WHAT I'VE READ

Eisenhower: In War and Peace

 
By: Jean Edward Smith

 
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6693-3

Why I'm reading this book: 

Since 2016, I've been on a quest of sorts. I intend to read about each and every president in order of their service. I started with Washington and today, nearly nine years later, I begin reading about Dwight D. Eisenhower. It also marks the first time during the quest that I've read two biographies by the same author, Jean Edward Smith. I enjoyed FDR so my hopes for this book fly high.
 

The truth about this book: Another great biography from Smith. Superb writing, great history of Eisenhower's life from start to (almost) finish. The only bur of contention I have is the glossed over period after the presidency. Very short chapter, only a few pages, from leaving the White House to death. Despite that, great read. 

Would I recommend this book? If you want to know more about one of our most underrated presidents, grab this book! I learned so much about Eisenhower, I found myself quoting him often and I'm sure that will continue into the future.

A Time for Mercy

By: John Grisham

ISBN: 978-0-385-54596-9

Why I'm reading this book: 

I don't want to give up on John Grisham. Two of the last three books I've read by this most famous of modern writers left me wanting. Wanting more from a writer of this caliber. I don't want to use the word "tired" for his writing. Maybe he should walk away from writing and come back with a new found resolve. I hope he isn't just writing for the money, but it certainly seems that way. Let's see...
 

The truth about this book: Finally, a recent Grisham book that I couldn't put down. I enjoyed another visit to Clanton, Mississippi and the adventures of Jake Brigance. I enjoyed the story, getting to know the characters again, and another visit to the courtroom and a very compelling case. The only bone of contention I have is the ending. It felt a little rushed and too happy for everyone. If you read my work, you will find out I don't believe in happy endings for everyone. The check always comes due and someone has to pay. Other than that, score one for John Grisham. It was about time. 

Would I recommend this book? Pick it up, but be in no hurry. Not a "must read" but a read when you get time.

Ghost Rider: Travels in the Healing Road

By: Neil Peart

ISBN: 978-1-55022-546-4

Why I'm reading this book: 

The drummer of hard rock band Rush, Neil Peart penned some of the most interesting lyrics of any musical act that I follow (and I follow a lot in many different genres). He wrote this book about his travels after losing his daughter to an accident and his wife to cancer. This nightmare scenario and his introspective lyrics made this book a no-brainer. This is one I've looked forward to reading for a while.
 

The truth about this book: Neil Peart didn't only excel in drumming and writing rock lyrics. The man knew his way around the English language. Reading this book I felt as if I rode every one of the 55k miles with him. He wrote about how small things reminded him of his lost family and you felt the pain along with him. He painted a mental picture of the landscapes and people he encountered and you saw them if you closed your eyes. Neil Peart was an artist in every sense of the word and his influence on the world is truly missed.

Would I recommend this book? Find a copy today. Read it today. You will find yourself a better person just by doing so.

Childhood's End

By: Arthur C. Clarke

ISBN: 9780151172054

Why I'm reading this book: 

As an avid reader and fan of Stephen Baxter, I find it odd that I've never read a Clarke novel. I am enamored with the question of our place in the universe. Are we alone? I'm truly surprised at myself for never reading this book. I hope of not over-hyping his work in my mind. The past few "classics" I've read were thoroughly disappointing.
 

The truth about this book: The first classic that I read in a long while that didn't totally disappoint. That being said, however, I wasn't thoroughly impressed either.  While I loved the story, still relevant today even though set in the 1950s, I didn't like the pacing. The story jumped from character to character without much development and left so many gaps in the story that sometimes I had to read back, ensuing that I didn't miss something important. The characters, save the Supervisor Karellen, were undeveloped and frankly boring. Overall though, I liked it, but did not love it.

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would even with its shortcomings. It is an exploration of science, humanity and religion. It also makes you think about humanity's place in the universe. As a species, are we still "children" or are we, after all, the most evolved beings in the cosmic neighborhood?

George Wallace

By: Stephan Lesher

ISBN: 0-201-62210-6

Why I'm reading this book: 

George C. Wallace is from my part of Alabama. My tiny home is mentioned in his first inaugural speech. One of the most controversial politicians in American history, I look for answers. Unbiased answers of who this man really was and what did he really believe.

The truth about this book: This was a very well written biography about a controversial political figure. Lesher accompanied Wallace as a reporter for many years and truly gives Wallace a fair shake but does not gloss over the most controversial aspects of his career. The book ends with the attempted assignation and only in an epilogue does Lesher write about his redemption and that holds the only point of dissention that I have with this work.

Would I recommend this book? By all means, if you are a student of history, politics, or even just controversial figures read this book. The writing is smooth and enjoyable for even the most casual reader. I enjoyed it and I suspect you will also.

Ring

By: Stephen Baxter

ISBN: 978-0-06-105694-9

Why I'm reading this book: 

The Xeelee Sequence is a hard science fiction saga and this is the third book. I became enamored with Baxter after reading Flood and Ark. In this sequence he explores the question "Are we truly alone?" and what might we find "out there." This is one book I've been really looking forward to reading. Shouldn't take me long to finish.

The truth about this book: Well, I've read the first Stephen Baxter novel that I really didn't like. It finished up the Xeelee story with a long, drawn out, hard to understand plot. Towards the end, the dialogue only served to explain the scientific principles playing out. The very end was so rushed, I don't really understand what happened. The characters where bland, undescribed and really secondary to the story. I would rank this novel last of the Stephen Baxter novel's I've read.

Would I recommend this book? Not if you are not already invested in this book series. Explore other Stephen Baxter works.

Great Society: A New History

By: Amity Shales

ISBN: 978-0-06-170642-4

Why I'm reading this book: 

I believe LBJ's intentions were noble with the Great Society Programs. However, with the passage of time, we need to look back and see if the programs really helped with the War on Poverty or did people simply become dependent on government assistance? I enter this quest for knowledge with a sense of neutrality. This is the first book of many I'll read to light my path.

The truth about this book: This book serves as a background, not an analysis of the Great Society Programs. Even as a history, this book fails due to an obvious bias of the author towards the programs. She doesn't show bias outright, but through small details and innuendos. That in itself disqualifies this book as genuine. A historian, which the author pretends to be, should come into a project with a stated hypothesis, comb through facts and make an informed decision whether their original thoughts were proved correct or false. This book is devoid of that process.

Would I recommend this book? No. This book provides little insight into the Great Society Programs. The author has a purpose and that purpose is to discredit the programs at all cost. Skip it. 

The Whistler

By: John Grisham

ISBN: 978-0-385-54119-0

Why I'm reading this book: 

This one comes from the era of Grisham that I call his Renaissance. John Grisham, the master storyteller, seemed to "pick it back up" with what I've read from this era and I hope this is just as good. Set in the Florida Panhandle, I feel some kinship already. 

The truth about this book: Another Grisham disappointment, yet this book could be so much more. It seemed rushed. I wanted to know more about some characters and less about others. Overall, character development was really non-existent. My high hopes were dashed about the setting. He name dropped a few towns in the area, but it was more out of what felt like necessity than anchoring the story in a geographical area. "What could have been" is my view of this book.

Also, he used the real names for certain places but fictional ones for others. Did he know the story of Erol Morris and Vernon? Seems like Grisham didn't want to pinpoint any Panhandle towns or counties other than the well known coastal ones. 

Would I recommend this book? No. If you don't really care about the setting, skip it. If you're looking for authentic dialogue, skip it. If you just love reading Grisham, skip it. I'd just, you know, skip it.

Truman

By: David McCullough

ISBN: 0-671-45654-7

Why I'm reading this book: 

Written by one of our most treasured historians, the late David McCullough, stands as the reasoning behind this pick. Started in nearly a decade ago, my quest to read at least one book about each American president begins the home stretch. Truman's decision to release the atomic bomb upon Japan is one of the most researched and critiqued moves involving the office. It is my hope McCullough provides insight into the man as well as his decisions.

The truth about this book: You would think that a 1k page book written about a president would be oversaturated and at times boring. Only at one point, somewhere in the 800s did I feel that way. McCullough was a master at his craft,  spinning entertaining tales from our history. The only minor complaint I have is that he spent a little too much time on the White House rebuild and not enough on Korea. Going in, I didn't know a great deal about Truman and he surprised me a little bit, reminding me of why I started this quest to read about each president.

Would I recommend this book? History for the masses! Absolutely recommend this and every book by David McCullough. Don't be intimidated by the book's sheer size, once you begin, you forget quickly about that factor.

Destroyermen: Distant Thunders

By: Taylor Anderson

ISBN: 978-0-451-46333-3

Why I'm reading this book: 

I enjoyed the first three books and this being the fourth, I've looked forward to returning to the alternative world in which the people of the Walker find themselves trapped. Anderson continues to move up the list of my favorite authors with each volume.

The truth about this book:  

This fourth foray into the mysterious world the brave crew of the USS Walker, sad to say, feels like filler. The story seems to bog down, the action doesn’t pick up until the last third of the novel but when it does, it is more fleeting than exciting. 

There are by far too many characters in the story as I can’t remember half of them or what significance they lend to the tale. I feel as though I need a cheat-sheet to keep up with all of them.

The dialogue seems unauthentic as most conversations seemed rushed. As much as I wanted to like this book as the first three, I just can’t That said, I think Taylor Anderson has created a wonderful world, filled with wonderous creatures and heroic sailors. I am going to continue with the series, and I fully expect the next installment to “right the ship” so to speak.

Would I recommend this book?  

If you’ve become invested in the saga as I have, go ahead, and give it a read. If not, my suggestion would be to end it at the third book. I may have a different answer after reading the next when I get around to it.

Our Man in Panama

By: John Dinges

ISBN: 0-394-54910-4

Why I'm reading this book: Another one for research. This book is about Manuel Noriega and his power and corruption in Panama. I've always thought the United States acted very hypocritically in dealing with this brutal dictator. I want to know why our government tolerated him when it served purpose but turned on him in an instant. Hopefully, this book will shed some light on a recent, but pretty much forgotten piece of our history.

The truth about this book: This book covers more of the entire Panamanian political system during the late seventies and early eighties than focusing on Manuel Noriega. The middle of the book drags on and takes a dedicated reader to slog through the pages. The most information I gathered about Noriega, regrettably, came from the epilogue. 

Would I recommend this book? Not if you want to focus on Noriega and his rise and fall with the United States Government. Maybe if you're interested in Panama and its politics during the era you might enjoy it. Disappointment is the word coming to mind. This book could have been so much better.

Sycamore Row

                          By: John Grisham

ISBN: 978-0-385-53713-1

Why I'm reading this book: John Grisham. Jake Brigance. Those two names should fill you in as to why I'm reading this one. Grisham has long been a favorite of mine. I read A Time to Kill and I was instantly hooked. I've been told my writing is like "Grisham without the courtroom". I'll take that all day and twice on Sunday. I read this book many years ago but I don't remember it, so, back to Clanton, Mississippi I go.

The truth about this book: I remember now why I don't recall reading this book. Forced, predictable, and slow. Those are the three words that permeated my thinking while reading. The story held elements that seemed like filler. As soon as I started reading, I knew how it was going to end. The characters that we grew to love in A Time to Kill were boring and I hate to say, vanilla. A decent book, but it was the start of what I call Grisham's "write for the money" period.

Would I recommend this book? No. Simply put. I'd rather read the first "Clanton" novel over and over again. This book may be the reason I stopped reading John Grisham for a while. Pick up another of his books first. Read this one if you want to be bored for a while.

 FDR

                 By: Jean Edward Smith

ISBN: 978-1-4000-6121-1

Why I'm reading this book: Several years ago, around 2016, I set out to read about each and every president starting with George Washington. I take breaks and read some other histories and some other fiction, but I always venture back to this goal (especially around Christmas and Summer Break). This Christmas finds me arriving at FDR and nearly 1,000 pages. Between festivities, editing Lies and finishing Castle, I hope I can fit it in. My quest continues.

The truth about this book: Over six hundred pages of FDR. The book took me from his birth to his death in Warm Springs, Georgia. Smith covered a lot of ground in those pages. The author took his time with FDR's youth, hit on some controversies from his marriage, sped through the New Deal and rushed World War 2. The book literally ended when he took his last breath. It was not the best presidential biography I've read (this was my 32nd) but definitely not the worst. I'd put it towards the lower middle on the list of 32.

Would I recommend this book? I would for non-historians or the "casual reader". The pages turn quickly and it gives the bare bones about one of the most written about presidents. If you want a deep, intensive study of the man, look somewhere else.

 The Heart Mender

                          By: Andy Andrews

ISBN: 978-0-7852-3103-5

Why I'm reading this book: U-boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico is somewhat lost to history. I majored in American History and in several courses dealing with WW2, the topic was never covered. An idea for a story led me to investigate and this is one of the only books I could find about it. This is a book that I have looked forward to reading since it was recommended to me by a colleague. Thank you Ms. Adams!

The truth about this book: Awesome forgotten history! I try not to find out much about a book before I read it. Sure, I want to know the basic premise and I usually read the last page of the book (Don't know why, I just always have done this). As I read, I kept thinking, this is some great fiction. Not much is known about U-boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico and virtually nothing is known about Germans coming ashore. The truth about this book shocked me and now when I go back to the area of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and Foley this spring, there are some places I got to go!

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, unequivocally, YES! Read this book as soon as you can. You will not be disappointed!

 Destroyermen: Maelstrom

                    By: Taylor Anderson

ISBN: 978-0-451-46253-4

Why I'm reading this book: This is the third book in the alternate history series, Destroyermen. After reading the first two books, I am hooked. World War 2 ships (and more) crossing into a parallel Earth inhabited by other evolved species at war. Read Into the Storm and Crusade first. I won't spoil anything!

The truth about this book: The third installment of this series continues the amazing story of Captain Reddy and his crew. Well written and flows flawlessly as Taylor Anderson takes us to another world full of mysterious creatures, warring species and raging battles. 

Would I recommend this book? Without question. First, however, start with Into the Storm. If you start with this book, you will be lost.

 The Confederados

            Edited by: Cyrus B. Dawsey and James M. Dawsey

ISBN: 0-8173-0753-2

Why I'm reading this book: Research and general interest in the Confederates who felt it necessary to emigrate rather than accept defeat.

The truth about this book: This collection of academic papers and first hand accounts of the people migrating from the former Confederacy to Brazil after the Civil War is fascinating. A seldom told story in our history, this book not only dives into a couple personal stories from the time but also the social and religious impacts the migrants bestowed upon their new home. The book's editors also dedicate a chapter to the original settlers' accents and to how their descendants speak Portuguese with a distinct "old" Southern Accent today.

  A great number of these people were from the state of Alabama and from the area I live and the land my ancestors made home in the early 1800s. After the war, several members of one branch of my family left Alabama for Texas. Texas was a departure point to Brazil and it makes me wonder if I am related to Brazilians of Confederate descent. I must one day visit the town of Americana in Brazil and hopefully meet the descendants of the people who felt the journey necessary.

Would I recommend this book? Any history buff should read this book. Even though it is academic in nature, it is a smooth read and very enjoyable. It bogs down a little within the chapters concerning religion, but the story of these people is one that has to be told. If you can find it, read it!

 The Tumultuous Sixties: Campus Unrest and Student Life at a Southern University

                                                                      By: J. Stanley Marshall

ISBN:1-889574-25-2

Why I'm reading this book: Research

The truth about this book: Marshall covers the "Night of Bayonets" at FSU from his point of view, as a member of the faculty. The book is bland even by historical non-fiction standards. Perhaps adding the opposing point of view would have made the read more "even".

Would I recommend this book? If you are interested in the fateful night on the campus of FSU, yes. It is the only book I could find on the subject.