 So I read this quite awhile back, but in light if the recent anniversary that has passed I thought 50 years was long enough for the majority of people to stay ignorant. I was actually quite amazed at the made-for-tv movies and documentaries that came out this year spewing misinformation and lies. The truth of the matter is that there is absolutely no evidence that ties Lee Harvey Oswald to the murder of JFK. The facts, as they would have us believe them, are completely contrary to the existing documentation. Armed with this truth, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartman have spent years doing interviews and piecing together declassified documents in order to bring about this thorough and unbiased account of what actually happened. When I say thorough, I mean 800 some-odd pages worth of thoroughness, so you have to really want to delve into this subject. If WHY it happened is important to you, If HOW it happened is important to you, If the TRUTH about the biggest most elaborate murder and cover up in human history is important to you, you need to read this. I've read thousands of pages on this subject and this is by far the most complete and well done. Everything you thing you know about Oswald, Ruby, Jimmy Hoffa, Marilyn Monroe, the mafia and the government will be called into question. It is a cover-up so immense that those who even discuss the facts are labeled conspiracy buffs. All I can say is that if you still think Oswald did it, it's only because you don't want to know. The truth is here...read it! 
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 Ever since Al Capone catapulted himself on the scene at the onset of prohibition, his family name has become a household word. A word that has become synonymous with corruption, killings and contraband. Many a historian and biographer have written about him. Many movies depicted him. Even now there are those who try to capitalize on him. Once you read this book, you'll realize that no one really knew him. No one, of course, except those who shared his meals, his home, his thoughts and of course, the Capone name. Deirdre Capone is one of those people. The last to be born with the Capone name. In this brutally honest and extremely well written account, Deirdre delves into all the good and bad that having a notorious name encompasses. I have read it and found it to be not at all self serving or exploitative. Instead it is done with class and as a favor to history as she dispels the rumors and assumptions while shedding light on the complex man who brought America its liquor when it was most needed. This is not only an important piece of American history, this is a story of a family. This is This is not 'just another gangster story', but then, Al Capone was not 'just another gangster.' 
 Stories abound of Nazi quests to create supermen and what might have happened to the projects after the fall of the Third Reich. Rollin's attempt at tapping into these myths has produced the perfect novel for those interested in the supposed esoteric, occultist nature of Nazi ideology. He throws in the topics of intelligent design (perfect for fiction), genetic manipulation and something called "The Bell" for good measure. Rollins does have a way with words and is quite a good writer despite often veering between a standard action novel and something a bit more - at times a bit too deep and at other times not quite deep enough. That said, the tale takes us across four continents, from the auction rooms of Copenhagen to the wilds of South Africa to the frozen heights of Nepal. The characters are well thought-out and believable. Even the Nazis, both full-bore and post-Nazi, have something about them that makes them interesting and human (is that politically acceptable?) This is a great page-turner, rewarding the reader whether or not you know about Himmler, and the SS and their quest to find the origins of the Aryan race. You can find plenty to keep you interested if you know nothing about the scientific experimentation going on in the Third Reich up until its last days. If you are in-the-know about the history, the facts and pseudo-facts do not detract from this enjoyable novel.I think its worth a look.   In a time when all our favourite stories are getting a reboot, why shouldn't Robin Hood? The very first novel I ever read as a child was a Robin Hood novel, and the story has always been one of my favourites. I had even made it a point to visit all the places made famous by the tale when I went to England. Sherwood forest, Notingham Castle...all of iit. This particular version is the best I have read. It's a wondeful trilogy. For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting. This re-telling has gained a fantastic sense of realism with Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him—for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive. Like the forest itself, Hood is deep, dark, and at times savagely brutal—yet full of enchantment and hope. Internationally-acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead has created a lyrical rendering of a time-honored story that will lead you down strange pathways into another time and place. Reading this, you get a very good idea of just such a legend could have been born from truth that has been obscured by the mists of time. 
 What can I say? This is hands down the best biography Ive ever read, and Ive read a lot of them. Especially about Walt Disney. Anyone who knows me well, knows that he is a personal hero of mine, and I really enjoyed this honest presentation of the man with all his strengths and faults layed bare. Walt Disney is an American hero--the creator of Mickey Mouse, and a man who changed the face of American culture. After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend--the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture but became the genius who produced unmatched works of animation. Complete with a rare collection of photographs, Bob Thomas' biography is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. Read this and other great biographies by Bob Thomas. 
 So its been a while since I've had time to sit down and update this website of mine, though during this period of neglect I have still managed to read a book or two. One of my recent forays into the world of fiction has been through the mind of Anne Rice. Specifically the Mayfair chronicles, starting with The Witching Hour. This, of course was written before her I found Jesus period which I prefer. In this engrossing and hypnotic tale of witchcraft and the occult spanning four centuries, we meet a great dynasty of witches--a family given to poetry and incest, to murder and philosophy, a family that over the ages is haunted by a powerful, dangerous and seductive spirit. Better known for her works on the Vampire Chronicles, and more specifically Interview With a Vampire, Rice demonstrates, once again, her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of legend. Warning: It is really long and descriptive and often disturbing...but its so amazingly well put together that you get lost in the story. Recomended!   Well, I'm finally done this one! It took a little longer than normal. Being sick doesn't help either. I rarely get sick but when I do ,its bad. I thoroughly enjoyed Ken Follett's epics, Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Though they are ridiculously long, the pages flew, so I was eager to read and review Follett's latest epic, Fall of Giants which promises to be the first in The Century Trilogy. The thing is 1000 pages long and 4 inches thick, but when you've got an expert storyteller weaving an enthralling tale, you never want it to end anyway. I became so engrossed that I couldn't fall as sleep after a few chapters as per my usual routine. What is it that makes Follett so consistently readable? In Fall of Giants it's because the book is so well researched ( the period is early 20th century especially WWI) with information on coal mining, trade unions, women's suffrage, protocols and manners of the minor royalty, politics, government, revolution and war. The story flows from this rich period but the riveting characters are at the forefront. Even the largely unsympathetic characters, such as the Earl, are made at least understandable because Follett thoughtfully portrays their motivations. There are few if any completely good or evil characters here, as it should be. (Though Follett seems none too fond of Russians and priests - be they Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox!) In the past, I have criticized authors that I believe would benefit from more editing (e.g., Steven King, John Irving) so why don't I find Follett's book to be too long? Because there are no slow spots, no political point pushing, and no self-indulgent purple prose. As I mentioned, this book is part of a trilogy, but it is very much a stand alone novel which makes it all the more satisfying to read. Gotta give Ken a thumbs up on this one. Maybe it will be a TV series like Pillars some day!   A lot of the books in my library are quite old. A good friend of mine in London England gave me this one years ago and despite this, we are still friends. I've recently re-read it because, since my trip to Germany, I've descovered a taste for Deutsch Kultur. This is by Friedrich Nietzsche, published in German between 1883 and 1885 and was the masterpiece of his career. It received little attention during his lifetime but its influence since his death has been considerable, in the arts as well as philosophy. Written in the form of a prose narrative, Thus Spake Zarathustra offers the philosophy of its author through the voice of Zarathustra (based on the Persian prophet Zoroaster) who, after years of meditation, has come down from a mountain to offer his wisdom to the world. It is this work in which Nietzsche made his famous (and much misconstrued) statement that "God is dead" and in which he presented some of the most influential and well-known (and likewise misunderstood) ideas of his philosophy, including those of the Ubermensch ("overman" or "superman") and the "will to power." Though this is essentially a work of philosophy, it is also a masterpiece of literature. The book is a combination of prose and poetry, and is a little hard to grasp at times but its well worth the effort. Anyway its an essential read for anyone who has a love for philosophy, and there is no down thumbing Nietzsche...so enjoy!   This has been gathering dust on my shelf for some time now, but I finally got around to reading this thing and I must say, its not a bad read. Of course, Brown is not the first to use the secret brotherhood of the Freemasons as a focal point for an adventure story. Its hard not to compare The Lost Symbol to National Treasure. So the idea is a little tired but still, there is plenty of Mason folklore to go around, and The Lost Symbol does a fine job of creating another mystery in the U.S. capital. So what did I not like about this book? First, Brown does not create anything new -- no new character development, no big surprises in plot trajectory. Furthermore, his signature twists are not nearly as tantalizing as in his previous books. There are several points when it seems as if Brown is trying to make his book more intelligent or profound than it actually is. Langdon's rants about religion and truth, when not directly tied to the mystery, are tedious and even a little preachy. In fact, the last 50 pages of the book try a little too hard to be enlightening. But whatever...the guy already has two block buster hits...give him a break. I do have to say that reading Langdon with Tom Hanks in mind does change the over all feeling of the whole thing. I read the other two before the movie came out. Tom Hanks makes everything better. Also there are a few interesting facts presented throughout the book and Brown is still great at description. You do feel like you are right there. Over all, I think its still worth checking out as long as you're not hoping for another hit like the Da Vinci Code. Besides If you're planning a trip to Washington D.C. in the next year, this would be a fun read to accompany your tour. Thumbs up on this one too. Enjoy.  This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
So I know my website hasn't officially launched as yet, but I figured I'd do a quick review on one of my favourite picks from my library.  What greater story is there than the story of evolution? This latest addition to the Dawkins collection is his summary of the overwhelming amount of scientific evidence supporting evolution. Palaeontology, embryology, anatomy, genetics, artificial breeding and geography are all grist to his evolutionary mill. Dawkins demonstrates once again his consummate skill as a teacher, making the vast subject that is evolution available to everyone. His analogies actually do cast light on the things he wants to explain. (Creationists seem to find this extraordinarily difficult). Those who have already climbed Mount Improbable with him or contemplated the blind watchmaker will not be disappointed, as he ties things in nicely with his previous works. Whether it be the obviously impractical detour taken by the laryngeal nerve in mammals, the convergence between the wings of bats and extinct pterodactyls, the discovery of a whole gallery of human ape fossil "links", the deciphering of the human genome or the development of the human embryo – the topics are all laid out with that combination of clarity and verve that is Dawkins's hallmark, and pursued to his customary conclusion: "There is no architects's plan, no architect." I cant recoment this one enough! I hope you enjoy it, and appreciate any feed back!  |
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