ONE WOMAN IN A HUNDRED : EDNA PHILLIPS AND THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
by Mary Sue Welsh
Her first instrument was the piano; she started at an early age. But when she changed teachers, she became disillusioned. Afraid that she would abandon music altogether, her mother bought her a harp for her eighteenth birthday. Now she needed advanced instruction but it was hard to find an independent teacher. She auditioned, twice, at the Curtis Institute of Music for the harp and the piano. Since her skills on the harp were considered too elementary for the brilliant harpist Carlos Salzedo to take her on as his student, she spent six months working with his assistant to bring her up to par.
Less than two years later, in 1929, Leopold Stokowski needed a harpist for his orchestra and she was recommended.
On October 3, 1930, Edna Phillips joined the Philadelphia Orchestra. She was the first female to have a principal position in a major orchestra. Twenty-three years old, scared to death, surrounded by one hundred men who resented her, Phillips held her head high and plowed right through with steely determination.
One Woman in a Hundred is one fabulous book. All of the stuff that went on during rehearsals with Stokowski (how he intertwined all of the musicians together by his theories of how the music should be played), being led by other conductors such as Arturo Toscanini (he screamed), interactions with the other performers, recording for Walt Disney's Fantasia (wires all over the place), the behind-the-scenes intricacies are revealed here.
Mary Sue Welsh writes as if Phillips herself was the author and she did a masterly job.
There are great black-and-white photos of the orchestra, Phillips with her harp (natch), Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, Toscanini, et al.
If you're a classical music aficionado, you must get this book. It's funny, fascinating, and an absolute joy to read.
Highly recommended.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY : THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WOMEN WHO HELPED WIN WORLD WAR II
by Denise Kiernan
Have you ever heard of Oak Ridge, Tennessee? Most people have not. It's in the Appalachian hills; a secluded area. In 1942, people who owned land here received letters from the War Department telling them that they had to leave because the government wanted their farms. Of course, they would be paid for their properties. The families really didn't have much choice in the matter. After all, by doing this they would be supporting the war. By the end of the year, construction would begin on creating a secret city made from scratch. Over 78,000 people (many of them young women) were recruited from all over the United States.They were promised good pay and solid work. Nobody ever really had a clue as to what was going on and what their jobs meant.They were all kept in the dark and told never to question anything. At the end of the war, the truth was revealed to them.
What a great story. Denise Kiernan interviewed many of the residents who are still living there today (in their 90s). The way the author writes is riveting and she captures all of the nuances of how history played out back then. Everybody wanted the war to end but the people that worked at Oak Ridge were more than happy to contribute and were proud to help out.
A tremendous amount of research went into this book (seven years) but it definitely deserved to be written.
Highly recommended.
by Denise Kiernan
Have you ever heard of Oak Ridge, Tennessee? Most people have not. It's in the Appalachian hills; a secluded area. In 1942, people who owned land here received letters from the War Department telling them that they had to leave because the government wanted their farms. Of course, they would be paid for their properties. The families really didn't have much choice in the matter. After all, by doing this they would be supporting the war. By the end of the year, construction would begin on creating a secret city made from scratch. Over 78,000 people (many of them young women) were recruited from all over the United States.They were promised good pay and solid work. Nobody ever really had a clue as to what was going on and what their jobs meant.They were all kept in the dark and told never to question anything. At the end of the war, the truth was revealed to them.
What a great story. Denise Kiernan interviewed many of the residents who are still living there today (in their 90s). The way the author writes is riveting and she captures all of the nuances of how history played out back then. Everybody wanted the war to end but the people that worked at Oak Ridge were more than happy to contribute and were proud to help out.
A tremendous amount of research went into this book (seven years) but it definitely deserved to be written.
Highly recommended.
Monday, March 18, 2013
AFTER VISITING FRIENDS : A SON'S STORY
by Michael Hainey
When Michael Hainey was six, his father, Bob, died. He was found on a street far from home, alone, in Chicago. Heart attack was the determining cause. Only thirty-five years old, Bob was the night slot man (newspaper term) for the Sun-Times and was responsible for getting three editions of the paper out between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Obviously, the job was stressful and to relieve it, Bob was on Valium. Everybody smoked up a storm and drank tons of alcohol. (After working long hours, the guys would all hit the bars.)
As Michael grew up, he started to question about what had happened to his father. His death was such a mystery. Everything was a big secret. He couldn't get anything out of his mother; she was emotionless. She needed strength just to look forward in raising her boys as a widow.
By the time Michael is an adult, his obsession with seeking out the truth to connect the dots no matter what it might do to his family is a constant. He is a reporter and knows the skills that are needed. From endless questioning of his relatives to seeking out colleagues of his father, Michael finally receives what he is looking for.
Michael Hainey is one heck of a writer. The story is powerful and gripping. It's one of these books that is impossible to put down. He writes with such honesty and beauty. You read about family (their past), the old newspaper world (they have a coda of sticking together), how he went about his investigation, and what he found.
Hainey is the deputy editor of GQ. This is his first book and I hope it's not his last. Truly tremendous writing.
Very highly recommended.
by Michael Hainey
When Michael Hainey was six, his father, Bob, died. He was found on a street far from home, alone, in Chicago. Heart attack was the determining cause. Only thirty-five years old, Bob was the night slot man (newspaper term) for the Sun-Times and was responsible for getting three editions of the paper out between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Obviously, the job was stressful and to relieve it, Bob was on Valium. Everybody smoked up a storm and drank tons of alcohol. (After working long hours, the guys would all hit the bars.)
As Michael grew up, he started to question about what had happened to his father. His death was such a mystery. Everything was a big secret. He couldn't get anything out of his mother; she was emotionless. She needed strength just to look forward in raising her boys as a widow.
By the time Michael is an adult, his obsession with seeking out the truth to connect the dots no matter what it might do to his family is a constant. He is a reporter and knows the skills that are needed. From endless questioning of his relatives to seeking out colleagues of his father, Michael finally receives what he is looking for.
Michael Hainey is one heck of a writer. The story is powerful and gripping. It's one of these books that is impossible to put down. He writes with such honesty and beauty. You read about family (their past), the old newspaper world (they have a coda of sticking together), how he went about his investigation, and what he found.
Hainey is the deputy editor of GQ. This is his first book and I hope it's not his last. Truly tremendous writing.
Very highly recommended.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
USEFUL ENEMIES : JOHN DEMJANJUK AND AMERICA'S OPEN-DOOR POLICY FOR NAZI WAR CRIMINALS
by Richard Rashke
Since John "Iwan" Demjanjuk was involved with war crimes trials for thirty-four years ending in 2011, there have been no more major Nazis called to testify for their atrocities committed during World War II. Most of them are probably dead anyway or too ill and senile.
Demjanjuk was the government's scapegoat. He was really a minor cog in the wheel and his ordeal became long, exhausting, and frustrating: two denaturalization trials, two deportation hearings, two extradition hearings, and two criminal trials. The question was, though, was he a collaborator or just trying to survive? He was subpoenaed by the U.S. Justice Department in 1977 that he had lied on his visa application in 1951 and had illegally entered America the following year.
At the same time that Demjanjuk was being tried in many courtrooms, the good old U.S. of A. was employing and protecting Nazis and Nazi collaborators. Why? Because it was during the Cold War and the U.S. military wanted to recruit "useful" Nazi war criminals to work for the United States as spies, to inform their new bosses who was a Communist and to try and impede it. INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) created loopholes in their policy of who could enter and who could not. (This would be the same policy that prevented thousands of Jewish refugees to come to America.)
Besides the Departments of War and State who trained the Nazis, the White House, the FBI, and the CIA were all involved and worked their butts off to hide, protect and shelter these criminals from those who were investigating them.
Talk about hypocrisy and deceit.
The war criminals that came from the Eastern Bloc countries were despicable. Richard Rashke writes in harrowing detail the horrors that these people committed on the Jews. It's extremely disturbing that these monsters were welcomed in America and they lived as free men when they should have been prosecuted and done away with.
For a 500-plus page tome, the book is extremely readable. Quite an impressive amount of startling research (50 pages of Sources and Notes). In case you can't remember all of the details (and there's plenty), a Timeline is offered.
Useful Enemies is an eye-opener. Anybody who is interested in the Holocaust (there's been plenty written about this subject but not to this extent) should not hesitate.
This book is a standout.
Very highly recommended.
by Richard Rashke
Since John "Iwan" Demjanjuk was involved with war crimes trials for thirty-four years ending in 2011, there have been no more major Nazis called to testify for their atrocities committed during World War II. Most of them are probably dead anyway or too ill and senile.
Demjanjuk was the government's scapegoat. He was really a minor cog in the wheel and his ordeal became long, exhausting, and frustrating: two denaturalization trials, two deportation hearings, two extradition hearings, and two criminal trials. The question was, though, was he a collaborator or just trying to survive? He was subpoenaed by the U.S. Justice Department in 1977 that he had lied on his visa application in 1951 and had illegally entered America the following year.
At the same time that Demjanjuk was being tried in many courtrooms, the good old U.S. of A. was employing and protecting Nazis and Nazi collaborators. Why? Because it was during the Cold War and the U.S. military wanted to recruit "useful" Nazi war criminals to work for the United States as spies, to inform their new bosses who was a Communist and to try and impede it. INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) created loopholes in their policy of who could enter and who could not. (This would be the same policy that prevented thousands of Jewish refugees to come to America.)
Besides the Departments of War and State who trained the Nazis, the White House, the FBI, and the CIA were all involved and worked their butts off to hide, protect and shelter these criminals from those who were investigating them.
Talk about hypocrisy and deceit.
The war criminals that came from the Eastern Bloc countries were despicable. Richard Rashke writes in harrowing detail the horrors that these people committed on the Jews. It's extremely disturbing that these monsters were welcomed in America and they lived as free men when they should have been prosecuted and done away with.
For a 500-plus page tome, the book is extremely readable. Quite an impressive amount of startling research (50 pages of Sources and Notes). In case you can't remember all of the details (and there's plenty), a Timeline is offered.
Useful Enemies is an eye-opener. Anybody who is interested in the Holocaust (there's been plenty written about this subject but not to this extent) should not hesitate.
This book is a standout.
Very highly recommended.
Monday, February 25, 2013
ALONE ON THE ICE : THE GREATEST SURVIVAL STORY IN THE HISTORY OF EXPLORATION
by David Roberts
In Australia, Douglas Mawson is considered the greatest explorer ever in history. He is, though, virtually unknown in the United States. Mawson has been overshadowed by Robert Falcon Scott (there's a whole dearth of books written about him), Sir Ernest Shackleton (he served under his command from 1907-1909), and the infamous Norwegian Roald Amundsen. While these three polar explorers only were interested in reaching the South Pole, Mawson was not. His interest lay in traversing land that nobody had seen before and to collect specimens (he was a geologist).
Eighteen men joined the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) and spent the first year at Cape Denison in a hut (Winter Quarters). They then were divided into three-man sledging parties so that they could all explore different regions. Two thousand miles of land south of Australia was what they hoped to cover. Thirty-two Eskimo huskies were brought along to haul the sledges. By 1913, they were all gone. Mawson's Far Eastern Party had the most arduous and dangerous trek. Two of his men died leaving him alone to survive and return to the base.
Alone On the Ice is a tremendous tale of endurance, strength, and determination. What these men went through and what happened to Mawson is unbelievable. Author, David Roberts, was able to use diaries that have never been seen before to lay out the story and the exploits. He is a master in writing books about mountaineering and exploration. One of his previous books "Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of Legendary Wilderness Explorer" was reviewed in this blog and that was fantastic.
Sir Edmund Hillary praised Mawson's solo journey as "the greatest story in polar exploration." Mawson is no longer behind those other explorers; he is standing way in front of them.
Highly recommended.
by David Roberts
In Australia, Douglas Mawson is considered the greatest explorer ever in history. He is, though, virtually unknown in the United States. Mawson has been overshadowed by Robert Falcon Scott (there's a whole dearth of books written about him), Sir Ernest Shackleton (he served under his command from 1907-1909), and the infamous Norwegian Roald Amundsen. While these three polar explorers only were interested in reaching the South Pole, Mawson was not. His interest lay in traversing land that nobody had seen before and to collect specimens (he was a geologist).
Eighteen men joined the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) and spent the first year at Cape Denison in a hut (Winter Quarters). They then were divided into three-man sledging parties so that they could all explore different regions. Two thousand miles of land south of Australia was what they hoped to cover. Thirty-two Eskimo huskies were brought along to haul the sledges. By 1913, they were all gone. Mawson's Far Eastern Party had the most arduous and dangerous trek. Two of his men died leaving him alone to survive and return to the base.
Alone On the Ice is a tremendous tale of endurance, strength, and determination. What these men went through and what happened to Mawson is unbelievable. Author, David Roberts, was able to use diaries that have never been seen before to lay out the story and the exploits. He is a master in writing books about mountaineering and exploration. One of his previous books "Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of Legendary Wilderness Explorer" was reviewed in this blog and that was fantastic.
Sir Edmund Hillary praised Mawson's solo journey as "the greatest story in polar exploration." Mawson is no longer behind those other explorers; he is standing way in front of them.
Highly recommended.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
THE HOUR OF PERIL : THE SECRET PLOT TO MURDER LINCOLN BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR
by Daniel Stashower
What is truly amazing is that Abraham Lincoln received enough electoral votes to become President of the United States in 1861. The amount of hostilities towards him from the southern states was monumental. Maryland was considering seceding from the Union (seven other states had already done so) which would cut off Washington from the North. Warnings of danger grew daily and cash was being offered to anyone who would assassinate Lincoln before he took the oath of office. It was within this maelstrom that famed detective Allan Pinkerton, over thirteen days, would attempt to thwart the "Baltimore Plot" along with his other operatives.
The Hour of Peril is one fantastic read. It's most definitely a page-turner. This is another one of those untold tales from the Civil War that makes you shake your head in disbelief.
The characters involved, the controversies, the secrecy that was needed, the disguises and false names that were used, the conflicts that could have disrupted everything, keeps you glued to your seat.
If you have any doubts as to how much Lincoln was despised, here's an interesting tidbit. James Ryder Randall, who was from Baltimore, wrote a poem called "Maryland, My Maryland." It depicts Lincoln as being a tyrant and for Maryland to stand with the Confederacy. The poem was soon set to music (the tune of "O Tannenbaum"), became hugely popular and was adopted as the official state song and still is to this day.
Author, Daniel Stashower, is a superb writer (check out his other books) and if you are a history buff and are a fan of Abraham Lincoln, grab this one. You won't be disappointed.
Very highly recommended.
by Daniel Stashower
What is truly amazing is that Abraham Lincoln received enough electoral votes to become President of the United States in 1861. The amount of hostilities towards him from the southern states was monumental. Maryland was considering seceding from the Union (seven other states had already done so) which would cut off Washington from the North. Warnings of danger grew daily and cash was being offered to anyone who would assassinate Lincoln before he took the oath of office. It was within this maelstrom that famed detective Allan Pinkerton, over thirteen days, would attempt to thwart the "Baltimore Plot" along with his other operatives.
The Hour of Peril is one fantastic read. It's most definitely a page-turner. This is another one of those untold tales from the Civil War that makes you shake your head in disbelief.
The characters involved, the controversies, the secrecy that was needed, the disguises and false names that were used, the conflicts that could have disrupted everything, keeps you glued to your seat.
If you have any doubts as to how much Lincoln was despised, here's an interesting tidbit. James Ryder Randall, who was from Baltimore, wrote a poem called "Maryland, My Maryland." It depicts Lincoln as being a tyrant and for Maryland to stand with the Confederacy. The poem was soon set to music (the tune of "O Tannenbaum"), became hugely popular and was adopted as the official state song and still is to this day.
Author, Daniel Stashower, is a superb writer (check out his other books) and if you are a history buff and are a fan of Abraham Lincoln, grab this one. You won't be disappointed.
Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
MARMEE & LOUISA : THE UNTOLD STORY OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT AND HER MOTHER
by Eve LaPlante
When Louisa May Alcott died on March 6, 1888, at the age of fifty-five, she was the most popular author in the country. She was quite prolific having written twenty-four novels, hundreds of stories, and articles for newspapers and magazines. Little Women would make her quite wealthy and brought her family out of poverty. It was always assumed that Bronson Alcott, Louisa's father, was the source behind her brilliance, that he was the one who influenced her to write. Author, Eve LaPlante, who is the niece of Louisa and the great-niece of Abigail, discovered from reading family correspondence that it was Abigail who nurtured Louisa and encouraged her to write.
Abigail was a writer in her own right and her diaries and letters display her beautiful prose. She worked to abolish slavery, fought for women to be educated (she, herself was a teacher), to have the right to vote, and to elevate themselves in society. Louisa mined her mother's writings and used them for her fiction. When she had her first book published at sixteen years of age, she dedicated it to Abigail. The two of them were so intertwined that they became each other's support especially when Bronson was absent from their home for months at a time. He was an idealist and didn't believe in supporting the family so they were constantly begging for money from relatives. Louisa vowed to always provide for her mother and be there for her.
When I was a young girl, I read Little Women a thousand times over. I couldn't get enough of this book. I loved the writing, the characters, the setting. Marmee & Louisa takes you deep within the Alcotts and you see how they figure into the story. "Marmee" was as vibrant in real life as she was in fiction. Abigail is finally brought out of the shadows and is no longer invisible.
This book is a terrific read and the writing is marvelous. If you're a fan of Louisa May Alcott, you'll absolutely love Marmee & Louisa.
Very highly recommended.
by Eve LaPlante
When Louisa May Alcott died on March 6, 1888, at the age of fifty-five, she was the most popular author in the country. She was quite prolific having written twenty-four novels, hundreds of stories, and articles for newspapers and magazines. Little Women would make her quite wealthy and brought her family out of poverty. It was always assumed that Bronson Alcott, Louisa's father, was the source behind her brilliance, that he was the one who influenced her to write. Author, Eve LaPlante, who is the niece of Louisa and the great-niece of Abigail, discovered from reading family correspondence that it was Abigail who nurtured Louisa and encouraged her to write.
Abigail was a writer in her own right and her diaries and letters display her beautiful prose. She worked to abolish slavery, fought for women to be educated (she, herself was a teacher), to have the right to vote, and to elevate themselves in society. Louisa mined her mother's writings and used them for her fiction. When she had her first book published at sixteen years of age, she dedicated it to Abigail. The two of them were so intertwined that they became each other's support especially when Bronson was absent from their home for months at a time. He was an idealist and didn't believe in supporting the family so they were constantly begging for money from relatives. Louisa vowed to always provide for her mother and be there for her.
When I was a young girl, I read Little Women a thousand times over. I couldn't get enough of this book. I loved the writing, the characters, the setting. Marmee & Louisa takes you deep within the Alcotts and you see how they figure into the story. "Marmee" was as vibrant in real life as she was in fiction. Abigail is finally brought out of the shadows and is no longer invisible.
This book is a terrific read and the writing is marvelous. If you're a fan of Louisa May Alcott, you'll absolutely love Marmee & Louisa.
Very highly recommended.
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