1 comments about A Peculiar Crusade: Willis M. Everett and the Malmedy Massacre.

1. I wouldn't call this book interesting in any regard, but it talked about my great uncle, Colonel Howard Bresee, who was involved in the war crimes trials after WWII. I bought this book to keep with Uncle Howard's gavel and trial documents. It really explains his role in the trials, which we never really understood. But unless you are related to the characters in the book, I don't think you would enjoy it.

2 comments about Madam Prime Minister: A Biography of Margaret Thatcher (People in Focus).

1. Margaret Thatcher was a very unique individual that stood out for her qualities as a leader. She was often called the iron-willed leader, which brought her confidence in her terms of service as Britain's Prime Minister. She often tried to point out that she would try to make as much of an impact on society as did other previous Prime Ministers such as, Harold Macmillan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, and Edward Heath. According to newspaper men in Britain, she did just that. During her years of service, inflation rose as well as unemployement but this was not part of her doing. The country of Britain had already slipped into a sort of depression and this just dragged Thatcher down in with it. But she did everything in her power to help drag Britain's economy back onto the positive side. One of her favorite quotes, which really displays her will to work for Britain when she was Prime Minister is this, "Let me give you my vision: a man's right to work as he will, to spend what he earns, to have property, to have the state as a servant and not as a master; these are the British inheritance".



2. Interesting book if you are 12 years old. It wasn't what I expected but it did contain some interesting information.

No comments about An Irish Statesman and Revolutionary: The Nationalist and Internationalist Politics of Sean MacBride (International Library of Historical Studies).

5 comments about Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelganger.

1. I absolutely loved this book! It is a real underdog story and laugh out loud funny. I am a huge U2 fan and this book wasn't directly about U2 but was written by one of their good friends growing up in Dublin. Neil McCormick never quite made it big in music but has a great writing career ahead. Very entertaining read!



2. Very funny. An excellent insight into Bono's sense of humor.



3. So I adopt a Zen koan, Bono for Buddha, but the moral remains: you should not set up as an idol the goal you seek, or limit how you envision the fulfillment of your potential and the answer to your dreams. It takes this author, with the connivance--fifteen or so years on in their friendship--for Bono and the author to agree that, yes, the need to "kill Bono" off is a necessity if Neil McCormick is to get on with his own life.
   
   Neil McCormick's autobiography proved much more insightful than the cover, the title, or the blurbs would have let me to believe. The erstwhile frontman and determined vocalist of the pop bands Yeah! Yeah! and Shook Up! during the heyday of the New Wave-turned-synth pop, boy bands, and "manufactured" frothy era, Neil meditates long on why his four classmates made it big while he, his brother, and his bandmates failed to even get signed--at least for more than a week. He ponders how the pursuit of one's Buddha/Bono, the desperate desire to prove one's self as worthy of acclaim and reward and simple respect in the music industry as his humble schoolchums turned global celebrities takes many twists and turns in his own life. Cocaine, a bit of sex, less drinking than you'd suppose, and many hours of concerts, studio time, and dealing with A&R reps and producers shows also the balance of the mundane and the exhilarating for a struggling musician. It's instructive to consider also a rarity in show business: how with U2, the members have been together since about fifteen, as Bono with his wife Ali by the way, and as well as Neil and his brother Ivan, all wrapped up in their own ways into a scene unimaginable to seemingly ordinary North Dublin students circa 1976.
   
   The trouble is, since the bands Neil fronted never had the chance to make it big, the music he describes suffers unavoidably when limited to his verbal descriptions. Lyrics that seem to me rather verbose and awkward when printed on the page probably gained much, taking not only Neil's word for it but the many positive (and some negative!) press reviews he cites, when heard in concert. It's very difficult to get a handle on what kind of clean, precise, catchy pop the bands he was in actually played, and what they sounded like. Also, the contrast between realistic stories about rape, depression, and abandonment that Neil wrote and the sound with which his bands played the music provided a tension that appears more recognized by Neil than his audiences or most of the "gatekeepers" who kept shutting the door on him and his talented but perhaps rather conventional sounding band.
   
   The lyrics about doubt, date rape, child abuse, and incest, as he finds, made for a hard sell with the A&R suits. Great lyrics that, alone in the book, he quotes in full for the song he had more recently penned about doubt, God, and the Big Questions. As I said, it's difficult to understand fully this whole aspect when reading for hundreds of pages about a singer and his bands-- both of which you never have heard.
   
   Still, if only in the closing acknowlegements, Neil notes that his career continues and lists his net niche for his current musical endeavors and another one (same as the book title, but a hyphen between the two words and a dot followed by "com") where the music he made in the 80s can be sampled.
   
   The conversations about faith (as opposed to religion) that he and Bono carry on over the years contributed depth to this memoir. Not knowing the detail of the Virgin Prunes' background, I was intrigued to note that many of them apparently had, as Lypton Villagers, been also a part of the Shalom community along with members of U2. Neil contrasts well the appeal of both the Prunes and U2 to rival factions of the nascent Dublin alternative rock audiences of the (post)punk era. I and my eleven-year-old son talked about the book and the struggles that both Bono and Neil had in reconciling success with belief, intelligence with acclaim-- or how the lack of music business recognition for Neil, in his "existential wobble" unmoored him, into a malaise for fifteen years or so which contrasted so massively with U2's concurrent rise to worldwide triumphs. Nearly all of those who were callow teenagers and idealistic schoolmates way back when, to their credit, reveal their early or postponed hard-won maturity decades later in Neil's account. The band offers a welcome for Neil when he manages to break into the backstage fortresses, and as the band becomes more and more elevated while Neil struggles, as a successful rock journalist it must be admitted, to keep up with his own maturing and his own growth into what seems to have been a delayed marriage and manhood! While the level of detail Neil provides is admittedly rather too meticulously rendered, the events and insights he provides manage to remain apropos and consistently illuminate the deeper angst he battles.
   
   The camaraderie with band members, the dreams they share, and the defeats they must endure amidst U2's ever-increasing fame prove poignant. Neil does not exploit his position vis-a-vis his classmates, and only once asks for the chance for Bono to make good on his earlier promise to give Neil's band a hearing for a single released by U2's in-house label, Mother Records. Bono does, but the five-person board (band members plus U2's manager, who between the lines seems not to like Neil's efforts I suspect) has to be unanimous for a signing, and one vote proved negative. Bono does not say who; he does handle the whole situation, which must have been a bit awkward for all involved, with deft tact and charity.
   
   I came away from this narrative-- long suspicious of Bono-- with an appreciation for the political and philanthropic efforts of Bono (the Edge and Adam make cameos here and there; Larry is little to be seen, it seems) and his bandmates, dealing with temptation and fame, diplomats and fundraising, at a level beyond the imaginings even of Mount Temple schoolboys in the dim era when glam drifted into punk. It's often said that when viewing the "great" that you truly see what they are like when dealing with the seemingly inconsequential, "little" folks, and Bono and the other band members of U2 emerge with class, I am happy to report. I am not even that much of a U2 fan, but I concluded this book with respect for both these bands and their members, famous or unheralded. Idealism persists at both levels.
   
   The thick level of recalled detail for all of these conversations and ministrations, given the difficulty mentioned with "hearing" the music for its strengths and weaknesses when limited to the page, does occasionally slow the pace down here and there. Neil is not a flashy writer, but an efficient chronicler, so the book rarely drags for long. As an aside, since an examination of their relationship only occurs about 85% of the way through the narrative, I felt that more attention by Neil to his brother Ivan, who was with Neil in both bands, could have fleshed out their relationship so readers could better understand their lasting bond, although his comparative reticence may be out of respect for Ivan. Obviously they believed in their cause for many years under disheartening conditions. I wonder, if Neil had been born two decades later, how the Net would have enabled he and Ivan, perhaps, to share their musical visions in ways that the record labels with their stuffy A&R suits might never have predicted anymore than the rest of us back two decades ago!
   
   P.S. I happen to have read this as the third rock music book in a row by someone about my age, the other two authors also being British music press journalists, and their common subject covers the late 70s-early 80s music scene in Britain (and Ireland, here). I have also reviewed on Amazon "Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984" by Simon Reynolds; Neil's brief comparison of the emerging Echo-to-Smiths indie scene with the New Wave-to New Romantic- to synth-pop trends fits well with Reynolds' own conclusions about the demise of the latter by 1984 or so in Britain. I also reviewed on Amazon a companion memoir; Dylan Jones' "IPod, Therefore I Am" mixes his own recollections of the glam, punk, and post-punk, rave, and jazz eras in the 70s and 80s into his own efforts to make on his iPod the soundtrack for his past four decades.



4. First the basics. McCormick grew up with this guy named Paul. They both formed bands and played the circuits, making connections with the music industry big wigs and recording their songs. Paul is now better known as Bono. McCormick is now better known as the music critic for the Telegraph. So what happened? What makes one person become a star and another fail to break through the maze of the music industry? Talent? Fate? Luck? This book takes you on the whole journey, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, but always interesting. I blazed through its 384 pages in four days, and wish there were still more of it to read. Along the way I was treated to deep discussions of fame, fortune, misfortune, music, the music industry, religion, and life in general. McCormick weaves together several themes and keeps them all relevant and alive. If you've ever dreamed of being a rock star, read this book.



5. This book is a blitz of fame, fortune, and failure. It is a thorougly amusing read for all lovers of U2. McCormick himself is a bumbling boffin who could've had it all, but missed the mark completely. He is a lovable loser.
   
   Even so, the book left a bad taste in my mouth. Several anecdotes, probably meant to be funny, felt flat as I repulsed and stuck out my tongue. McCormick's comedy of errors was due in part to his bad decisions regarding drugs and sex. Several times I found myself thinking "Boy, that was dumb of him! When will he ever learn?"
   
   "I Was Bono's Doppelganger" is an funny, light-hearted read for devoted U2 fans. It serves an important life lesson- that bad decisions bring bad results. You will be rooting for McCormick all the way through. Worth a read.

No comments about Fall From Grace: The Life of Eamonn Casey.

1 comments about Edward, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine: A Biography of the Black Prince.

1. If you're looking for an upbeat, easy-to-read history of Prince Edward, look elsewhere. This is definitely NOT the book for you.
   
   If you are looking for a book that details the life of a great leader, and digs deeply into the machinations behind the events of his times, this is definitely the book to get.
   
   So, point of the review: Armchair historians beware! This is a deep, quite dry history of the Black Prince.

2 comments about Hitler's Women.

1. Guido Knopp is quite famous in Germany as a pop biographer and filmmaker on Hitler. His many films on the Fuehrer have some merit, but his abilities as an author are limited, to say the least. This effort is not helped by a poor translation. I've read the book in its original German, and it loses quite a bit in the English version.

   If you know little about Hitler and women, this might be an enjoyable book, though Knopp (weirdly) focuses mostly on women who had a platonic relationship with him. Eva Braun is the only women profiled who actually consumated her relationship with Hitler. Glaringly absent are a long line of Hitler's lovers: Geli Raubal, Jenny Haug, Suzi Liptauer, Mimi Reiter and others. His chapter on Bayreuth legend Winifred Wagner is the highlight of the book, though he inexplicably doesn't quote from her many, fascinating, interviews about Hitler.

   The book is a decidedly mixed bag and for people with a serious background on the epoch, it's something of a waste of time.




2. I just finished this book today, and I must say, it is pretty good. I like the angle of it. The book is basically composed of six "mini-bios" of the prominent women surrounding Hitler during his ascension to power, and throughout the 12 Year Reich.

   The most intriguing character in this book was a toss up between Leni Riefenstahl and Winifred Wagner. Both had incredible influence upon Hitler, but I think Winifred had the most personal relationship. I sincerely believe that Hitler would have probably married Winifred eventually if she had not already been betroved. In her bio, you could really sense the personal relationship between the two, and how this played out during the Wagner festivals at Bayreuth during those years.

   On the other hand, Hitler's relationship to Riefenstahl was much more on a professional level. Hitler appreciated Leni's artistic value, and used it to his advantage as long as she would let him. Leni Riefenstahl will always have a place among the greatest filmakers that has ever lived. Her genius in filmaking will definitely never be forgotten. If you haven't seen TRIUMPH OF THE WILL...that is a movie you should rent. The sheer emotion of it will have you wanting to see more of her...no translation needed.

   As for the other ladies, Knopp treats them just as well, but it seems as if Wagner and Riefenstahl just stood out more. The bio on Marlene Dietrich was especially good, and Zarah Leander also led a pretty interesting life. I had never heard of Leander before reading this book. Magda Goebbels was quite an evil woman, and Eva Braun was just a plain ol' airhead....and my least favorite.

   A couple things did stand out in Knopp's assessment. Most of these women were artistic types. Besides Eva Braun, all were either artists, musicians, and/or movie stars. This is quite interesting since Hitler loved art, and aspired to be an artist himself before taking on politics. Also, for women to be so artistic seems a bit contradictory to the Nazi standard of the "perfect Aryan woman", whose job was to produce children for the Reich and remain behind the scenes. None of these ladies fit the blonde haired, blue eyed ideal of the Aryan lady. Eva Braun would be the closest to it, I would imagine, due to her airheaded-ness and physical attributes.

   All in all, this was a very interesting and revealing book. Knopp did his research well, and there are extensive notes and quotes throughout. The only complaint is that the quotes within each section that are listed through the text make it somewhat hard to read....and makes your eyes have to skip around the page. Also, the transition has rendered a few places of improper sentence structure or missing words in the text. Other than that, this book is really great....and you should try it! You might like it!

1 comments about Domesday People: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents 1066-1166 I: Domesday Book.

1. Prosopography is the study of pedigree, biography, and genealogy, especially among royal and noble families (i.e., those of power and influence in society), including the study of family names, and focusing especially on the person, his environment and his social status -- that is, the individual within the context of family and other social groups, the place or places in which he was active, and the function he performed within his society. Keats-Rohan is director of the Unit for Prosopographical Research at Linacre College, Oxford, and this project is an heroic attempt to synthesize the genealogy of families in the first century following the Conquest and the histories of the manors which they either owned or labored on. For "only by determining the identities of persons concealed in a repetitious mass of names in the text of Domesday Book can we hope to understand what happened next, or who was who in subsequent records such as the Pipe Rolls." Domesday Book contains some 45,000 personal names, many of them duplications since tenants-in-chief held land in several counties. If you also leave out the churches (as tenants) and the surviving English tenants, fewer than 20,000 names remain, and about 8,000 of those are identified by forename alone. The author has analyzed 19,500 records of continental names into about 2,500 individual persons, including some 200 tenants-in-chief and about 600 Englishmen. Their entries, which make up the bulk of this large volume, range from a single sentence (Harduin was a"Domesday tenant of William fitz Nigel under earl Hugh in Chester") to several pages for those at the top. Citations to appearances in Domesday Book itself, as well as in later charters and other sources, are very complete. The descendants of the great men whom the new king made tenants-in-chief became the great barons of the English feudal system, and nearly all of them appear here. For instance, Eudo Dapifer, son of Hubert de Ryes, married Rohais, daughter of Richard de Clare. One of Eudo's tenants in 1086 was Osbert, husband of his sister Muriel. Eudo also acquired the land previously held by his brother, Adam, who was a tenant of Bishop Odo. Farther down the social ladder were men like Herbrand de Sackville, tenant of Walter de Giffard, who had sons named Jordan, William, and Robert, and a daughter named Avice, who married Walter d'Auffay. The author also has included seventy-five pages of background history and prosopographical methodology, which make this work very accessible to the non-specialist. This is apparently the first published installment (there are also several online databases) of an extraordinary and fascinating enterprise which should open new avenues of research for those interested in medieval English genealogy.

No comments about By the Waters of Liverpool.

5 comments about Queen Victoria's Family: A Century of Photographs.

1. excellent photographs of collection of royal family of england ,from1840-1940.some of the pictures i've seen before ,but there are alot of new one's not seen before.



2. This is an excellent resource as well as enjoyable reading and viewing. Queen Victoria had a large, illustrious family. This book not only humanizes and personalizes the many family members, it also helps to make sense of the extended family connections - particularly with the included family trees in the back of the book.
   
   I have perused through this book many times, and have recently given one to a friend, who absolutely loved it. This is not a history book that will just sit on a shelf. It is a required addition to anyone interested in the history of Queen Victoria and the Eurpoean monarchies.



3. Absolutely remarkable. Charlotte Zeepvat takes the reader into the lives of Queen Victoria and her family with the amazing photographs, both candid and formal. The pictures are rare. They are well organized and have excellent captions. Zeepvat is a great writer/historian and I recommend her books to all.



4. There are certain photos that I simply expect to see when perusing volumes about European royalty. However, upon receiving Zeepvat's book, I was thrilled to find so many rarely seen photos of some of the more obscure descendants of the "Grandmother of Europe." If you're a royalty buff like I am, you can spend hours immersed in this marvelous book and its detailed family trees.



5. for those interested in royalty. While some of these photos can be found in many different books, some of them I've seen for the first time. Queen Victoria's decendants are so numerous and belong to so many different royal houses. Definitely a worthwhile purchase!