No comments about Margaret Thatcher's Revolution: How It Happened And What It Meant.

No comments about Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson: A Political Soldier.

No comments about More (Past Masters).

2 comments about Sir Francis Drake.

1. The author has a healthy respect for Drake without becoming too enamored. The author points out at near the end of the book that Drake was the right man at the right time. On Drake's later expeditions (that were failures) the Spanish had fortified their holdings in the new world to a point that made it more difficult for privateers. This, however, does not detract from Drake's earlier success which would not have been accomplished by men of lesser genius.



2. I thought this was a fairly easy read, chocked full of well reasearched facts. However when hard documentation was not available, well argued reasoning is injected to make the intended point. I've read many treatments on Drake and find this to be the most definative.
   While there are many missing pieces to Drakes life, the author really gives a good picture of the man and his times without putting him on a pedestal or dragging him through the mud as many authors try. In other words this book is not based on just trying to get another "ANGLE" to Drakes story.
   I think you be pleased you read it.

No comments about Swift, Volume 2, Dr. Swift (Swift Vol. 2).

2 comments about Falls Memories: A Belfast Life.

1. Falls Memories is really more of a collection of short pieces on life in the Western corner of Belfast than a novel or history with any coehsive theme. It is literally things Gerry Adams, President of the political party Sinn Fein, remembers about the neighborhood in which he grew up, or memories of those who lived in the area. There is some attempt to give a brief history and political context for the memories, but these sections are poorly integrated into the narratives about his boyhood adventures, the characters in the area, and the traditions of the Falls. The context pieces sound driven (perhaps appropriately) by anger and frustration while the narratives, even when describing violence or sectarian harassment, have a softer feel to them. Falls Memories is a valuable book, despite these shortcomings. First of all, it chronicles life in an area that has literally been obliterated in the last 25 years. As the Northern Ireland government has torn down unfit housing and replaced it with more sanitary and comfortable abodes they have erased many streets from the map, replacing them with new layouts which meet new security standards and are less emotionally charged with history. Secondly, much of the book deals with day to day occurances which might happen anywhere in the world - young boys sneaking into movies, girls playing jump rope, adults telling stories abuot the "good old days." Falls Memories serves as a reminder that the people affected by the Troubles are not so much different than the rest of us.



2. The historical information in this book is fascinating. I loved the style of writing. I would recommend this book to any one interested in Irish history.

No comments about Keeping Mum: A Wartime Childhood.

1 comments about Lunar Men.

1. What's so interesting is to learn
   about the intellectual excitement in investigating
   sciences that hadn't yet become the provinces of
   academics and professionals. It makes me think of the
   enthusiasm surrounding digital and computer
   technologies--most of the interesting stuff in those
   areas is done outside of academia. Innovations can
   come from anywhere. It's also interesting to learn
   that these 18th century folks from the midlands lived
   so large and traveled so much abroad. I suppose they
   weren't just ordinary people, but still it's
   surprising. I suppose the innovations of the midland
   potters and "toy" makers were the iPods and mobile
   phones of their day.
   
   There are also some writing gems in this book. I like
   this about James Watt on page 101: "Standing on the
   Green, which on weekdays was white with linen laid out
   to bleach, the realization 'flashed on his mind at
   once, and filled him with rapture'. But it was the
   Sabbath, and no good Presbyterian could work. The
   grass was bare of cloth and Watt had to wait."

1 comments about Outside Is America: U2 in the U.S..

1. Non-Bostonians who have seen the "Live in Boston" U2 DVD were probably a bit puzzled, when halfway through one of the songs Bono sings out "Paradise...20 Years ago....A Club called Paradise". The line is a reference to a Boston club called "The Paradise" where they played one of their first shows in the US sometime in late December, 1980.

   There is much discussion among casual U2 fans I know as to where they played their very first gig in the US. (Some say New York, some say Boston.) I decided to get this book and settle the argument.

   Both sides are somewhat right. Although U2 played their first concert in New York, WBCN in Boston was the first radio station in the US to play their music. Carter Allen details how he picked up a import single of their first record and was able to get the station music director to ok him putting it on.

   And such did greatness get its' start.

5 comments about Across A Dark & Wild Sea.

1. Deftly written and superbly illustrated by Don Brown, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is the true story of Columcille (also known as Columba), a beloved figure from Celtic history. Columcille loved books so much that he secretly copied a volume of psalms from Rome against it's owner's wishes. The resulting and bitter fallout in 521 A.D. caused Columcille to deliberately leave Ireland in a tiny boat, vowing never to return. He founded a famous monastery on the Scottish island of Iona and left a legacy that endures to this day. Brought to life with moody, windswept color illustrations, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is a most engaging picture book and recommended for readers of all ages.



2. The only thing that I can add to the professional and reader reviews is that St. Columcille is also known as St. Columba. All the other reviews do a great job of describing this book.



3. This book was read as part of the Catholic Mosaic program with our kids. It happened to be read around the first week of school and the subject of being a scholar and how important books are to EVERYONE was highly appropriate. Definitely a keeper!



4. In the Year of Our Lord, 521, in the Dark Ages that haunted Europe, was born Columcille, the son of a minor king in Ireland. This is the story of Columcille, his growth, his education, and his founding of the great monastery on Iona, in Scotland. The book itself is written for the younger reader, and contains many colorful and extremely beautiful illustrations.
   
   Overall, I found this to be a very good book. It does a good job of telling the story of St. Columcille in an easy-to-read, no-nonsense way. It's a very entertaining read, and an educational one. I highly recommend it.



5. This is a nicely illustrated and written story about Ireland's Columcille, but the author left one very important point out--Columcille was a monk! That's right, a Christian leader in ancient Ireland. To read this book, one would only know he was a scholar & lover of books, but his claim to fame was as a religious man.