IRENA'S CHILDREN : THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO SAVED 2,500 CHILDREN FROM THE WARSAW GHETTO
by Tilar J. Mazzeo
She is called "the female Oskar Schindler only because they both saved people. Schindler saved 1,200 but Irena Sendler (in Polish her name was Irena Sendlerowa) saved 2,500 very young children. Today, in Poland, she is considered to be a heroine. Irena had an aversion to that word. She did not consider what she did to be extraordinary; just a normal duty.
As a social worker in 1942, Irena was allowed to go into the Warsaw ghetto using a cover as a public health specialist. She went from door to door of the Jewish families who were trapped and asked the parents if they would entrust her with their children. Soon enough Irena began smuggling infants out of the walled city in suitcases, wooden boxes, and under overcoats right past the noses of German guards. With toddlers and schoolchildren she took them through the filthy and extremely dangerous sewers.
Irena organized a huge network of dozens of men and women who quietly joined her in the rescue. They risked their lives by doing so. If they were caught by helping a Jew, their entire family would be executed. According to Irena, not one ever refused to take in and hide a Jewish child. Her success would never have been possible without these courageous and dedicated people.
For years I have heard about Irena Sendler through e-mail messages describing her indomitable spirit in whisking children out of the Warsaw ghetto and wanting to know and understand the kind of person she was. What drove her? Luckily for us, Tilar J. Mazzeo has written one tremendous book on her. Mazzeo has written many other bestsellers and I have read just about all of them, one of which The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is reviewed in this blog. There have been endless amounts of stories that have come out about the Holocaust and if you think they are all the same, then you're mistaken. Irena's Children is unlike anything that I have read before on this topic. I don't believe there is any other woman who accomplished what she did. Her selflessness, compassion, strength, and daring is awe-inspiring. Also to be commended is her network of good, upstanding Poles. It's probably the first time that I have read that not all of the Poles were bad (traitorous) as countless books have depicted them being before. So, even though Irena Sendler didn't like to be called a heroine, she definitely deserves it. Her wonderful, caring helpers should also be named as heroines/heroes. Mazzeo definitely knows how to tell an incredible story and she did justice with this one.
Very highly recommended.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Monday, January 2, 2017
AMERICAN ENDURANCE : BUFFALO BILL, THE GREAT COWBOY RACE OF 1893, AND THE VANISHING WILD WEST
by Richard A. Serrano
During the summer of 1893, three events were going on at the same time: the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West show, and the Great Cowboy Race. The Columbian Exposition showcased to the American public what the coming twentieth century would look like. They saw high-speed electric engines, drinking fountains, prototypes of modern conveniences, such as the dishwasher and the fluorescent light bulb, and other unique things. Both Cream of Wheat and Juicy Fruit made their debut. Over twenty-seven million people visited and it was a huge success.
Buffalo Bill leased fourteen acres of land costing him $180,000 right across the street from the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He employed 400 people of different nationalities who were Indians, cowboys, and soldiers. Cody was quite the promoter. He had glossy color programs printed up and a sixty-four-page booklet filled with articles about Cody's exploits on the frontier. Every means of transportation stopped at its front gate. His show ran for six months and drew profits upwards of one million dollars. Six million fans were enthralled and Cody was considered to be the greatest showman ever.
The Great Cowboy Race of June 1893 soon overtook the thrills of the Columbian Exposition and the Wild West show. Nine riders (not all of them were actual cowboys) rode one thousand miles starting from Chadron, Nebraska to the finish line in Chicago.The race would test endurance and would take two weeks. The Wild West may have been ending but not to the cowboys. They were proud, still had grit, and were not ready to give up on their way of life.
American Endurance is a fantastic read written by a master storyteller. Author Richard Serrano packs in the history of the Old West covering the settlers, the individual characters, the vanishing of the buffalo, Indians laying down their weapons to live on reservations, and the closing of the frontier. There's been a few books over the years about this time period but none of them have the caliber of American Endurance. The amount of detail within is mind-boggling. If you go to the Sources near the end of the book, you will see the encyclopedic research that Serrano did (29 pages worth) and they in and of themselves are fascinating to read.
So, if you have a hankering for the Old West, you must get this book. You won't be disappointed and you will definitely be entertained.
Highly recommended.
by Richard A. Serrano
During the summer of 1893, three events were going on at the same time: the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West show, and the Great Cowboy Race. The Columbian Exposition showcased to the American public what the coming twentieth century would look like. They saw high-speed electric engines, drinking fountains, prototypes of modern conveniences, such as the dishwasher and the fluorescent light bulb, and other unique things. Both Cream of Wheat and Juicy Fruit made their debut. Over twenty-seven million people visited and it was a huge success.
Buffalo Bill leased fourteen acres of land costing him $180,000 right across the street from the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He employed 400 people of different nationalities who were Indians, cowboys, and soldiers. Cody was quite the promoter. He had glossy color programs printed up and a sixty-four-page booklet filled with articles about Cody's exploits on the frontier. Every means of transportation stopped at its front gate. His show ran for six months and drew profits upwards of one million dollars. Six million fans were enthralled and Cody was considered to be the greatest showman ever.
The Great Cowboy Race of June 1893 soon overtook the thrills of the Columbian Exposition and the Wild West show. Nine riders (not all of them were actual cowboys) rode one thousand miles starting from Chadron, Nebraska to the finish line in Chicago.The race would test endurance and would take two weeks. The Wild West may have been ending but not to the cowboys. They were proud, still had grit, and were not ready to give up on their way of life.
American Endurance is a fantastic read written by a master storyteller. Author Richard Serrano packs in the history of the Old West covering the settlers, the individual characters, the vanishing of the buffalo, Indians laying down their weapons to live on reservations, and the closing of the frontier. There's been a few books over the years about this time period but none of them have the caliber of American Endurance. The amount of detail within is mind-boggling. If you go to the Sources near the end of the book, you will see the encyclopedic research that Serrano did (29 pages worth) and they in and of themselves are fascinating to read.
So, if you have a hankering for the Old West, you must get this book. You won't be disappointed and you will definitely be entertained.
Highly recommended.
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 $50,000 toward 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.
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 $50,000 toward 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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