No comments about Brodsky: A Personal Memoir.

2 comments about Gordon MacQuarrie: Story Of An Old Duck Hunter.

1. This guy can write! Forget about the extensive research done to produce the tremendous amounts of factual data in the book, it reads with the ease and style not unlike that of the subject author. This book has earned a spot on the shelf next to my copies of Macquarrie Miscellany and the Trilogy!



2. If you've ever wondered who the real "Mac" was, Keith Crowley has the answer for you, and then some. If you you're like me and you need to read the Stories of the Old Duck Hunters over and over as the leaves start to turn, then you need to read this book to gain an even greater appreciation for the talents of this outdoor writer. Buy it and put it right next to the rest of your McQuarrie titles where it belongs.

2 comments about Personal History.

1. Sheean gives his account of his start as a reporter. His chapter on being hired as a reporter for a Zionist group in Paris and what he found in the then Palestine gives a superb background to what is happening there now. It is "must" reading for anyone interested in the problems that now exist between Israel, the Palestinians, and Israel's neighbors.



2. PERSONAL HISTORY starts with Sheean's student years at the University of Chicago followed by his first job for a New York Newspaper. As soon as he can scrape up enough money for the boat fare, he leaves for Europe. Just two years out of college, he lands a job as foreign correspondent for the European edition of the Chicago Tribune with offices in Paris. Through the years the newspapers change and his salary increases but he remains a journalist and author.

   The most exciting parts of PERSONAL HISTORY are those sections dealing with his visits to the Rif where his life is often in danger as he visits various Moroccan Bedouin tribes, even as they are being bombarded by the Spanish. One short entry from his diary gives a feel of his life in the Rif.

   "Sept. 4th. Just after lunch, at 2:30, Mahdani appeared. I followed him to a deserted place in the dunes where I changed into Arab clothes. He walked to Zaina's, I followed, hiding my face in a hood. . . . . we started across the frontier . . . . Crossing very difficult -- many searchlights, much firing. None of us killed. Sleep in a Ditch."

   Other diary entries speak of near starvation, heat exhaustion, freezing cold, blistering heat, and the constant threat of death from unfriendly bands of Arabs, from the Spanish, and from the elements. The flip side of the coin is that as the only western journalist in the Rif, Sheean's reports created a journalistic sensation.

   The longest segment of the book centers around Sheean's experiences in China and Moscow during the latter part of the successful revolution in Russia and shortly after Sun Yat-sen's defeat.

   In Moscow, he becomes friends with Rayna Prohm, an American woman who had helped to prepare the way for Madame Sun Yat-sen's escape from China, and who is a confidante of Borodin and Madame Sun Yat-sen, among others. Mrs. Prohme is described as enthusiastic, brilliant, dedicated and charming. Although unstated, it is obvious that Sheean was deeply in love with Rayna Prohme to whom he dedicated PERSONAL HISTORY. The most tragic moment comes when Mrs. Prohme, only in her early thirties, contracts encephalitis and dies.

   Her funeral was held on a cold, dreary Moscow day. The funeral procession, in which there were Chinese, Russian, and American Delegations marched for over three hours to the crematorium. Madame Sun Yat-sen, whose money from China had been cut off, and who had no warm clothes, walked for the entire three hours shivering from the cold. She was offered a ride in a warm automobile, but refused, wishing to show her love and admiration for Mrs. Prohme. It is obvious from Sheean's descriptions of his emotions and his feelings of loss, that Rayna Prohme's death was, at that time, the biggest loss in his life.

   The book concludes with a short section describing Sheean's experiences in the Holy Land at a time of violent clashes between the Arab and Jewish communities. It is at this point that Sheean loses his objectivity and forgets that a good journalist approaches his subject without bias. He engages in revisionist analysis of four or five thousand years of history and becomes an advocate of one side based on this unorthodox revisionism.

   Each segment of PERSONAL HISTORY stands on its own. I would particularly recommend reading the two sections entitled "The Rif," and "The Rif Again" as one stand-alone episode, and "Revolution" as another. Sheean's writing in these segments is particularly interesting. His loss of focus and objectivity in the "Holy Land" section should not be seen as cause not to read the other, excellent portions of the book.

No comments about The Autobiography of William Allen White.

1 comments about An American Poet in Paris: Pauline Avery Crawford and the Herald Tribune.

1. With a wit similar to Dorothy Parker, and a unique personality all her own, Pauline Avery Crawford was one the more interesting American women during World War II. Robertson does an excellent job atpresenting her spirit as well as her paranoia, and in drawing a complex portrait of a very strong-willed and brilliant woman. Highly recommended! Her poetry is not to be missed.

No comments about The Pen Is Mightier: The Muckraking Life of Charles Edward Russell.

No comments about About Chekhov: The Unfinished Symphony (SRLT).

5 comments about Republican Like Me: Infiltrating Red-State, White-Ass, and Blue-Suit America.

1. I really loved the wit, sarcasm and charm of this book. Harmon took an idea I always thought would be good and actually did it...he infiltrates the Republican party by becoming one! He meets with bigots, young advocates, Southerners, and also makes a mockery of the Governator (Arrrrrrnold!). While he obviously takes a stand against the GOP, he also rips of the Democrats' way of doing things. It's fairly liberal but not "commie" as some of the GOPers might call it. Definitely a read for liberals, Democrats, independents, leftists, communists, progressives and so forth!



2. I think it's fine to satirize people to whom you consider yourself superior, as Harmon Leon does in this book. But I think he's chosen a misleading title here, one that is unintentionally ironic as it shows just how deep his hatred of the Republican "other" runs while it refers to a book that was intended to actually increase understanding of the other and overcome hate.
   
   "Black Like Me," which "Republican Like Me" references, was the story of a white man in the South who posed as a black man so that he could better understand other people's points of view. The result is enlightening (for its time): all his prejudices about blacks are turned on their head, as are his assumptions about white benevolence.
   
   Leon's purpose is the opposite. Where John Howard Griffin (the author of Black Like Me) posed as something he was not in a region dominated by people like him, Leon poses as something he is not in a region dominated by people UNlike him. The results are unsurprisingly unenlightening: all his prejudices about Republicans are confirmed. If he wanted to walk in Griffin's footsteps, he would have posed as a Republican in the Blue States, and thus embark on a self-education about how "his" people are unfair to others.
   
   Essentially, Leon's book is a hatchet job on people he hates, where Griffin's book was an attempt to overcome hatred. Hatchet jobs have their place -- this book is funny, no question, and will no doubt be read and enjoyed by many people who already agree with everything Leon thinks and are looking for someone to confirm their views and avoid challenging them. But that doesn't change the fact that it was a bad move for Leon to compare his book to one that actually sought (and succeeded, to some degree) in improving understanding and repairing strained social relations in our country. Leon's book does not profit by this comparison.



3. Republican Like Me: Infiltrating Red States, White Ass, and Blue Suits is sooooooo obviously satire. Satire means a literary work in which vice or folly is attacked through inrony, derision, or wit.
   
   Even the title is a satirical off of the John Howard Griffin book, Black Like Me. You'd have to be a complete idiot to think the two books would be the same in approach. Look at the cover!
   It's a naked guy with a flag covering his privates. It's meant to be humor and satire. Do you get it now?
   
   In Republican LIke Me, Leon takes a partisan turn as he goes under cover to see what makes conservatives tick. If you like humor mixed with edgy writing and politics, this book will keep you laughing and scratching your head at the same time.
   
   Remember, it's satire!



4. I need my Al Franken and Michael Moore to be a little younger and edgier, so I thought this might be the guy. He's pretty funny and cool, but I think his stuff would translate better to television or film. Not that he's a bad writer--I giggled out loud a few times while reading this on a plane, especially when he's describing the job he did dressing up as Uncle Sam for a tax company. But the whole time I was laughing because I was imagining how the scene must have looked.
   
   The first chapter on meeting white supremacists at Appleby's is pretty funny--Appleby's antiseptic atmosphere of simulated family togetherness seems like the perfect setting for meeting white supremacists who just look like office guys, soccer moms, and dumpy college students. The chapter on volunteering for Arnold's governor campaign was also pretty funny. He really shows how the people who work for Republicans at the grass-roots are just pathetic and lame losers who are pissed because they'll never get laid, like mini Karl Roves or something. Then again, most fascists are just "little men," as Wilhelm Reich called them.



5. I drive big rig trucks across this great nation and have alot of free time to read. I can tell you this is an amazingly funny book about real american culture AND I've seen it all! Buy this one next time you go on a vacation or a business trip. You'll laugh out loud from front to back cover.

1 comments about Carlos Monsiváis: Culture and Chronicle in Contemporary Mexico.

1. Carlos Monsivais is perhaps THE most important and widely read cultural critic in Mexico. This basically means that readings of his work can be either highly productive or highly mediocre. Linda Egan, fortunately, falls into the first category. its main virtue is that it is the first book length study of Monsivais' work written in English, and also it is the first study to consider all of the disperse Monsivais bibliography, which includes an overwhelming number of texts published in newspapers, journals, magazines and some other elusive media. Egan's reading basically focuses on the role of Monsivais' work within the constitution of a Mexican culture. It serves well its purpose, since its excellent writing makes this book a great introduction for those not familiar with Monsivais. Also, its deep research, interesting insights and careful readings will definitely consolidate Egan's book as the authoritative reference to Monsivais's work. I would have given the book five stars if I haven't found both things that bothered me. First, the book does not take into consideration important essays about Monsivais written in Mexico, such as the two Evodio Escalante includes in his book "Las metaforas de la critica" or the praising essay written by Christopher Dominguez Michael in "Servidumbre y grandeza de la vida literaria". Also, in the introduction, Egan makes an enormous mistake. She claims that Monsivais's column, "Por mi madre bohemios" is named like that because it is some sort of mock inside a patriarchal society. Actually, this assertion only means that Egan ignores the actual source of the column's title, which is the most known verse of the 19th century poem "Brindis del bohemio", a poem widely known in the Mexican popular culture, which, by the way, is one of the most antifeminist poems in Mexican tradition. Monsivais includes it because the poem has been regarded as ridiculous in the Mexican elite and quoting it has a sense of mock, just as the quotes with which Monsivais constructs his column. Other than that, the book is pretty solid and a must have for anyone interested in Mexican culture.

5 comments about Churchill Wanted Dead Or Alive: Wanted Dead or Alive.

1. I am a great admirer of Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, and so being I read nearly every book that is published. As I write this Mr. Churchill was on the cover of one of our National Magazines last week, and the title was "The Last Hero". A man who is completing another biography of Mr. Churchill's life wrote the story inside.

   A book by his Granddaughter Celia Sandys could be easily dismissed as a biased treatment, a work lacking objectivity. I believe The Authoress did a remarkable job of adding to the Historical Record without being a revisionist in her Grandfather's favor or to his detriment.

   I have read Churchill's own accounts of the adventures contained in this book, and many other books written about this amazing story and I still would recommend it be added to any existing collection of Churchill books.

   Mrs. Sandys manages to bring to light new bits of information that at times reinforce the contemporary accounts, and at other moments confirm what might have been an Historical Embellishment passed down through the years. She portrays her Grandfather with candor, and shares the information she collected while reconstructing herself the trip that her Grandfather made so many years ago.

   Sir Winston Spencer Churchill M.P. has already taken his place in History. He was a man who seemed to know what destiny held for him, and also what History would say. He once said, "I know how History will remember me, as I shall write it." He once described the human race in the following terms, "We are all worms, but I believe I am a glow worm."

   A well written, balanced account of a small part of a life that was full of momentous moments. Mr. Churchill is unique as he is not just part of our History, he is History. That he is still quoted almost daily, new books continue to be written, and a College is to be built confirm this is true.

   When confronted with "if you were my Husband I would put poison in your soup", the retort, "if you were my wife I would eat it." Oh to be at that dinner.

   Thank you Mrs. Sandys.




2. This book presents several interesting vignettes relating to Churchill's life and activities during the South African "Boer" war, but overall I was disappointed, and finished wanting more. Overall, I thought this was rather superficial, and I didn't feel as tho I had gained any substantial insight into the life of one of the giants of the late 19th/early 20th century.



3. This time last year, appropriately enough, I was reading this book of Churchill's epic escape from the States Model School in Pretoria, an event that had happened 100 years earlier to the very day.The 12 December 1999 was also a day in which I lost a friend in a road accident, thus, the centennial anniversary date becomes etched with the personal. Churchill was clearly a larger-than-life figure all of his life as his grandaughter and author Celia Sandys clearly shows in this historical work in which she followed in his footsteps, visiting campsites, battlefields etc and speaking to descendants of friends and foes alike. Contrary to the assertions of some other reviewers it is a well written and enjoyable book. Some of the interesting vignettes include the detective work the author did on tracking down the gold watches that Churchill had sent to various people for their assistance in his escape from the Boers (or Afrikaners as they are known today). At the time of publication Mrs Sandys had located 6 of the 8 watches. Mrs Sandys is not afraid to challenge Churchill's assertions that he was captured by Gen. Louis Botha himself (later the Union's first Prime Minister, 1910-19)and she rightly dismisses talk that there was ever a romantic entanglement with Helen Botha , the General's daughter. The author is partly correct when she records that Churchill's "huge political ambitions demanded a wife who would be a political asset..." However, that would cut both ways, something Helen Botha alluded to 60 years later when she said it was unlikely that she could fall for him as she was "a Transvaaler." Her father and Churchill may have "got along famously" but it is the author who is disingenous, not Helen Botha, in considering that a personal political rapport could see the leader of the Afrikaner volk, or a member of his family, contemplate such a marriage -particularly after the deaths of some 26,000 Boer women and children in the world's first concentration camps - British concentration camps. Nevertheless, this is a good read about a remarkable soldier-stateman in his younger days. Enjoy.



4. This is the first book that I have ever read about Churchill, so I was very surprised to read example after example of his arrogance and his "at all times" sense of entitlement. His granddaughter (an obviously biased author) recited many of Churchill's actions during the Boer War as examples of his bravery and courage. I, however, interpreted these actions in quite a different manner. One example of Churchill's "bravery" was when his train was ambushed by Boer troops. The author described his behavior as brave and heroic, whereas I viewed his actions as a very calculated tactic for self-advacement. In fact, it was Churchill's fault that the train went so far into Boer territory in the first place--he wanted more information for his newspaper, and his subsequent actions only put the British troops in more danger. The book was also not well written or organized; it reminded me of reading a high school book report.



5. The author, Celia Sandys, is the subject's granddaughter. As such, she had access to papers, people, and places that few individuals have. She presents a view of the early Churchill (age 20-25) that gives one an objective glimpse of his early life, ambitions, and personality. She has done much field research by access to original papers, actual locations, and descendants of those who knew Churchill in his early 20s. Much of her research is centered in South Africa where the young Churchill had a yen for being where the action was in the Boer War, and having an inordinate amount of luck escaping death and danger. Additionally, she gives detailed maps of his movements, and tries to bridle some of his self-sustaining writings that could not be independently verified. This work should give any reader an understanding that Churchill's early years were a prelude to his more famous leadership role during the dark days of World War II. An excellent read.