5 comments about The Children of Henry VIII.

1. Once again (I bought three books related with Henry VIII) the contents were the expected, the conditions in wich I received the book were perfect, and in a very reasonable lapse of time



2. From the moment I picked up this book, I got glued. I have never read anything about Henry or his children in the past. I had been wanting to read about Elizabeth but it took awhile for me to find the right book. I read many reviews on the books written about her and based on those reviews, Alison Weir was the biographer I chose. Many have commented how she has put this book and the book on Elizabeths adult life together very well. And she has by my opinion. I'm still reading the book and look forward to reading about Elizabeth's adulthood.



3. As usual Alison Weir has written a great non-fiction. The research that she does makes her my number one author.



4. This was my first voluntary non fiction historical read. I am impressed! This story was very easy reading. I don't think I really had any idea what was going on back then, the English "subjects" must have been completely at a loss as to what religion to practice. I was disappointed that the book didn't go more into Elizabeth's reign but I now understand that there is another book out there ready to explain it. The only advice I could offer someone who is about to read it is: keep up with people's names/titles. As they are given (and taken away) titles they are from then on referred to as their new title. If you miss the transition or don't make a metal note, you get lost as to who the author is talking about.
   
   I think my biggest shock was when Mary took over, after complaining and moaning about being able to practice her own religion (Catholic), and how she shouldn't have to give up her beliefs...moan...moan...moan (she did a lot of that). She takes over and forces her own religion onto everyone else, I had no idea "Bloody Mary" was a real name, I just thought it was something you scared the crap out of your friend with in the girls bathroom back in middle school. I just dated myself didn't I?
   
   Final thought: I enjoy fiction for the most part, I actually recommended this book to friends.



5. Alison Weir has done it again. I love historical fiction, including such as The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and wanted to expand my reading to nonfiction. I started with Weir's Six Wives of King Henry VIII and was not at all disappointed! I just finished Children of Henry VIII and could not be happier with it. (though it is misleading to think that she discusses Elizabeth's actual reign because she does not) By this did not prevent me from giving it a well deserved 5 stars. She made historical nonfiction exciting! I am now looking for more of her books. She is fair, unbaised, and I truly appreciated how she would present ideas and clearly state what evidence did or did not support certain perspectives. I learned much and am thrilled to add it to my library.

5 comments about Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

1. Im not going to rehash the story because others here have done it thoroughly. The book was easy to read and seems to fly in the face of the usual opinion of Genghis Kahn as a blood thirsty rapist mongrel. Apparently new original documents surfaced after the fall of the Soviet Union and scholars got together to pin down the real story.
   
   I too wondered about the missing reference to geneticist's discovery about his Y chromosome, which appears to show that he might just have been the most prolific lover in the last couple of millennia! But not having those facts on hand, like where did they get his dna from anyway since his grave has never been discovered.
   
   Also missing is Coleridge's poem
   In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
   A stately pleasure-dome decree:
   Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
   Through caverns measureless to man
   Down to a sunless sea.
   
   It was interesting to realize that the wives actually administered the kingdoms because the Kahns were off making war. Genghis seemed to have loved his wife a great deal according the the documents plus he did battle for her after she was kidnapped. When she returned pregnant he raised the son as his very own. He seemed to turn out to be his best son. The author is kind of sappy. He is always comparing Genghis to the roman catholic church which slaughtered countless people at the same time Genghis was roaming around.



2. This is a well written, nicely flowing work. The author, Jack Weatherford, traces the life and time of Genghis Khan, born as Temujin, and his descendants. He notes the impact of the plague on the Mongols and how that plague spread, to some extent by the Mongols. And he makes the claim that the Mongols had an appreciable impact on the West's Renaissance.
   
   Weatherford begins by noting the purpose of his book (Page xxxv): "The focus remains on the mission of our work: to understand Genghis Khan and his impact on world history." The book is in three parts: first, Genghis Khan's rise to power and the development of the Mongol Empire; second, the period when the Mongols became a major world player, until the empire began devouring itself with internecine warfare; third, the effect of the Mongols on the development of modern society. There is a useful genealogy at the start of the book; however, the book would have benefited greatly with an ample supply of maps, so that the reader could trace developments geographically.
   
   The book does a terrific job of describing Khan's background--from his youth until he began developing a powerhouse, to his death. His military forces used innovative tactics that baffled his opponents, adapting Mongol warriors' mobility to advantage. The Mongols expanded their sway until--at its greatest point, it was larger than the Roman Empire at its height. It stretched, in 1260, from China to Moscow and Kiev, and to the doorsteps of Vienna, from Baghdad to Samarkand.
   
   Weatherford goes on to discuss the Empire after Genghis Khan's death. It continued to function until the combat among his sons led to more and more internal troubles. This depiction of internal problems, again, is well done.
   
   It amazes me how detailed is the discussion of people and events from so long ago.
   
   However, when he comes to argue that the Mongol Empire sparked the Renaissance and later European history, It appears to me that his grasp exceeds his reach. I am not certain that quoting Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" with references to Genghis Khan (as part of his argument) is compelling. Nonetheless, while I did not find his case so convincing, it did cause me to reflect on important historical issues, and that--in itself--is a contribution.
   
   In short, a well done book on the Mongol Empire and its founder. Worth taking a look at. . . .



3. Fascinating details of the conquest of Asia and Europe. It is amazing to read about what Genghis Kahn was able to do in a short period of time.



4. As the title of this review implies, this work is a very short, cursory introduction to the rise and expansion of the Mongol Empire, primarily throughout the 13th and 14th century. Viewed as such, it is perfectly functional, however, to insinuate that this is some kind of scholarly masterwork, or the primary source book for all things Mogol would certainly be a mistake.
   
   This work is essentially 250 pages long with introductions and afterwards that contribute nothing to the discussion aside from making the author appear silly. It does a servicable job in explaining and tracking the childhood and early formative life of the man who would become Genghis Khan. It follows Genghis Khan in his early conquests and the administrative advances introduced through Mongol rule. It follows his succession for essentially two further generations to encompass the conquest of China by his grandson Kublai Khan and the fragmentation of his empire through the various branches of his family.
   
   As one not terribly familiar with this history, it was satisfactorily detailed, though I felt some of the analysis was not strongly supported. I would guess that most people view the Mongols as an uncivilized barbarian horde. While I get the feeling that the author might be taking a little license in presenting the Mongol Empire as perhaps a little more enlightened and cultured than they actually were, it cannot be denied that the systems of trade, communications and empire administration were certainly well above the level of barbarian.
   
   In sum, if you are at all familiar with Mongol history, you might want to look for something a little deeper and more thoroughly researched. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a basic primer on the formation, growth and domination of the Mongol Empire, this could be the book for you. In any case, skip the afterward, it is simply embarrassing.



5. I never knew how much I didn't know until I read this book. I only read it because of my book group, and everyone in the group was enthusiastic about it. I think that you'll like this book, even if history wasn't your favorite subject, and that you'll learn something from it even if it was. I wish all my history teachers had made this required reading instead of the thick, unreadable surveys of World History I was offered. Jack Weatherford hooked me from the first few pages and opened my eyes to world I barely knew existed. It is an adventure well worth your time.

5 comments about Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.

1. It is enlightening how the spectrum at which Benjamin Franklin's contributions to America can hardly be contained in one book. A glimpse into his common sense, wisdom, and morality are organized with precision and passion through Walter Isaacson's masterpiece. I now better understand Franklin's connection with other fathers of our country and have a deeper desire to learn about them as well.
   
   Futhermore, I am impressed at the background of the author. His experience and education give me more respect for his work.



2. I read his Einstien book, and I enjoyed the way Mr. Issacason wrote.
   I have not started this bood yet, but if he could make Einstein so interesting, I am sure he will do so for Benjamin Franklin.



3. 'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life'
   
   This is a truly superb biography of our nations most interesting Founding Father...okay, most interesting in my opinion. The reader will explore the razor sharp wit & ingenuity and walking contradiction that was Benjamin Franklin. This uniquely American character is brought vividly into life by Walter Isaacson, beginning with young Ben's struggles working for his brother in Boston, subsequently running away to Philadelphia with nothing but a few coins and some puffy bread and in the end, arguably, revolutionizing modern science and culture. The shrewd politician is also illustrated: his contribution to the founding of America and his surprisingly numerous mid and later years spent away from home in France among other European countries.
   
   Mr. Isaacson does not shy away from pointing out the character flaws and odd family life that Benjamin Franklin created. The troubled relationship with his son is explored and the reader feels the strain caused by being away from his wife and daughter for years on end.
   
   This is a fascinating and extremely well balanced account of one of America's most interesting personalities. To boot, the book is thoroughly researched, clearly well written and truly enjoyable to read. Walter Isaacson has mastered the art of biography and `Benjamin Franklin' is proof thereof. Enjoy your reading.



4. Walter Isaacson writes history so that it reads like an excellent, exciting novel. This biography is a page-turner.
   
   Moreover, the author writes with subtle humor.
   
   Isaacson's research is accurate and extensive, which makes it even more amazing that the book does not have the format of a history textbook.
   
   This history of Benjamin Franklin is filled with stories of family feuds, Franklin's methods of advancing his career, his flirtations, an illegitimate son, a common-law marriage, his travels, agreements and disagreements with other people of his day, in contrast to his ever-changing views of morality and religion. We feel as if we know Benjamin Franklin personally as we read Isaacson's words. Moreover, we learn so much along the way, painlessly and joyfully.
   
   Every word is carefully selected; nothing needs to be cut.
   
   Isaacson's grammar is perfect, which is extremely refreshing. Many modern authors cause me to believe that I should have a red pen to correct grammatical errors while reading their works.
   
   Walter Isaacson's book on Einstein is also absolutely wonderful, with similar qualities. (Hence my review of that book is similar to this review.)
   
   If Benjamin Franklin is the "founding father who winks at us"; Walter Isaacson is the author, journalist, and historian who winks at us.



5. Walter Isaacson has penned an enjoyable, informative and well-paced biography on the incredible life and historic times of Benjamin Franklin.
   
   With crisp overviews of personalities like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Edward Bancroft - to name but a few - Isaacson brings a wonderful dimension to describing a complete picture of many issues.
   
   Though the chapter - Bon Vivant: Paris, 1778-1785 - briefly slows the pace of the nearly 500 pages, this is an entertaining read which shows how history can come to life through the energetic research of an author.

5 comments about Now the Hell Will Start: One Soldier's Flight from the Greatest Manhunt of World War II.

1. A very interesting book about a little known chapter of WWII history. Brendan Koerner tells the story of a man who was pushed to his limits. A man whose story deserved to be remembered. A man who was a member of the "Greatest Generation" too. - Ray Charlton



2. This story of the life and death of Herman Perry plays out mainly on the stage of World War II. The author recounts Perry's life from the cotton fields of North Carolina to Washington D.C. to the searing hot, disease infected jungles of South Asia. Perry a drug-addled African American soldier, shoots and kills an unarmed white United States Lieutenant named Harold Cady, and flees into the untamed jungles that are inhabited by tigers, head-hunters, leeches, and armies of malaria carrying mosquitoes among other things. Perry becomes the object of the greatest manhunt of World War II.
   
   The reader is told of this murderous crime on the first and second page of the book, so you are not kept in suspense very long as to the felonious offense the protagonist commits. From there the author spends the next one-hundred-forty-one laborious pages getting you to the point in time portrayed on the first two pages. That is not to say those pages don't have many historically interesting facts imbedded in them, they do... but the seemingly endless trip from New York to Asia via troop ship and railroad, seems like they'll never end. With endless detail of the close quarters, dank circumstance, and very little daylight, makes the reader get seasick and claustrophobic.
   
   One point is made powerfully clear, and that is the hate and prejudice in the world during World War II. Of course it goes unsaid that there is still too much in today's world, but sometimes we need a reminder that racial, religious, and ethnic hatred is not solely indigenous to America. During the time period covered in this book, there was segregation in America, there were SIX-MILLION-JEWS being systematically executed in Europe, and "the Japanese were trained to view their Chinese foes as less than fully human, the victorious Japanese, dutifully obeyed their commanders' "Three Alls Policy": kill all, burn all, loot all. In Nanjing, Japanese soldiers raped upward of TWENTY-THOUSAND-WOMEN, many of whom were subsequently disemboweled, decapitated, or nailed to walls and left to suffocate." "Perhaps when we were raping her, we looked at her as a woman," one of the participants recalled. "But when we killed her, we just thought of her as something like a pig." "Tens of thousands of men were similarly massacred, often buried alive in mass graves. Some were spared at first, only to be later used for bayonet practice." And of course in Asia there were "coolies" who were less than a step above a slave, receiving pennies a day to work on building a road "stretching from the thickly forested mountains of North East India across the tiger-infested valleys of Burma." The American troops assigned to this job were mostly African Americans. The accepted thinking of America's upper echelons during those days was that African Americans couldn't be trusted in battle for numerous reasons. So, despite being originally assigned to an engineering battalion that was supposed to build airfields, Perry and his mates were relegated to menial labor related to building roads through jungle wilderness. The boredom led to rice beer, marijuana and opium.
   
   On the fateful day that Perry committed murder, he had already missed roll call, missed work, and was suffering from the after effects of his growing addictions. The remainder of the story is about the unbelievable manhunt that literally elevated Herman Perry to an almost mythical figure throughout the military, and especially among other African American soldiers. He not only disappeared into the jungle and evaded capture on numerous occasions, but he wound up befriending the chief of the feared head-hunting Naga's, whose village was adorned with more human skulls than the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center had lights. If that isn't enough, Perry wound up marrying and impregnating the Chief's fourteen-year-old daughter, though he never got to see the birth.



3. The dilatory effects of racial politics inform this exceptional book--with the message that discrimination hurts everyone. After Perry committed his 'crime,' the first thing military officials thought was to search for him in Calcutta because that was were a black man would go for easy pleasures--a thousand plus miles from the Indo-Burmese border site of Perry's Army camp. As the book details this racism so well--black soldiers, apart from being simple of mind and able to see in the dark, could only think about women. Of course, that was the last thought on Perry's mind as he fled. By story's end, the military establishment realized how smart and resourceful Perry was. In point of fact, a more informed worldview would have prevented the entire tragedy. (Perry in Europe or North Africa as a thoughtful solider could have saved lives--but deep bias prevented such assignments.) Virtually every assumption Military Police made about Perry was false--all based on ignorance--allowing for his brief freedom after an unfortunate situation that the Army helped produce. That said, this book is so richly detailed, beautifully written and a complete page-turner. Now I have to read more about World War II and the Chinese theatre; the Bengal famine; the Naga people; Truman's courage in ending segregation in the U.S. military; and, the present political climate in Burma/Myanmar. (To my mind this is the hallmark of an excellent book--it keeps you reading and thinking further a field.) An earlier review suggested this should be a movie. I don't see how a filmmaker could capture the richness of this book--although, it would still be a great piece of cinema in the right hands. Any readers interested in military history, World War II, India, Burma, African American history, seemingly lost tribes in a modern world or just plain great reporting should consider this book. Koerner's five years of research and writing pay off beautifully.



4. ... that Koerner didn't write a novel sooner. Where has this guy been hiding? This story grabbed me from the first paragraph. I'm no World War II buff, but Herman Perry's story is extraordinary. Looking forward to more great historical nonfiction from this writer.



5. This book is great -- it's got action and adventure, crazy intrigue, fascinating characters, plus is filled with amazing facts about WWII and Burma. I learned so much reading this thing, and had a lot of fun along the way. It's an important story about war, race, American history, and what it means to be human during a time of conflict -- topics everyone should be reading about these days. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth.

1. This is easily the most powerful book I have ever read. Gandhi does a great job of telling the story in his life in such a way that not only tells a story, but teaches lessons that go along with it. The title explains a lot, considering that Gandhi considered his entire life to be an expirement with the truth.
   
   He is very open about the mistakes that were made (such as his marraige and bigotry at an incredibly young age) and details how he took those mistakes to make his life as consistently honest as possible. The way he organized people to non-violence in two terrible situations in Africa and India are legendary, but the way he brings it home to the individual is under-rated, to say the least.
   
   Gandhi teaches that it doesn't take an army to learn the truth, nor does it take an army to become a part of that truth. His story explains that an individual dedicated to the empowerment of honesty and love can overcome any violence or hatred that can exist. It is within this context that one can use this book to change themselves.
   
   These ideas used in an individual's every day life will lead to the understanding that love is more powerful than hatred, and honesty more powerful than lies. His examples of these ideas and proof that they are true is the most inspiring part of this book.
   
   Even for those of us not religious (like myself) his use of religion is also motivating. He teaches lessons from religions and explains how to use this understanding as a way to love people of opposite religions rather than fighting them.
   
   I will leave the indivudal stories to Gandhi himself, but his life is something everyone in the world would benefit from knowing.



2. Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of my Experiments with Truth, is a culmination of the life of one of the most famous peaceful revolutionaries and supporters of non-violence. The book is basically an entire list of the life experiences of Gandhi, all of which prove to contribute to his spiritual growth, and in turn, each go to influence his way of thinking. Gandhi's autobiography reveals a vast array of experiments he performed throughout his life, leading to his praise of truth as the ultimate underlying principal, contributing to his adaptation of celibacy (brahmacharya), adherence to fasting, and development of Satyagraha: his concept of non-violent firmness.
   Gandhi's autobiography stretches back to his youth in exploring all of his life experiences. Gandhi's inclusion of all aspects of his life in his autobiography illustrates the idea that each and every experience becomes an influence; which, in Gandhi's case, means influences leading to the development of a concept of non-violence to spear-head the Indian journey for Independence.
   The strength in Gandhi's autobiography lies in his adherence to truth even as he tells his life story. Gandhi hides nothing, allowing this display of raw truth to help readers examine Gandhi's uncensored ideas and thoughts, making it possible to understand what Gandhi was thinking in even some of the most significant moments in his life.
   The main weakness in Gandhi's autobiography, however, is his obvious omission of information where the information is most definitely needed. In order to fully understand a large number of chapters, an understanding of India and its culture is necessary, but not provided. Gandhi also seems to assume that readers have knowledge of the political situation in India, so if you lack any historical knowledge, you will find yourself somewhat confused. Because Gandhi's autobiography radiates the idea that every experience is an influence for the person he eventual becomes, it obviously is a challenge to include every experience and spend an adequate amount of time discussing them. But his choice to omit quite a few particularly significant experiences will not go unnoticed. He does not, for example, spend any time describing his experiments in South Africa, and instead instructs readers to consult other works. Lack of background information regarding people who Gandhi introduces and lack of historical information on the movements he involves himself in, may lead to an incomplete illustration of Gandhi's life.
   At the conclusion of Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of my Experiments with Truth, you are left with the desire to take a trip to the library, because you have surely reached the conclusion that there is much more to know about the teacher and leader who made the world aware of India's struggle for independence. The autobiography gives you an in-depth look into the mind of one of the most influential non-violent role models that the world has seen, with a detailed understanding of the steps necessary to try to follow in Gandhi's footsteps if you so desire. Gandhi's autobiography leaves a lot out, but it also leaves you with a strong desire to find out more.



3. After hearing Mahatma Gandhi's grandson speak at University of Florida, this book was especially meaningful. If only all our world leaders would employ his wisdom!



4. This book, the autobiography of Mohandas k. Gandhi, the father of modern India, is a must read. if you have any interest in Gandhi, non violence or just want a glimpse into the life of a spiritually guided person, then this book if a must read.



5. I enjoyed this book. I wish this book was written sometime after India's independence as more important events unfolded later. I also think that the reader needs background on India and its culture to understand some chapters. Overall, a good one!

5 comments about Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China.

1. This book is amazingly moving and well written. Anyone who is even remotely curious about the life of ordinary Chinese women throughout the 20th century should read this work. It not only describes the stories of three generations of Chinese women, but it transports the reader to world that the author is describing. I definitely recommend this book. Often I will sell biographies after reading them, but this book is a keeper.



2. A wonderful narrative of the pre-1949 and cultural revolution China told through three generations.
   
   Though Jung is anti-Mao, her book does a great job of providing a relatively unbiased personal account of this pivotal period in Chinese history.
   
   Jung's colorful family history gives her fodder for intriguing anecdotes and the reader a perspective into the life of a "well-to-do"/politically active Chinese family.



3. Before leaving for my 2004-05 sojourn in China, I naturally sought to acquaint myself with the culture in which I was about to live and work. Of the various books I read (which ranged from Chinese history to essays from American expats to descriptions of "the Asian mind" as applied to Western business people), it turned out that this book was BY FAR the most helpful in my day-to-day interactions -- both social and business -- with my Chinese associates.
   
   Spanning the early 20th Century when author Chang's grandmother was given as a concubine to a warlord general, through mid-century when Chang's parents joyously risked their lives in the Communist takeover, to 1978 when Chang herself left China, WILD SWANS paints a vivid picture of the China of today. I found that the information in this book, told in first-person story form, gave me far more understanding of my Mainland Chinese colleagues than any journalistic writings ever did, or could have.
   
   Since China is already a major force in western economies (especially America's), and will only become more central to the global economy, I consider it useful to share the observation of my personal experience: Understanding the RECENT LIFE EXPERIENCES of a nation's citizens is even important than understanding its customs. The good news is that history--told well--is a fascinating read! And Jung Chang's story is hard to top.
   
   Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)



4. Nice review of History of China since world War II. Intersting way of telling story.



5. The story of this family is not usual. The grandmother was the mistress of a warlord, the mother was a communist revolutionist, and her daughter, the author of the book has escaped form China as a young girl. The thing I respect the most, that the author has only used personal experiences, and only written about things she has seen with her own eyes, or things which has happened with her family, and never used unchecked stories in her descriptions. She never tells a word in her story against the regime, even when she writes about the most shocking events in her family, but leave the reader to create his or her own opinion.

5 comments about Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History.

1. Maus, A Survivor's Tale is a son's pictorial version of his father's story of survival during WWII.
   
   Both haunting and mesmerizing, sometimes funny and touching, this is a story of perseverance and about what the Jews had to suffer through at the hands of the Nazis in WWII Poland. Spiegleman never sugar-coats what his father had to endure in order to keep he and his wife alive. A true work of art.



2. Horribly distorts the true suffering of WWII victims. The Poles who are portrayed as pigs and the Jews who are portrayed as RATS is not a good beginning. The Poles and the Jews suffered the most. The Polish Catholics lost 3 million, in what has become known as the Forgotten Holocaust. The Poles lost another 2 Million to Stalins barbaric Gulags. When the Nazis were defeated, the Soviet Communists took over and were more barbaric to the Poles than the Nazis, although both brutally oppressive and cruel to the Polish nation. Maus/Rat, whatever you call it, uses a horrible and untrue depiction of the Poles. The Poles were the first to go to Auschwitz and die. Polish teachers, school children (giggling and playing having no idea what horror awaited them, my God), professors, nuns, priests were the first victims of Auschwits, for the wars first 2 years. Jews were not taken to auschwitz until May of 1942! The Germans had already slaughtered 1 Million Polish Catholics before the Jewish campaign even started! The Poles still defide Hitler saving more Jews than any other country. What makes this more incredible is that, Only in Poland were entire Polish-Catholic families, towns and villages executed for, as little as, handing a Jew an apple. in Denmark, Sweden, Hollannd, Norway, a slap on the hand was given - that's it! These countries, also had some of the most brutal Nazi organizations,.i.e., they collaborated eith the Nazis, as Poland DID NOT! For a true and purely objective learning, and not one man's version, bias or hate towards the tortured Poles, and other nations, read a short but to the point book with tons of info, perfect for Jr, High, High School and Adults: Andrew Hempels" Poland in WORLD WAR II; also Richard lukas' The FORGOTTEN HOLOCAUST;Poles Under Nazi Occupation (talks about everyone's suffering); finally, and a great litttle book on Auschwitz with big returns is AUSCHWITZ by Sybille Steinbacher. Steinbacher's book is easy to read and very clear; gets to the point and very objective. These books are so centered and incredibly objective,i.e., no embellishments, just truth and fact. The Rat book is a despicable generalization and distortion of truth. Scholars and Educators: Please, be sensitive and 'Take the bull by the horns.' Enjoy the summer - you.ve earned it.



3. One (two actually since there are two volumes) of the best submissions about the Holocaust which is designed to reach a broad audience. Maus and Maus II are written in the vernacular, personalizing the experiences of a camp survivor who is interviewed by his son. Excellent supplement to any Holocaust discussion.



4. When I included this and Perseplos & Maus 2 I was informed that they are not graphic novels and that I could not have one free. AMAZING! Of course after I asked for the distric manager's name/number there was a sudden change of heart BUT NOT a good instore experience from BORDERS at ALL. The GRAPHIC NOVEL is great. Borders are not.



5. This book is a survivors tale of being a Jew in Nazi Germany. The author tells his father's memories of the horrors of the holocaust. It is written in the form of a comic book. The author uses a metaphor for the people in WW2. The Jews are mice and the Germans are cats. The book talks about the author's father being a succesful person and then being captured by the Germans and finally freed from his POW camp, but forced to live in the Ghettos and hide from the Nazis who want to send them to Austwitch. The book leaves off as he is being shipped to Austwitch (a Nazi Concentation/death Camp).
   This is one of the best books I've read about the Jewish experience in Nazi Germany. It's easy to read and surprisingly informative. I would most defenintely recommend this book for someone else to read.

5 comments about Angela's Ashes: A Memoir.

1. Frank McCourt has a way with words! His memoir of growing up poor in Ireland, with a drunk for a father and lazy, shiftless mother is written without malice. He and his brothers are left to their own devices to keep themselves fed, warm and clothed when Frank, the oldest is not even four years old. They live in a house where the main floor floods every year and they have to wade through the sewage to live in the remaining room upstairs until the water recedes. They grow so cold that they resort to tearing the walls apart for firewood. And yet his mother needs her cigarettes and his father needs his drink.
   
   Frank's tenacity and humor in the midst of such misery is his salvation. And it is what makes this memoir so poignant. His own parents and grandparents, neighbors and the Catholic church leave Frank and his brothers to their own devices for survival. And they survive! And go to America. And it's a true story.



2. Frank McCourt chronicles the story of his life in the streets of Ireland, his family living a life of poverty and hard luck. Somehow, he is able to make what should be a bleak story uplifting with his wit, humor and straight-forward approach to telling a story. Sometimes he gives you TOO much of the story, things you would rather not have heard--but I guess this is because it is a memoir. There is a certain amount of haphazardness to his writings...there are many times where you have no clue where this is going. But, at other times, there is an effort to be sentimental about the few things he has in life, or the hope of better days ahead.
   
   An interesting style McCourt uses to write the book, where he virtually uses no punctuation during the many dialogue scenes. He also has many, many run-on, wordy, and obtuse sentences that would probably have one of his master's in school up in arms. It took me awhile to get used to this "rambling" kind of style, and, as an English major, it almost had ME up in arms, but actually, after reading the book, the pace of book quickens because of this style. There was enough of a compelling and engaging story to care too much about punctuation, or lack thereof.
   
   As far as content itself, McCourt's story was highly entertaining and somewhat touching. While the young Frank is at school, he meets one strict school master after another, and he deals with the peer pressure from some of his classmates. The young Frank tries to keep all of the disappointments and failures and embarrassments behind him by reminding himself that one day things will change for him in America. There are times when Frank goes to the library to escape the world, knowing that he can escape into a story: "It's lovely to know that the world can't interfere with the inside of your head." Frank also experiences some time in the hospital with fever and eye problems, and in his first visit he meets Patricia, a girl who teaches him poetry. When he gets separated from her for talking to her, it is one of Frank's saddest moments: "Nurses and nuns never think you know what they're talking about...You can't ask questions. You can't show you understand what the nurse said about Patricia Madigan, that she's going to die, and you can't show you want to cry over this girl who taught you a lovely poem which the nun says is bad." Frank also deals with the trials of being in a family with an alcoholic father who rarely comes up, spends up the family's earnings, and some other dysfunctional relatives. He keeps hope that one day things will change for the better.
   
   While the story is highly engaging, one thing that irked me was the abruptness of the ending. Without giving too much away, the memoir just seemingly ends without any deep moment or thought. The incident with Frank and the woman--- is that suppose to be some momentous or life-changing event? It seemed kind of stupid to end the book right there. It also made the book seem a little uneven; after all, here is Frank preaching about how he wants to help his family in the future, and then what does he go and do in the book's conclusion?
   
   Criticism aside, this is an enjoyable read, which I honestly didn't think would be possible based on what I had heard about the story. McCourt is able to intertwine humor and heart-break in a way I've never seen done before.



3. Was a gift for my daughter who rarely reads and she loves it. Read it through in a couple of days.



4. I though Angela's Ashes was a good memoir of a family during World War II. My favorite character was Frank because it was fun to see him grow up, and see how he changed over the course of this book. I thought that Angela did as much as she could to try and get her family through World War II, and I thought she did a good job, considering the help she was receiving. My least favorite character was Malachy. Malachy was always drunk, and he would always waste away the family's money. I felt that he only thought about himself. Unfortunately, most people who are addicted to drugs only think out for themselves, because all they are thinking of is getting drugs for them. I would definitely recommend this book, and give it four stars. I would recommend Angela's Ashes to high school students because it does cover a serious issue and the humor might not be appropriate for younger students. Overall I think the book is a winner!



5. A great read of mind candy and truth. Mr McCourt has great courage in telling all of the embarasing and private moments of his adolescence. The same types of things that happened to many of us but we'll never disclose.
   READ THIS BOOK. I could not put it down and read it in one evening and then went out and bought the 2 sequals Tis and Teacher Man and could not put them down either.

5 comments about The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage.

1. Like so many Americans, I am an enormous admirer of Abraham Lincoln. I have dipped into other biographies of this extraordinary man, but found myself at times distracted by the myriad details of political and military events. This biography, on the other hand, I could not put down. Through his exquisite prose, astute insights, and meticulous research, Epstein illuminates the complex relationship between Abe and Mary Lincoln. Epstein brings his sensibilities and intuition as a poet to this marvelous and very readable work. He tenderly recounts the details of the courtship of this fascinating couple, their early married days, and their lives together in Springfield, Illinois and the White House. He tells the story of a marriage that started out with great love and passion, but became crushed under the enormous losses and pressures suffered by both. Epstein helps us to understand the intense bond between the two that endured most of their lives, despite their very different temperaments, values and morals. How fortunate we the readers are to have this intimate glimpse into the real makeup of the Lincolns' marriage.



2. Reading this book will be as close to getting to know the Lincolns as it is possible. Mr. Epstein has written a book that never embroiders the facts, but that is filled with penetrating insights into the characters of these two remarkable people. At times, one feels that Mary behaved no better than a common embezzler, at other times one's heart breaks for this poor, brave woman. As for Lincoln, he was a saint and a great president, but was he the right husband for this needy, difficult woman? Was he prescient, during their courtship, in suspecting that he could not make her happy? Possibly, no one could. What I found most startling is the suggestion in the last chapters that Mary, although mad or nearly so, saw the physical dangers to her husband more clearly than he did and that his insouciance exacerbated her erratic behavior. The Lincolns loved Shakespeare, but their evolutions suggest Cervantes' Quixote: there was a core of sanity in her madness that made her see the world as it was and this deepened her mental woes; his acceptance of fate blinded him to the need to prevent, rather than almost court, assassination. Did he somehow want to leave her in the only honorable way he could? Was his barely suppressed depression too much to bear as he mounted the steps to the theater box on that Good Friday? I never thought so until I read this great book.



3. There have been many excellent books written on both Abraham and Mary Lincoln. Not one previous book, however, takes such a sensitive and intimate look at their marriage. It's a fresh perspective on a well-worn subject. By examining their complex marriage, Daniel Mark Epstein gives greater insight into both of these fascinating individuals. Epstein's prose is absolutely beautiful, causing this reader to reread several passages just for the sheer delight of them. No matter how many books one has read on Mary Lincoln and/or her good husband, The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage, will enable one to know them even better.
   
   This book is an important and excellent addition to the Lincoln literature. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece.



4. Early on while reading this book I began to feel that I was seeing and sensing Lincoln for the first time as a person that I might have come across in one of the small towns in which I lived growing up. He took on a realistic aura that was never perceived by me before. It seemed almost as though I was a witness to his actions and functions as a human being, rather than a icon of rarefied distinction.



5. Vivid, fresh and compelling, The Lincolns offers an insightful and revelatory look at what bonded together these two iconic historical figures. The reader comes away with a clear sense of the symbiosis of profound psychological needs and shared experiences that united the Lincolns in ambition and devotion. Meticulous research is put to good use in creating the most richly textured evocation to date of the Lincolns' world, from the folksy streetscapes of Springfield to the glittering parlors of official Washington; from the relentless mobs (both cheering and hostile) to the horrific battlefields of Virginia. By focusing on the dynamics of the marriage, Epstein remains remarkably sympathetic to both partners. The reader senses Lincoln's maddening opacity as a husband, exacerbated by the grim responsibilities of the office of the Presidency, as a force that both empowered and frustrated Mary Lincoln's increasingly desperate need for individual recognition and respect. Epstein's ability to discern the telling detail, and to create unforgettably vivid images remains uniquely powerful among biographers, and grants a captivating immediacy to his storytelling. Nuanced and insightful, The Lincolns is a once-in-a-generation contribution to our understanding of the complex landscape of Lincoln's private world.

5 comments about John Adams.

1. Having grown up in Quincy, Mass., I learned about John Adams at a young age (the birth places, the church, "Peacefield" -were everyone's first school field trip). It was probably that that made me love history. Very young I then read everything I could about John Adams, Abigail, John Quincy. As an adult, this was a perfect continuation of that education. I LOVED reading this book. It was so full of information, but read like the best written novel. It was so much fun to read!



2. John Adams was one of the most pivotal characters and longest lived of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But what makes this book possible is the immense volume of letters he wrote though out his life time... letters to friends, family, co-conspirators, rivals, foreign powers, enemies, politicians, soldiers, and scholars. He may be the most prolific writer of the period, possibly any period.
   David McCullough uses this mass of writing to bring insight into the formation of our government, foreign relations, politics, culture, world events, etc...
   John Adams is an exemplary character, he was called 'incorruptible' by friends and foe alike. But his integrity, unmatched by but a few, pales in comparison to his passion and love for his country, friends, and family. This book is full of insights, quotes, personality development, and history.
   Adams was so in twined with the characters of the day, that no study of the American Revolutionary War would be half complete without it.
   Along with John Adams, his wife ,Abigail, also stands out as one of the greatest minds and characters of the ages. Her involvement in both world affairs and home life is amazing. Their love and commitment for each other stands as one of the most powerful love stories ever written.
   Buy it, read it.
   Thom Boswell



3. This book has a lot of history that you don't hear about that make this book more enjoyable to read.



4. I've never enjoyed a biography more than this one. The portrait that McCullough paints of John and Abigail Adams left a great impression on me and an appreciation for the sacrifices that they and others made to give birth to our nation.



5. I was really impressed with the way that McCullough let John, Abagail, Jefferson and others speak for themselves. The amount of primary sources quoted at length is massive but never daunting, and McCollough is helpful in getting past the colloqualisms of the time (I had no idea a "pip" was a sore throat). Abagail impressed me more than John through her own words. The only drawback was that the narrative style at times was more anecdotal and less analytical. But eggheadism aside this book is truly a masterpeice, and so enjoyable to read. It affirmed my love of history and my love of reading.