No comments about Road to the Sea: The Story of James B. Eads and the Mississippi River.

4 comments about With The Possum And The Eagle: A Memoir Of A Navigator's War Over Germany And Japan (North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series).

1. Possum was General Haywood Hansell; Eagle, General Curtis LeMay.
   
   Ralph Nutter was a student at Harvard Law when Pearl Harbour occurred. A few weeks later he was in the Army Air Corp headed to navigator school. (A few years later he was the only survivor of his 22 fellow graduates.) A few months later and he was in England as a navigator on a B-17. In an incident where he knew where they were and none of the others did, Eagle made him the lead navigator of the group.
   
   As the European was was winding down, he was transferred to the Pacific and B-29's. Again he was made lead navigator. Eventually LeMay was sent to the Pacific and Nutter returned to work with him.
   
   This book is both a story of the war, and a story of leadership in war time. His insights on LeMay are enlightening and impressed me. LeMay's general reputation is a lot lower than that held by Mr. Nutter.



2. Although we had to wait until after General LeMay's death, we finally find within "With the Possum and the Eagle" the real story of the leadership of General Curtis LeMay. If you're interested in the history of World War II and the significant role aviation had in both the European and Pacific campaigns, Ralph Nutter's account is difficult to put down. Nutter's close proximity to senior aviation leadership during the war gives the reader a rare glimpse into what those wartime leaders faced and the decisions they had to make vis-a-vis both logistical and environmental constraints to operations. A superb account.



3. Ralph Nutter writes with extraordinary candor and clarity about a period in our history when he and others of his generation faced terrible odds in the struggle to save the world from Fascism. His account is as compelling as it is straightforward and unvarnished. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the true meaning of courage under fire.



4. Reads like a good, fast paced novel. Exciting, building chronicle of the air war over Europe and the Pacific.
   
   Explains with starteling clarity the cockpit horrors that left no alternatives to the area bombing of Dresden and Tokyo. Makes it very clear that the A-Bombs were redundant and unnecessary.
   
   A terribly real sense of our "losing years" and the desperate process of a war of attrition. The author, being one of only two survivors of his navigator's class of 22, lets us glimpse the terror and the heroism of an air war where victory would finally go to the combatant who had more young men to "expend"...

2 comments about Fury Beach.

1. John Ross, who had earlier failed to find the Northwest passage and had created a mirage of `Lancaster sound' in 1818 returned in 1828 to lead an expedition by steam to seek out the Northwest passage and map the arctic. He ended up stranded for almost four years. His men survived on meager rations while learning from the natives. A small party led by his Nephew James Ross also discovered the Magnetic North Pole.

   This is an amazing account of the ordeal of this harrowing journey into the arctic wasteland. Well written, its greatest downfall is that it includes only one map. This book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the arctic, seafaring, adventure or survival stories. For further reading `Barrows Boys' by Fleming, `Into Thin Air, and `Sea of Glory' by Philbrick will be of great interest.




2. Fury Beach by Ray Edinger combines thorough research with a rousing good story. The lengthy bibliography and index suggest the extensive research that went into producing this book. Well written, it is actually two stories for the price of one: a tale of an Arctic voyage of discovery and scientific research and the heart-warming story of the interaction of two cultures, an Inuit tribe and Englishmen, meeting for the first time and things actually go right. People treat each other with kindness and respect. Friendships result. I particularly liked the short snippets of biographies at the close of the book that explained what happened to the participants after the adventure ended. There are many illustrations, all charming.

No comments about The Stettner Way: The Life and Climbs of Joe and Paul Stettner.

No comments about Barefoot Conquistador: Cabeza De Vaca and the Struggle for Native American Rights (Exceptional Biographies for Upper Grades).

3 comments about We.

1. For years I've wanted to read this book! I finely got to do it. Have the movie "Spirit of St. Louis" but the book puts you right in with the pilot. He flew this "mission" by the seat of his pants, and this was true flying. A must read!



2. Lindbergh certainly was the superstar of his day. Following his singlehanded flight from New York to Paris in May 1927, the public rapturously hung on his every word. In this memoir, written only days after the event and subtitled "the Famous Flier's Own Story of His Life and His Transatlantic Flight, Together With His Views on the Future of Aviation," the "Lone Eagle" tells about his childhood, how he acquired his first plane, his career as a stunt flier, his training in the Army Air Corps, and his work as an Air Mail pilot (including his four emergency parachute jumps). Then, in great detail, he describes the preparations for his epic flight, the flight itself, and the wild welcome that met him in Europe. The "spiritual meaning" of his flight also gets a lot of coverage.

   Maybe it's just the cynicism of the latter part of the 20th century, but all the modesty seems somehow self-serving. The timing of this book makes it important to anyone interested in Lindbergh, but his later "The Spirit of St. Louis" is a far better book.




3. Someone once said that nobody told his own story better than Lindbergh himself. When one considers the continuous flow of books written about him, this is an opinion to be seriously considered.

   Thoughts naturally leap to his Pulitzer prize-winning The Spirit of St. Louis, which still has lavish praise heaped upon it by even Lindbergh's most recent biographers. Published in 1952, more than 15 years after Lindbergh's historic transatlantic nonstop flight from New York to Paris, its intriguing flow is heightened by what is known in the world of English grammar as the historical present indicative tense, a seldom-used approach by writers because it is said to be so difficult to sustain, particularly over the long haul of an entire book's length. In short, the author describes what is happening at a particular moment, but zig-zags flashback style out of the present while the author recalls moments in his history past.

   Stay alert, Reader, for anyone writing in this manner must perform near-perfect writing artistry to maintain interest. Of course, The Spirit of St. Louis falls into that elegant category.

   All but vanished into the shelves of juvenile literature in some libraries - or the collections of those who treasure its merits (or collect Lindberghiana) - is the long-forgotten Lindbergh memoir simply entitled "We."

   Here comes the inevitable momentary comparison with The Spirit of St. Louis, which Lindbergh worked on for close to 13 years and sent to numerous critics and friends for review during the long writing process. This is not a criticism of Lindbergh, for he was a perfectionist; the book he then produced was worth its wait in spades.

   But "We" is the one and only fresh-from-the-flight retelling of our newly crowned hero's lifetime adventures. Rushed to publication just three weeks later, making it the converse of its younger brother, this is precisely where the book's real value counts.

   Consider the times: it was 1927 - those topsy-turvey twenties. Much as we know that they were famous for the Charleston, fashion, fun, and freedom, despite what Mom thought, they were dark times, nonetheless, for many veterans returning from World War I found their jobs had vanished. It was not long before sound waves coming from Europe were troubling. And - there was no hero in the White House, for Coolidge neither aroused enthusiasm nor had any sense that he should try. However, technology was being harnessed to an untold degree. Radio, telephone and Henry Ford's Model T were opening up linkages across America in unprecedented fashion. Aviation was being heralded as a form of communication where, unimaginably, it might even become possible to carry passengers from one destination to another.

   Lindbergh's feat was not only a large miracle, but placed in his times, there comes the realization that he also had the benefit of a press and pubic longing to break the rules, see the world, and hoist a hero into history. His natural good looks and demeanor only added to the package; he was irresistible!

   Written in straightforwaard, unvarnished prose, in "We," Lindbergh not only takes the reader into the fledgling wings of aviation, but recalls his early life, progressing from boyhood through planehood and on into herohood. How could anyone not be caught up in this real-life hero-in-the-making myth? Here we have simple language telling of a golden dream. Plainly told in boy next store sentences, the book is more than a dress rehearsal for the prize winner which succeeded it.

   Beginning with the conventional, "I was born in... . My father was... .", of Lindbergh's still pristine memories, he wrote: "On several more occasions it was necessary to fly by instrument for short periods; then the fog broke into patches. These patches took on forms of every description. Numerous shorelines appeared, with trees perfectly outlined against the horizon. In fact, the mirages were so natural that, had I not been in the mid-Atlantic and known that no land existed along my route, I would have taken them to be actual islands."

   Could anyone else have written this you-are-there recounting, told as only a young Lindbergh - not a seasoned, even embattled Lindbergh, could tell it? "We" is a near-instant, first person replay which history would be a little number without, and without which, THIS Lindbergh could not have been known.

   And that almost happened, except our hero wouldn't allow it. Originally assigned to ghostwriter Carlyle MacDonald's pen by G. P. Putnam, Lindbergh was aghast to see what he considered either mistakes or misinterpretations in MacDonald's version. No one but he would write his book - which had been promised for publication in a matter of weeks. The hapless MacDonald did make one major contribution, for it was he who named "We" "We," having noted Lindbergh's overt use of the "first person plural" when referring to his plane and himself. One of the few rounds Lindbergh ever lost, "We" stuck! Perhaps it would not have mattered an iota aabout the title; it sold a riotous 190,000 copies in just two months and earned its author more than a hundred thousand dollars in the first six months, quite an achievement for that time or any other.

   "We" still graces library shelves, albeit, you may have to look in the young readers' section. Or maybe, now that you are aware of it, you might try mentioning it to Aunt Isabel, because she just may have a copy sitting on her own oak library shelf!

No comments about Captain Granville Perry Swift: California Pioneer and Sonoma Bear.

No comments about Américo (Tiempo de Memoria).

5 comments about South.

1. This review refers to "South - A Memoir of the Endurance Voyage" - Ernest Shackleton-(unabridged audio cassettes/Blackstone Audiobooks)
   
   If I was just rating this book for myself, I would give it 5 stars. But as a reviewer making recommendations, I have to say that this personal account of Shackelton's important and historic expedition - destined for Antarctica- may not be a great read for everyone.As a lover of the sea, sea adventures and voyages combined with historical journeys of exploration, I became addicted to this book. However about one third of the way through, I realized that had it not been for my knowledge of nautical terms I would not have known what he was talking about half the time. The reading would have lost me early on. It may seem also at times a bit monotonous to those seeking a great adventure story. Ernest Shackelton was a great explorer and mariner, the story is one fraught with peril and survival,but his personal account of the voyage is a bit matter of fact.
   
   On the eve of WWI, Shackleton and his crew took on this ill-fated journey with high hopes and high moral. Prepared for the worst was not enough though. They met with the most horrific of conditions, losing their ship,much of their essential supplies, their much needed team of dogs, and much more. They spent months on months literally living on the ice. Making it to Elephant Island, a handful of men including Shackleton formed a party to search for help and once again were to fight the elements for months on end. The account also includes the story of the Aurora and her crew that also fought the climate trying to bring supplies to the Shackleton crew.
   
   This unabridged edition has nine 1 1/2 hour tapes. The read, by Geoffrey Howard helped quite a bit in putting some emotion into this memoir and had me wanting to find out what happened next. So my recommendation on this book would definitely be for the audio edition. And at that I would say, it is for those who love anything to do with the sea voyage. For History lovers I would suggest checking out some of the other books written about "The Endurance" and these very brave men.This book is also avialable in paperback at:South a Memoir of the Endurance Voyage
   
   There are some great memoirs of explorations out there. One I would highly recommend, isThe Essential Lewis and Clark Selections also on audio(see my review for book and audio details).
   
   
   Thanks...Laurie



2. I was very disappointed when I received this book. I had ordered the hard cover edition at a premium price expecting to get a quality reproduction of Sir Ernest Shackleton's classic book. The original book published by Heineman had many plates of photos taken by the photographer who travelled on the voyage. This version published by North Books had no photos, was on cheap paper and had a fairly basic hard cover. I sent it back and managed to source a second hand copy of the version published by Heineman.



3. I've noticed numerous people complaining about how Shackelton seems to be neglecting character development in his narration. This isn't a work of fiction, the people involved are not characters Shackelton just pulled out of thin air and could mould to his choosing. They were real, flesh and blood human beings, and to say that one man no matter how well he knew them could actually put their thoughts and personality to paper would be not only incredibly foolish, but also woefully inaccurate, and seriously can you honestly picture Shackelton dragging various members of the crew out onto the floes and sitting them on a snow band before asking, "How does that make you feel?".
   
   Of course it's not going to be the most exciting piece of literature you've ever read. The book is written as a journal and journals tend to cover the day to day dealings of the person whom is writing in them. Longitudes, latitudes and the general functioning of the ship were Shackelton's daily concerns.
   
   It's amazing how many people overlook the enormity of the task these men undertook simply because the authors writing style tended to focus on the here and now and the little details of daily life rather than some hugely embellished fantasy designed simply to make a profit. Anyway.
   
   To those of you whom appreciate this for what it is, you have my applause.



4. This is a great adventure book. Exciting adventures and heroic deeds make for good reading.



5. His party stranded on an ice floe hundreds of miles from their destination, beyond the reach of the outside world -- even had the outside world known they needed help, or where to look -- his ship crushed by countless miles of pack ice and supplies running low, Ernest Shackleton spent not a moment in lamentation. He set about saving his crew and himself. They made their way to a small, desolate bit of island shore, from which Shackleton and five men journeyed 800 miles in a 22-foot open boat across the most dangerous sea in the world. A trek through miles of snow-covered mountain wilderness finally brought rescue. And everybody survived! Shackleton's is an epic tale of true adventure and derring-do, and he tells it with the straight-ahead momentum of an ice breaker diving into the pack. He sees beauty in the Antarctic, and he carries a touch of poetry (Browning, anyway) in his soul. He is also a detail man, and his flights of descriptive eloquence bog down amid facts, figures, wind speeds and diatomous striations. But this piling-on of minutiae proves riveting in the action sequences (most of the book). We feel like we are there. Having told his own party's tale, Shackleton gives a useful if anticlimactic account of the Ross Sea wing of the expedition - a story with its own generous measure of adventure, heroism and poignancy.

No comments about Old Trace cooking: Native American and pioneer recipes.