarks. The street has the feel of a small village; hence its community is very tight-knit. What keeps the character strong and uncut are the old-world merchants and artisans. For this reason alone, the rue des Martyrs retains its authenticity and down-to-earth sense of closeness that is missing from other areas of Paris.
In 2002, author Elaine Sciolino came to Paris with her family to work as bureau chief for the New York Times thinking that they would only be there for a few years. They never left. Eight years later, Sciolino wanted to move out of their cosmopolitan neighborhood to the other side of the river Seine and she and husband were lucky enough to get an apartment right off the rue des Martyrs. By then they were no longer considered foreigners. As residents who took a keen interest in the history of their street, it didn't take long before they (especially Sciolino) were welcomed as part of their community.
The Only Street in Paris is one charming book that I totally enjoyed reading. Sciolino writes about the merchants' lives, what is sold (no big chain stores are allowed, whether it's clothing or food), the longevity of many of the stores: a butcher shop has been run by the same family since 1899, a bakery has been around since 1868, a pharmacy since 1848. One chapter is dedicated to why there is a street named after martyrs and who exactly they were; another about independent bookstores (they thrive in France due to government protection), one of which is called Librairie Vendredi, a tiny store crammed with ten-thousand titles where the owners don't use a computer to keep track of what they have. Instead, that information is stored in their heads. Other chapters include a woman who restores eighteenth-century mercury barometers; an eccentric showman who has been running a transvestite cabaret for almost sixty years; the demise of a long-standing fish store (a catastrophe!); a party for all of the residents organized by Sciolino so that everybody could come together to celebrate the street and they have to bring something to eat or drink where everyone shares in it (potluck in America and unheard of in France).
Having lived in France back in the late 1970s, this book brings back all my great, wonderful memories. Even if you have never been there, Sciolino writes with such warmth that she transports you right into the delectable ambiance that she calls home. Who wouldn't?
Highly recommended.
 

Friday, January 8, 2016

THE GHOSTS OF K2 : THE EPIC SAGA OF THE FIRST ASCENT
by Mick Conefrey

The toughest mountain to climb in the world doesn't have a real name. Maybe because it's so difficult to get to that it didn't warrant having a proper nomenclature. A British officer in 1856 first laid eyes on it when he climbed up 16,000 ft on another mountain to do surveying. He saw two peaks located in Karakoram, north west of the Himalayas.The officer designated them as K1 and K2. It would be the latter one (K2) that people would set their sights on.
The height of K2 is 28,251 ft which is second to Everest, but it's much harder to ascend. It can kill you on the way up and on the way down. For a mountaineer, it's the ultimate challenge: the slopes are extremely steep, the altitude is so extreme (think headaches), it's in the middle of nowhere, and the weather is capricious (clear, beautiful skies then horrible, icy storms).
At the beginning of the twentieth century, several explorers from different countries were determined to be the first to get to the top.
The Ghosts of K2 is a tremendous story that will keep you riveted in your seat. Author Mick Conefrey definitely knows how to write a great narrative. (He previously wrote about Everest and has made films about mountaineering.) Through archives and letters, plus interviews with survivors of K2, Conefrey is able to make you feel as if you are right there with the climbers. 
If you're interested in exploits of mountain climbing and are looking for a phenomenal read, get this book.
Very highly recommended.