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5 comments about Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad That Crossed an Ocean.

1. Outstanding book--extremely well-written and very interesting. It's an enjoyable book even for readers not living in Florida or not familiar with Henry Flagler.



2. I read this book after touring Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. You cannot go anywhere in St. Augustine without hearing and seeing Henry Flagler's legacy. I really enjoyed the book - I could barely put it down. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in railroad history, and feel it is a "must read" for anyone who's been to the beautiful city of St. Augustine and gotten a taste of Henry Flagler's visionary spirit.
   
   If you read the book without having visited the Florida Keys or St. Augustine, I strongly recommend that you do so soon!



3. 
   Florida has a long and fascinating history, often overlooked by new arrivals to our fair state, whose attentions seem to focus more on theme parks and the lack of frosty weather than what happened here yesterday or the day before. Les Standiford, whose books are always well written and enjoyable, has provided us with a glimpse of old Florida that is well worth the reader's time and attention, in "Last Train to Paradise".
   
   The book is an account of Henry Flagler's love for and work in developing Florida, with a special eye toward the building of the Key West Railroad. Flagler, you will recall, was partner with the crusty "spare-a-dime" plutocrat John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. Upon his semi-retirement, Flagler took up as his hobby railroading; not model railroading, but full-size, fill-the-miles railroading.
   
   Many cities along the Atlantic Coast of Florida were founded or revitalized by Flagler's enterprises; for, wherever his railroads went, exotic grand hotels sprang up to which the well-heeled and the curious swiftly flocked. (The First Lady, Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, traveled to St Augustine for the grand opening of the Ponce de Leon Hotel). Indeed, the St. Augustine of today owes more to Henry Flagler for its exotic ambiance as it does to the earliest Spanish settlers. So too, down the coast--from Ormond Beach to Palm Beach--his Florida East Coast Railway and glamorous hotel enterprise sprang, with such speed, vitality and élan that Flagler has been called "the man who built Florida."
   
   Standiford gives a great overview of Flagler and his love for the Sunshine State, and then goes on to tell the compelling story of the building of the Key West Railroad, the only railroad in the world to travel most of its length over open water, instead of land. Originally conceived in a bout of competitive bravura with the Gulf Coast's Henry Plant--at the grand opening of Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel--the Key West Railroad was designed to take travelers in cosseted comfort all the way to the southernmost tip of the United States. Standiford tells the tale of the grueling work that created this modern marvel and of its tragic demise during the horrific hurricane of 1935.
   
   All who have traveled to Key West by automobile have benefited from Flagler's vision, since much of the highway was constructed directly upon what remained of the Key West Railroad's foundations. If you love all things Florida, you will not want to miss reading this book.



4. If you do one thing before visiting the Florida Keys and Key West, PLEASE make time to read this book! We flew to Miami recently and drove this amazing route all the way to Key West. I finished the book right before our return trip, so I couldn't stop talking about the feats of engineering and perilous conditions during the entire car ride! (I think the fam got a little bored with me...should've made them all read it, too!)
   
   The only thing about reading this book while on vacation is that I frequently had to go back and re-read some paragraphs. It's very factual and requires a fair amount of concentration. Kind of hard to do with an umbrella drink in your hand, palm trees swaying overhead and the gorgeous ocean about 15 steps away. Sigh...
   
   Henry Flagler's story is so amazing, I would like to visit all of the hotels he was responsible for constructing all down the Atlantic Coast. We live in such a fast-paced and technologically advanced age that it's hard to fathom the trials and tribulations these men had to endure while constructing the railroad to Key West. It's amazing they ever finished it. Bless the souls who lost their lives in this astounding endeavor.



5. Time and tides wait for no man, nor are they particularly cooperative. Les Standiford's excellent "Last Train to Paradise" illustrates this on scales large and small in this vivid and informative telling of Henry Flagler's building of the railroad from mainland Florida to Key West. Although the project has earned only a footnote in American history, this grand and sad achievement illuminates a great deal of what the "Gilded Age," the years between the end of the Civil War and the Depression, were about.
   
   The lure and mystery of Key West, Manifest Destiny, pride, John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil, mosquitoes, hurricanes, oppressive heat, a 150-mile stretch of mostly open water, Ernest Hemingway, and a bit of oceanography and engineering are just some of the fascinating ingredients in this wonderful book. It should be required reading for anyone who contemplates driving US Highway One off the mainland south of Miami to the end of the road, where remnants of this tragic tale still remain.
   
   Marsh Muirhead, author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler."

5 comments about Growing Up King: An Intimate Memoir.

1. I absolutely loved this book. I read it awhile back and it was a well written book. It's a very moving and lovely story about ML KING JRS second son growing up, and it also tells about his family and the King Center. I rate it 5 stars since it is such a fantastic book. A must read for ML KING JR fans. For those of you who would like a good book about ML KING JRS family, and the King Center, this is a must have.



2. Dexter Scott King's memoir accounts for the tremendous history of the King family and his life as the physically favoring, second son of Martin Luther King, Jr. Through the story of his life, Dexter answers the questions many Americans have about the last 34 years: Where did the dream go? What happened to the King family? What finally happened in the assassination case? Dexter Scott King describes the aftermath of the civil rights movement and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr....his father.
   
   Growing Up King allows you to look back at the last thirty years with clarity. Dexter King is reflective and honest, humble and dutiful. He is a man without a calling, called to be that man. He reveal his earliest childhood memories of loving family life and also the tolls of his father's work. He sheds a unique perspective on events that changed history, and evokes respect for all who supported the survival of his family. He openly shares personal memoirs, and modestly describes his influence on the King Center and other social and political projects.
   
   The private access to the King family is refreshing, as Dexter provides up-to-date reports about his mother, Coretta, his oldest sister Yolanda, his older brother Martin and his younger sister Bernice. Their stories, and those of cousins, uncles, and grandparents describe an American saga of love, dedication, commitment and strength. Dexter also discloses the intricacies of the assassination case and resolutions thus far. Growing Up King connects the present to the past, the next generation to the dream.
   
   Dexter's tone in Growing Up King is as natural as a journal: generally chronological, informative, and quite intimate. If anything, we readers see that the second son of America's greatest social and political leader still has some growing up to do. His attitude is of one who has gotten the bad end of the stick, one who does not yet truly believe in his own power, whether in his own light or his father's shadow. There seems always the unattainable quest to be great in his own right, to find his own dream. By reading Growing Up King I realize, Dexter Scott King has not only lived up to his family name, he has allowed the dream to live on.



3. This was a very insightful read for me. No, this is not a story about Martin Luther King, Jr .. it's about living the life as Martin Luther King, Jr's child. It reveals the ups and downs of being born to a public figure such as the late GREAT Martin Luther King, Jr. Dexter does a pretty good job of showing us the hurdles he and his family have had to cross. I think it's good for people to read, because you get to see what the family members are faced with (a sort of behind the scenes glance at being in the shadow of one's famous father). Dexter also gives you insight on The King Center. I recommend this read to all people. Teachers and professors should also have this book on their list of student required reads.

   Tonya Howard
   http://www.sisterdivas.org




4. This is NOT a story about Martin Luther King, Jr...But then again, it is! With such an imposing aura and legendary persona that Martin possesses even in death, it would be extremely hard for anyone trying to extract meaningful context without him playing a prominent role to analyze anything for or against it. GROWING UP KING is Dexter Scott King's story. He being the youngest of Martin's four children, sets out to give revelations for the first time what it was like growing up within the huge monolithic shadow of greatness, and how his fathers' maxims continue to inspire and inform his own ideas on race matters. I would imagine amid the aura of being a member of such a prominent family it would behoove one to set a sustained agenda to carve a preferred path. With this book, you'd think that definitions would be finally told in the first person. I wanted to be rational as I read this book and try not to compare the Martin of yesteryear to what his offspring needed to bring forth. But to do this, I knew I had to do so with an open mind. Thus, I read it with mixed emotion, and tried to be objective in attaining a reasonable view to support the author's intent, and more importantly, to see if certain truths would come forth to quell rumor, and set the record straight on a multitude of issues. Most notably the controversy surrounding The King Center for Non-Violent Social Change.

   I came away with a feeling of loss, as if something truly was missing that wasn't said that should have been. I kept looking for reasons to give standing ovations to a member of this family who had the courage to give insight to all questions the public wanted answered. For those looking for insight that hasn't been before public domain, there may be something that Dexter espouses that may warrant merit. File this one on the shelf with the rest of the books written about the King family legacy. I rate this book above average, but still worthy of a read if nothing more than to give chance to this scion who endeavor to be his own man.




5. The progeny of great men and women are usually compared to their venerable parent. Such is the case in the Martin Luther King, Jr. family. Since his death a microscope has been placed over his children comparing them to him. Dexter, the second son and third child of King attempts to break out of the shadow of his father and reveals to us his hopes, dreams and aspirations for himself and his family. Dexter's text is a good try but fails in its efforts.

   Growing Up Kings gives the reader the perspective of a child raised in the Martin Luther King, Jr. family. Dexter reveals the challenges that he faced in living under the shadow of a famous father. We as readers are shown the stresses and pressures put upon the family as they faced tragedy after tragedy but continued on with the dream as articulated by King. Dexter does a fair job in sharing with us some of his family's personal matters but is very restrained in critiquing the actions of his mother and other civil rights icons.

   As you walk through the narrative, you will find Dexter repeating himself and giving the reader a history of the civil rights movement. He shares his foibles but was again there is a restraint in his revelations. Just how much is Dexter telling us that is true? Our author seems to never be able to stand on his own two feet without invoking the shadow of the King family over his life.

   The best part of the book is his explanation regarding the safeguarding of M.L.K Jr.'s speeches and intellectual property that is not in the public domain. You will learn that there is another side to the story and Dexter tells it well. You also receive a bit of insight regarding the functionairies of the King Center and how Dexter chose to resign his position as president rather than become a puppet.

   Like many people I was attracted to this book due to the nature of its contents. Who wouldn't want to know what it is like growing up under Martin Luther King, Jr.? Dexter's story was interesting but lacked a greater depth in terms of his own vision for the future beyond his family. He appeared to be trapped in the King mystique although he tried to become his own man. The book neglected any full scale treatment of his relationships with his mother and siblings. Yes, he throws tidbits concerning his failed love relationships but those appear to be mere diversions to keep up your interest. In general we are given a decent perspective of the King family.Hopefully a more definitive portrait of the family will come from the rest of his siblings.

5 comments about Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case.

1. I think this book is informative for someone who doesn't know anything about what went on behind the scenes, but at the same time I find that Diane Dimond is definitely for the prosecution. She does tell the facts in a way that is outlined to be from a neutral point of view, but if you read between the lines it is easy to see where her true opinion lies. The book is easy to follow and I did like how she uses more factual information than her own opinion specifically, but she does have a way of manipulating the way a person thinks of what was happening. For example when she described the time when Michael was having some unsavory pictures taken, I feel her portrayal of the event was demeaning and unnecessary. She also lingered a bit too long on the information from the scandal in 1993, obviously saving the best (the trial) for last, but at the same time cutting it a bit short. I don't know if Michael Jackson really did anything at all to those boys, that is something that only he knows and also something he will have to live with, but I hope he was truly innocent.



2. But if you are a tabloid Junkie---this is the book for you. Though Dimond trys to sound un-biased she de-humanizes Mr. Jackson by using the term "Jackson team" and believes every person she interveiws even after stating their financial intentions.She gives Jackson very little sympathy and believes him to be a molester based on interviews with poeple that were mysteriously fired or supoosedly quit or they really didn't even know Michael at all.
   Lets face it we are going to believe what we want to believe, and Ms. Dimond wants to believe he is evil.
   So I'll say it again...
   This book is cheap and I am ashamed I read it.



3. Dimond left the courtroom every time the state finished up and the defense came up which makes her reporting biased according to courtroom attendees. She also was sued once by Michael Jackson which makes her slightly less than credible to report on him. I skimmed through this book and it was basically the same stuff you hear on TV probably due to no one from Jackson's side would talk to Dimond. A waste of money.



4. Honestly, Michael Jackson was always my favourite singer and showman, and everything that was going on around him was of great interest to me. The child abuse scandals both in 1993 and in 2005 did make me feel a little nervous as I could not really be sure whether I liked a normal person or a pervert. I bought this book to try and sort out where the controversy lay. Although it's written by a journalist, I was surprised there was so little evidence of what might make me change my mind about the case. There was a lot of information about the case documents, written testimonies and whatever else might be related to the case, but no pictures of at least one piece of paper from these documents - so it remains at that, just the words of a journalist. Some transcripts of dialogues which still gave no clue about what had actually happened. All in all, I was bored reading this stuff, but one of the last chapters really gave me the creeps - the part about the jury entering the courtroom to pass the verdict but not looking up and desperately trying to show that they disagree with the verdict they have just decided on.
   
   If you're an MJ fan, you may read that. But I doubt it may change your opinion about Michael, although this book is simply meant to make people change their minds or at least feel some doubt about his innocence.



5. Diane Dimond has done an extraordinary job of having delivered an organized, easy reading view behind the scenes of the molestation accusations and trial of Jackson. It's presented without bias in a factual and sequential manner that is fast reading and compelling. Diane Dimond should consider a new career as a true crime writer.

5 comments about Trump: Surviving at the Top.

1. For those seeking a noteworthy sequel to the Art of the Deal (a book I rated very high), you will be sorely disappointed. This book contains none of the charm or the excitement behind the building of Donald's empire. Instead, in Surviving at the Top, we are merely given a plain account of Trump's dealings since the time of his first book. The information is written in a manner that is not any more articulate than one might find on Wikipedia.
   
   I give this book two stars instead of one because it does contain some information that would not be available had Donald not decided to put it in print; thus those with a deep interest in Trump will find some value. I personally just could not get past the fact that Donald put together this book as a quick narrative of events to cash in on his last book success rather than provide a quality piece of work on the level of the Art of the Deal.



2. Any book Trump pens is a good investment, and in this his second offering, he tells stories, names names, and provides worthwhile insight. But compared to The Art of the Deal and his third book, The Art of the Comeback, he seems to have done this one lying down. There is significantly less material, fewer hot scoops, and less of the bottom-line rhetoric Trump has made his style.



3. Who knows more about Trump than Trump himself? This is a good book if you want to know more about Trump. At times he is sincere; like when he tells of the various disadvantaged people he has helped. At times he sounds really fake; he mentions how he admires the courage of gamblers. That is alot of boloney. At times he is boastful; the Trump Princess is the best yacht ever built. But hate him or love him, he says it like it is. He seems very vindictive as evident with his numerous attacks on some very famous people throughout the book. But for those who are his friends, he has nothing but praise for them. He doesn't play politics, but what he does do is make deals and makes a whole bunch of them in this book. One of the recurring themes of the book is to wait for the right price even if it means giving it up and not to let emotions dictate the price. In many instances, the deal comes back to him and at an even better price than ever.



4. Who knows more about Trump than Trump himself? This is a good book if you want to know more about Trump. At times he is sincere; like when he tells of the various disadvantaged people he has helped. At times he sounds really fake; he mentions how he admires the courage of gamblers. That is alot of boloney. At times he is boastful; the Trump Princess is the best yacht ever built. But hate him or love him, he says it like it is. He seems very vindictive as evident with his numerous attacks on some very famous people throughout the book. But for those who are his friends, he has nothing but praise for them. He doesn't play politics, but what he does do is make deals and makes a whole bunch of them in this book. One of the recurring themes of the book is to wait for the right price even if it means giving it up and not to let emotions dictate the price. In many instances, the deal comes back to him and at an even better price than ever.



5. OK, so he is egotistical. That doesn't change the fact that his life makes for really interesting reading - in fact, he is an amazing man, whether you like him or not. This book is about "surviving at the top" and he should know! He wouldn't have gotten to where he is, if he did'nt know how to survive.
   I love any books on Trump - they are always interesting and easy to read, because he just tells it like it is.

1 comments about Henry Edwards Huntington: A Biography.

1. If you revere books and are an avowed bibliophile, then Henry Huntington is someone to admire and respect. His book collection is one of the premiere collections in the world, especially his concentration of incunabula. Huntington's mammoth collection is stored in the incomparable Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California - one of the most lovely places on earth. The permanent exhibitions include a first edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and numerous Shakespearian folios. Huntington's massive collection of autographs is also on display.

   The story of how Huntington amassed these priceless treasures is fascinating: the amount of zeal and money he poured into this endeavor makes for a world class story. Unfortunately, this book doesn't focus enough on this aspect of his life. The narrative becomes slow, plodding and ultimately tedious. One wishes that Thorpe would have concentrated more completely on Huntington's mania for book collecting, a passion to be envied for those of us not blessed with being multi-millionaires. Instead he veers off into areas not particularly interesting, though his history of early 20th century California is exceptional.

   Huntington's story is not one full of scintillating orgies, nor was he a riveting personal character, like Hearst. But this book paints a rather dour, boring picture of one of the greatest American collectors.

5 comments about The Royals.

1. To anyone with a serious interest in recent British history, absolutely avoid this book like the plague. The author lost me in the first chapter when she depicts King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on their famous and important visit to Washington DC in June of 1939, as living a life of lavish abandon while their subjects suffered wartime privation at home.
   Too bad the war didn't start till September, Ms. Kelley!
   After this outright lie, written for no other reason than to blacken the characters involved and tell an "interesting" story, needless to say, it was impossible to take anything else the author had to say very seriously. This book is meant for the readers of "the National Enquirer", and anyone else to whom such trivial things as dates and correct chronology of events are not important. Is it any wonder that publication was banned in the United Kingdom and this rag is to be found on the twenty five cent reject shelf?
   Nuff said.



2. I bought this book when it first came out and thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't sold in England and I made the mistake of loaning it to a Brit I worked with at the time. I never saw the book again. A decade or so later, I wanted to read The Royals again and found it on Amazon's used books. The book arrived quickly and in exactly the condition described by the seller. I'm very pleased to have the book again.



3. This is the first Kitty Kelley book I've ever read (I saw it on a family member's bookshelf and I felt like slumming), and it will be the last. This woman is not a biographer: she is a human garbage recycler. And a lousy writer at that.
   
   I hold no brief for the British royal family, although I do not object to the institution and find it an interesting if quaint relic of yesteryear. But this disorganized, poorly-written collection of gossip, innuendo, and previously-reported/disclosed information is pretty trashy stuff. There is nothing positive in this portrayal of the Royal Family, only a highly selective collection of slurs. Kelley obviously operates on the principle of, "If you can't say anything nasty, don't say anything at all." She certainly does not hold herself to any journalistic standard of verifying sources.
   
   Kelley is obsessed with sex: who is sleeping with whom, who is gay, who likes to watch porn. And sex is the entire focus of this book. About the institution of the British monarchy itself - a fascinating and complex subject - the reader learns little; Kelley is more interested, for example, in the sexual preferences of the Queen Mother's staff than she is in the Queen Mother herself.
   
   The writing is atrocious. Kelley repeats herself frequently - we get the same information about Phillip's extramarital exploits in at least three different places - and the book's lack of organization muddles the chronology of events. The author's use of similes is trite (a situation "smelled worse than a dead possum under the porch") and her syntax is careless. Worst of all, little of the sensational information we are treated to comes from the author's own investigation; she relies heavily on other published sources and the narrative is replete with thrice-told tales. The entire book gives the impression of being thrown together in a hurry and with little care.
   
   I felt slightly soiled after I finished this prurient tabloid hit-piece. The only thing that kept me going was the same impulse that makes one rubberneck at a bad traffic accident. Only recommended to those with a strong stomach and limited intelligence.



4. This book while big is full of lies and no wonder it isn't available in England because if it where the Queen would be all over it for the lies that it says about the royals.
   
   Here are just some of the things that Kitty Kelly says in the book that are not true
   
   1.The Queen Mum was illegitimate-she was the 8th of 9 children and her parents were married long before she was born
   
   2. The Queen Mum had to be impregnated by turkey baser to have Elizabeth and Margret
   
   3. Princess Margret was an anti-Semite because she walked out of Schindler's List
   
   4. Prince Harry is not Prince Charles' son- so not true. Harry's maternal grandfather had red hair and Princess Diana did not meet Harry's supposed father until he was already at least one year old
   
   Do not bother even reading this book. There are much better, more accurate books out there about the royal family.



5. I love reading about the royal family and I just loved this book! I have read several books about Diana so I knew the history there but I never knew what an awful mother the Queen is! And I didn't realize how everything has to be approved by her! Nor did I realize what a womanizer Price Philip was and all the mistresses he had over the years!
   
   Would highly recommend if you like reading about the Windsor Family.

1 comments about Lord Beaverbrook.

1. He wasn't physically large, but his physical presence was never in question. His horizons were endless, but he had the drive and ambition to strive to reach them all. Max Aitken's story reads like a modern fairy tale, but the people and circumstances are real. From a Newcastle, New Brunswick childhood, during which his ability to maneuver people for his own ends was manifested early on, Max rose to become a Peer of the Realm, much to the distress of several of the other peers. At the same time he had become the most influential newspaperman in the world. All this before the age of forty!
   
   David Adams Richards was the ideal choice to portray Max. As a novelist, his approach to Aitken's life bears an intimacy few historians possess. A native of Beaverbrook's home town, he has a fine writer's touch for bringing Max Aitken to life. The author's style is well-tuned to the personality of his subject. Aitken's career seems to have left him little time for reflection, there was always something else to accomplish.
   
   Aitken's drive for success emerged early - he started a newspaper at 13. After a short term as an office boy in a law office, he moved to Halifax, where he came under the tutelage of John Stairs, who taught him financial matters. A somewhat shady business affair led him to leave Canada for Britain. There, he moved upward with amazing speed to earn a Knighthood in 1911. The outbreak of WWI prompted the Canadian government to put him in charge of an archive of Canadian activities in the conflict. Not a record-keeper, Max used the role to promote Canada's role in the war. Before the Armistice was signed, Max Aitken had become Lord Beaverbrook - title taken from the region near his home.
   
   In the interwar years Aitken had his foot in two, related realms. Intelligence and propaganda were closely related in those days. But his other interest lay with the newspaper business, and his takeover of the 'Express" papers rejuvenated the chain. Among other causes it promoted was Free Trade among the members of the British Empire. As a Canadian, Max had suffered a good many snubs and sneers for being a "Colonial", but his wish for equal status really was based on economic issues. The culmination of all these activities, of course, was the appointment of newspaper baron Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, to being in charge of aircraft production shortly after the breakout of WWII. How incongruous - a publisher doing manufacturing? On reflection, the answer is dead easy. Aircraft production requires organisation and management skills. Max Aitken had demonstrated such abilities from an early age. This is a little giant of a book about a little giant of a man. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

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