Category: Books

New York Grid

New York Grid

Posted on by jack

One of my Christmas presents was City on a Grid: How New York Became New York by Gerard Koeppel. I spend much of the next few days reading and learning about the New York Grid.

One of the first things that strikes a visitor to New York City is the grid pattern of streets in Manhattan. The grid doesn’t include the southern end of Manhattan since the old city was at the southern tip of the island that that just grew organically. The grid doesn’t extend to the far north of the island. But the grid does rule on most of the island. Continue reading “New York Grid”

Why Bernie Sanders Matters

Why Bernie Sanders Matters

Posted on by jack

I just finished reading Why Bernie Sanders Matters by Harry Jaffe. I had requested an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) from Netgalley because it sounded interesting so I thought I would give it a try. I’m glad I did. I understand it is out today so the ARC gave me a few days head start.

If you have been following the presidential primaries, you know there are 3 candidates left in the democratic field. Bernie Sanders is one. It is seems like Hillary Clinton will be the nominee, but Bernie Sanders is presenting a serious challenge.

So, who is Bernie Sanders and why does he matter?

Continue reading “Why Bernie Sanders Matters”

Brooklyn Secrets, a Brooklyn mystery

Brooklyn Secrets, a Brooklyn mystery

Posted on by jack

I enjoyed the first two of the Erica Donato Mysteries by Triss Stein. I think of it as the Brooklyn mystery series. When I saw on NetGalley that a third in this series was available for review, I immediately put in my request. Fortunately, the request was approved quickly. So thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

For those not familiar with the series, Erica is a Brooklyn girl. She was widowed young with a child to raise, went back to school, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in urban history. She lives a rather hectic life balancing the demands of graduate school and single motherhood. This is further complicated by her involvement in a mystery from time to time. Continue reading “Brooklyn Secrets, a Brooklyn mystery”

Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal

Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal

Posted on by jack

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to start an advanced reading copy (ARC) of “Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal” by Joseph Alexiou before the book was in the stores. Unfortunately I am not a particularly fast reader and so the review is just coming out now, almost a month after the publication date. I grew up in the New York City (NYC) area and enjoy reading about New York City and surrounding areas. I’m also a history fan so this book seemed right up my alley.

I’ve read several books on the history of NYC and Brooklyn is usually mentioned but not in any great detail. This differs from others I have read in that the focus was on Brooklyn. The focus is the canal but there is much about Brooklyn in general but more on the area known as South Brooklyn. Continue reading “Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal”

Crimson Shore by Preston & Child

Crimson Shore by Preston & Child

Posted on by jack

First my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to download an advanced reader copy of “Crimson Shore” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I have enjoyed some of Agent Pendergast books previously.

Most of the ones I’ve read have been very good. I see this is number 15 in the series and as I only have read a few earlier ones, I was eager to get re-acquainted. Continue reading “Crimson Shore by Preston & Child”

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution

Posted on by jack

I had read two previous books by Joseph J. Ellis about the founding of the United States several years ago . I had liked these books and when I saw he had written a new book with emphasis on the transformation into a nation or the Second American Revolution, I was eager to read it.

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution , 1783-1789 actually begins in 1781 when the final state ratifies the Articles of Confederation. This loose confederation of the states had many problems due to the supremacy of states and lack of power in the weakly united confederation that pretended to be the United States.

For example, under the Articles the confederation called the United States had no way to force the states to honor the terms of the peace treaty which ended the American Revolution. They could ask the states but some chose to ignore the request. There was no way to raise money to pay our national debt. The United States was deeply in debt from the war but could only ask the states to give it money. The requests were frequently ignored. Continue reading “The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution”

History of the American Public Library

History of the American Public Library

Posted on by jack

This is an enjoyable book. I had requested an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library by Wayne A. Wiegand because I like libraries. I got the ARC from NetGalley and thank them for the chance to read this book on my Kindle before publication.

I claim neither special knowledge of nor interest in librarianship, just an interest as a library user and occasional supporter. I think I may be part of the target audience since the subtitle suggests this is a “people’s history” rather than one aimed primarily at professionals. Continue reading “History of the American Public Library”

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann

Posted on by jack

Not quite a joke -just a misunderstanding with myself.

A few days ago I wrote that I was re-reading “TransAtlantic” by Colum McCann.  I had read the book before my vacation in Ireland this summer.  We spent our first vacation night in Cobh.  I remembered a beautifully written line from TransAtlantic about Cobh.  I thought now that I had been to Cobh, I would enjoy re-reading the  book.  It seemed to me there were quite a few great descriptions in the book in addition to the one I remembered so well.

So here is the misunderstanding.  Continue reading “TransAtlantic by Colum McCann”

TransAtlantic again

TransAtlantic again

Posted on by jack

I had read “TransAtlantic” by Colum McCann last spring before going to Ireland on vacation. I was busy with preparations for my trip and didn’t really have the time to write a review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but did not realize what an impression it made on me until I was in Ireland and parts of “TransAtlantic” came to mind. So in an unusual turn of events I am reading a book for the second time in a few months.
Continue reading “TransAtlantic again”

One Nation Under God

One Nation Under God

Posted on by Jack

I was driving and the show on the radio interested me. An author was being interviewed about his book.  I missed part of it.  The interview had started before I got in my car. I picked up on a show in-progress  but  I heard enough that I was definitely interested.

Has the United States always been a Christian nation?  I believe the answer is “No”.  Why do many others think the  answer is “Yes”?

In “One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America”, Kevin M. Kruse delves into the question of why so many believe that the United States always been a Christian nation.

I think the evidence is quite clear Continue reading “One Nation Under God”

The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett

The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett

Posted on by Jack

Before reading “The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett” by Nathan Ward, I knew very little about Dashiell Hammett. I had seen “The Maltese Falcon” and maybe another movie or two based on his books and knew he was an important figure in crime fiction but I did not know much more.

This book briefly describes a childhood in rural southern Maryland, Philadelphia and Baltimore. After leaving school and failing at several jobs, he found his niche with Pinkerton National Detective Agency.

Continue reading “The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett”

Fix Congress

Fix Congress

Posted on by jack

The full title is Restoring the Consent of the Governed: How Americans Can Hold Congress More Accountable for Serving the National Interest by Bill Bridgman. The title and subtitle are a mouthful but it does summarize the book nicely.

The book is neither long nor expensive. I think it is interesting, well done, and important. The problem it addresses is one I think most Americans can agree with. There is wide spread agreement that the U.S Congress is just not doing a very good job. Continue reading “Fix Congress”

The Forgotten Room

The Forgotten Room

Posted on by Jack

The Forgotten Room: A Novel by Lincoln Child was an enjoyable book.

The opening chapter got my attention. Then I thought the next part was just interesting enough to keep me turn pages. Since I read this on my Kindle Fire, I kept touching the screen to advance to the next page. This would be about 20% of the book or about 60 pages since the hardback is a bit over 300 pages. Continue reading “The Forgotten Room”

The Burning of Cork

The Burning of Cork

Posted on by jack

1920 was a bad year for Cork. Well, a bad year for Ireland. But this is about what happened in Cork.

Ireland was fighting the British for its independence and the fighting in Cork was intense. The Burning of Cork by Gerry White and Brendan O’Shea is a rather detailed account of that fighting. Continue reading “The Burning of Cork”