Book Review - Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

This is the first of six books that I've currently collected and feel a need to finish in the next couple of weeks. This one came first because 1) it is a library book, so I needed to finish it in a timely manner, and 2) I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of it for a couple of months now. I really like Jessica Day George as you may be able to tell from the other six books I've read and reviewed. I was particularly interested in this one after my mother reported on going to hear the author talk about. George got many of the ideas from actually going to Romania and pulling on local legends. What some may not know about Romania is that within its boarders exists an area that is known around the world as the lair of a terrible beast - namely Transylvania. You can imagine some of their legends. Being a fan of the original Bram Stoker's Dracula and having spent time in Eastern Europe (if on the other side of the Black Sea, literally), I was very interested. Plus I like her stuff. I've been trying to borrow the book from my mother for a couple of months now, but my older sister, Muscles, got it first. Than Darpa, her husband, got it (pesky married couples!) so I had to wait. Fortunately our library had it this last time around and I picked it up, even though I wasn't planning on getting anything (I had enough other books to read first). However, I got sucked in and wrapped it up last night - within 72 hours or so of starting it. While that is slow in some ways, considering I have four other books I'm working my way through, it says something that I jumped straight to this one. I was not disappointed.

Plot: Dacia and Lou are cousins whose fathers are from upper crust New York and whose mothers are from a very, very old Romanian family. They are both on their way to Romania for the first time, Dacia by boat and Lou riding the Oriental Express from Paris. It is nearing the turn of the 20th century and Bucharest is known as "Little Paris" and is one of the jewels of Europe. However, Dacia and Lou are not there to enjoy the sights, they are there to learn about who they are and the tradition they bear. For two proper young ladies from cosmopolitan New York they have an awful lot to learn about what it means to have family connections.

My personal favorites: The format was great - the story was told from both of the girls' points of view as well as through letters, newspapers, and diary entries. It hearkened back to the original Dracula but also allowed for suspense and tension from the POV points. I also liked the characters and the way they developed. I thought found it plausible and believable. The story also kept me guessing, even tough it seemed like I should be able to guess where it was going.

Considerations: While some of George's other books (the Castle Glower books and I would also say the Dragon books) are more middle grade, Silver in the blood is more young adult. There is a little language, blood and violence, and rather nasty villain of the "do this or I make you watch your loved ones suffer" variety. With that said, I found nothing objectionable to a young teen .

Again, I really enjoyed the book. It was exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, and of course it was romantic. I mean that in the classical, literal sense. Since Romania takes it's name and language from ancient Rome. "Roman"-tic. (sigh).

The total length was just over 350 pages.

Book Review - Trackers, The Untold Story of the Australian Dogs of War by Peter Haran

I've watched a lot of videos by Youtuber Brady Haran. I've also listed to a couple dozen episodes of his podcast with CPG Grey, Hello Internet. In fact in was in one of these podcasts that he talked about going to Vietnam with his father, Peter, to visit some of the places that his father fought in during the Vietnam War. What I found interesting is 1) there were Australian troops in Vietnam (I always thought it was a strictly American war) and 2) Peter was there as a dog handler for a tracking dog. When Brady mentioned that his father had written a book about his experiences, I was intrigued. Trackers is just one of books that Peter Haran wrote that you can find on Amazon. I got the Kindle edition. Peter uses an interesting format for his writing. He provides an overarching narrative separated with short vignettes of interesting occurrences. The writing feels very honest and it's not too hard to keep track of the people involved, even though there are a decent number of them. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that found interesting and informative.

Plot: Fighting during the Vietnam war was characterized by hit and run attacks in the middle of the sweltering jungle. It was not uncommon for the enemy to simply disappear after firing on U.S. or Australian troops. In order to try to eliminate as many enemy fighters as possible tracking dogs were trained and sent over with the troops. Their job was to try to find the enemy so they could be eliminated, or their bases or strongholds destroyed. Peter Haran was an 18 year old soldier who broke the first rule of military service and volunteered for the tracking wing. After going through a year of training with two different dogs he was shipped to Vietnam and spent a year watching the hindquarters of a mutt like his life depended on it, because it did.

My personal favorites: Peter has some fun stories, and not just about trying to hunt down the enemy. His writing is free from graphic violence or descriptions of the horrors of war. He shares many of his emotions, sadness, depression, humor, frustration, anger, and joy. And exhaustion. You can't forget that. It some ways I feel that this book was a very human look at war without the visceral horror that is often used. He is honest about his own feelings and the aftermath of the war, including a rather personal assessment of the psychological scars it left on him. It was hard not to develop a respect for him and his comrade "Diggers" as I read the stories he shared.

Considerations: The only consideration that must be noted is the language in the book. Trackers is a soldier's tale written by a soldier and he is faithful in his record of what was said when. While the narrative is relative clean with only occasionally strong language, there is a lot of very strong language in the accounts of the dialog between the players.

As part of his trip to Vietnam, Brady took his camera (of course) and filmed his father explaining the M-16 "jumping jack" mine as well as retelling one of the stories from the book at the location where it happened. There may be additional videos uploaded in the future, but you can view the two mentioned at this link.

Audible Book Review - The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter

My sister read this book first and posted a review that you can read here. As a history student and someone fascinated with World War II history I had a quick interest in this book. I had seen some trailer or other for a movie version of the story, but it was EA's review that tipped me. I had decided that I needed another nonfiction book and figured that I would go with The Monuments Men. The history is a hard one to tell because even though the author stuck with just the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) operations that occurred after D-day to the end of the war the story was huge. Was was surprising was how few were actually involved in this work. It really is the story of the individual men of the MFAA. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. It was narrated by Jeremy Davidson, and I liked his interpretation of the characters.

Plot: During WWII while several million soldiers were concerned with killing the enemy and returning home the museum directors, curators, and art historians realized that if nothing was done, that the cultural icons of centuries would become the victim of the raging armies. With the fall of France in 1940 the American Art establishment started to considered what steps should be taken to preserve the cultural heritage of the world. It would be another four years before the first soldier bearing the designation of Monuments Man would land with the invading allies and strive to keep the modern war machine from destroying the culture of the people they were fighting for. Once boots were on the ground the men of the MFAA learned of the organized looting that the Nazi higher ups were involved in. With men like the Robert Posey, Walker Hancock, and Jams Rorimer, led by the unstoppable George Stout the Nazis couldn't hide anything. With determination, perseverance, and a whole lot of luck they recovered thousands of pieces of art worth million (and possibly billions) of dollars covering centuries of time from all over Europe. What's amazing is that they did it with no formal support from the army. They often had to hitchhike from one location to another. Or when the treasures were discovered they would have limited resources to pack and ship the works out of the mines and caves that many were stored in. By the end of the war they had helped restore the heritage of Europe, protecting many of the art that is currently in the leading museums around the world. Yet after the war their work in Europe fell into obscurity. The men themselves went on to grand things in the art world, but not many know what they did to protect that which they felt was most important.

My personal favorites: The history is an unknown one, and it should be known. The accomplishments of this very small group of men and women is monumental in what it accomplished. I enjoyed the personal touches that the author provided. It was like getting to know these non-traditional soldiers. They were older men with families, wives, children, and careers and despite this they worked themselves almost to death for that which they knew was worth preserving. The background on the fighting was useful information to put the MFAA's  work in context. This book works very well with Citizen Soldier in that it covers much of the same time period. In fact, Edsel uses Ambrose as a reference at one point. This book did a good job at showing the importance of the MFAA's work and the need for it to continue as conflicts spread across the world.

Considerations: There is little to no language in this book, and all of it is in the form of quotes from the men and women involved in the work. The only other thing I would mention is that there were a fair number of people involved in the MFAA's work and so keeping names straight can be a little trying. Also, because of the nature of their work the narrative jumps around from one person to another and keeping everything straight may take a little effort.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys not just the history of WWII but also those that what to see more of the human side to war. Wars are destructive by nature, but this group of soldiers were on the field to preserve, find, and restore that which was lost. The total length was a little over 14 hours.

Audible Book Review - "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard P. Feynman

I felt the need to take advantage of Audible's collection of non-fiction books. One of my co-workers suggested that I would enjoy a book by or about Richard P. Feynman, a Noble Prize winning physicist who had a most curious personality. I first heard about Feynman in the song "Every Major's Terrible" by XKCD (performed here with great skill by Errol), but later learned more about from a number of sources, including videos on his famous diagrams and his ability to crack safes at the Manhattan project. As I have an interest in science I figured I could do a lot worst than learning about a rather unorthodox professor and researcher of physics. Here is the link to Audible's page for the book. The book is a collection of reminiscences starting with stories from his childhood up through his work on the Manhattan project and winning the Nobel prize. It is narrated by Raymond Todd who does a great job. Between his wonderful narration and the first person narrative it felt like I was listening to Feynman himself.

Plot: Richard P. Feynman was was always interested in puzzles. He had to figure things out. This led him to degrees in physics and a career in teaching and research. He found a joy in physics that was unmatched by anything else. His interests included pranks, drums, girls, drawing, and solving any puzzle he could get his hands on. He fixed radios, conducted experiments in physics and biology, cracked safes, learned languages, subjected himself to sensory deprivation so he could experience hallucinations, was hypnotized, played in a samba bad in Brazil and drums for a ballet, and wished he had never won the Nobel Prize. These reminiscences roughly follow Feynman's life, but are organized by themes as well. In them he explains what led to some of his greatest adventures and the benefits he received from them. He does not dwell on his family or day to day activities. Rather, he allows the reader to experience the things that brought him joy and impacted his life in many ways. The book ends with a chapter adapted from a commencement talk he gave at Cal Tech and is a great summation of his love of science and his advice for those that look to learn from it.

My personal favorites: That one person could have so many different experiences was a delight to read about. The fact that he did (and got away with) as much as he did shows that life is only boring to those that choose to make it so. I enjoyed reading about his dedication to the things that he enjoyed. As a yellow personality I understand the desire to find enjoyment in life. While he did it in some ways that I disapprove of I can still appreciate his efforts. This book is just fun to listen to.

Considerations: As a personal memoir the book does describe his interest in some things that others may not approve of. While there is very little implications of sex, Feynman did take a lot of interest in girls. There are no inappropriate descriptions of any individual instances, i.e. the girls are all described in generic terms ("nifty" "stunning" etc,) and the only references of a sexual nature is in a short story about Feynman learning how to get girls he met in bars to do more than just make him buy drinks. There is a little language throughout the book as Feynman might be considered a "hell" and "damn" man, but there is one use of very strong language when quoting an artist friend who apparently wasn't.

In addition to providing a lot of really run anecdotes about a brilliant, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, this book did cause me to think about what it takes to have these kinds of adventures. Richard Feynman may not be a role model in some ways, but he does demonstrate how to approach life in a way that will help you experience the adventures you want to have. It really boils down to a curious mind, a willingness to try new and strange things, and the determination to follow through.

Audible Book Review - The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer

I picked up The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany (here after Third Reich) on October 25, and started it at once. I finished it this morning (Dec 10). At 57 hours it is the longest book I've listened to so far and took me longer because of  And I loved it. I first heard of this book from my father who owns a hardback copy that sits on the self downstairs by the computers. When I was in high school I remember him taking it down and saying, "It's time again." When he finished he told me that he likes to read it every ten years or so to remind himself of what is possible when people don't pay attention. The story of Adolf Hitler's rise to power is one that is shocking and incredible. It's amazing that corruption on such a scale was not only practiced but believed on the scale that it was. Adolf Hitler somehow got away with what might be considered the biggest con in the world. A con that revived and subsequently destroyed Germany's economy as well as killed millions of people through terror, war, and extermination. Shirer was a journalist in Germany during  Hitler's reign. He was present for many of the pre-war events and even heard many of Hitler's speeches. In addition to his own observations Shirer was able to get official documents, captured from the Nazi regime. Such a collection of documents including memos, meeting notes, diaries and journals. The extent of the documents leaves very little unknown - even in regard to "secret" meetings. Shirer was also present for the Nuremberg Trials and used testimony from them as source material to expand the narrative. Here is the link to Audible's page for the book. Overall the book was captivating and intriguing. As my father said, it's good to be reminded of what is possible when people don't pay attention. With history's hindsight we can see exactly how bad it can be. The book was narrated by Grover Gardner who did a great job.

Plot: The scope of the book is explained in the title. Starting with a brief history of the young Adolf Hitler, Third Reich really starts with Hitler's decision to enter politics and his introduction to National Socialism. As the Nazi party later became a cult to Hitler we get a fairly detailed understanding of the man from his decision to join to his death at his own hands. Beyond a history of Hitler's leadership in the party Shirer also discusses the intellectual basis of National Socialism (Aryan race supremacy - a very flawed science); what life was like under Nazi rule; and the political, military, and economic decisions of the Nazi leaders. The "bloodless" victories over Austria and Czechoslovakia, the conquest of Poland, Norway, Denmark and France, and the conflict with Britain and the USSR are all discussed as part of Nazi history. Those conflicts are discussed from a political standpoint - they are not a blow-by-blow or strategy and tactics. In many ways, the first two years of the war take more time to discuss because of the political machination that took place whereas the last three years were more of a straight up fight. Shirer is very good at pointing out the "might have beens" of history. He does so without condemnation to the individual players, but more as an admonition that should history start to repeat itself that those that have seen these events in the past will recognize the signs and will act in ways to stop it. Because Shirer had so much material to write Third Reich he is able to give names and dates without fear of error. It is probable that this book has a near complete list of all the players involved with Nazi Germany from those that led it to those that served it to those that opposed it and were affected by it. While it is impossible to cover everything Third Reich does a very thorough job at helping readers (and listeners) understand how the Nazi party was able to be voted into power and then destroyed Germany from the inside out.

Personal favorites: I really like how thorough Shirer was with the topic. I felt like every possible topic about Nazi Germany was discussed. The wealth of sources was incredible as well. I was impressed and very pleased when Shirer mentioned the extensive interview he personally had with General Franz Halder. I was also liked hearing the author's personal comments about the Nazi leaders as well as personal experiences. As the book is centered on the history of the Third Reich and not Shirer's memoirs such personal remarks are not extensive but add a nice flavor to the historical narrative. It was fascinating to hear of the political side of the war - I've spent more of my time on the military side.

Considerations: The biggest consideration is that the book is massive. 57 hours is a big commitment, but you do get your credit's worth (or $50 if you buy it). Also, a book about Nazi Germany includes the atrocities that they committed the biggest being called by them "the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem." The book does relate a number of wrenching scenes- descriptions of the extermination squads at work, medical experiments, and other such depravities. While such things cannot be discussed without details that may make some uncomfortable such descriptions are kept as straight forward as possible and were not gratuitous or the focus of the book.

Ever since my father's last re-read of this book, I've thought about it. Audible was the perfect way for me to enjoy it and learn so much about a small group that took over a modern country and started something that changed the world for ever more. The book teaches us some valuable lessons - the biggest of which is to stand up for what we know is wrong. Such lessons are best learned through history and may we ourselves pray to never experience them ourselves. As mentioned, the total length was 57 hours.

The Old Churches

Along the Freedom Trail are two churches, the Old South Church and the Old North Church. Original names I know but they are fantastic buildings. The first one you see is the Old South Church.

They are currently restoring the outside of the building, primarily the wooden parts, windows and such. I thought the flare from the sun was a nice touch. The inside is a museum as this was the site of the decision to conduct the Boston Tea Party (original). The inside is impressive and a little odd if you haven't seen the set up before. 

The pulpit was very impressive. I did wonder about the hanging ceiling though. I ask the docent at the Old North Church about t, as they had one above the pulpit. It turns out it is a sounding board to reflect the speaker's voice back down to those assembled. And considering those assembled, the second picture shows a pew. Keep in mind that the pulpit is to the right, that means that some of the people sitting in the pew the speaker will be behind them. I learned from a guide at the Old North church that a stranger, new parishioner or visitor could use what was called the "stranger's pew" at the back but that after three times coming to church they were excepted to buy a pew. The Old North Church had the family names on the pews as it is still a Episcople meeting house. The Old north Church was where the "One if by land. Two if by sea" occured. They have a nice mural at the head of the hall and a cool organ over the door in the balcony.

Somehow I didn't snap a picture of the outside of the Old North Church. It was raining by that point in the day and I was anxious to do see the last few locals along the freedom trail. I do regret not getting one. It was a pretty cool building.

Audible Book Review - Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett leads the pack of my list of favorite authors. I generally buy at least three of his books a year, but have read almost all of his novels one way or another. Dodger is the third one I've listened to and as with the others I enjoyed Stephen Briggs' performance. Pratchett was a way of weaving a story so it is both entertaining and insightful. This novel is a stand-alone story set in our world (not the Discworld) and is done as an slightly tweaked historical fiction. Mostly adventure, part mystery, and a good part social commentary, Pratchett takes period figures and spins a story around them that makes you want to become a Dodger yourself. Here is the link to the audible page for the book.

Plot: Dodger is a tosher, a person who spends his days crawling through the sewers of Victorian London picking up coins and valuables that find their way off the street. He is also a geezer, someone that everybody knows and that knows everybody. He is a boy of 17, but is a man of the street and knows his way around by the very smell of the sewer. So what happens when he watches a young women leap from a moving carriage and try to fight off two men who try to get her back into it? Leaping to her rescue leads Dodger right into the way of "Charlie" Dickens, a writer for the Chronicle, and Henry Mayhew, a social researcher. It turns out that the young lady's is the hinge pin of international events and if she is not returned to her abusive husband, the country may face war. Dodger is bound and determined to see that Simplicity, the alias given the young women, will not be danger from others. He soon finds himself in the presence of Sweeny Todd, Benjamin Disraeli, Angela Burdett-Coutts, and Sir Robert Peel. Dodger is clearly out of his element with all of the knobby folk around him, but rises to the occasion and when those in power cannot keep Simplicity safe, Dodger shows them how they do it on the street.

My personal favorites: Dodger is a capable young man who seldom questions if he can do something, just how to do it. This make him a hero automatically. He is authentic and likable. His interactions with Charlie are particularly fun as Pratchett plays them up as possible sources for some of Dickens' book ideas and titles. There are really no fools or incompetence in this book which makes Dodger's victories all the more sweet. Like the vast majority of Pratchett's other books, Dodger has moments of insight into the human condition and points out things that should be thought about. Soloman Cohen, Dodger's mentor, is particular in this yet while he is preachy, he doesn't come across as such. It was fun to guess who were the characters Pratchett pulled from history and which were his own invention and I was surprised by many of them.

Considerations: I did not find anything offensive in this book, but I will mention some things that may be of interest. Pratchett uses some terms at the beginning of the book that he does not define until a little way in. Tosher and geezer being two of them. This can make it a little odd to read, but at the same time it is done in a way that the usage and definition don't usually pull a reader out of the story. Also, the money system at the time was very convoluted as it is not based on a decimal system. This can cause some confusion as to the price of things, but as it becomes clear what is worth more than / less than what fairly early this obstacle can be overcome easily. Pratchett has a note of both of this point at the back of the story. The book also describes, in some (but not graphic detail) the sense of living in Victorian London and how unpleasant, nasty, and poor it was. The total length of the book was 10 and a half hours.

Audible Book Review - Citizen Soldier: The U.S. Army from the Norman Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose

Today I finished Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Norman Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose. I currently own three of his books, D-Day: the Climactic Battle of WWII; Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest; and Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944. Ambrose is a master of weaving a story that is not his own. He tells the histories of the actual men who fought in World War Two and gives the war names and faces. My mother first introduced me to Citizen Soldiers, ironically, shortly after I picked up D-day in an airport bookstore. She shared some of the stories that Ambrose relates and they were both entertaining and inspiring. Like Clancy, I enjoy reading Ambrose, but have difficulty completing him. Of the three books I own, I have finished just one, but have read at least half way through all of them. Listening to Citizen Soldiers was wonderful as George Wilson, the narrator, was able to make it clear which words were Ambrose and which were the stories he was telling. He even used slight German, British, and Russian accents when the story was not an American's. The book was inspiring and I provided me with an insight to the Western front that despite my years of interest in WWII history I had not had before.

Plot: The best way to describe this book is, as Ambrose puts it, "A biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations (ETO)." This is because from the very beginning to the very end he tells the individual stories of the soldiers who fought the battles. He provides enough background to give you an understanding of events surrounding the story and even dedicates several chapters to aspects of ETO such as: medical personal and experiences, life in the foxholes, prisoners of war, and even the "jerks, sad-sacks, and Jim Crow" that existed in the army. In addition, he tells many of the German veterans' stories, providing a counterpoint to the U.S. troops experiences, often showing the differences and similarities between the sides. The stories told include: tales of heroism - men recounting unarmed medics rushing into harms way to get wounded men out of it, individuals who risked and sacrificed their lives for the good of others; moments of awe: men watching the combined might of air and artillery power raining down on enemy positions, celebrating Christmas and Easter with enemy troops and civilians; moments of desperation - fighting in conditions so terrible men hoped they be wounded so they could get some rest, the experience of being taken prisoner; elements of hope - receiving from others regardless of whether friend or foe, waking up in a hospital bed way from the front; occurrences of depravity: killings of POW by both sides, watching comrades die, the fate of those in concentration camps; humorous improbabilities - the first solo flight in a jeep, two German soldiers convincing one American soldier that since there were two of them and one of him that he should take them prisoner; and many, many more. Ambrose invites the reader to watch as the U.S. Army grew up and challenged a force more seasoned and experienced then itself and how it did so without leaving a legacy of hate, revenge, or fear. The final part of the book relates how many American and German veterans became friends in the years after the war. Ambrose ends by relating a comment made by a  German soldier, Herpst (spelling?) by name, "I only want to add when I am with Americans we are friends. They tell me that I am lucky to be alive. I tell them that I'm lucky that they are such poor shots."

My personal Favorites: The stories are simply wonderful. Ambrose tends to keep himself out of it and just tells the stories of the everyday, citizen soldier. This is refreshing from usual historical commentaries where the author will postulate if decisions were right or wrong, describe what conditions were like, and generally speak about the generals. Ambrose does this through the everyday soldier. Many of the stories are humorous and the ones that aren't are insightful and meaningful in ways that no "commentary" ever could be. While he is unable to provide a comprehensive view of the army, like any biography provides insights that few who were not there could have experienced. In addition to my innate interest in the historical aspects of this book, my great uncle was a scout in Patton's Third Army and this book helped me understand some of what he experienced. It is well written and flows between chapters and sections well.

Considerations: Ambrose does not censor the stories of those that served. Like in Red Storm Rising there are several accounts that the speakers use blunt and offensive language. I did not notice it as much as I did in Red Storm Rising, and was actually surprised when it would crop up as there are long sections of the book where no offensive language is used. Also, as this is a book on war, some of the stories are rather disturbing, particularly when talking about wounded and dying soldiers, some of the atrocities committed by both sides, and also in relating the liberating some of the prison camps. As the book relates real soldiers' experiences, many of them recalling them from many years afterwards, there is little graphic description. Men who have experienced such things do not wish to recall them in great deal. While descriptive of the experience of these nightmares, there is little visual imagery beyond what is needed to narrate the scene. Even with these considerations, I recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in the citizen soldier of World War Two. The book was 21 and a half hours long.