Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Empire of the Summer Moon - Reviewed

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American HistoryEmpire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of those books that will stick with you. I consider myself fairly well versed in US history, yet this book breathed life into an era I never really knew existed. The tale of the rise and fall of the Comanches alone is mesmerizing and compelling, but it is the tales of the individuals involved that make this work stand out.

Gwynne does an amazing job of bringing the Plains to life. Fans of Nathaniel Philbrick, Joseph Ellis, etc., need to read this book. I'll never look at the Great Plains, the Texas Rangers, or the mustang the same.



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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Unbroken - Reviewed

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's hard to say you enjoyed a book that is as grim as this one can be in parts, so let's say I found it enthralling. As a biographer, Laura Hillenbrand does an amazing job of telling Louis Zamerini's life story. As a subject, Zamperini is hard to rival. This tale is both horrifying and inspiring. It'll give you a new appreciation of the war efforts in the Pacific, and for the triumph of forgiveness. Highly recommended, but only if you're prepared for grimness.



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Heaven's Reach - Reviewed

Heaven's Reach (Uplift Storm Trilogy, #3)Heaven's Reach by David Brin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


David Brin delivers in this last novel of the Uplift Storm Trilogy. The hard science of Brin's world is much more in affect in this novel than in the previous two, and we're introduced to a few new characters. But it picks up exactly where Infinity's Shore dropped off. Though each subplot is tied off nicely, we never spend any time on Jijo, which was my favorite part of the novels. That's the main reason behind my 4-star rating, that little bit of disappointment.



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