Category Archives: History

A Time to Break Silence, by Dr. Martin Luther King (2013)

Posted on September 8, 2013 by tom

This is one of those books whose content is impossible to review. Martin Luther King stands as one of the greatest orators, social leaders, activists, and human beings this country has ever produced. His work from the Montgomery Bus Boycott, … Continue reading →

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The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker & Holmes #1), by Colleen Gleason (2013)

Posted on September 3, 2013 by tom

If the names Stoker and Holmes sound familiar, they should. Evaline Stoker comes from a long line of vampire hunters. She has incredible strength, courage and agility, as well as a sort of recklessness. The Stokers are among high societies … Continue reading →

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Holidays in Hell, by P.J. O’Rourke (1988)

Posted on August 10, 2013 by tom

My good friend Amy is an honors student in journalism. She’s about to start her Senior Year as editor-in-chief of her college newspaper. Anyway, something she mentioned in a recent blog post was that she’d left for college, certain that … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Humorous, Memoir or Biography, Non Fiction and/or Commentary | 2 Comments

Roads to Berlin, by Cees Nooteboom (2013)

Posted on August 8, 2013 by tom

(nb: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss) “Whoever writes a book in a fluid political situation is writing on an icefloe.” In many ways, that’s the most telling line in Dutch author Cees … Continue reading →

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The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler, (e-book 2013, originally published in 1961)

Posted on July 26, 2013 by tom

(nb: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss) In 1960, William L. Shirer published “The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich.” The tome was over 1200-pages long, and based on numerous sources, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Non Fiction and/or Commentary, Young Adult | 2 Comments

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan (2013)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by tom

A History Unlike Any Other I can’t think of a book whose text I’ve highlighted more than Reza Aslan’s fascinating new biography, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth.” There are so many incredible points I’d never thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Books of the Year, Books, History, Religion/Spirituality | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

“Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker,” by Chuck Haddix (2013)

Posted on June 17, 2013 by tom

(nb: I received an advance review copy from the publisher via NetGalley) Soaring–and Crashing–with Bird “Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker” is Chuck Haddix’s faithful biography of Charlie “Bird” Parker, and I use the adjective “faithful” advisedly. Writing … Continue reading →

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One Man’s Initiation: 1917, by John Dos Passos

Posted on June 11, 2013 by tom

One thing I noticed while reading John Dos Passos’s “One Man’s Initiation: 1917” is how much I know about World War 2. And how much I know about Vietnam. Even about the Korean War. All I know about World War … Continue reading →

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Cotton Tenants: Three Families, by James Agee and Walker Evans (2013)

Posted on May 19, 2013 by tom

(nb: I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss) “Cotton Tenants: Three Families” takes us inside the backbreaking work and soul-breaking poverty of three tenant farmers in 1936 rural Alabama. It is hard to … Continue reading →

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