5 comments about Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

1. A pantheon such as Abraham Lincoln and his presidential term(s) have been scrutinized and considered in uncountable written and spoken works. The trick then for any author wishing to undertake a new study is to find a fresh angle or (at best) unearth previously undiscovered and revelatory documents. Doris Kearns Goodwin chooses the former as she expertly exposes the Lincoln presidency as one which had a politically savvy, but initially overly antagonistic cabinet, which Lincoln must then manage while exhorting his administration to follow his leadership. In fact, the overriding point with this superb narrative is Goodwin extoling the seemingly limitless political acumen of Lincoln while he oversees a time in American history as crucial as any before or since.
   
   Crucial members of his administration are profiled here, providing the reader with a unique, sort of "back-door" look at the Lincoln presidency. We see how the personalities of Edward Bates (Attorney General), Simon Cameron (Secretary of War), William Seward (Secretary of State), Gideon Wells (Secretary of the Navy) and Salmon Chase (Secretary of the Treasury) are generally elitist in nature and condescending to Lincoln in particular while initially being astounded that such a seemingly torpid character could become president. Asked to then participate in the administration in cabinet level positions, they almost collectively see their role as administering and reigning over the government while Lincoln serves largely as a figurehead. Goodwin's mastery here is showing the slow evolvement of Lincoln's ability to form a cohesive advisory body while applying his heretofore unseen political prowess in managing the government in an ever broadening crisis that threatens separation of the Union.
   
   He takes office and is immediately faced with increasing southern secessionism and forced to take action to maintain the Union. The start of and subsequent prosecution of the Civil War absorbs his administration...Goodwin provides a dissecting view of the war from the government's perspective and shows again and again how Lincoln is adept at taking and managing one crisis after another. Topics such as his inserting himself into the war strategic effort where he recognizes the ineffectiveness of George McClellan, the dismissal of Cameron as Secretary of War with the brilliant decision to insert Edwin Stanton in his place and his administering of domestic policy to meet the war effort are given a fascinating review by Goodwin that goes far in further amplifying Lincoln's stature as a great executive. He finds an obscure general in Ulysses Grant and inserts him as commander of the war effort... another prescient decision that accelerates the conclusion of the war. All this while continuing to build strong and ever growing loyalties among his partisans forcing them (with the exception of Chase who continues to vehemently disagree and disparage Lincoln) to reconsider their initial perceptions of him and his leadership capabilities. Goodwin is overwhelmingly illustrative of the forming of these ties and the deep personal affection that each cabinet member thus renders.
   
   The denouement of the war and Lincoln's assassination with the subsequent actions of the government, particularly Stanton, are the highlights of the book. We see the heart wrenching outpouring of affection and respect from the American public and the administration as all recognize that a great leader is no longer among us. The disarray that follows Lincoln's death is certified when Andrew Johnson takes office and we see how his southern leaning tendencies is the arbiter of a long and unnecessarily drawn out reconstruction effort...Goodwin compares this with how Lincoln may have handled reconstruction and determines that a much more compassionate and reasoned effort would have most assuredly ensued.
   
   There are a surprising number of authors of historical biographies that are criticized for deification of their subject...and true, some of these paint their character study in an unreasonable light, but not so with this magnificent investigation of the Lincoln presidency by Doris Goodwin. An estimable scrutiny of his political faculty integrated with a marvelous historical narrative, Goodwin makes Lincoln "hero worship" chic while dispassionate at the same time, a tough combination. Highest recommendation. .



2. 
   After Reading Gore Vidal's Lincoln, for the second time, I yearned to read more. I wanted to read more on Lincoln's Presidency including some of the people around him especially, Salmon Chase, William Seward,Edwin Stanton and lessor known characters as Kate Chase,John Hay and John Nicolay.
   
   I found Team of Rivals a brilliant read on the Presidency and had no trouble in devouring the whole book.
   
   The characteristic that impressed me the most, was Lincoln's refusal to carry grudges against those who opposed him and in many cases won them over to his side to help him achieve his goals in carrying him all the way to the Presidency.
   
   Lincoln had a very strong belief in himself that allowed him to pick the very best men for his cabinet, to withstand the pressures of a divided political party and to carry on a war that for a very long time contained one reversal after another, and not least of all a wife that didnot know when to stop spending, and with all of this a death of a beloved son.
   
   I found the details in the book were very informative and enteresting and were not a hinderance as some have suggested. Highly reccomended



3. Doris Kearns Goodwin has shown again why she is one of the greatest historians of this generation. I understand the scandals that have arisen about possible plagiarism, but Kearns Goodwin writes great history. In this book, she not only gives detailed stories of the lives of these great men and their families. She also probes the motivation of the men who are the characters in the book and the issues that controlled the political climate of the period from 1840 to 1860.
   But Kearns Goodwin gives us much more even than this. She takes you to the era about which she writes. She tells you what clothes were being worn, what was for sale in the stores, how influential newspapers of the time were and how dirty train rides were.
   Pick up this book and take yourself back to the 1850s and live the lives these great men lived.



4. Received item in a very timely manner...would certainly recommend this seller to others...keep up the good work! God's blessings and prosperity to you!



5. I read this book for a graduate organizational theory class. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, however, I would advise not choosing it if you are taking two other classes at the same time, as well as being a mother and working full time... :) I was VERY busy! The book itself is terrific; whatever you learned about Lincoln in school was nothing! You will gain insight into one of the most brilliant minds of recent times. A master politician who always remained true to himself and his convictions it will also give you food for thought as to how you conduct yourself professionally as well as socially. There is nothing not to love about this book.

5 comments about Half of a Yellow Sun.

1. I would like to add an attachment (a piece I have written on Word relating to this book). Please advise how best to do this.



2. 4 and a half stars.
   
   This story, in short, is about war and loss, about what people/neighbors can do to each other; its about the 'conquer and divide' strategy and how people pretend everything's allright when it's far from it. The setting is Nigeria in the 1960s, right before the civil war happened between the Hausu Muslims and the Igbo Christians that resulted in the new state, Biafra, and what happened after it.
   
   Olanna and Kaiene - Two twins who just got back from London after finishing their Masters degree. Their father is a 'Big Man' and they are quickly welcomed back in the upper society. The twins were at one time close, but somehow their relationship isn't what it used to be. Unidentical in both looks and personality, Olanna is more of a people's person, trying to please her parents in everything while her twin is more aloof and cynical.
   
   Richard - a young Brit who comes to Nigeria to write about ancient pottery and jewellery. He falls in love with Kaiene and finds that for the first time he's found a place he feels he can belong to.
   
   Ugwu - a young teenage villager who works for Odenigbo, a Mathematics proffesor at Nsukka university, gets attached to the family he works for and is given a chance to go to school.
   
   The prose was beautiful, and I was caught between admiring it and feeling wretched at what it was describing. The depictions of the horrors of the war were very real and heartbreaking. I would have probably given this book a 5 stars + heart had I read it in different circumstances. I started this by the end of October but then came down with swine flu. I couldn't finish the book but I dreamt a lot about it. Seems like the books I have been reading lately are very nightmares-inducing.



3. Don't you love when you get to read a beautifully written novel and you actually learn something in the process?
   
   Adichie's "Half a Yellow Sun" is a moving story about several characters (two very different daughters of a rich businessman; a British ex-pat; a university academic; and a poor servant boy, among others) and the way their lives change during Biafra's struggle for independence from Nigeria during the late 1960s. It's a wonderfully evocative view of Africa, of the people, of the way of life that can be inextricably changed when two ethnic groups are warring. Highly recommended~!



4. I was looking forward to reading this, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. I struggled with reading this story and at the end, while I did like it, it's not one that I would read again. I'd still recommend it because it is very well-written, complete, and is a better quality of literature.



5. I was inspired to read "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche after listening to the author interviewed at the BBC World Book Club. She was a charming young interlocutor. The subject matter is big-- love and loss in war-torn Biafra, civil war with Nigeria in the late 1960s--and she handles her material with grace, insight, and aplomb.
   
   It occurs to me that in the last year I've read at least two other excellent books which could fall under the general framework of 'love and war': Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, and Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier. The framework 'love and war' is a distortion, because at their roots their not about war, or even, necessarily, love, though these elements suggest easy characterizations.
   
   Half of a Yellow Sun involves an ensemble of characters, and the war tests their relationships. At some point, this could risk descending into soap opera. At its broadest, this novel is 'about' colonialism, ethnic allegiance, class, race, moral responsibility, amidst the complications of love and conflict. The book is at its best when most particular, most vivid, both in physical description (Ugwu senses "the acridness of hot metal" even though he can't see the bullet), or emotional. "It was a tiny moment, brief and fleeting, but Olanna noticed how scrupulously they avoided any contact, any touch of skin as if they were united by a common knowledge so monumental that they were determined not to be united by anything else."
   
   Now is the time to get in on the ground floor of this remarkable talent, so you can say you were reading her 'back in the day' when she accepts the Nobel Prize.

5 comments about Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.).

1. For everything historians know about Lincoln and that history teachers teach us about the President, seldom is said in the classroom about Booth. This book is amazing and really details the chase of Booth. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly for anyone who is interested in Lincoln.



2. Saw this book at the Newsmuseum in DC. This is an excellent reading to any historian and Lincoln buff. Easy reading and hard to put down until the end. Reading this book fits in as a good supplement to Team of Rivals and also stirs interest to those who know the haunts of DC. I've learned a lot of historical facts tha I never heard of before. The price was right from Amazon.com.



3. Bought this book for my father and he really enjoyed it- he's a big big history buff, generally the only books he prefers so, his outlook on any book is a very high review.



4. The book MANHUNT, the 12 Days of Chasing Lincoln's Killers was fasinating. This book opened my eyes as to how the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth took place and how it was ended. This is a must for any Lincoln reader.



5. I bought this book with the understanding it would be mostly about the actual chase of Booth and his accomplices. I am a historian and know basically ALL the details of the assassination and was disappointed that so much of the beginning of the book was involved with those details. I know why he included it, trust me, I am not saying that he shouldn't.. since this book was written for the general public looking to read interesting history.. not some of the normal *really* boring historical stuff that is churned out. But as I said, I thought it would briefly talk about the killing then go on quickly to the chase.... as it is.. it's a pretty interesting account.
   
   The book reads very fast. It's pretty fascinating BUT... my biggest complaint is Swanson's need to be absolutely disgusting with the morbid details. You can honestly tell he relishes in describing the blood, blood, and more blood. I think if I read the word blood once I read it hundreds of times. Listen, it's not that I can't handle reading it. It is all (supposed) fact. I love slasher movies. I don't mind violence in books or film, but I have to ask.. did Swanson think he had to include all the disgusting details in order to make his book interesting? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart and I can't help but think the gore is just exploited instead of written in a useful way.

5 comments about The Killer Angels.

1. There aren't too many books, especially a novel, that I would consider must reading. But this novel based largely on facts, gives you a great insight to the Civil War, war in general and the impact on those who have fought.
   
   In my day, Red Badge of Courage was required reading. It was "slow moving". This book is fast. The author takes some liberty with what the characters are saying, but other times, these words are quotes from those who were there. Shaara includes a forward as well as epilogue to help the reader understand the background and history of the Battle of Gettysburg. Killer Angels should be required reading to help anyone understand why brothers will fight to the death, the cause and affect of the Civil War and those who led the North and South. This novel rounds out the two dimensional images we have of the Generals Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and many others.
   
   Authors who can show you characters with full ranges of emotion: fear, elation, courage, cowardice, honor, pride, and shame to name a few are very rare. Shaara hits the tone just right and you can feel what these men must have felt on those hot July days in a small town in Pennsylvania. This was an epic battle, this book covers the facts and emotions beautifully.



2. Title: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
   
   Pages: 355.
   
   Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 2 or 3 years, I think.
   
   Days spent reading it: 4 days.
   
   Why I read it: In High School we were allowed to choose between The Killer Angels and All Quiet on the Western Front. I thought I was smart back then, saw that The Killer Angels was about 350 pages, but All Quiet was about 150 (I don't remember exactly). I chose the shorter book. Today I read the longer book.
   
   Brief review: As I finished this book tonight, I was stunned. I was truly moved by the final chapters of The Killer Angels.
   The novel is historical fiction based as closely to the real details of Gettysburg as the author could create. Shaara draws you into the time period, the characters, and the battle as if you were right there in 1863. Simply incredible.
   
   There are a number of things that I liked about this novel. First, it was well written. From the first page on, the reader is drawn into the world of the officers and soldiers who met their fate at Gettysburg.
   Second, the characters are well drawn out. Robert E. Lee comes to life on these pages. So do Longstreet, Picket, Chamberlain, and a host of others involved in this historic battle.
   
   Third, Shaara writes about the complexity of "the Cause" of the Civil War. The fact is it was not just about slavery, but slavery was a major factor. The cause is complicated, both sides have different reasons for fighting. Sometimes people on the same side have vastly different reasons for fighting. Very fascinating look at the complexity of a war that we sometimes boil down to being just about slavery.
   
   Finally, I love the humanity of this book. As Longstreet is forced to send thousands to their deaths, he literally seems to fall apart at the orders he must make. My english teachers from High School used to tell me "War is Hell." It seems that most books with war as their central theme talk about the hellish nature of war. This book paints that same picture, but it does it looking through the eyes of men who have been forced to make the decision to send men to their deaths. I cannot imagine what anguish their souls must have gone through after making those kinds of decisions.
   
   Two quick personal notes of interest. First, in the book they mention that some soldiers would not actually fire against the opposing army. I saw a piece of a program that reported that some rifles had been found that had 20 or more rounds inside of them from soldiers who pretended to load and fire, but never did. That is completely fascinating to read about and to consider what kind of people were fighting and who they were forced to fight.
   Second, I visited Gettysburg years ago during a spring break trip. All I remember is that it was cold and windy. I recall being on Cemetery Hill where Picket made his last charge. I wish I had known more about the battle when I was there. Perhaps I will be able to go back again someday and appreciate the battle site more than I did.
   
   The scope of Gettysburg simply baffles me. But The Killer Angels paints a clear picture of the battle, the decisions that were made, and the military ramifications. The Killer Angels is a mandatory read for Civil War buffs. It is a worthy read for people interested in historical fiction, war in all of its complexity, and for Americans who want to learn more about their heritage.
   
   Favorite quote: "A little eccentricity is a help to a general. It helps with the newspapers. The women love it too. Southern women like their men religious and a little mad. That's why they always fall in love with preachers."
   
   Stars: 5 out of 5.
   
   Final Word: Sobering.



3. The Killer Angels portrays the principal players of the climatic battle of the Civil War. Each of the participants has his own story to tell. For the Confederate leaders the war became a struggle between love of country and love of state, family and traditions. The Union leaders were less dogmatic and most insisted the war was not about slavery. The portrayal of Robert E. Lee is riveting. Michael Shaara has humanized and personalized the pivotal battle at Gettysburg.



4. My highest recommendation. This story needs to be known by all Americans, and it is written in a captivating way. Superb.



5. The main characters in this book come alive. As I turned the pages it's as if I could feel the sun beating down on my back in those July days of 1863. I sensed the fear the soldiers must have had as they contemplated the charge that ended the battle. I felt the fatique of Robert E Lee, the humble courage of Joshua Chamberlain, and the pain of Armistead as he lay there dying, thinking of his old friend. If you are wondering about what it felt like to be at Gettysburg, read this book.

5 comments about Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Newbery Honor Book).

1. Ah, the inveterate child liar. The chronic juvenile dissembler. Is there any more classic character you can name? Whether it's The Artful Dodger, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, The Great Brain or Soup from the Soup books, there is always room in the canon for just one more boy fibber (girl fibbers are not yet appearing the same numbers, I'm afraid). Now the best tellers of untrue tales often come from Southern soil. They are born below the Mason-Dixon line and are capable of great feats of derring-do, all the while escaping their own much complicated shenanigans. Credit Rodman Philbrick then with coming up with a fellow that's so far North that to go any farther he'd have to be Canadian. It's Homer P. Figg it is. Orphan. Storyteller. And the kid that's single-handedly going to win the Civil War, whether he intends to or not.
   
   When you're stuck living with a scoundrel there's nothing for it but to make the best of things. And for years Homer P. Figg and his older brother Harold have made the best of living with their nasty ward and uncle Squinton Leach. A man so dastardly that he finds a way to sell Harold into serving as a soldier for the Union. The year is 1863 and when Harold ends up accidentally conscripted Homer is having none of it. Why his brother shouldn't legally be serving at all! Without further ado Homer takes his propensity for stretching the truth and Bob the horse so as to catch up with the army and get his bro back. Things, however, do not go smoothly. Before he finds Harold again Homer must endure blackguards, nitwits, shysters, pigs, a traveling circus, and an unexpected tour of the stratosphere. It all comes together at a little place called Gettysburg, though, where Homer must face the facts of his situation and do his best to keep the people important to him alive. Backmatter includes "Some Additional Civil War Facts, Opinions, Slang & Definitions, To Be Argued, Debated & Cogitated Upon."
   
   I'm a sucker for a children's book that knows how to coddle a tongue-happy phrase. Why just last year I was charmed by Sid Fleischman's "The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West" with it's delightful play on Twain's flexible language. Now I've not read Philbrick before. Maybe if I picked up something like his "Freak The Mighty" or that "The Last Book In The Universe" of his I'd find a similar bit of wordplay. Whatever the matter, I found myself much taken with the syllables that get bandied about in "Homer P. Figg". First there are the names. Villains get to luxuriate in monikers like Squinton Leach, Stink Mullins, and Kate and Frank Nibbly. Then there are the descriptive sentences. Leach's villainy is pitch perfect, particularly since it is first introduced as "A man so mean he squeezed the good out of the Holy Bible and beat us with it, and swore that God Himself had inflicted me and Harold on him, like he was Job and we was Boils and Pestilence." Another nasty character is described as one for whom "Every part of him smells of rot." Actually, now that I look through my notes I see that a lot of the sentences I've highlighted as being fun descriptive passages have to do with odor. Like this later passage which reads, "The pungent perfume of the pig is still upon you. The suffocating scent of the swine exudes from your person. In a word, sir, you stink." Catchy.
   
   In the midst of all this wordsmithing it's probably a temptation to let the language carry the plot and characters with little to no regard for the emotional content. But I like that Philbrick has couched this tale as an emotional quest of sorts. I mean, if you name your hero Homer then obviously there's some kind of Iliad/Odysseus thing going on there. Particularly if you push said hero into a quixotic series of scrapes. I kept sort of expecting our own Homer to go blind at one point, but if Mr. Philbrick ever felt the urge to remove his Homer's sight he did a noble job of repressing that inclination. Instead he builds on Homer and Harold's relationship. One example comes when Homer thinks about a time when he climbed onto a barn roof when he was younger. "It was a mean thing, wanting to scare my big brother who had always been so kind to me. But if felt good, too, like I enjoyed testing how much he loved me." So a book that could simply have been a series of unrelated incidents is held together by good old-fashioned brotherly love.
   
   I mentioned at the beginning of this review what a novelty it is to find a casual liar like Homer coming out of the North rather than the South. And when Homer mentions on the very first page that he and his brother won the Battle of Gettysburg, then that he was from Maine on the second, I should have realized the connection. After all, I saw "Gettysburg" the film when it was in theaters. But it takes an author like Philbrick to put the pieces together for a reader like myself. Pieces he has a clear view of and isn't about to mess up. He doesn't romanticize war any either. At one point Homer makes a mad ride across a field of battle and what follows is an emotionless list of the horrors he witnesses along the way. Things like "Thirsty men sucking sweat from their woolen sleeves" and "A dead man on his knees with his hands folded, as if to pray." Mamas don't let your children grow up to be Civil War soldiers.
   
   I was also interested to see that Homer mentions historical details that kids don't always get a chance to see in school. Facts like, "when President Lincoln declared that slaves in the Confederacy were free, he didn't dare free the slaves in he Union states like Maryland, Delaware, or Kentucky, in fear the border states might join the rebels." Children's literature has a tendency to sort of bypass that kind of information, but I think it makes a historical novel like this one all the richer for its complexity. And of course all historical novels for children grapple with a question that is never easy; How do you deal with terms that are historically accurate and odious to contemporary ears? I refer, of course, to "the n-word". Now, to be perfectly honest, there are at least two villains in this book that should be tossing that word back and forth like it's nobody's business. Yet they don't. They don't and I admit that this didn't ring untrue to me while reading the book. It was only later that I stopped myself and went back to see how Philbrick dealt with that conundrum. The answer is that the bad guys say either "slave" or "darky". And there might be some problems with the "d-word" as well, were it not for a good Quaker man who corrects Homer on this point later on. "If a man has dark skin, say that he is colored, or that he is African." I'm sure that some historians amongst us might have something to say about those terms as well, but as far as I can tell Philbrick covers his bases and doesn't have to cheat. Later Homer also refers to two workers as "Indians" though he acknowledges, "These Indians are from China - similar eyes, but a different tribe." Contextualizing ignorance in terms that modern kids can understand. A tough job.
   
   No matter how tough the subject matter or the work, "Homer P. Figg" is a strong and snappy little novel. Funny and with a plot that keeps moving at a lightning quick pace. Very few readers will find themselves bored by what Philbrick produces here, and many will be caught learning a little something in the process. One of the best of its kind.



2. This is an excellent historical fiction book for teachers to read during their Civil War-American History unit. The story is interesting and I believe will keep the attention of most 5th grade students. As a teacher reads the different aspects of the Civil War era, the teacher can reinforce what really happened during the war. I look forward to sharing this book with my students this next school year. One caveat--teachers may have to have a values discuss about the importance of people telling the truth.



3. This was a very unique way to look at the civil war. It showed how the war effected families and how those families fought to stay together. This book is very age appropriate for 5th through 8th graders.



4. Well, it seems war is a popular theme for children's books in 2009, and Rodman Philbrick's The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is waving the flag on the Civil War front. The title character is a twelve-year-old orphan living with his older brother and cruel uncle-in-law in a little town in Maine. But when his brother is illegally sold as a replacement for a rich draftee to the Union Army, Homer must rise to the occasion and be the man of the family. He runs away to save his brother, and there his adventures begin.
   While Homer's adventures are worthy of a Mark Twain short story (perhaps we could throw in a couple jumping frogs?), they are nonetheless moving. The horrors of the Civil War are related with laudable attention to the sensibilities of the time and the narrator's unique personal voice.
   Note must be made that while this was certainly a thoroughly researched historical novel, it does contain one or two glaring anachronisms in speech. In addition, the dialect is perhaps a little overdone at times, and the author seems slightly prone to use of overdramatic phrases. Nonetheless, a very entertaining and enjoyable read that is sure to be devoured by boys and girls alike.



5. About the Book: When Homer's older brother is illegally sold into the Union Army, Homer sets off on an adventure to get his brother back. His trip leads him to a traveling road show, a hot air balloon ride, the underground railroad, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Here are Homer's (mostly) true adventures!
   
   GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: We all know those tweens (or even adults!) who exaggerate their stories. Homer's story is one those exaggerator's would love. This is one I listened to on CD and I thought it worked really well as an audiobook. The narrator was great!
   
   Many times historical fiction can be bland and boring and it's not always a popular genre with tweens. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a book I would give to reluctant history readers. Homer is a great narrator and his story is action packed and lots of fun.
   
   
   I really liked how the author was sneaky in his way of including historical facts. Readers don't realize they are learning until they get to the back of the book and see the glossary and facts included.
   It's a short book and it's pretty fast read. I don't know that it will be widely read or have wide appeal, but I think readers who enjoy historical or adventure books would have lots of fun reading this one.

5 comments about China Marine: An Infantryman's Life after World War II.

1. In this book, the Marine E. B. Sledge details his time in China during 1946, immediatley following his wartime experience in the Pacific during WW II (which he documented in "With the Old Breed"). His description of a nation (China) on the brink of catastrophe is eloquent. I think he was spared from combat death, if for no other reason, to write these books. I would have liked to met Mr. Sledge, shook his hand, and congratulated him on his service and his humanity.



2. I found this book to be highly informative as well as humbly written. (which shows much about the author's character as well as personality) Eugene Sledge writes about his adventures in China while stationed there with the rest of k/3/5 (an oft overlooked time in Marine Corps history) and about his experiences in the post-war homecoming. The part about him registering for classes made me gain a new appreciation for what vets talk about when they say, "the hardest part is often surviving the surviving."
   
   Read this book, you won't be disappointed.



3. This book by the sledge hammer gives a perspective of the war in the Pacific rarely told. Vivid in detail and emotions,it's a must read for any history buff. I highly recomend it.



4. China Marine is the only sequel to E.B. Sledge's With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, which provided a unique, infantryman's view of the Pacific action in WWII. China Marine also provides a unique viewpoint, historically, of a brief period of post-war occupation duty by an enlisted Marine in mainland China. What this book lacks is the non-stop action of the first book. Much of this slim volume describes the day to day duties of enlisted Marines in a garrison situation and details of his frequent visits to the Forbidden City. There are interesting highlights of his relationship with a patrician Chinese family, but the details (as well as the family itself) are lost in time. For those who read and liked Mr. Sledge's original book, China Marine will be an enjoyable read.



5. CHINA MARINE is a unique and fascinating book. If you are a Marine book reader like me or a WWII fan then you probably read or should read HELMET FOR MY PILLOW or WITH THE OLDER BREED by Sledge. They are classic Marine histories from the Pacific. In CHINA MARINE Sledge leaves the action behind to give us insight into the occupation of China at the end of the war and to coming home and going back to civilian life, often a very, very hard thing to do. As always Sledge is open, honest and perceptive in his writing. You should add this book to your reading list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

5 comments about March.

1. MARCH certainly is one of Brooks' best books. The writing device she uses to tell the story is inventive. MARCH delves further into the family but I enjoyed the unflinching look at the Civil War from the main character's point of view.



2. I bought this book for my grand daughter. We had just seen Little Women on stage and never hearing much about the Dad decided she'd love to read it and I will when she's done.



3. I am leading a Book Club review of March. While I think it's very good -- is it Pulitzer Prize worthy? I don't know! My companion, who is a Civil War buff, has found some historical errors.



4. A provocative work that caused me to revisit Little Women, a book that I loved in my childhood. The connections betwwen the two works became clear, and I loved how Brooks developed them. My only disappointed was not with March, but with Little Women. The charm that I recalled the book had, with the perspective of adulthood, turned to saccharine. Perhaps it still appeals to the young, but it is best that readers of March keep their existing memories of Little Women and not try to refresh them. It is not necessary to do so to enjoy March,



5. Of course, all the words were there, so it served its purpose as a book club choice. However, I was quite disappointed in the condition of the book. Many pages were turned down or wrinkled and a great many had underlinings -- many times through the words that were being underlined, and many pages had comments in the edges. It's the first time I've purchased a book though Amazon that was not 100%.

5 comments about We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future.

1. this is a concise history of our constitution and what lead up to these enduring documents.A must for every conservative!!!!!



2. This book includes some interesting discussions about the history of our fundamental documents and American values, quoting selectively from notable founding figures. What it doesn't do is establish a solid logical connection between these discussions and the veritable glossary of modern conservative philosophy outlined in the last chapter: anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-welfare, anti-gay, anti-secular, anti-deficit, pro-free enterprise, and pro-"liberty" (whatever that really means -- you won't find a scholarly or even thoughtful definition).
   
   Despite being published in late 2009, this book doesn't even mention any of the events that occurred from 2000 onward. Bush, Cheney, 9/11, the almost-depression of 2008 -- none of them are even mentioned. The straw man Spalding attempts to destroy is almost exclusively the progressive movement of the early 20th century -- without even attempting an analysis of the degree to which this movement corresponds with liberal ideas in the early 21st century.
   
   Especially in the last chapter, Spalding resorts to the name-calling so common to today's "political debate" -- with appointed judges, intellectual elites, mainstream journalists, bureaucrats, even Europeans as a broad class, all falling victim to his conservative keyboard.
   
   If you're a conservative, you already agree with all of his conclusions, and you don't need to read this book. If you're a liberal, the lack of logic will infuriate you. If you're just hankering for some American history, there are more reliable sources. Save your money.



3. If you are looking to better understand the meaning of the "Declaration of Independence" and "The Constitution," especially the way it's authors intended it to interpreted, "We Still Hold These Truths" is the book for you. The book is a well written, easily understandable look at a vitally important subject, whose meaning is invariably twisted by liberal and so called conservative leaders alike. Going back to the Constitution's foundational principles contained in "The Ten Commandments," that were championed by our wise, God fearing forefathers could turn the woes of the nation around. The self evident,unchanging truths found in Scripture, "The Declaration of Independence" and "Constitution" are what enabled The United States to become the shinning light to the rest of the world that it became. Matthew Spalding substantiates his arguments with many quotes from the document's writers, which give insight into the wisdom and moral integrity of these men. He also discusses the founder's views on the tough issue of slavery. How we treated the Indians wasn't mentioned, but Westward expansion had not taken place at that time, while slavery was a huge issue in the light of founder's contention that "all men are created equal, with certain inalienable rights." This book will give you a deep appreciation for not only our founding fathers and the enlightened documents they wrote, but for our Godly history as well. I also very much appreciated the moral integrity I saw in the author own personal beliefs, which were presented in a gentle, not heavy handed manner.



4. Matthew Spalding has written a timely book for all Americans!
   
   Reading the book, I found myself contrasting the principles of our Founding Fathers elaborated in our Freedom Documents - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights - with what is happening today.
   
   Spalding enumerates the founding principles of our Nation: Liberty, Equality, Natural Rights, Consent of the Governed, Religious Freedom, Private Property, the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism, Self-Government, and Independence.
   
   The Declaration of Independence listed the core principles of our Nation, the Constitution provided a means to realize those principles, and the Bill of Rights protects the right of American citizens.
   
   However, what do we have today? Progressives speak of a "living Constitution" and have interpreted the Constitution in light of modern events, only to increase central authority. But the Constitution is a piece of paper, not a living organism! The Constitution enumerates the principles that have led to the greatest and most lasting nation ever, because it allowed individual freedom!
   
   Americans know our Nation is in trouble. Matthew Spalding proposes a return to our founding principles to reclaim our future. And what is encouraging is that he is optimistic!



5. This book, and Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" should be required reading for all high school and/or college history and civics courses. They provide an understanding of why our now beleagured constitutional republic has been, and remains the best hope for a civil society. Spalding coherently, unabashedly, and with a minimal amount of "flag-waving" relates the history of our country's development through the often prescient words of the founders, and the philosophies of western civilization.

5 comments about A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

1. First off, this is fact, not fiction. This book follows Ishmael Beah's journey through war torn Sierra Leone after his village is attacked by the RUF (Rebels). It follows him through his horrible journey of becoming a child soldier fighting against the RUF. The RUF is mainly after diamonds, specifically the money after selling the diamonds. Ishmael is forced to flee, fight, and witness horrific tragedies that no human should witness, let alone a child. This book just opens so many questions for policy-makers and the individual to answer. Why buy rocks to sit on your nasty finger if it costs people their lives? How are you going to help stop this and prevent it from occurring again? So far, not much has been done about child soldiers throughout the world, with many now in Sudan and spread across many parts of Africa, as well as South America. This is a worldwide problem that Ishmael Beah has thankfully shed light upon. Now, what are you willing to do to stop this?



2. Beah had me at the first page of this book, which is incredibly poignant. A Long Way Gone should be required reading for anyone who lives in a country, such as ours, in which war tends to be romanticized and Hollywoodized. Beah offers a rare glimpse into the life and mind of a child soldier. He gives an up-close view of the wartime horrors and suffering in Sierra Leone, as well as his own motives for taking up arms and the inevitable process of desensitization. He's an introspective and gifted writer, particularly for someone whose first language isn't English. (I kept searching for the "as told to.") Heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. My only criticism is his somewhat abrupt change of heart toward the end of the book. He might have delved into that psychological transition a bit more, but in any case, a wonderful book.



3. A very interesting book full of true horrors, with the senseless destruction of entire villages at the hands of children who have been brainwashed and trained to kill.



4. Wow, words can not describe this memoir.
   Really was eye opening to read, makes you re-evaluate all the things that we tend to take for granted.



5. A very disturbing true story that I feel everyone, every kids should read. War, is a horrendous thing. It kills lives, destroys homes, wipes out the glows in the eyes of the surviving people.. Ishmael's words are calm, quiet, almost nonchalant yet extremely powerful. I had tears in my eyes reading it. It was painful to read the book, it was painful to even imagine what he has gone through in the war. I'm glad he survived the war and has a better life now. There are still many, too many people suffering in wars all over the world. But one got out is better than none got out.
   
   I read about the controversy surrounding this book (on the internet) half way reading it. It's up to people who and what to believe, even with evidence, just like Michael Jackson's trial. And I believe Ishmael Beah. I just do.
   
   A link to Ishmael's words on the doubts of his experience in the war.
   [...]
   
   I gave the book a 4 star because it ended a little too abruptly. How did he get to US? Did the people in the Embassy helped him? How did Laura become his mum? I know in the book, it told that Laura and Ishmael got close with each other during the conference. But I would have like to know a little more detail after he got to US and stay with Laura. And perhaps a little about his life then when he was writing the book. Was he still being haunted by nightmares? Was he able to get a good night sleep? I'm just wondering...

5 comments about Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.

1. Immaculée Ilibagiza's novel, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, is a chilling yet inspiring account of the author's experiences living through the terror that was the genocide in Rwanda. While it is distressing and deeply emotional to read, I think such an honest and tragic story should be read by all those who get the chance.
   
   The author shares her struggle to find God in the midst of the turmoil swirling around her. Even when it seems she will be unable to hold on to her faith, she finds strength in God and pulls through the horrific situations she is faced with.
   She shares her first-hand experiences amid some of the most brutal acts in all of history. No details are spared of the suffering that plagued Rwanda during this time, and this has a staggering effect on the reader. Reading about her witness of the brutal murders of thousands of people, including her friends and family, leaves a sick feeling, but one that is necessary for the prevention of anything like this ever happening again. This straightforward account, while extremely troubling, leaves no room for excuses, and knowledge of this tragedy, as Ilibagiza states, will hopefully stop anything like this genocide from ever happening again.



2. Immaculee's book "Left to Tell" is an inspirational story about the other side of the world where genocides, wars and battles still happen every day. Her experiences during the awful slaughter remind us to be aware of what is happening to our world these days and recognize that we are so blessed. While we exaggerate small issues in our lives, there are others in this world that undergoes tragic circumstances. Immaculee is an example of fortitude, courage and determination to overcome life's challenges.
   
   During this ordeal she discovers not only an amazing depth of faith in God but also the true meaning of forgiveness. I wept as reading Imaculee's message when she eventually meets the killer of her family: "Forgiveness is all I have to offer." Her profound message is so meaningful to me, which conveys the triumph of the forgiving soul over the feeling of hatred and revenge. If a person like Immaculee who suffers lots of pains and bitterness can forgive her enemies, why don't we forgive our friends, our acquaintances for making harmless mistakes?
   
   Her moving descriptions of how she is able to build such a strong faith in God and her true feeling of how she learns to forgive during such a hard time make her story more powerful and engaging. This book gave me an opportunity to look back at myself, get in touch with my spiritual side in a more personal way and learn to forgive past offenses. Everyone who is seeking forgiveness, trying to forgive someone or struggling to go through hardships should read this wonderful book. It's a way to purify your soul.



3. Es increible como esta mujer abre su corazón y nos cuenta una historia de perdón y amor con un estilo lírico narrativo fluido, sencillo y alegre. Lo recomiendo ampliamente.
   
   It's amazing how this woman opens her heart to tell us a story of love and forgiveness, she writes this book in a quick passed, simple and cheerfull style. Highly recomended.



4. Through the brutal and unnecessary destruction of her beloved family, Immaculee meets the Jesus of the Bible: a personal Savior who reveals himself to her and leads her step by step to forgive her enemies. Everyone who seeks to know Jesus will find him in Immaculee's story.



5. The book Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust is a difficult read. I did enjoy learning about everything Immaculee had to live through, but if you ever choose to read this book, make sure to have a box of Kleenex on hand. From the beginning all the way to the end you cannot help but root for the best for Immaculee. She draws you in and makes you feel as though you are attached to the bathroom and frightened along with her. Through Immaculee's strength and courage that she shows, seven women were saved and God was once again able to be the center of her life
   The Rwandan Holocaust claimed over 1,000,000 lives. During Belgian occupation the Holocaust, the Belgians came into Rwanda and split the people into two groups. These two groups really had no true meaning, but to the Belgians, it was based upon arbitrary characteristics like your height or the width of your nose. Most of the Rwandans did not even know which they were in truth.
   The two groups they were split into were called the Hutu and the Tutsi. The Tutsi were given all the power by Belgium. They were taller and had smaller noses, so they were closer to the white's body structure. They forced the Hutu's to work for them which caused too much suffering. Eventually the Belgians left. When they did, they left the power to the Hutu. In order to get back at the Tutsi for all the suffering they had caused, the Hutu banded together to extinguish the Tutsi. They went on a three month killing spree in 1994 to rid their world of "Cockroaches."
   In the beginning of this book, Immaculee Ilibagiza talks about how happy she was with her family during her childhood. It becomes a little irritating, yet sweet at the same time that her memory of her family makes them seem so perfect. No one is that perfect, but you still want to believe her. It is easy to tell that she is not playing the pity card, but rather she is just trying to portray her family in a good light to show how all her people were taken for no reason other than the hatred that spread. For the first part of the book, she explains that her family would pray together every night. She makes it clear that praying was a way to keep strength in her family. Her mother made sure they never missed evening prayer because there was no strength that was closer and more important than the strength of God.
   During the genocide in 1994, Immaculee was a student in college. To attempt escape from the danger, she and seven others hid in their pastor's house in one of his back bathrooms. They were in there three months. Immaculee did the only thing she could and returned to her roots through prayer. As Immaculee shares in her book, "The struggle between my prayers and the evil whispers that I was sure belonged to the devil raged in my mind. I never stopped praying . . . and the whispering never relented" (79).
   When Immaculee went into the bathroom with the others, she was over 120 pounds. When she was brave enough to make a run for it three months later, she weighed only 80 pounds. She spent the whole time just trying to keep faith even though she was greatly suffering. She says that aside from the wardrobe that is blocked the bathroom door from plain sight, the only other thing that made her feel more secure was that Jesus was shining a white light on the door to protect them. She says she even had a dream one night where Jesus came to her saying, "be at peace and trust in me, for I will always be at your side" (111).
   This part was a little difficult for me to trust in, but I want to believe her. To dream of God would be an amazing feeling. I can only imagine the comfort she felt by this. No wonder she had the strength to trust Him and walk out of the bathroom. I was even more impressed that Immaculee was still able to keep a level mind. Even though Jesus had come to her to give reassurance, she still realized that she needed to act with a level head, but that God had given her the strength to overcome her fear. Immaculee was very lucky to see these visions, but unfortunately, her family was not so lucky.
   After finding out that her family, including all her small siblings, had been brutally murdered, I'm not sure how she found the strength to forgive the Hutus. Immaculee realized that her people had suffered enough. They had all suffered, Hutu and Tutsi alike. Somehow, she found the strength within God to help her forgive, which I don't think is something I could have done. If someone had murdered my brother, I know I would not be able to forgive them. It would take every fiber of my being not to hurt them back. Immaculee's family was close to her, just as my family, especially my brother, is close to me. However, I have no doubt that I would not have the strength Immaculee did. I'm not sure how she came up with the strength. Even if she would not be as angry as to seek revenge, I would at least think she would be resentful towards them. I'm impressed how much she is able to trust and forgive. She almost makes forgiveness seem too easy.