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CRAIG'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2012
JANUARY 1.
Hampton SidesFinish date: January 7, 2012
Genre: Military History
Rating: A
Review: Hampton Sides is one of the most gifted popular history writers in the United States and before he wrote best-selling books on Kit Carson and James Earl Ray, he wrote this 2001 recap of an almost-forgotten rescue mission of American POW's being held at a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines after surviving the Bataan Death March.
This really is a gripping, amazing WWII story, but what makes it stand out from other books is Sides' elegant prose. Listen to this paragraph depicting part of the action of the rescue mission:
"If the slaughter could have been viewed without sound, one might have been disposed to call it beautiful. In an instant, the entire fence line lit up in a corona of frenetic glitters soon numbering in the thousands, each burst crisp and discrete against the black night. The orange flashes came in a pleasingly random and inscrutable patterns like the semaphore of fireflies in a dense forest. Occasionally gold stars streaked across the field and ended abruptly in warm blooms of yellow and vermilion, leaving the sky crisscrossed with trails of smoke." (Ghost Soldiers, p. 270)
There aren't too many writers of fiction who can paint that type of vivid image and to find it in a non-fiction work like this is a godsend. Writing like that makes this book and Sides' writing in general stand out for me.
Mod
You also did a great job with the format.
2.
Stephen KingFinish date: January 15, 2012
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: I'm not a huge Stephen King fan and have probably been disappointed by more of his works than left with a satisfying feeling, but 9/22/63 was one of the best King novels I've read in a long time. As a history fan, perhaps I wanted more on Dallas and JFK in 1963, but the book does offer a fascinating look at life in America in the 1950s and 60s and I was happy to see that the Northeast-based King was fairly kind to Texas (although not so kind to Dallas itself).
Anyone hoping for an answer to the who shot JFK question needs to keep looking beyond this book. But if you want a sweet love story and some interesting takes on time travel than this will be a good diversion.
What kept it from being an A rating from me? I never really bought into the main female character (Sadie) and was always wondering what Jake Epping saw in her. And just like all King books (IMHO), this one could have been edited down somewhat. But again, to this mostly non-King fan (with a few exceptions of his books that I've really enjoyed), this book kept me riveted enough that I couldn't wait to end the story. And I did learn a little more about people involved in the possible JFK conspiracy.
One side note - I visited the 6th Floor Museum the day Michael Jackson died and was touring the building when I overhead a phone conversation that led me to ask the person on her phone to share with me the news that the King of Pop had indeed just died out in California. harmonies indeed...
Mod
3.
Maureen SherryFinish date: January 23, 2012
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: B-
Review: Luckily my boys all haven't shown tiring of our family tradition of me reading a couple of chapters of a book to them at bedtime. We've done it for years and have made our way through older classics that I remember as a kid and newer ones that have been a delight to discover. With 10-year-old twins and a 6-year-old, I'm not sure how much longer I can read to all three, but it's still something I relish.
This book, however, was one of those children's books that is a little too common. It had an interesting premise but the execution was too flawed, even for a kid's book. My B- rating reflects the fact that I wasn't the intended audience, but still this wasn't one I looked forward to seeing where the story was leading.
The plot involved three children learning of a mystery in their New York City apartment that traced itself back to the Post family (of cereal box fame) and century-old landmarks in New York City. Again, the premise was there, but the story didn't live up to its book jacket or idea. Oh well, time to find a new story for all of us for February.
I love your story about reading to your kids. My dad read to my sister and I at bedtime, and I relish the memory to this day. Very nice, Craig.
Craig wrote: "JANUARY 1.
Hampton SidesFinish date: January 7, 2012..."
Craig, I totally agree with your asssessment of
. Since you obviously liked it so much, I have a recommendation that you might also enjoy:
Share of Honor by Ralph Graves
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to look for that book.
4.
David McCulloughFinish date: January 31, 2012
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: B
Review: A big fan of McCullough, I waited a little while to read this as I wasn't sure about the topic. Americans in Paris during the 19th century? Was that a "must-read" for me?
After reading it, I'm still not sure. Parts of the book were fascinating. I loved learning more about Mary Cassatt, Charles Sumner, Saint-Gaudens, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. and particularly Samuel Morse and Elihu Washburne (the American Ambassador to France during the Siege of 1871). Other times, it was too much a tour of the Louvre and a travelogue on France in the 19th century. And it didn't really have a true beginning or ending.
But overall it was different and entertaining enough to leave me wanting more. Not McCullough's best work, perhaps, but certainly worth a read if you are a fan.
FEBRUARY 5.
Max HastingsFinish date: February 7, 2012
Genre: Military History
Rating: B
Review: One-volume histories of something as widespread and impactful as World War II can be difficult to read and, I imagine, write. Although Hastings' look at WW II has its moments and never fails to deliver interesting stories, it's approach from the British side of the war isn't perfectly suited toward someone more interested in reading about the U.S. involvement in the great war.
So American participation in such important events as D-Day, Pearl Harbor, and the end game in Japan, including dropping of the atomic weapons in August, 1945 are barely given mention in this massive work, which I found surprising.
This isn't a bad addition to a library for World War II buffs; it just might not be the first book you want to add.
Mod
6.
Walter Isaacson Finish date: February 27, 2012
Genre: Biography
Rating: B
Although this book made me feel dumber, it was a nice experience learning more about the amazing Albert Einstein and how he basically created a new field of science. I would have liked more of the personal side of Einstein and less scientific explanation (how many times can the author use the words 'in other words' in one book?), but I guess there's no easy way to get around that when writing about Einstein.
Things I learned about Einstein: he married his first cousin (his second marriage), he was a strong pacifist who still actively supported the war effort against the Nazis in World War II, he really had a very limited role in the Manhattan Project (he couldn't even gain military clearance to learn scientific secrets about the project), he had a son who spent the majority of his life in a mental institution, he had a daughter born out of wedlock he never met, and except for a trip to gain a U.S. Visa he never left the U.S. after becoming a U.S. citizen in 1933.
My favorite Einstein quote from the book? When asked a few years after the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese how World War III might be fought, he said something to the effect that he didn't know how WW III would be fought, but he knew how WW IV would be fought - with rocks.
I also enjoyed the book, Craig, but like you I felt a lot dumber after finishing it!!!
7.
Gail Collins Finish date: February 29, 2012
Genre: Biography
Rating: C-
This entry in the American Presidents series recounts the life of our shortest-serving President and doesn't really enlighten the reader much. It's almost as if the author Collins figured, 'why bother? He only served a month as President so I'll just spend a month -or-so writing the book'.
As the first American President to die in office, I was really surprised that this book spends so few pages on his passing. It does focus on his Indian-fighting background and knocks down his image as being born in a log cabin. But the 1840 Presidential race was fairly significant, and I would have liked to read more about how he died - two important legacies that Collins almost totally avoided in any depth.
Interesting Craig, I like the series overall, but at the same time, I'm not surprised by your review. Harrison always gets short-changed, and sometimes I feel I want more when I read these books in the series.
MARCH 8.
Laura HillenbrandFinish date: March 8, 2012
Genre: Sports History
Rating: A-
Review: Not quite up to the level of Hillenbrand's Unbroken
, but a great story focusing on an unbelievable horse and three men whose lives revolved around the champion thoroughbred. This is more of a story about an underdog overcoming great odds (several underdogs, actually) to best a better-bred, seemingly unbeatable champion, echoing a recurring theme of some of the greatest sports stories of all time. The book also does a nice job of weaving American Depression and war-time history into its tale. But it drifts off into hyperbole every now and then and somehow I felt I didn't learn as much about the characters and even Seabiscuit himself as I kind of expected. Still, it was a very enjoyable read.
9.
Richard WhiteFinish date: March 11, 2012
Genre: American History
Rating: C-
Not too much to recommend here. The story of the building of the transcontinental railroad could have been a lot more interesting than it was.
Actually this is much more a history of the men who were responsible for the two main railroads, Union Pacific and Central Pacific, then the actual construction in the 1860s. But the writing style was so drab and the stories so lackluster that I found myself being numbed asleep like the soft lullaby effect of railroad sounds on a long-distance Amtrak train.
Too bad the book was disappointing. That is a topic with so much potential. Ah well, hope you have something better in the queue.
I second that, it looked like a good book. Sigh.
10.
Sally DentonFinish date: March 15, 2012
Genre: American History
Rating: B -
Stumbling across this new book in my local library, I thought it had a lot of potential. The failed assassination attempt by Italian immigrant Giuseppe Zangara on FDR's life right before his 'we have nothing to fear but fear itself' inaugural speech deserved more space in this book as did the Wall Street plot to overthrow FDR and perhaps instill a Fascist government.
But to combine all of that and other biographical material on FDR into 220 pages just didn't work for me as well as it could have. It was a quick read and it certainly had some very interesting stories for FDR fans.
Craig wrote: "MARCH 8.
Laura HillenbrandFinish date: March 8, 2012
Genre: Sports History
Rating: A-
Rev..."
I REALLY liked
Seabiscuit: An American Legend also. I agree that it was a notch below
Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption, but it was still a wonderful story as told by a very good author.
11.
Terry PratchettFinish date: March 19, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Rating: B
Part of the Discworld Series for children, this incredibly illustrated book also served as a family introduction to the fantasy world and humor of Terry Pratchett.
I'm still not sure if my sons (or I) fully understand what's happening in Discworld, but the best recommendation I had for the series was that my sons immediately wanted me to read another book. So our next family book will be another in the long-running series, perhaps one for everyone and not just for kids.
12.
Craig L. SymondsFinish date: March 30, 2012
Genre: Military History
Rating: B+
Having had a chance to listen to author Craig Symonds a couple of times at history seminars, I grabbed this book when I saw it at my local library. And I was quite happy that I did.
This is a very readable, well-researched review of the events leading to the momentous American naval victory in Midway in 1942 by one of the preeminent naval historians writing today. While some military history works can be a challenge to work through because of their technical, stiff writing style, this reads more like a novel or movie script and definitely gave me insight to a battle (and the importance of that battle) that I really didn't understand very well before reading the book. It also led me to wonder why the United States wasn't able to immediately capitalize on the successes at Midway, but I guess those are questions that Symonds could address in a future work.
April13.
no photo available Crane BrintonFinish date: April 1, 2012
Genre: European History
Rating: C+
Some interesting information and it certainly accomplishes what it sets out to do, to provide a comprehensive look at the Middle Ages, but all in all, this is fairly drab and strangely organized. I listened to the audio version and the sound effects (lots of Gregorian chants and warefare sounds) at the beginning and ends of chapters and sections helped.
Maybe a bigger follower of this era in world history would have appreciated this offering more. I listened to it since I know so little about this time period, but now I think I'll return to more modern history and other genres I enjoy more.
14.
Madeleine L'EngleFinish date: April 6, 2012
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: C+
I judge the children's books I read to my boys at bedtime by the amount of interest they maintain in the story, and all I can tell you is that this classic story didn't keep them interested at all.
I feel this is one of those classic children's books that everyone wants to like, but the reality is that it hasn't really passed the time test that well. The basic themes of good vs. evil and the power of love still ring true, but the science-fiction set-up of the novel seems outdated and with too many unexplained plot holes.
Kids are a good benchmark of creativity. If it doesn't hold thier interest, well . . .
15.
Terry PratchettFinish date: April 8, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Rating: B+
My introduction to the comic science-fiction and fantasy world of Sir Terry Pratchett, and since it was the first of (so far) about 40 books in the Discworld series that have been written by Pratchett, it was a fitting introduction to the series.
I'm not a huge science fiction and fantasy fan, but I'm not sure this book totally fits that genre; it's more of a comic novel in the mode of Douglas Adams that just happens to create an alternate world.
The series introduced me to some characters and world features I'd like to read more about so I definitely will try another book in the series and see if it keeps my interest. But this was a nice diversion for me.
16. 
Jim MurphyFinish date: April 13, 2012
Genre: Children's Non-Fiction
Rating: B-
Was able to read this one with my kids quickly as this short account of the great 1888 blizzard in New York City offers a succinct summary of one of the worst winter storms to ever hit the east coast. Most interesting to me was how the storm led to the death of Roscoe Conkling, a New York Republican Party Machine leader who was fairly influential in national politics during the Gilded Age.
17.
Terry PratchettFinish date: April 18, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Rating: A-
Pratchett picks up the story of Rincewind and Twoflower in his second installment in Discworld and pens a tighter, deeper story while keeping his own unique brand of humor, science fiction/fantasy and solid writing skills.
I felt the plot in this book was more interesting than the other two Pratchett Discworld books I've read and like in any series, I enjoyed the fact that I felt a kinship to some of the novel's characters who I had learned to like (or at least follow) in a previous series entry.
On to my next Pratchett entry!
Imho, it just gets better. I've enjoyed all the Discworld books I've read so far, which is most of them, and never been disappointed. Rincewind and Twoflower are great characters, and there are many more that we meet farther on in the series. There's the continuing thread of narrative inevitability, which I first recognized with the magic sword business, and many other linking characteristics among the books, plus as you say great writing and the knowledge that just as you become truly absorbed in what's happening you will be blindsided by an artfully contrived "pune." Or a hilarious footnote.
Do you suggest reading the books in release order or perhaps by series order? I guess I'm trying to figure out if I should read
by
Terry Pratchett, which I believe is the third Rincewind book (but maybe his 5th or 6th Discworld book?) or the third book he wrote in the Discworld series,
, Equal Rites, which I believe introduces the different Witches characters in the overall books?
18.
Lost in Shangri-la by
Mitchell ZuckoffFinish date: April 26, 2012
Genre: World War II history
Rating: A-
A riveting World War II rescue from the Pacific story that reads like a novel and reminded me of a cross between another great WWII escape tale
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by
Laura Hillenbrand and the TV series Lost.If anything this is more readable than Unbroken since the edition I read includes dozens of great photos from the tale of the three Americans (two males and a female) who survive the horrific plane crash in the previously "undiscovered" jungles of New Guinea near the tale days of WWII. Margaret Hastings, the lone female survivor of that crash was stunningly beautiful and casting her in a modern-day theatrical version of the rescue story (not to mention some of the other colorful figures in the story) would be a casting director's dream.
As a twin, the fact that one of the three survivors lost his twin brother in the crash was another personal aspect of the story that made it more interesting to me although I don't know if the author really dug deeply enough on that loss. Interestingly, the surviving twin sister of Michael Rockefeller (twin children of former American vice president Nelson Rockefeller and great grandchildren of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.) has a new book on twin loss coming out next week that also touches on another tragic plane crash in New Guinea which resulted in the death of her twin brother, Michael.
Beginning With the End: A Memoir of Twin Loss and Healing by
Mary R. Morgan
Mod
May19.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by
Terry PratchettFinish date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: C
My children and I tried this Discworld entry and I found it a disappointment when compared to the rich fantasy stories for both adults and children that Pratchett has produced over the past 30+ years.
I don't think I would put it in the main Discworld series as it really is just a children's story about magically intelligent rats (and one magically intelligent cat) who uncover a mysterious town deprived of all other rats.
The biggest challenge for me personally was trying not to compare this to the much, much superior
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by
Robert C. O'BrienSkip the former and read the latter with your children if you want a robust fantasy story involving rats...
I picked up the first Discworld book and have started the first few pages: really fun.
Terry Pratchett
20.
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by
Stephen GreenblattFinish date: May 4, 2012
Rating: B+
Genre: Non-Fiction
Easy to see why this impressive book recently won the Pulitzer for best non-fiction book of the year although what kept it from being higher rated for me personally (and I tend to be a tough grader) was the subject matter that at times seemed out of the scope of my understanding.
Greenblatt's thesis was that much of modernity can be traced to works like Lucretius' 1st century 'On the Nature of Things', and more importantly, the recovery of this almost lost poem by a book scribe named Poggio in the early 15th century. I was certainly convinced of this argument after listening to the audio rendition of this book. But all the references to early Roman philosophy and Enlightenment figures occasionally became confusing to me and that's where the book dragged slightly.
Still, Greenblatt does a great job of mostly keeping this subject interesting even to those not interested in ancient history (people like myself) so I'm happy I gave this book a try.
For some reason, I had a hard time with the narrator of the audiobook (I downloaded mine from Audible) and I didn't finish my listen. I thought it was very interesting, though. I wondered if it was perhaps a bit too dense for a listen and whether I might have done better with the print version or an ebook. I'm glad you stuck with it and found it rewarding. I might pick it up again.
21.
Sourcery by
Terry PratchettFinish date: May 14, 2012
Rating: B
Genre: Science-Fiction (Discworld series)
The fifth book in the Discworld series and third featuring the semi-incompetent but awfully lucky wizard Rincewind. I thought this book had a great premise and first third, but it did get a little overwhelming to me near the middle, and then I didn't like the ending at all.
I guess I wanted more luggage stories, less wizard fighting scenes, and I missed Twoflower. Did have some of the great Pratchett humor so that part was worthwhile though. I have several other Discworld books waiting on my to-read shelf, but will probably take a little break from them and catch up on some non-fiction books for the time being.
June22.
Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moonby Craig Nelson
Finish date: June 2, 2012
Rating: A
Genre: Space History
One of my favorite fields of American history is the Space Race and somehow I had never read this great summary of not just the Apollo 11 mission but the Space Race and even the Cold War in general. Nelson does a tremendous job of linking together specific moments and memories from the origins of the Space Race up to Apollo 11 and the events that led to the momentous day where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped foot on the moon. Best of all, it addresses the important questions about why landing on the moon was so important to the United States and why we've suffered as a nation since then by never expanding upon the successes of the Apollo program.
There are so many great stories and quotes in this book, but this one vignette near the beginning of the book was something I particularly enjoyed. After Apollo 11's successful landing on the moon, a NASA technician, Fermilab physicist Robert Wilson, was called to testify before a Senate hearing and grilled by Senator John Pastore (RI), who demanded to know how a new multi-million dollar accelerator would improve the security of the nation.
Wilson said, “it has only to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of men, our love of culture...I mean all the things we really venerate in our country and are patriotic about. It has nothing to do with defending our country except to make it worth defending.”
Craig, love your review and enthusiasm for this book. What a great find! I may add this to the ever growing TBR list.
23.
America, Russia and the Cold War 1945-2006 by Walter LaFeber (no author picture available)Finish date: June 10, 2012
Rating: B
Genre: Cold War History
This is a strong, accessible one-volume account of the Cold War that also connects events of the past two decades to the global conflict that for all intents and purposes ended when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. This book doesn't go into tremendous detail on any specific event, but does do a nice job of summarizing the hows and whys of the conflict.
I had to read this book for a grad course I'm currently taking on the Cold War and have five more Cold War books I'll have to read in the next two months so I'm anxious to compare them to one another.
24.
The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times by Odd Arne WestadFinish date: June 19, 2012
Rating: B-
Genre: Cold War History
Interesting perspective on the Cold War, theorizing that the the period can only be understood by studying Third World nations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and how it was fought by the two competing ideologies of the United States and Soviet Union.
If I had fully bought into the thesis, I'd probably have given it a higher rating, but the book was a little on the dry side, so I'm not sure if I can recommend this except to the most studious of Cold War followers.
July 25.
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. GwynneFinish date: July 1, 2012
Rating: A-
Genre: Native-American History
Fascinating look at the Commanches and the West in general. Focuses on the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, the 9-year-old girl kidnapped from Texas in the mid-19th century and her eventual marriage into the Commanche tribe and son, Quannah, who became the last Chief of the Commanche tribe.
But the book also capsulizes the Indian-Americans relation in general as well as the western frontier. A little preachy at times, and certainly not for the squeamish (neither side is shown all that favorably by the author), but a great read for those interested in the west and Native Americans.
26.
For the Soul of Mankind: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War by Melvyn P. LefflerFinish date: July 2, 2012
Rating: B+
Genre: Cold War History
This is the third book on the Cold War I've had to read for a graduate level history course I'm currently taking and it was probably the easiest to read thus far of the half-dozen I'll eventually have to finish.
Leffler's book is an accessible summary of Cold War that focuses entirely on the leaders of the Soviet Union and United States, arguing that these leaders ideologies were what shaped the conflict and ultimately, due to the efforts of Gorbachev, ended it.
There's nothing too ground-breaking in the book, perhaps, but it is still an excellent review of the events between 1945 and 1989 and something I'd certainly recommend to those interested in the subject but who might be turned off by some of the more scholarly literature this field tends to create.
Mod
27.
A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev by Vladislav M. ZubokFinish date: July 14, 2012
Rating: B
Genre: Cold War History
Continuing my course's required texts on the Cold War, this 2007 offering focuses on Soviet leadership from Stalin to Gorbachev.
Although scholarly in nature, it is readable, but my one flaw is that it's too Soviet-centric. It overly praises Brezhnev, for instance, while greatly discounting the roles of Nixon and Carter during the early 70s. I'm not sure if this would be the definitive book on the Cold War I would recommend to others to read, but it was a fine summary.
28.
Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to the Postmodern Challenge by Georg G. IggersFinish date: July 18, 2012
Rating: D
Genre: Historical Studies
I had to read this for a grad class and would NOT recommend it to anyone save those who are suffering from severe cases of insomnia.
Mod
When the book cover is available, simply add the book cover, the author's photo and the author's link.
It is extra work; it is not objectionable since you have all of the basic elements but it is a bit more work and sometimes makes things more unreadable.
You are making good progress however; so keep up the good work.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivals That Ignited the Space Age: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivals That Ignited the Space Age (other topics)Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (other topics)
The Civil War at Sea (other topics)
American Colonies: The Settling of North America (other topics)
Lincoln and His Admirals (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Matthew Brzezinski (other topics)William Joyce (other topics)
Alan Taylor (other topics)
Craig L. Symonds (other topics)
Paul Kleinman (other topics)
More...
Our Format:
JANUARY
1.
Finish date: March 2008
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review or a Few Words about book: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
Note: I will delete required format post once you get started.