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Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Supreme Court
Artemus Ward, Christopher Brough and Robert Arnold
Book
The US Supreme Court is an institution that operates almost totally behind closed doors. This book...
Paddington' Pollaky, Private Detective: The Mysterious Life and Times of the Real Sherlock Holmes
Book
'Paddington' Pollaky, Victorian super-sleuth, was a contradiction: a man of mystery who tried to...
Robert Capa: A Graphic Biography
Book
'If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough.' - Robert Capa. 'Robert Capa: A...
LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated By the Rivers of Water: A Nineteenth-Century Atlantic Odyssey in Books
Nov 5, 2018
I was highly intrigued by this book when I first read about it as I have a minor obsession with everything and anything to do with the American Civil War. Admittedly, this is pre-war and gives an insight into the efforts of missionary do-gooders in trying to relocate the African American population back to their 'native' home.
I was expecting a more fictional style of writing, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is written in more of a recount style of the lives of the main family, namely Leighton Wilson. The detail and attention paid to the research shone through in every page and was highly informative to read. However, at times this book did have a tendency to drag, and I suspect it is due to the overwhelming attention to small detail. Fabulous if you're using the book as a research project, not so if you're reading out of curiosity into this era of history. In addition, it also occasionally lacked the fine balance between informative on the religious aspect of the missions and preaching through the pages. As a not so religious person, this did become annoying at times, but I could understand why Clarke had this tone in the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, if not very long, book that was incredibly informative and rather enjoyable. The addition of the photographs and personal snippets from letters added a very personal and enjoyable aspect to the tale of the Wilson's.
I was expecting a more fictional style of writing, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is written in more of a recount style of the lives of the main family, namely Leighton Wilson. The detail and attention paid to the research shone through in every page and was highly informative to read. However, at times this book did have a tendency to drag, and I suspect it is due to the overwhelming attention to small detail. Fabulous if you're using the book as a research project, not so if you're reading out of curiosity into this era of history. In addition, it also occasionally lacked the fine balance between informative on the religious aspect of the missions and preaching through the pages. As a not so religious person, this did become annoying at times, but I could understand why Clarke had this tone in the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, if not very long, book that was incredibly informative and rather enjoyable. The addition of the photographs and personal snippets from letters added a very personal and enjoyable aspect to the tale of the Wilson's.
Accidental Presidents
Book
This New York Times bestselling "deep dive into the terms of eight former presidents is chock-full...
Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom 1215-2015
Nicholas Vincent, Anthony Musson, Justin Champion and Joyce Lee Malcolm
Book
Eight hundred years ago King John of England was forced to seal a document of historic importance....
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Storm Clouds Rolling In (Bregdan Chronicles #1) in Books
Nov 26, 2019
Describing this book makes it sound like it could be a tale of Southern romance set before the American Civil War; Carrie Cromwell is the teenage daughter of a plantation owner in Virginia and falls for the son of another plantation owner as the political and social storm of the events of the Civil War brew around them.
In reality however this is a far more complex work - yes the romance is there but it is very much overshadowed by the situation and events of the time. Firstly Carrie is not a Southern Belle happy to sit on the verandah and look after her hard working man - she wants to make something of herself and doesn't think that she will be happy running her father's plantation in later life. Secondly she has grave doubts about slavery, an institution that has become the basis of the plantation owner's very existence.
This novel then is far more an exploration of the confict the slave issue creates as well as the lack of opportunity for a bright woman to better herself in the nineteenth century.
The author does well with the slavery issue in presenting someone from the whole spectrum, from reactionary pro-slavery plantation owners to equally abhorrent abolitionlists who are in many ways just as bad. Carrie is very much undecided throughout the book and that is a good thing, we are essentially treated to a novel length essay on the causes of the civil war and the justifications for slavery that caused a lot of the friction, along with the North failing to take account of the depth of the pride of those in the South.
The characters are very well drawn, and although each more-or-less repesents one particular facet of the debate none are mere ciphers and indeed many of them evolve over time and change their outlook and opinions, not lease Carrie but also of note the slaves Rose and Moses, both young but who really grow during the course of the story. The author has necessarily put some perjorative terms for slaves in the mouths of some of her characters - for which she apologises in a brief forward - but this not only lends realism but underlines those characters attitudes towards the slaves.
The book does move at a relatively slow pace, and there are plenty of discussions around politics, society and slavery but it is quite immersive and acts to let each character become far more solid.
Overall a book I enjoyed and it provides a lot of insight into the state of America at the outbreak of war and why it happened
In reality however this is a far more complex work - yes the romance is there but it is very much overshadowed by the situation and events of the time. Firstly Carrie is not a Southern Belle happy to sit on the verandah and look after her hard working man - she wants to make something of herself and doesn't think that she will be happy running her father's plantation in later life. Secondly she has grave doubts about slavery, an institution that has become the basis of the plantation owner's very existence.
This novel then is far more an exploration of the confict the slave issue creates as well as the lack of opportunity for a bright woman to better herself in the nineteenth century.
The author does well with the slavery issue in presenting someone from the whole spectrum, from reactionary pro-slavery plantation owners to equally abhorrent abolitionlists who are in many ways just as bad. Carrie is very much undecided throughout the book and that is a good thing, we are essentially treated to a novel length essay on the causes of the civil war and the justifications for slavery that caused a lot of the friction, along with the North failing to take account of the depth of the pride of those in the South.
The characters are very well drawn, and although each more-or-less repesents one particular facet of the debate none are mere ciphers and indeed many of them evolve over time and change their outlook and opinions, not lease Carrie but also of note the slaves Rose and Moses, both young but who really grow during the course of the story. The author has necessarily put some perjorative terms for slaves in the mouths of some of her characters - for which she apologises in a brief forward - but this not only lends realism but underlines those characters attitudes towards the slaves.
The book does move at a relatively slow pace, and there are plenty of discussions around politics, society and slavery but it is quite immersive and acts to let each character become far more solid.
Overall a book I enjoyed and it provides a lot of insight into the state of America at the outbreak of war and why it happened
Unlikely Dissenters: White Southern Women in the Fight for Racial Justice, 1920-1970
Book
Stefani redefines the proverbial 'southern lady' with a close look at over fifty white, anti-racist...
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated American War in Books
Oct 3, 2017
Epic novel about the Second American Civil War
Throughout the entire time reading this, all I could think of is the fact that this would look amazing as a TV series. This dystopian novel explores how the north and south of the United States are divided in the latter half of the 21st century after fossil fuels are banned due to extreme flooding in Florida.
It is written in the perspective of a dying historian in the 22nd century, attempting to recollect the role of his aunt, who essentially was leading the insurgency against the north. She was as much a victim as aggressor in this novel, being groomed as a child soldier and being tortured in prison as a young adult. In the background, a rising Pan-Arab empire helps stoke the fires in the US.
It is slow but relentless, and rather fitting for what is currently happening all over the world. A fascinating read indeed.
It is written in the perspective of a dying historian in the 22nd century, attempting to recollect the role of his aunt, who essentially was leading the insurgency against the north. She was as much a victim as aggressor in this novel, being groomed as a child soldier and being tortured in prison as a young adult. In the background, a rising Pan-Arab empire helps stoke the fires in the US.
It is slow but relentless, and rather fitting for what is currently happening all over the world. A fascinating read indeed.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Beguiled (2017) in Movies
Nov 22, 2017 (Updated Nov 22, 2017)
Dull and rather pointless
There was very little that was beguiling about this film apart from the usual fantastic performances from Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell.
The premise of the film surrounds the American Civil War, in which an injured soldier (Farrell) is taken in quite reluctantly by a group of women and young girls where Kidman is the matriarch. The mysterious circumstances of Farrell is never explicitly revealed, but he begins to attempt to worm his way into staying by charming all of the women and girls creating sexual tension in a rather repressive household.
The problem was that the film is sold as empowering to women yet it was nothing of the sort. Watching the women throw themselves at a man was rather unappealing, and to be honest the entire movie was very dull. I hear the Clint Eastwood version of the same film @The Beguiled (1971) is superb and the one to watch.
The premise of the film surrounds the American Civil War, in which an injured soldier (Farrell) is taken in quite reluctantly by a group of women and young girls where Kidman is the matriarch. The mysterious circumstances of Farrell is never explicitly revealed, but he begins to attempt to worm his way into staying by charming all of the women and girls creating sexual tension in a rather repressive household.
The problem was that the film is sold as empowering to women yet it was nothing of the sort. Watching the women throw themselves at a man was rather unappealing, and to be honest the entire movie was very dull. I hear the Clint Eastwood version of the same film @The Beguiled (1971) is superb and the one to watch.