Wednesday, August 10, 2016
[Book Review] The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey
Science Fiction
Marilyn reviews THE WHITE DRAGON (Dragonriders of Pern #3) by Anne McCaffrey (Ballantine Books, 1978)
Jaxon is a boy on the brink of manhood in a world that is under a great threat. The planet of Pern has been invaded by a creature from space called Thread. In order to fight Thread, dragons are used in this imaginary world created by author Anne McCaffrey. Although the reader meets Jaxon in earlier volumes of the series, The White Dragon chronicles his becoming a leader. Anne McCaffrey also creates a loyal companion for Jaxon in Ruth, the white dragon. As Jaxon grows into manhood his relationship with Ruth deepens into a stronger bond of loyalty for each other.
The White Dragon is the third book in a series of science fiction novels that take place in Pern. I enjoyed the book because it had mystery, romance, and dragons. A reader who has not read the previous two books can easily follow Pern’s politics and benefit from McCaffrey’s use of brief explanations and background information.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: Fiction, Readers' Advisory Annotations, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Science Fiction
Friday, March 11, 2016
[Book Review] Hooked by G. Bruce Knect
Nonfiction
Marilyn reviews HOOKED: PIRATES, POACHING, AND THE PERFECT FISH by G. Bruce Knecht
A captivating tale of the creative marketing of a fish, the overfishing of the animal, and a dramatic chase on the Antarctic high seas is Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish by G. Bruce Knecht.
Knect uses flashbacks to describe the first moments of an overseas chase, introducing readers to the Patagonian toothfish--a fish which was previously thought to be inedible. Lee Lantz “discovers” the toothfish, changes the name, and creates a market in North America. Under the skillful marketing of Lantz the Patagonian toothfish, renamed Chilean Bass, is served in major cities of the United States and becomes an endangered species from overfishing. From this opening passage one of the longest chases in Maritime history begins in the Australian waters when the Southern Supporter patrol ship sees an unmarked fishing vessel in the Australian waters.
The book serves as an introduction of the loss of fish species from overfishing because of the world’s appetite for fish. Hooked also is a reminder to me of the fragility of the ocean. When a fish does not meet human needs, mankind hunts for another one and therefore depletes the oceans. I saw this book as a warning.
I especially enjoyed the author’s re-creation of the chase. G. Bruce Knecht did extensive interviews with participants from both sides of the patrol chase. The reader will be caught up in the thrill of the chase and interested to know if toothfish is eaten in Memphis. With a little research I found that Chilean Sea Bass was served in Memphis restaurants from a food critic's reviews in the Commercial Appeal published in 2000, 2002, and 2004. Even today the toothfish is still an endangered fish.
Hooked is a good exciting read.
Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Staff book reviews
Monday, November 16, 2015
[Book Review] At Home by Bill Bryson
Marilyn reviews AT HOME: A SHORT HISTORY OF PRIVATE LIFE by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, 2010)
Have you ever questioned why England so powerfully influenced our private lives and where our social customs originated? Have you ever wondered what foods, plants, and building materials the British Empire, which ruled the oceans, brought into our lives? At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson explores the changes in our houses and cities that the British Empire invented or nurtured.
Bryson, who lives in an English Victorian Parsonage, takes us on a tour of his home. The tour is not a personal tour of a home, but a history of the decorations, furnishings, and the customs of each room. The book is a journey through the history of the ordinary things in our lives that we, many times, take for granted. The reader discovers the forgotten designers, events, and social customs that shape our private lives.
I especially enjoyed the chapters, “The Dining Room” and “The Garden”. Bryson details how our dining customs evolved as new foods came to British tables. The Dining Room came about because guests would wipe their hands on the expensive upholstered furniture. As a teenager, I wondered where our dining customs came from and how we discovered spices from others lands. This chapter answered many of my questions and allowed me to explore trade routes of the British Empire.
In the chapter entitled “The Garden” I discovered the origins of modern landscaping and the native habitats of many garden plants. I also learned about Fredrick Olmstead, whose sons (The Olmstead Brothers) would design the Memphis Tennessee Park System. Many plants that the British found in their empire would be transported to England and the United States. Many of these plants now inhabit the parks, lawns, and gardens of Memphis, Tennessee.
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson is a wonderful source for answers to the origins of our building materials, clothing, customs, food, and furnishings.
Marilyn Umfress, Central LibraryLabels: Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Staff book reviews
Monday, June 08, 2015
[Book Review] On This Day in Memphis History by G. Wayne Dowdy
Marilyn reviews ON THIS DAY IN MEMPHIS HISTORY by G. Wayne Dowdy (History Press, 2014)
On This Day in Memphis History is a
wonderful read for someone seeking a dose of Memphis history a day at a time.
We’ve all heard the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Well, a dose of Memphis history whets the reader’s appetite for more
Memphis history.
G. Wayne Dowdy has reminded
readers that Memphis history is not all politics in his book. For each
day of the year a person can read about a fascinating event. The
365 entries are composed of moments in time in the lives of citizens, hilarious
happenings, the ever-changing music styles of the Bluff City, and the thrill of
sports along with the world of city government and politics. Also the book
reflects that Memphis is the birthplace of all types of agencies and
organizations. The pages are composed of well-researched occurrences,
which when necessary contain some background information.
I enjoyed just reading the book
and discovering little known people from all economic classes and occupations.
Many of them influence Memphis, Tennessee even today. Whether this book
is enjoyed over the course of one year or as a straight through reading, the
reader meets Memphians of all walks of life and occupations in both the 19th
and 20th centuries.
Bon appétit, readers. Enjoy
these morsels of Memphis history.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Readers can simply read this book or use this book as a guide to visit historic sites and share them with us during Explore Memphis 2015.
Visit Explore Memphis to learn how you can win great prizes this summer. You can sign up at any library branch or participate online at explorememphis.org
Visit Explore Memphis to learn how you can win great prizes this summer. You can sign up at any library branch or participate online at explorememphis.org
Labels: Memphis History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
[Book Review] COUP by Keel Hunt
Marilyn reviews COUP: THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS OUSTED THEIR GOVERNOR, PUT REPUBLICAN LAMAR ALEXANDER IN OFFICE EARLY, AND STOPPED A PARDON SCANDAL by Keel Hunt (Vanderbilt University Press, 2013)
Coups have been known to happen in foreign countries, not in
the United States. Nevertheless on January 17, 1979 at 5:55 p.m. in the State
of Tennessee of the United States of America, a coup happened: Governor-elect
Lamar Alexander became Governor Lamar Alexander three days early.
The events leading to the early inauguration of Governor
Alexander became the subject of the book Coup by Keel
Hunt. The book is a fantastic read of the behind the headlines events of the
Tennessee Pardon Scandal of 1979. The scandal held national attention for the
few weeks leading to Governor Lamar Alexander’s early swearing-in.
The whole scandal begins when a man in a black Chrysler
Cordova approaches lawyer Jack Lowery. Lowery’s client, Will Midget, was requesting
executive clemency while serving a prison sentence. For a certain amount
of money the man told Lowery that Midget would be released. Jack Lowery reports
and writes a summary of the encounter to Marie Ragghianti, Chairman of the
Board of Pardons and Paroles, who shows it to the assistant U.S. Attorney. The assistant
U.S. Attorney shows the summary to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thus,
the selling of pardons is exposed.
More corruption is spotted by newspaper reporter Lee Smith,
who published a small article on the back page of the Tennessean
Journal newspaper after he sees convicted murderer, Roger Humphreys,
working freely in the public. The state news media republishes the story and
the scandal becomes national news. Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton adds fuel to
the fire when he announces that he is going to pardon Roger Humphreys, who
killed his ex-wife and boyfriend. Humphreys is pardoned on January 15, 1979 and
more pardons are scheduled, according to an FBI informant, before Governor Ray
Blanton leaves office on January 20th. The investigation by the FBI was
in full swing but powerless to stop any more pardons. U.S. attorney Hal
Harding felt powerless to do anything but with this knowledge, he picks up the
phone and calls state officials. The ouster is started.
Keel Hunt thoroughly interviewed participants and researched
the ouster of Governor Ray Blanton. He was able to see the whole perceptive
because he was teaching a class at Vanderbilt University on the day of coup.
Earlier he had worked on Lamar Alexander’s gubernatorial campaign. He writes in
a suspenseful, engaging style that builds into the four hours of the coup with
background information on the participants, achieving his purpose of telling
how the coup unfolded.
Of special interest are the roles played in the coup by
Memphians like former Memphis city councilman Lewis Donelson, and the capture
of former Tennessee Highway Patrolman Fred Taylor who was recorded talking
about obtaining pardons and the release of some notorious criminals in
Tennessee prisons. Hunt also makes references to the Crump-McKellar and
Clement–Ellington political machines.
I enjoyed the intriguing political maneuvering part Memphis
played in the coup, and the courage shown by those who executed the coup. For
readers who do not remember Gov. Ray Blanton or the pardon scandal, this tale
is a suspenseful read into Tennessee politics and a reminder to all that
Memphis’s influence extends beyond the borders of Shelby County.
Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: Nonfiction, Politics, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Staff book reviews, Tennessee History
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
[Book Review] Six Months Off by Lamar Alexander
Marilyn reviews SIX MONTHS OFF: AN AMERICAN FAMILY’S AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE by Lamar Alexander (Morrow, 1988)
How does a father and former governor of Tennessee reconnect with his family, who had been living in a governor's mansion which occasionally has tourists roaming through it? The solution: take time off.
While he was governor of Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, father of four children, had drifted away from his family’s lives. Now, with the end of his second term in sight, he noticed at the dinner table that three of his children had their chairs slightly turned toward their mother. From this setting begins Alexander’s idea of taking six months off, chronicled in his book, Six Months off: An American Family’s Australian Adventure.
"It just came up one night at supper. I remember that the sun was still hot through the big windows, even though it was six o’clock so it must have been midsummer, and it must have been 1985.
We were sitting at our places around the breakfast-room in the Mansion. I was at the head. Honey commanded the other end, guarding the only exit to the television set. The children sat two on each side..."
The family conversation turned from the children not eating their food to getting away for six months in a foreign country; one of several countries named was Australia.
The idea intrigued Lamar and his wife, Honey. Both agreed they needed a rest and started making plans. They found out that other families were thinking of doing the same thing. Lamar and Honey also wanted to take time away to transition from a governor’s family to a normal family.
According to Alexander, the landscape of Australia is a contrast of breathtaking wildernesses to modern coastal cities. With most of the population living near the seacoast, he reveals that some Australians rarely visit the interior of their country. But the book is more than a tour of Australia; it’s about a family getting to know one another, a father involving himself in his children’s lives, and Lamar Alexander’s observations of the similarities and differences between Australians and Americans.
Six Months Off is a humorous book that had this reviewer chuckling throughout the pages.
Labels: Memoir, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Staff book reviews, Travel Writing
Thursday, October 16, 2014
[Book Review] Dreadnought by Robert K. Massie
Marilyn reviews DREADNOUGHT: BRITAIN, GERMANY, AND THE COMING OF THE GREAT WAR by Robert K. Massie (Random House, 1991)
Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War by Robert K. Massie was a good read on the political and military history of Great Britain and Germany before World War I, also known as the Great War. Robert Massie wrote an in-depth history of the rise of Germany and Great Britain’s reaction to the German nation’s alliances, acquisition of colonies, and development into a naval sea power.
Robert K. Massie starts his work with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the rise of Germany into a world power. The book also recounts the personal lives of Queen Victoria, her children, and grandchildren. Her son, Edward VII, and grandson, George V, would become kings of the United Kingdom. Another one of her grandsons would become Kaiser William II of Germany, while her daughters would marry the rulers of Europe.
Of interest to me were the personalities of the ambassadors, prime ministers, naval personnel, and king. I was intrigued by the choice of alliances between countries, the changing of their navies from sailing to coal-driven turbine Dreadnought ships, and Great Britain’s move from a policy of isolationism to forming alliances with countries in Europe. The depth of the secrecy of Germany’s alliances, which it continued to make and change in the later part of the 19th century, was a fact of which I was not aware. In the twentieth century came the emergence of the Dual Alliance and Triple Alliance and, as a result, the stage for World War I is set.
Marilyn, Central Library
Don't forget the World War I Monday Lecture Series taking place in the Memphis Room of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The last two dates are October 20 and November 10, 2014. Call (901) 415-2742 for more information.
The last two dates are October 20 and November 10, 2014. Call (901) 415-2742 for more information.
Labels: History, Library Events and Programs, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Staff book reviews
Monday, June 30, 2014
[Book Review] TEN GREEN BOTTLES by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan
Marilyn reviews Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family’s Journey From War-Torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan (Martin’s Press, 2004)
The Jews of Austria were loyal Austrian citizens. Their freedoms, loyalty, and culture were gradually destroyed when the Nazi Party increased its political presence and power in Austria. The final destruction came when Hitler annexed Austria in 1938. The Karpel family is trapped like many other Jewish families with no place to go; the world has closed their borders to Jewish immigrants. In Ten Green Bottles, Vivian Jeanette Kaplan recounts her family’s struggle for survival in the midst of the horror.
The Karpel family endures hardships in Austria until 1939, when they escape to Shanghai. Between 1937 and 1939, numbers of Jews escape from Austria to Shanghai. The family arrived on one of the last ships carrying Jewish refugees to Shanghai--a new world. Shanghai presents a mixture of many cultures – American, British, and Jewish – which had adapted to their cultures to Chinese culture.
Safety did not remain with the family for long because World War II breaks out and the Japanese invade Shanghai. The struggle to survive begins again amidst the starvation, American bombings, and the terrifying sounds of Chinese being tortured by the Japanese. In the midst of all this horror the Jews are made prisoners in a Shanghai ghetto.
Ten Green Bottles is told in the voice of Nini, the author’s mother. Through her eyes you can see the journey into horror and despair as the Jews are made non-citizens by the Nazis in Austria only to face more struggles in Shanghai. I would encourage anyone to read this book of courage.
The Jews of Austria were loyal Austrian citizens. Their freedoms, loyalty, and culture were gradually destroyed when the Nazi Party increased its political presence and power in Austria. The final destruction came when Hitler annexed Austria in 1938. The Karpel family is trapped like many other Jewish families with no place to go; the world has closed their borders to Jewish immigrants. In Ten Green Bottles, Vivian Jeanette Kaplan recounts her family’s struggle for survival in the midst of the horror.
The Karpel family endures hardships in Austria until 1939, when they escape to Shanghai. Between 1937 and 1939, numbers of Jews escape from Austria to Shanghai. The family arrived on one of the last ships carrying Jewish refugees to Shanghai--a new world. Shanghai presents a mixture of many cultures – American, British, and Jewish – which had adapted to their cultures to Chinese culture.
Safety did not remain with the family for long because World War II breaks out and the Japanese invade Shanghai. The struggle to survive begins again amidst the starvation, American bombings, and the terrifying sounds of Chinese being tortured by the Japanese. In the midst of all this horror the Jews are made prisoners in a Shanghai ghetto.
Ten Green Bottles is told in the voice of Nini, the author’s mother. Through her eyes you can see the journey into horror and despair as the Jews are made non-citizens by the Nazis in Austria only to face more struggles in Shanghai. I would encourage anyone to read this book of courage.
Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: Biography, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Thursday, May 22, 2014
[Book Review] Sherman: A Soldier's Life by Lee Kennett
Nonfiction/HistoryMarilyn reviews SHERMAN: A SOLDIER'S LIFE by Lee Kennett (HarperCollins, 2001)
Many people, including me, first heard of General William Tecumseh Sherman in American History class during lectures on the Civil War. His “March to the Sea” during the Civil War was a major campaign that led to the defeat of the Confederacy. In the sea of upheaval of the American Civil War, General Sherman cast a long shadow and continues to cast a shadow today on the history of military warfare. The Civil War was, in many people's eyes, the last “gentleman’s war,” as well as a time of death, disease, and displacement.
Sherman: A Soldier's Life by Lee Kennett explores the military and civilian career of William T. Sherman. He was a soldier, banker, teacher, Civil War General, and Commanding General of the United States Army, while also being the father of eight children. By using family letters Lee Kennett explores the character, intents, and plans of General Sherman. General Sherman wrote many letters to his wife Ellen and brother-in- law, Thomas Ewing, outlining his plans for his career and his position on various matters in his lifetime. The author writes about the good and bad traits of General Sherman, which propelled his career or almost destroyed it. The reader can follow the growth of the recruit from West Point to Commanding General of the United States Army.
I found this book a good read into the whole man. Lee Kennett delves into the full man by following Sherman’s development from a young man to the highest general in the land, the pinnacle of service in the United States Army. Kennett explores the influence of the death of Sherman’s son, Willie, at the Gayoso Hotel in Memphis, after the fall of Vicksburg, on Sherman's actions during the rest of the Civil War. After the war, General Sherman is appointed Commanding General of the United States Army and serves until 1883.
I found this book a good read into the whole man. Lee Kennett delves into the full man by following Sherman’s development from a young man to the highest general in the land, the pinnacle of service in the United States Army. Kennett explores the influence of the death of Sherman’s son, Willie, at the Gayoso Hotel in Memphis, after the fall of Vicksburg, on Sherman's actions during the rest of the Civil War. After the war, General Sherman is appointed Commanding General of the United States Army and serves until 1883.
When I read Shelby Foote's The Beleaguered City, and part of the Foote's Civil War series for Memphis Reads, I became more interested in Memphis under the occupation of Sherman. My interest in his military strategies and tactics was also rekindled.
A daily account of Memphis under Military Governor General Sherman is located in the Newspaper Microfilm Collection in the History Department. For anyone interested in Sherman's time in Memphis below is a link to the William A. Goodwin Historical Collection, which contains information on General William T. Sherman.
For additional information on Memphis’ role in the Civil War, a researcher can find books in the Memphis Room and visit Dig Memphis, the Digital Archive of the History Department Memphis Public Library and Information Center.
For additional information on Memphis’ role in the Civil War, a researcher can find books in the Memphis Room and visit Dig Memphis, the Digital Archive of the History Department Memphis Public Library and Information Center.
Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Thursday, May 08, 2014
[Book Review] National Geographic Traveler: Panama by Christopher P. Baker
Marilyn reviews NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER: PANAMA by Christopher P. Baker (National Geographic, 2011)
In National Geographic Traveler: Panama author Christopher P. Baker introduces the country with an informative History and Culture section. The book contains stunning photography by Gilles Mingasson. This is a delightful read for the armchair traveler, an informative book for students, and an excellent travel guide for tourists.
This opening passage from the book is a sample of what’s in store for readers planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Panama or an imaginary visit through it's distinct regions:
“Grandiose, dramatic, spanning an entire continent: The Panama Canal is synonymous with the county it bisects. But the canal’s importance should not overshadow the country’s other treasures. Wildlife wonders, pristine beaches, and the modern delights of Panama City await visitors to Panama.”The book tours the unique provinces of Panama. Baker describes the accommodations in each community or town as a self-guided tour. Vividly described are the animals, communities, climate, and plants. Festivals and locales are described along with tourism tips. The author and other members of the National Geographic Society not only comment on sights but safety as well. The last section of the book is a travel wise section with information on planning a trip, hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and emergencies.
I enjoyed my armchair visit to Panama, our 2014 Memphis in May honored country. The amazing photographs in this book allowed this armchair traveler to imagine walking through the streets, absorbing the sounds of Panama. The other books in The National Geographic Traveler series are recommended.
For anyone interested in Panama or information about the history of Memphis in May, please visit the Memphis and Shelby County Room on the fourth floor of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library or call 415-2742.
Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress, Travel Writing
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
[Book Review] Growing Up with My Grandfather by Clifton Truman Daniel
Marilyn reviews GROWING UP WITH MY GRANDFATHER: MEMORIES OF HARRY S. TRUMAN by Clifton Truman Daniel (Carol Pub. Group, 1995)
Growing Up with My Grandfather is a powerful biography of Clifton Truman Daniel, who lived his young childhood in the shadow of his grandparents, President Harry S. Truman and Bessie Truman. Clifton Truman Daniel tells several family stories of his visits with the Trumans. His grandparents' house was the scene of many childhood adventures and wonderful memories.
My favorite is the story is one about Clifton and marbles. When Clifton was three or four, he discovered marbles that Bessie Truman had hidden in the dining room. He created his own game at the Truman house in Independence, Missouri. At the house was an ancient heating system. The entrance hall heating duct was the target of the game. The game was to take a hand full of marbles from the dining room, go around the corner to the entrance hall heating duct, and let them fall into the heating system. Clifton had a wonderful time listening to the marbles clang against the tin wall of the duct until he had to stop.
I enjoyed the family stories and also found the book a very interesting read on President Truman's family and the effects of fame and power on a family. Clifton Truman Daniel's book also allows the reader to feel what life is like in the shadow of a prominent famous person. I gained some insight from this book into the lives of children of the politically famous.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: Biography, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
[Book Review] When the Levee Breaks by Patrick O'Daniel
Nonfiction/History/Memphis
Marilyn reviews WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS: MEMPHIS AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FLOOD OF 1927 by Patrick O'Daniel (History Press, 2013)
"The line of refugees stretched for miles along the road to Memphis” is the opening line of When the Levee Breaks: Memphis and the Mississippi Valley Flood of 1927 by Patrick O'Daniel. The year is 1927 and most of the Mississippi bottoms and delta farmland around Memphis is flooded. Arkansans in the line have just seen their farms and towns submerged rapidly underwater. Some, to their horror, have seen family members drown. Surviving refugees on the road to Memphis are some of the fortunate ones. Others, along with snakes, wild animals of the delta, and farm animals, are on levees of the Mississippi River exposed to the elements without food or water. Some refugees had warning before a wall of water covered the land. Towns, farms, and woodlands are completely destroyed as the crest of the mighty Mississippi flood marches down the Mississippi Valley breaking levees. Even after the main crest had passed, water remained on the land and the refugees could not go home.
Why were the fortunate ones headed to Memphis? Memphis was on high ground. And, in April of 1927 Memphis, under the leadership of Rowlett Paine, was organizing as a place of refuge, the supply source for those trapped on the levee, and base for a national relief effort for the whole Mississippi River Valley. Memphians, as they had during the 1913 flood, rallied to the relief cause with their time, food, and their fundraisers. Some were involved in the rescues of people trapped on rooftops along with delivering food and supplies. Even with all Memphis' relief efforts, the flood was a monster whose size called for a national program. From Memphis J. Edgar Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, directed a national relief effort using the American Red Cross, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Mississippi River Valley Commission.
In When the Levee Breaks one of the greatest challenges to the city was met by Mayor Rowlett Paine. In the book I discovered a man determined to protect a town, give relief to refugees, and preserve the image of the Memphis. He did this in his second term. Below is a picture of him at his second inauguration.
 |
| Rowlett Paine Inauguration |
Recently, the library’s Memphis and Shelby County Room acquired Mayor Rowlett Paine's papers. In 2012, his papers were processed for the Memphis and Shelby County Room.
Below is a link to the collection.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: History, Memphis Authors, Memphis History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
[Book Review] New Times in the Old South by Marlyn Schwartz
Marilyn reviews NEW TIMES IN THE OLD SOUTH: OR WHY SCARLETT'S IN THERAPY AND TARA'S GOING CONDO by Marlyn Schwartz (Harmony Books, 1993)
New Times in the Old South by Maryln Schwartz is an interesting read on the attitudes and customs of the Old and New South. With the emergence of new money and an influx of northern people, Old South customs and ways are changing. Most of the changes are small, but together they form the New South. With humor, Maryln Schwartz writes about the old and new attitudes of Atlanta, Houston, Memphis and other southern cities.
In these cities, small changes in attitudes and customs of the old and the new combine to influence careers, clubs, recipes, speedways, and southern life. One thing that changed in Memphis, Tennessee was the Memphis Junior League cookbook. The book had an important change--the audience of the cookbook:
"The Memphis Junior League also wanted a national, even international audience for its new cookbook. 'So we hired a marketing research firm to find out just what would make our book marketable everywhere,' explains Lisa Colcoloough, cookbook cochair: 'Its very important because this cookbook will fund most of our community projects.'
The research showed that outsiders think of music as well as good food when they think of Memphis. The result is a recipe collection called Heart and Soul."To find out about Heart and Soul and Memphis in the New South, read this book.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: Humor, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Thursday, June 20, 2013
[Book Reviews] The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
Nonfiction/Historical
Marilyn reviews THE WORDY SHIPMATES by Sarah Vowell (Riverhead Books, 2008)
"The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief. And by dangerous I don't mean thought-provoking. I mean: might get people killed" are the first lines of The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell. With wit and humor, she investigates why the Puritans came to America, their community problems in Boston, Massachusetts and the new world they encountered.
Sarah Vowell informs her audience that "[t]his book is about those Puritans who fall between the cracks of 1620 Plymouth and 1682 Salem, the ones who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony and then Rhode Island during what came to be called the Great Migration." After that statement, she takes the reader on a journey back to 1620 using the Puritan's own words and comparing similar events in our current history of the United States to the Great Migration.
The Wordy Shipmates is not a dull history read, but a thought provoking read into the minds and world of the Massachusetts Puritans. Sarah Vowell also makes an interesting point about how our society looks at the Puritans in television, schools, and historical reenactments. By using John Winthrop's journal as one of her primary sources, she chronicles the events and lives of the Puritans in primarily the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In The Wordy Shipmates, Winthrop's journal comes alive as Sarah Vowell, in her unique style, conveys Winthrop’s strong feelings and logic.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
[Book Review] Inside the Mind of BTK by John Douglas and Johnny Dodd
Marilyn reviews INSIDE THE MIND OF BTK:THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THIRTY YEARS OF HUNTING FOR THE WICHITA SERIAL KILLER by John Douglas and Johnny Dodd (Wiley & Sons, 2007)
How do you catch a shadow?
For thirty years the BTK killer (Bind, Torture, Kill) eluded capture, killing between 1974 and 1991. To John Douglas of the FBI and the police of Wichita, Kansas, BTK was a shadow: appearing, disappearing, and killing at will.
BTK, real name John Rader, was one of the most hunted serial killers of the 1970s. BTK also was a criminal who taunted police between 2000 and 2005 with letters and pictures of his crimes. He was so like a shadow that some of his killings were not credited to him until he claimed credit. John Rader created an image of himself to his family and friends that led to unbelief when he was captured. His true self was hidden in a secret world. The Wichita police had to use 21st century technology to capture him.
Inside the Mind of BTK, written by master retired FBI profiler John Douglas and Johnny Dodd, recounts the hunt for a killer and the setting of the trap to catch him by the Wichita Kansas Police. For thirty years, BTK was in the back of Agent Douglas's mind. Even after Dennis Rader was captured, the retired Douglas wanted to explore Rader's mind by interviewing him and examining his journals and photographs.
Together with Johnny Dodd, Douglas weaves an interesting and fascinating account of the hunt, profiling, and capture of Dennis Rader.
The book is divided into three parts: the hunt, Dennis Rader's life, and an interview done by Douglas. Each part held my attention for it revealed the master mind of a complex criminal.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
Labels: Biography, Crime and Criminals, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
[Book Review] CROSSROADS OF FREEDOM by James M. McPherson
Marilyn reviews CROSS ROADS OF FREEDOM: ANTIETAM: THE BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE CIVIL WAR by James M. McPherson (Oxford University Press, 2002).
Freedom. Who has freedom? Who does not? What does the Constitution of the United States say about freedom?
What did the North and the South believe the Constitution says about freedom? Why did the North's purpose for the Civil War change at Antietam? Did everyone in the Union Army and political parties of the North believe in emancipation before Antietam? Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam: The Battle that Changed the Course of the Civil War by James M. McPherson explores those questions and other causes of the Civil War, the battle of Antietam, and the aftermath--the defeat of the South.
The Civil War was a war also fought in the press between the Union and Confederacy. James M. McPherson recounts the newspapers' opinions in the North, South, and also Great Britain--(Great Britain was divided over whether to aid the Confederacy). Before the battle, the North was divided over the issue of emancipation in the Congress, newspapers, public opinion, and among troops. Crossroads of Freedom traces the course of the war and issues that lead to Abraham Lincoln's decision to write the Emancipation Proclamation.
President Lincoln's decision to write the Proclamation of Emancipation was not his purpose for the war when he took office in 1862. His policy was for restoration of the Union, not ending slavery. James M. McPherson takes the reader into Lincoln's mind and world as he struggled with the indecisiveness of George McClellan--General of the Army of the Potomac, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's winning invasion campaign, and the issue of slavery which was being debated in Congress. The physical conditions of the troops, their camps, marches, and horrors of the aftermath of battles with the dead, dying, and wounded are vividly written as are the campaigns of General Lee of the Confederacy and McClellan of the Union before and during Antietam.
The change of the purpose of the war along with author's writing style made Crossroads of Freedom a very interesting read.
Marilyn Umfress, Central Library
*Crossroads of Freedom is one of the book selections for the "The Shape of War," the March 14th session of Making Sense of the American Civil War at the Central Library. Click here for details.
Labels: History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Marilyn Umfress
