Ten Books Pertaining to American History

Below is a list of books I've read and reviewed dealing with American history over different periods of time. 

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the USA as a country, I thought I'd share some of the book titles with links to my reviews for those interested in reading the same books.

1. Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock

2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine

3. Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

4. Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

5. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

6. March by John Lewis

7. Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr.

8. Changing Laws: Politics of the Civil Rights Era by Judy Dodge Cummings

9. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

10. Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

I began reading the ebook edition of Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf on May 4th, which coincidentally marked the 56th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre. 

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is a work of nonfiction, written in graphic form, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading, because it contains visual imagery along with written details about the Kent State Massacre. This gives readers the perfect overview regarding the events leading up to the Kent State Massacre, the event itself, and the eventual aftermath without giving overwhelming amounts of information to the reader to absorb and digest.

The artwork and writing are both well done for Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf. Kudos to Derf Backderf for all of his thorough research into the Kent State Massacre, which he details at the end of his book along with copious footnotes. 

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is riveting for history buffs wanting to learn more about the details of the Kent State Massacre and 

My favorite quote from Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is: "No shooter, official, or politician is held accountable for the Kent State shootings." I found this deplorable. Four unarmed students died and nine unarmed students were seriously injured by the National Guard during the Kent State Massacre. These deaths and injuries should have never happened based on what I read in this book. Derf Backderf's book describes the epic f*uk up on the part of the politicians, military, other government entities for their part in the Kent State Massacre.

Below is the publisher's summary for Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf:

"Derf Backderf takes us back to the age of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, Woodstock, and the Cold War and explores, in words and images, a scene of tragedy: the campus of Kent State University, where National Guard Troops attacked unarmed protestors and killed four students (Allison Beth Krause, age 19, Jeffrey Glenn Miller, age 20, Sandra Lee Scheuer, age 20, and William Knox Schroeder, age 19).

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard gunned down unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. In a deadly barrage of 67 shots, four students were killed and nine shot and wounded. It was the day America turned guns on its own children—a shocking event burned into our national memory.

The fatal shootings triggered immediate and massive outrage on campuses around the country. More than four million students participated in organized walkouts at hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools, the largest student strike in the history of the United States at that time. It was a day that shocked the nation and helped turn the tide of public opinion against America’s war in Vietnam.

A few days prior, 10-year-old Derf Backderf saw those same guardsmen patrolling his nearby hometown, sent in by the governor to crush a trucker strike.

Using the journalism skills he employed on My Friend Dahmer and Trashed, Backderf has conducted extensive interviews and research to explore the lives of these four young people and the events of those four days in May, when the country seemed on the brink of tearing apart.

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio is a moving and troubling story about the bitter price of dissent—as relevant today as it was in 1970."

I am giving Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown

 

I am an English language volunteer/tutor for someone living in Ukraine via ENGin. I just started as an English language volunteer/tutor in January of this year and am currently working with a single person online at this time.

I accidentally stumbled across 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown by performing an online search through our public library for comics/graphic novels. 

Because I am working with an individual living in Ukraine, who wants to learn to speak English better, I thought it would be a great idea to read this work of nonfiction written in the graphic novel format. So, I checked this ebook out from our public library via Hoopla.

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown is geared towards young adults. I found this book to be a quick overview about the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia as it happened in Mariupol, Ukraine in 2022. 

I wanted to read a book where I could slowly ease myself into learning more about Ukraine. Especially with regards to learning about the history of Ukraine and the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia. There's a lot of history between both countries and I'm sure there's a lot to learn. But I wanted an easy book to read and understand in order to learn more about Ukraine. 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary was a good place to start for me.

I enjoyed the artwork, writing, and overview of the war between Russia and Ukraine as it pertains to Mariupol, Ukraine. The events took place in 2022 and the events were horrific! According to what I read in this book, 90% of Mariupol was destroyed and is still occupied by Russia today.

Below is the publisher's summary for 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown from the Goodreads website:

A young adult graphic novel that captures the complexities of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the siege of Mariupol (Feb ’22 – May ’22) and the brave people who stayed to defend their city against Russian forces as well as the resulting effects on global politics.

A city ruined. In once quiet residential streets, two armies battle, driving people into cellars and basements with little food or water. No lights or heat. Dwindling medical supplies. Shells and bullets deliver cruel, random death to the young and old, men, women, and children.

This is Mariupol, a Ukrainian city and early target of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bordering Russian-occupied territory, the coastal city seemed doomed to a defeat that would come within days, if not hours. Could Mariupol, and Ukraine, survive? As Russian rockets threatened the city, Ukrainians resisted, and with a heroic combination of sacrifice and bravery, the besieged city endured . . . for months. But it all came at a steep cost.

With compassion and his keen journalist’s eye, Sibert Honor creator Don Brown illuminates the horrors of Mariupol and the depredations of its people not seen in the city since World War II. He also shows that outside of Mariupol, the city’s agonies were mirrored by similar events occurring in towns and cities across Ukraine.

83 Days in Mariupol reminds us that the bloody defiance shown at the Alamo, Dunkirk, Leningrad, and Thermopylae isn’t confined to the past but has a violent, modern presence. It is the story of senseless destruction, patriotism, and grit against long odds—a brutal battle whose consequences still reverberate across Ukraine and continue to reshape the global political landscape.

I am giving 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading to all!

Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson

 

I love dogs and I also love watching dog shows when I find the time. With that in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson, which is a nonfiction book about dogs and dog shows like the Westminster Dog Show here in the USA. Also worth noting, Jonathan Davis does a wonderful job narrating Dogland.

I learned a lot about dogs from reading Dogland. Everything from selective breeding to the fact that even dogs can get STIs like brucellosis (a bacterial infection)! If you love learning about dogs and their history in and out of the show ring, then you may enjoy reading this book as much as I did. I also liked that this book discusses whether dogs are happy or not. Plus, there's even a discussion on the difference between show dogs and pet dogs.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson found on the Goodreads website:

From Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Elephant in the Room comes the first inside account of the Westminster Dog Show—America’s oldest and most beloved dog show—following one dog on his quest to become a champion.

Tommy Tomlinson was watching a dog show on television a few years ago when he had a sudden thought: Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs—are they happy, too? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the bond between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years. Dogland shares his surprising, entertaining, and unforgettable adventures.

Tomlinson spends three years on the road and goes behind the scenes at dozens of dog shows across the country, where he is licked, sniffed, or rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed. Like a real-life version of Best in Show, Dogland follows one champion show dog—a Samoyed named Striker—and his devoted entourage of breeders, handlers, and owners as he competes in the Westminster Dog Show, the oldest and most famous dog show in America. Tomlinson brings the dog-show circuit to life as he witnesses teams scrambling from town to town in search of championship points and colorful ribbons. Along the way, he also speaks to scientists who have discovered new insights into how dogs and people formed their bond—and how that bond has changed over the centuries.

Engaging, charming, and informative, Dogland is an irresistibly appealing read for pop culture followers and animal lovers alike.

I am giving Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, which was nicely narrated by Malk Williams.

Common Sense is a quick listen at 2 hours, 15 minutes. Common Sense is a 47 page essay, which was first published as a pamphlet anonymously in 1776. It advocated independence from Britain.

Common Sense combines both moral and political arguments to help persuade the common people living in the US Colonies to fight for social equality. Common Sense was a sensation upon its publication, which was at the beginning of the American Revolution.

This was the first time I've read Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I enjoyed it. Common Sense stands the test of time and still holds relevance today. I enjoyed that Common Sense touches upon so many genres, such as government,  politics, history, and political philosophy.

If you're interested in earlier American history, Common Sense may be the perfect read for you!

Below is the summary for Common Sense by Thomas Paine from Chirp's website:

The explosive essay that sparked a revolution. When Common Sense hit the streets in 1776, it ignited the American colonies like never before. With bold, plain-spoken language, Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British monarchy and made the urgent case for American independence. More than just a political argument, this short but powerful work gave everyday people the words to demand freedom—and the courage to fight for it. Radical, rebellious, and razor-sharp, Common Sense remains a landmark of political writing. Its message still resonates today: real change begins when ordinary people dare to speak truth to power.

I am giving Common Sense by Thomas Paine a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa

 

Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa is a book that's been on my reading wishlist for quite a while!! I'm really into reading books by Filipina/Filipino writers as my husband was born in the Philippines and moved to the USA with his family as a young boy.

Anyway, I'm so thrilled that I finally read the paperback edition of this graphic memoir. The artwork is really well done for this book. I love how the author incorporates several themes in her book... Like her favorite music as a child/teen, life in the Philippines during the Marcos regime, her life in Canada after she moves away from the Philippines, her family, her father's death, and more.

I highly recommend this book if you like graphic memoirs, artwork, and learning about other cultures.

Below is the publisher's summary for Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa from the Goodreads website:

When she learns of her beloved father's fatal car accident, Mapa flies to Manila to attend his funeral. His sudden death sparks childhood memories. Weaving the past with the present, Mapa entertains with stories about religion, pop culture, adolescence, social class and politics, including her experiences of the 1986 People Power Revolution which made headlines around the world. It is a love letter to her parents, family, friends, country of birth, and in the end, perhaps even to herself.

I am giving Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin by Danny Fingeroth

 

Earlier this year, I listened to and reviewed an audiobook about Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife, Marina, titled, The Oswalds by Paul R. Gregory. Essentially, I wanted to learn more about the life of Lee Harvey Oswald and his role in the assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

After listening to The Oswalds by Paul R. Gregory, I wanted to learn more about life and times of Jack Ruby. Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald approximately 48 hours after Oswald's arrest for shooting President John F. Kennedy on live television. This happened while Lee Harvey Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas City Jail to the County Jail!

This has always brought up loads of questions for me. Like how did Jack Ruby gain access to a restricted area with a loaded gun when he wasn't a police officer or a reporter? Decades ago, I'd heard wild tales that Jack Ruby had been paid by the mob to act as a hitman to kill Lee Harvey Oswald to keep Oswald from testifying in court.

So, when I came across the audio version of Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin by Danny Fingeroth, I figured why not listen to it and hopefully, learn more about Jack Ruby and perhaps his true motives for shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.

First off, Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin is narrated by author, Danny Fingeroth. I've heard several authors narrate their own books before with success. However, I think Danny Fingeroth was a distraction. I wished someone else had narrated his book instead.

Although parts of Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin by Danny Fingeroth were fascinating, I felt some parts of this book were lackluster. Additionally, I felt like Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin was too long and could have been condensed for a more pleasurable read. There was just too much detail in sections for my liking.

Below is the publisher's summary for Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin by Danny Fingeroth from the Goodreads website:

Jack Ruby changed history with one bold, violent killing accused presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV two days after the November 22, 1963, murder of President John F. Kennedy. But who was Jack Ruby—and how did he come to be in that spot on that day?

As we approach the sixtieth anniversaries of the murders of Kennedy and Oswald, Jack Ruby’s motives are as maddeningly ambiguous today as they were the day that he pulled the trigger.

The fascinating yet frustrating thing about Ruby is that there is evidence to paint him as at least two different people. Much of his life story points to him as bumbling, vain, violent, and neurotic; a product of the grinding poverty of Chicago’s Jewish ghetto; a man barely able to make a living or sustain a relationship with anyone besides his dogs.

By the same token, evidence exists of Jack Ruby as cagey and competent, perhaps not a mastermind, but a useful pawn of the Mob and of both the police and the FBI; someone capable of running numerous legal, illegal, and semi-legal enterprises, including smuggling arms and vehicles to both sides in the Cuban revolution; someone capable of acting as middleman in bribery schemes to have imprisoned Mob figures set free.

Cultural historian Danny Fingeroth's research includes a new, in-depth interview with Rabbi Hillel Silverman, the legendary Dallas clergyman who visited Ruby regularly in prison and who was witness to Ruby’s descent into madness. Fingeroth also conducted interviews with Ruby family members and associates. The book’s findings will catapult you into a trip through a house of historical mirrors.

At its end, perhaps Jack Ruby’s assault on history will begin to make sense. And perhaps we will understand how Oswald’s assassin led us to the world we live in today.

I am giving Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald's Assassin by Danny Fingeroth a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Books Dealing With Politics, Fascism, History, And/Or Democracy In Some Fashion

I recently finished reading and reviewing The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck. According to the publisher's description, John Steinbeck labelled his work as a "celebration of the durability of democracy." 

Steinbeck's quote started me thinking about other books I've read about democracy, fascism, or how things in society could  go or have gone awry.

The first five books listed are ones I have already read. The remaining six books listed are ones I would like to read.

1. Animal Farm by George Orwell

2. It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

3. The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

4. Shameless by Brian Tyler Cohen

5. Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright

6. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

7. How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

8. Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stanley

9. How Propaganda Works by Jason Stanley

10.The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism by Steven Kornacki

11. What You Should Know About Politics. . . But Don't by Jessamyn Conrad

Have you read any of the above listed books? If so, did you like them? Share your thoughts!

Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli, which is well narrated by Mack Sanderson.

Listening time for Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli is 5 hours, 41 minutes.

Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli is an excellent read! If you're a lover of nonfiction, the history of art and art crime, then this book is for you. I found Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts to be very interesting. John Barelli is the former chief security officer at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for almost 40 years and he writes his book with the candor and expertise.

Below is the publisher's summary for Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli from Chirp's website:

When he retired as the chief security officer of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, John Barelli had spent the better part of forty years responsible not only for one of the richest treasure troves on the planet, but the museum’s staff, the millions of visitors, as well as American presidents, royalty, and heads of state from around the world.

For the first time, John Barelli shares his experiences of the crimes that occurred on his watch, the investigations that captured thieves and recovered artwork, the lessons he learned and shared with law enforcement professionals in the United States and abroad, the accidents and near misses, and a few mysteries that were sadly never solved. He takes listeners behind the scenes, introduces curators and administrators, walks the empty corridors after hours, and shares what it’s like to get the call that an ancient masterpiece has gone missing.

The Metropolitan Museum covers twelve acres in the heart of Manhattan and is filled with five thousand years of work by history’s great artists known and unknown: Goya, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Warhol, Pollack, Egyptian mummies, Babylonian treasures, Colonial crafts, and Greek vases. Over the years, John helped make the museum the state-of-the-art facility it is today and created a legacy in art security for decades to come.

Focusing on six thefts but filled with countless stories that span the late 1970s through the twenty-first century, John opens the files on thefts, showing how museum personnel along with local and sometimes federal agents opened investigations and more often than not caught the thief. But of ultimate importance was the recovery of the artwork, including Celtic and Egyptian gold, French tapestries, Greek sculpture, and more. At the heart of this book there will always be art—those who love it and those who take it, two groups of people that are far from mutually exclusive.

I am giving Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts by John Barelli a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory and narrated by Traber Burns. 

Listening for The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory is 8 hours, 11 minutes.

I wasn't a huge fan of the way in which Traber Burns narrated, The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory. I wish another narrator had been chosen for this book.

As far as The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory goes, I would highly recommend this book for those who enjoy learning about American history. More specifically, this book delves deeply into the lives of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Soviet wife, Marina, in quite some detail. 

Paul R. Gregory, the author of The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee knew Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife personally, so Mr. Gregory was able to give thoughtful insight into their personal lives leading up to the assassination and aftermath.

Additionally, other details surrounding the assassination of JFK and the manhunt for JFK's killer were discussed in this book in some detail. I gained more knowledge about this subject that I didn't know about it before.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory I discovered on Amazon's website:

This “lucid, insightful” memoir by a man who knew Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife offers “an informative view of a killer’s marriage and lethal motivations” (Kirkus Reviews).

Merely two hours after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, television cameras captured police escorting a suspect into Dallas police headquarters. Meanwhile at the University of Oklahoma, watching the coverage in the student center, Paul Gregory scanned the figure in dark trousers and a white V-neck tee shirt and saw the bruised and battered face of Lee Harvey Oswald. Shocked, Gregory said, “I know that man.” In fact, he knew Oswald and his Soviet wife, Marina, better than almost anyone in America.

Identified by the FBI as a “known associate of LHO,” Gregory soon faced interrogations by the Secret Service. Later he would testify before the Warren Commission. Here, in The Oswalds, he offers the intimate details of his time spent with Lee and Marina in their run-down duplex in Fort Worth, and candidly assesses the murder that marked a turning point in our history. His riveting recollection includes memories both casual and deadly serious, such as the dinner at his parents’ house introducing Marina to the “Dallas Russians,” a front-yard incident of spousal abuse, and a further rift in the marriage when he revealed to Marina that Oswald was not the dashing, radical intellectual whose Historic Diary would be a publishing sensation. Gregory also gives a fascinating account of his father’s role as an eyewitness to history, serving as Marina’s translator and confidant in the first four days after the assassination.

“A definitive personality sketch of Oswald . . . Gregory’s book will stand the test of time.” —Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University

I am giving The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee by Paul R. Gregory a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Wood Pulp Paper Made Books Cheaper and More Easily Obtainable

 

Last night, I viewed an interesting video I discovered on YouTube about books! More specifically, the above video documented how wood pulp paper made books cheaper and more obtainable to the masses. 

The above video is fairly short in length. I hope you enjoy learning more about the the paper making process and how it changed over the years to make more affordable books.

The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal

 

The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal is my first read during the month of August! I listened to the unabridged audio version of this nonfiction book, which is nicely narrated by the author.

If you are a lover of words, linguistics, and etymology, then I think you'll love this book. The introduction is wonderful as it sets the tone of this nonfiction book. I love the short chapters that focus on a single word in the English language and how it influenced other words and cultural associations. There were plenty of surprising words that made up the list of words in this book. This is a fun read!!

Below is the publisher's summary for The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal found on Amazon's website:

The world's foremost expert on the English language takes us on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the history of our vernacular through the ages.

In The Story of English in 100 Words, an entertaining history of the world's most ubiquitous language, David Crystal draws on one hundred words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word―‘roe'―was written down on the femur of a roe deer in the fifth century. Featuring ancient words (‘loaf'), cutting edge terms that relfect our world (‘twittersphere'), indispensible words that shape our tongue (‘and', ‘what'), fanciful words (‘fopdoodle') and even obscene expressions (the "c word"...), David Crystal takes readers on a tour of the winding byways of our language via the rude, the obscure and the downright surprising.

I am giving The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock and narrated by James Cameron Stewart.

Listening time for Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock is 11 hours, 59 minutes.

If you are at all interested in early American history, especially the lives of the Mayflower Pilgrims, then this is the book for you! Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock is packed to the gills with a plethora of information and is very well organized and written. 

Although, Mayflower Lives is packed with an abundance of pertinent information, I found myself (at times) tuning out while listening to this audiobook. I didn't care for the narrator for Mayflower Lives, which most likely is the reason why I tuned out occasionally. So, I'd recommend reading a physical copy of this book instead.

Below is the publisher's summary for Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock found on Chirp's website:

Leading into the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower, Martyn Whittock examines the lives of the “saints” (members of the Separatist puritan congregations) and “strangers” (economic migrants) on the original ship. Collectively, these people would become known to history as “the Pilgrims.” The story of the Pilgrims has taken on a life of its own as one of our founding national myths-their escape from religious persecution, the dangerous transatlantic journey, that brutal first winter. Throughout the narrative, we meet characters already familiar to us through Thanksgiving folklore-Captain Jones, Myles Standish, and Tisquantum (Squanto)-as well as new ones. There is Mary Chilton, the first woman to set foot on shore, and asylum seeker William Bradford. We meet fur trapper John Howland and little Mary More, who was brought as an indentured servant. Then there is Stephen Hopkins, who had already survived one shipwreck and was the only Mayflower passenger with any prior American experience. Decidedly un-puritanical, he kept a tavern and was frequently chastised for allowing drinking on Sundays. Epic and intimate, Mayflower Lives is a rich and rewarding book that promises to enthrall anyone with an interest in early American history.

I am giving Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

 

I truly enjoy reading nonfiction books on a wide array of topics. I especially enjoy topics on forensic science and true crime in general. So, I took a chance on listening to the unabridged audio version of 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb and narrated by Nan McNamara. 

What a delightful book! 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb not only covers modern forensics, it also encompasses the interesting life of Frances Glessner Lee and her major contribution to modern day forensics. Frankly, I'd never even heard of Frances Glessner Lee before discovering Bruce Goldfarb's book!

I really enjoyed listening to 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb. It's packed with a lot of information from start to finish and well narrated by Nan McNamara. If you're fascinated by science, history, biography, and nonfiction in general, then this book may be right up your alley.

Below is the publisher's summary for 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb from Chirp's website:

The story of a woman whose ambition and accomplishments far exceeded the expectations of her time, 18 Tiny Deaths follows the transformation of a young, wealthy socialite into the mother of modern forensics… Frances Glessner Lee, born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family in the 1870s, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity. Yet she developed a fascination with the investigation of violent crimes, and made it her life’s work. Best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of dollhouses that appear charming until you notice the macabre little details: an overturned chair, or a blood-spattered comforter. And then, of course, there are the bodies splayed out on the floor, draped over chairs clothed in garments that Lee lovingly knit with sewing pins. 18 Tiny Deaths, by official biographer Bruce Goldfarb, delves into Lee’s journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day. Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today. 18 Tiny Deaths transports the reader back in time and tells the story of how one woman, who should never have even been allowed into the classrooms she ended up teaching in, changed the face of science forever.

I am giving 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

 

I've had Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston on my radar for quite sometime. I finally decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston and narrated by Robin Miles for Black History Month.

I am so happy that I finally listened to Barracoon as this work of nonfiction is of historical significance and an engaging listen. While listening to Barracoon, I discovered that Zora Neale Hurston was also an anthropologist as well as the popular writer we know today. She interviewed Cudjo Lewis, one of the last known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade from Africa, in 1927 and again in 1931.

Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston is a short listen at 3 hours, 50 minutes and is extremely well narrated by Robin Miles. It was edited by Deborah G. Plant, which is where we learn a lot of background information about Zora Neale Hurston and Barracoon.

Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston was written last century, but wasn't published until 2018 as Hurston was unable to find a publisher willing to accept the manuscript as she wrote it, which used Cudjo Lewis's own particular 'vernacular' throughout. 

I am happy that Barracoon was published in its original format. It was also interesting to learn that it became illegal to import slaves from Africa to America in the early 1800s. YET, there were still ships illegally bringing over slaves from Africa to America for decades! It so happened that Cudjo Lewis was brought over on one such ship named the Clotilda. Cudjo Lewis remembers his life in Africa, his capture, his voyage to America, and life afterwards in America as a slave and then a free man. We learn about all of this and more in great detail in Barracoon. I also liked the appendix which shares some traditional African games and stories/folktales.

Below is the summary for Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston from the Chirp website:

A major literary event: a never-before-published work from the author of the American classic Their Eyes Were Watching God that brilliantly illuminates the horror and injustices of slavery as it tells the true story of one of the last known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade—abducted from Africa on the last “Black Cargo” ship to arrive in the United States.

In 1927, Zora Neale Hurston went to Plateau, Alabama, just outside Mobile, to interview eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis. Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America as slaves, Cudjo was then the only person alive to tell the story of this integral part of the nation’s history. Hurston was there to record Cudjo’s firsthand account of the raid that led to his capture and bondage fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in the United States.

In 1931, Hurston returned to Plateau, the African-centric community three miles from Mobile founded by Cudjo and other former slaves from his ship. Spending more than three months there, she talked in depth with Cudjo about the details of his life. During those weeks, the young writer and the elderly formerly enslaved man ate peaches and watermelon that grew in the backyard and talked about Cudjo’s past—memories from his childhood in Africa, the horrors of being captured and held in a barracoon for selection by American slavers, the harrowing experience of the Middle Passage packed with more than 100 other souls aboard the Clotilda, and the years he spent in slavery until the end of the Civil War.

Based on those interviews, featuring Cudjo’s unique vernacular, and written from Hurston’s perspective with the compassion and singular style that have made her one of the preeminent American authors of the twentieth-century, Barracoon brilliantly illuminates the tragedy of slavery and of one life forever defined by it. Offering insight into the pernicious legacy that continues to haunt us all, black and white, this poignant and powerful work is an invaluable contribution to our shared history and culture.

I am giving Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America by Chris DeRose

 

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about American history and true crime. Last year, when I first learned about Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America by Chris DeRose and narrated by Traber Burns through Chirp's website, I decided to buy a copy of this audiobook based on the publisher's summary.

I had high hopes for Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America by Chris DeRose, but I was quickly disappointed by the audio production and the narration of this book. The narrator sounded like he was speaking in a tin can and I didn't enjoy the narrator's reading style for Star Spangled Scandal. 

I almost gave up on listening to Star Spangled Scandal several times. But I kept going as I was interested learning about this aspect of American history. However, with that being said, I tuned out routinely due to the narration and audio quality. I also thought Star Spangled Scandal wasn't that engaging in spots... Parts of Star Spangled Scandal felt a bit too sensationalistic to me and other parts were decent enough like most of the trial coverage. I may have had an overall more enjoyable experience reading this book instead of listening to it.

Below is the summary for Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America by Chris DeRose from Chirp:

The year is 1859 and Congressman Daniel Sickles and his beautiful wife Teresa are the toast of Washington, DC society. President James Buchanan is godfather to their daughter. Philip Barton Key, US Attorney for the District of Columbia (and the son of Francis Scott Key), is one of the couple’s closest friends—so close, in fact, that he often escorts the beautiful Mrs. Sickles to social events when the congressman is too busy.

Revelers in DC are accustomed to the sight of the congressman’s wife with the tall, Apollo-like Philip Barton Key, who is considered “the handsomest man in all Washington society … foremost among the popular men of the capital.” Then one day Congressman Daniel Sickles receives an anonymous note about his wife and Key, setting into motion a tragic course of events that culminates in a bloody confrontation in the street that leaves one man dead and the other charged with murder. This is the riveting true story of the murder and historic trial that shocked 19th century America, now brought to vivid life by historian Chris DeRose with the help of Mrs. Sickles’ writings and other primary sources.

I am giving Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America by Chris DeRose a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin

 

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin was the first audiobook I finished listening to in 2023... It was supposed to be my 100th read of 2022, but I wasn't able to finish listening to it until the beginning of 2023.

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin was an unexpected choice/read for me as I am not a member of any particular religion, nor do I attend any religious services, or have a deep knowledge or understanding of any one particular religion.

Christianity is the prevalent religion in western culture and has a long, rich, complex, and varied history over the centuries. Due to Christianity's long history and significant, cultural impact on society, I found myself wanting to listen to the history of the bible through David Zachariah Flanagin's exploration of '2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact'... Especially with the Christmas holiday fast approaching at the end of December when I initially began listening to this audiobook. 

I wasn't expecting 'to be wowed' The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin, but this audiobook greatly exceeded my expectation. David Zachariah Flanagin is a professor of theology and religious studies at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. So David Zachariah Flanagin really knows his subject matter well. David Zachariah Flanagin narrates his own audiobook too and you can hear his passion about the subject matter.

Additionally, The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact has been published by Learn 25. Learn 25 reminds me a lot of The Great Courses. I have enjoyed listening to a few other works published through Learn 25 about the US Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall, and the American Constitution. If you like The Great Courses format, then you'll probably enjoy the Learn 25 programs as well.

Below is a summary for The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin from Audible:

Explore the 2,000-year impact of the most-read book ever written.

The Bible’s importance can hardly be overstated: Jesus and the earliest Christians shaped their self-identity from its pages, medieval monks spent countless hours meditating on the sacred words, and reformers have been inspired by its radical message to speak the truth of the Gospel. While its message has unified believers through the centuries, debates about biblical interpretation have also caused divisions among the faithful.

This 24-lecture audio course, taught by award-winning professor Zach Flanagin, guides you through over two millennia of biblical interpretation. You will explore the most important ways people have read the Bible in ancient history and in modern times.

After looking at how early Christians inherited scriptural approaches from Judaism, you will explore the tradition of allegorical interpretation in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Next, you will survey the important movements of scholasticism, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Enlightenment, which led to profound debates about the nature of the authority of the Bible and the Church. Finally, you will consider the current state of biblical interpretation, where many different voices are being heard.

I am giving The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer

 

Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer is a book that has been on my reading wishlist for quite a while. I listened to the unabridged audio version of Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer, which was narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen.

I am a fan of true crime and in 2019, I thoroughly enjoyed Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman... However, the focus of this nonfiction book was on male serial killers, not women serial killers. In fact, the only female serial killer I knew a little about at the time was Aileen Wuornos.

I am happy that I finally listened to Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer as it focuses on several women serial killers (15+) throughout history and from different countries around the world. All of the women serial killers discussed in Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer were ones I'd never heard of before. The writing for Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer was good and I enjoyed the flow of this book. The narration was decent as well.

Below is the summary for Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer from Audible:

When you think of serial killers throughout history, the names that come to mind are likely Jack the Ripper, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy. But what about Tillie Klimek, Moulay Hassan, and Kate Bender?

The narrative we're comfortable with is one where women are the victims of violent crime - not the perpetrators. In fact, serial killers are thought to be so universally male that, in 1998, FBI profiler Roy Hazelwood infamously declared that there are no female serial killers. Inspired by Telfer's Jezebel column of the same name, Lady Killers disputes that claim and offers 14 gruesome examples as evidence.

Although largely forgotten by history, female serial killers rival their male counterparts in cunning, cruelty, and appetite. Each chapter explores the crimes and history of a different female serial killer and then proceeds to unpack her legacy and her portrayal in the media as well as the stereotypes and sexist clichés that inevitably surround her.

I am giving Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson

I was able to download The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson.

I have mixed feelings about The Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson. On the one hand, I enjoyed learning about author, James L. Swanson's obsession with Abraham Lincoln and also more details about the life and assassination of Abraham Lincoln. On the other hand, I kind of felt like The Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson was boring at times and also a plug for Swanson's book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer. Overall, The Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson was a good listen.

Listening time for The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson is 3 hours, 39 minutes and narrated by the author.

Below is a summary for The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson from Audible:

With an entirely fresh take on presidential history, James Swanson, author of the New York Times best-selling, Edgar Award-winning Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, shares the story of his lifelong obsession with the murder of America’s most revered president and the frantic hunt for his assassin.

The renowned Lincoln scholar treats listeners to an Audible Originals "walking tour" of the people, places, events, and artifacts that tell the story of those horrible days in April 1865. Taking listeners behind the scenes of his research, Swanson discusses the origins of his boyhood passion for Lincoln, including his first visits to Springfield, Illinois, and Ford’s Theatre as a high school student; accounts for John Wilkes Booth’s movements during the manhunt; reveals how he authenticates Lincoln blood relics; and offers details about historic sites that remain little known or obscure.

Swanson describes the intrigue he continues to pursue—the women who aided Booth, lingering questions about other conspirators, and a timeline for both Lincoln and the conspirators the night of April 14, 1865.

The Lincoln Obsession is a uniquely personal look at how historical places and relics will forever shed new light on the first presidential assassination in America.

I am giving The Lincoln Obsession: The Author of Manhunt Chases Down His Own Lincoln Obsession by James L. Swanson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs

 

I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs after hearing the author, along with Dr. Shirley N. Weber (California Secretary of State) speak at a virtual author event earlier this month on International Women's Day. 

I was intrigued by what Anna Malaika Tubbs shared with viewers during the virtual author event and also by the title of her newly published book. Motherhood is an important topic and women do shape the lives of future generations to come. Additionally, I enjoyed the idea of learning more about how three specific mothers shaped the lives of three important American Civil Rights leaders of the 20th century. So, with this in mind, I decided to read Anna Malaika Tubbs' book, The Three Mothers, this month during Women's History Month.

I was not disappointed!! The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the lives of Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King. I also enjoyed learning more about the lives of their sons and the relationship each woman had with her son, along with more information about black history and black motherhood within the USA. 

Listening time for The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs is 6 hours, 51 minutes and is narrated by the author.

Below is the summary for The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs from Audible:

Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin Luther, and Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them.

In her groundbreaking and essential debut The Three Mothers, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes.

Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little were all born at the beginning of the 20th century and forced to contend with the prejudices of Jim Crow as Black women. These three extraordinary women passed their knowledge to their children with the hope of helping them to survive in a society that would deny their humanity from the very beginning - from Louise teaching her children about their activist roots, to Berdis encouraging James to express himself through writing, to Alberta basing all of her lessons in faith and social justice. These women used their strength and motherhood to push their children toward greatness, all with a conviction that every human being deserves dignity and respect despite the rampant discrimination they faced.

These three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers.

These women, their similarities and differences, as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.

I am giving The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!