5 comments about American Mourning: The Intimate Story of Two Families Joined by War, Torn by Beliefs.

1. This is a really bad book: formless, short on facts, and totally embedded in a pro-Bush, pro-Cheney defense of the war. Joe Johnson's murderous raging desire for revenge--prominent in the news stories at the time he went to Iraq to seek "vengeance" after his son's death in Bush's war--is concealed almost well as the US war crimes. (Fortunately, I held off purchasing until I could examine a library copy, and thereby saved the purchase price. I give it one star only because Amazon doesn't accept zero-star ratings.)



2. Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (2/07)
   
   Justin Johnson was raised in Georgia where boys are taught how to use a gun from an early age. Justin enlisted after 9/11. "Mom, things aren't good. It's scary. You wouldn't believe this place. It's messing with our heads. Mom, you just never know. There are kids, ten- to-twelve year-olds and they got machine guns. You don't know: are they friendly or are they the enemy."
   
   Casey Sheehan was raised in California. Casey's mother discouraged her son from enlisting in the army. He was loyal and loved his country. She offered to take him to Canada so that he could avoid Iraq, but he declined.
   
   Casey and Justin met at Fort Hood, Texas. The two became quick friends although they didn't have a lot in common. "Both were quiet, strong, patriotic, and God-loving young men." "Both young men prayed to God and hoped they would make it home to their moms and dads, sisters and brothers."
   
   Justin and Casey were both killed by radical Muslims.
   
   Joe Johnson wanted revenge on the terrorists. He signed up with a unit shipping to Iraq and "swore to God and to Justin that I would go to Iraq and kill as many of them as I could." Joe was filled with hatred. "I could kill all the insurgents and it would never bring Justin back, I don't think I'll really get anything out of it except for maybe that one moment of satisfaction when I finally kill somebody. But as far as long-lasting feelings of satisfaction, I don't think I'll find it in Iraq. There's hardly a day goes by that I don't wish I hadn't a spent more time with him."
   
   Cindy Sheehan was also filled with hatred but she took it a different direction. "She blamed President George W. Bush for Casey's death and called the Muslim radicals who killed Casey and Just "freedom fighters." "Cindy posted herself outside the president's Crawford ranch. She became a media phenomenon, thanks to a campaign by well-paid media experts from the Left." Her grief and the media destroyed her family.
   
   "A parent should never have to bury a child."
   
   Catherine Moy & Melanie Morgan expressively share the tragic story of two young men killed in Iraq, two families torn apart. Moy and Morgan capture and convey the pain and anguish the families are suffering. I found myself in tears as I read this book. The bravery of Justin and Casey is celebrated on these pages. I want to be careful not to state an opinion of the actions of the families for I would not add to their pain. After reading this book, the deaths become more than a news story. This book gives Justin and Casey a face and brings them into you heart. This book describes the divide in American opinion concerning the War on Terror. Regardless of which side of the divide you stand we must never forget the young men and women who are fighting this war. Ms Moy and Morgan are to be commended on their presentation of the heroic lives of these two young men. I highly recommend "America Mourning" to all.



3. This book is one of the saddest pieces of "journalism" I have ever read. It is a smear job on both families. Not just Sheehan, but the ridiculous amount of personal stuff thrown out there on the Jackson's makes the reader wonder: What does any of this have to do with argument? All in all, a book that appears to be profiting from the death of two brave men. I am thoroughly appalled by the words and tactics of the authors. I am apolitical, so maybe I didn't enter this book with the frame of mind necessary to feel good about the dragging through the mud of two brave and decent soldiers families. Is this what they fought and died for? Flat ridiculous.



4. I mostly read just Stephen King books, but this book was one that I had heard about and decided to purchase. I was very glad to read about one family that cared so much for their son that his father enlisted to avenge his son's death. Unfortunatly, reading about Cindy Sheehan only wanted me to get a gun and shoot her. She did nothing but lie and kept her family from mourning their son's death. I really enjoyed this book.



5. A 'must read' for those who are only hearing the anti-America retoric of the liberal minority. There are still Americans who are proud of what our country still stands for. GP

5 comments about The Women In Lincoln's Life.

1. This was absolutely the most ridiculous book I've read regarding Lincoln. Jason Emerson's review listed below says it all. Winkler should have written a book about his ancestor, and not bothered those of us who are not interested in reading about her.



2. I was very disappointed in this book. I had hoped to learn more about the women in Lincoln's life, but as it turns out, the author is related to Ann Rutledge (supposedly the love of Lincoln's life), and the author spends way too much time telling us how wonderful she was. He keeps bringing her name up in other contexts ("If Ann had been alive..." and so forth), and you'd almost expect that he would suggest that she be cannonized as a saint. It gets rather tedious, to say the least.
   
   Consequently, many other women that he met (such as Sojourner Truth) get mere mention or a few paragraphs, and of course, Mary Todd Lincoln is portrayed as an absolute nutcase.
   
   It's a shame--this could have been a great book.



3. It seems to me that a few reviews of this book have been extremely unfair, especially those by Mr. Emerson and someone who calls himself "kdpsyd." Mr. Winkler is an accomplished scholar and award-winning author who has written the first full-length book on this intriguing subject. I purchased the book after reading reviews from authoritative sources, and have found it to be extremely informative and fascinating. As "Civil War Times" noted, this book is "important and highly provocative and readable." "Civil War News" called it intriguing and engrossing and "quite thought-provoking. . . with careful notes and an impressive bibliography." "Today's Books," an independent report to the news media on the book-publishing industry rated this book "a best read." Such recognition is given only to "the top ten percent of new books published and distributed in America each year."

   Building upon the latest published Lincoln scholarship, Mr. Winkler has developed startling new insights and added fresh information about Lincoln's New Salem years, including the most complete story in existence of Ann Rutledge's life and the
   Lincoln-Rutledge romance.

   The book is obviously based on solid research and should be read by anyone interested in what previously has been a puzzling aspect of Lincoln's life.




4. I was quite thrilled when I saw this book in the bookstore. I have read numerous books on Abraham Lincoln, however, this was a perspective about his life I had not read much about. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed reading this book. It was very well-written and engaging; enough so that it only took me two days to read it. I was captivated. Yes, at times the book seemed prejudicial against Lincoln's wife and biased in favour of Ann Rutledge, however his point of view was very interesting to note. I highly recommend this book to anyone willing to get a firm grasp on all aspects of Lincoln's life. It was just incredible!!!



5. The author shows a limited understanding of Lincoln. He failed to research his subject. The author is misguided and misinformed. This book is an insult to Lincoln scholars.

4 comments about The Illustrated Life and Times of Doc Holliday (Illustrated Life and Times).

1. This is a terrible book if you're looking for facts, or any kind of reasoning at all. The writer seems to rely heavily on his reputation and his art. The complete lack of bibliography (no, I'm not joking) made me toss this book in disgust.



2. I first encountered this book when I was attracted to the gaudy cover in the Galeria de los Artesanos in Las Vegas, NM, one of my favorite bookstores since it was operated by truly professional Western book authorities. I asked about the book and they said: "It's a joke!" After reading it, I have to agree. The art work is good, done by the author, but if the pages were spread on a gymnasium floor and shelled corn thrown at them, a kernel would seldom miss a historical error. Many of the photos are not who they are claimed to be. Later, in Tombstone where this sort of books sells like mad, I discovered the local bookstores were calling it the Psychedelic Doc. Save your money.



3. While one could argue that some of the finer points of the personal history (or should we say 'mystery') surrounding the life of Doc Holliday didn't get enough attention in this tome, THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE & TIMES OF DOC HOLLIDAY is a feast for Holliday enthusiasts as well as general fans of the Old West. The book is filled with what must be hundreds of portraits, artists' renderings, maps, etc., that only enhance the value of the book. A quick and entertaining read, this version of Doc's life is a wonderful overview and is highly recommended for anyone wanting to 'jump off' into studying the fascinating man who may or may not have been Doc Holliday.



4. This book has great authentic pictures of Doc's life.Bell writes only facts and tells the truth about Doc as a person.Bell also mentiones the friendship ending dispute between Doc and Wyatt.

No comments about History of "Billy the Kid" (Historians of the Frontier and American West).

No comments about James Habersham: Loyalty, Politics, And Commerce In Colonial Georgia (Wormsloe Foundation Publications).

No comments about BROKEN CHURCHES, BROKEN NATION.

5 comments about Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery.

1. Like every American kid, I grew up knowing the names "Lewis and Clark." But (also, I suspect, like most American kids), I really knew (and cared) very little about their incredible journey, or why it was undertaken. Then, 10 years ago, I stumbled across Dayton Duncan's wonderful Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, and I was hooked.
   
   Duncan's book is a wonderful introduction to the Corps of Discovery (even the name itself is exciting, isn't it?) in that it offers information about the expedition without overwhelming the reader new to the topic, illustrates the text with fine photographs and reproductions, all of which are instructively captioned, contains a number of sideboxes and page-long essays on specializied subjects, and includes several essays from other Lewis and Clark authorities, including Ken Burns, who produced the companion film, and Stephen Ambrose.
   
   Duncan ends the book with an essay, "We procceded on," that is as reflective a meditation on the deep meaning of the Corps of Discovery journey as I've read. It also serves as an excellent preface to another of his books, Out West, a fascinating and entertaining account of his recapitulation of the Corps of Discovery's route in a volkswagon camper.
   
   If you're new to Lewis and Clark, this is the book to read. But it's also pure pleasure for afficionados.



2. The book is good and interesting (especially for someone with very little prior knowledge about the Corps), but the reading is absurd! He (I mean the narrator; the supporting cast is good) is so melodramatic as to be incredibly distracting. GOOFY. Only buy it if you are able to ignore the reader's voice and style; otherwise, order it in print form!



3. I've been looking for the audio version for a long time and found it easily on amazon. You can keep your eyes on the road and still learn something about the the most mindboggling journey in American history.
   It makes me want to follow their trail (by road of course). Fantastic set of CD's



4. This book was so hard to put down! The way the author combines the facts with the actual quotes from the Lewis and Clark journals (complete with spelling errors), the original sketches and descriptions by Lewis and Clark, old pictures and paintings, and the attention to the sequencing (i.e., he walks you straight through the entire journey and makes it flow) really makes this book come alive for me. I highly recommend it!!



5. I enjoyed this book completely...it really gave me a sense of the human experience of the journey, and made me appreciate just what an incredible accomplishment it was. The illustrations really add to the enjoyment of the book, as do the excerpts from the journals of several of the men. I also liked the background information on what goals were actually behind the exploration and how they worked to meet those goals. There's only one reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars, and that's because it lacks a good map to help understand where they were during some of the events described. But that can be found in other works, and this really is a good introducion to Lewis and Clark...it's a relatively easy read but full of interesting facts and adventures.

2 comments about Alias Paine: Lewis Thornton Powell, the Mystery Man of the Lincoln Conspiracy.

1. Lewis Paine was a dashing young man in the 19th Century. Why would Booth tempt Lewis Paine into kidnapping Mr. Lincoln? I liked Lewis Paine since I was little. Now that I'm 20 yrs old now, I still dream of him. I know he's dead already. (Don't think I'm insane for this guy.) If Lewis Paine was like he was in the 1860's today, I'll freak out. My husband's name is Lewis but not Powell. I have collected several pics of Powell since I was 12 to 13. I drove my mom & dad crazy about Lewis Paine when I was 9. Hope you like my thoughts about Lewis Paine.

   Love, Carmen




2. Without question this is the best researched study of one of John Wilkes Booth's main co-conspirators ever written.

5 comments about Inside the Army of the Potomac: The Civil War Experience of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson.

1. What I love about this book is that it is so much more than stories about battles. It's an incredibly well written account of the everyday life of an average Civil War soldier. You get a great idea of the politics of rank back then, along with great descriptions of everything from marches, to camping, to of course the battles. It's also amazing to me what he experienced....from the Battle of Fredericksburg, to Gettysburg, and Antietam, there is definetly no lack of detailed battle descriptions too. I guess my favorite part is that he continually asks his brother to not publish his writings and for that reason he writes honestly, and you get a true account of what military life was like back then. I highly recommend this book.



2. Civil War memoirs seem to have taken off since the Ken Burns miniseries aired on PBS. The writings collected in this book provide amazing insight into the day-to-day concerns of an average Army officer, and bring the humanity of a Civil War soldier to the forefront. I've been a Civil War buff my whole life, but I never knew the extent of petty politics and personal grudges that went on until I read this book. Thanks to Greg Acken for helping us walk alongside a soldier as he tramps through one of America's most pivotal conflicts -- and go 'Cats!



3. In letters to his brother and aunt, Francis Adams Donaldson chronicled his daily experiences during three years in the infantry of the Army of the Potomac. Not intending that his words would find their way into publication, he used his letters home to express his hopes, ventilate his frustrations, and convey to his family some sense of the tedium, grandeur and horror he was experiencing. Presented almost as written, this collection of correspondence brings an honesty and immediacy not found in the often sanitized volumes of other Civil War memoirs. Donaldson was a very young man when he began his service as a volunteer in a Pennsylvania regiment. Enduring the intensity of combat, called upon to lead but not trained as a professional soldier, craving recognition and promotion, his often bitter criticisms of the abilities and personal qualities of his peers and superiors reflect his own inevitable stress and insecurity. There are other collections of such letters from Civil War combatants. What sets this book apart is J. Gregory Acken's remarkable editing and research. Almost every individual and place name mentioned by Donaldson, even if only in passing, is referenced by a footnote. Where available, photographs of the soldiers are provided. You won't be left wondering what happened to these men, whether they survived the wounds which result in their passing from the pages of the memoir, or the course of their careers as they leave the unit; their fate is there in the footnotes. Each chapter is headed by a brief section placing the subsequent letters in historical context. My only criticism of the book comes in these sections, which introduce some jarring redundancies by quoting passages later contained within the letters, themselves. The book comes most alive in the letters describing the battles of Gettysburg and Mills Run. Though it can be a long read at times, you will finish it with the feeling of having shared, in the words of the subtitle, the Civil War experience of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson.



4. After E.P.Alexander's Fighting for the Confederacy (edited by Gary Gallagher) this is the best Civil War officer's narrative in existence. Want a real treat? Read it. You Confederates will love it too.



5. This is an outstanding set of letters by a perceptive officer in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry. It certainly ranks in the top five of Army of the Potomac letter collections published in the last decade. Donaldson was opinionated, but also intent on description, not chat. He provides excellent narratives of most of the major campaigns, but more importantly he offers insights into ordeals and events often overlooked--everyday struggles lost to history. Gregory Acken has done an outstanding job of introducing, annotating, and editing the missives, offering the reader cues to the important themes that course through the correspondence. For the serious researcher of the Army of the Potomac, this book will become an oft-cited source. For the more casual student, these letters are a vivid, first-rate look at the experience of America's Civil War.

1 comments about "...the real war will never get in the books": Selections from Writers During the Civil War.

1. i thought it was full of interesting information and interesting facts not normally exposed in us history books...