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zena_ryder's reviews
336 reviews
1861: The Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart
5.0
This is an amazing book. It comes exceptionally close to that Holy Grail of history books — it reads (almost) like a novel. The characterization of the various players is fantastic; Goodheart has a fiction writer's knack of choosing a few telling details to paint a picture of a full human being. I loved how he told the various stories of the few months either side of the beginning of the Civil War — the Wide Awakes, Sumpter, Ellsworth and the Zouaves, the "Contrabands" — and I was introduced to some fascinating people I'd never heard of before. I look forward to learning more about Abby Kelley, for example. Goodheart also does a great job of describing the development of Lincoln's political skill during this year. I feel that I have a better understanding and appreciation of how his mind worked. I wish there was a second volume, "1862"....
Lincoln: A President for the Ages by
3.0
I love the idea behind this book — tying it to the movie and thus encouraging more people to read some history. The format is great too — individual short essays, rather than one long book, which many people would never get through. The focus is on Lincoln's *ideas*, rather than on what he did in his life, although of course that comes into it. And the question that most authors were asked was along the lines of, "If Lincoln were alive today, what would be his views on....?" Would Lincoln be in favour of women's suffrage, for example? Of course, there are limitations to these sorts of questions, which take someone out of their historical context, and of course these authors are sophisticated to know that. But it is interesting to explore the bits of evidence in Lincoln's writings to speculate about how his views might have developed had he lived longer, or in our own time.
I found some of the essays more interesting than others, as would anybody who reads this, I think. Overall, I liked it and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Lincoln.
I found some of the essays more interesting than others, as would anybody who reads this, I think. Overall, I liked it and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Lincoln.
Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor
5.0
This is on my list of all time favourite books. It's fantastic. It's very long, but I never felt it needed to be shorter. It's beautifully written, and the characterization is amazing. The author creates so many believable characters, and you feel that you get to know them, even though some are around only for a single chapter. In the book, many characters make short chapter-long appearances - long enough for us to get to know them before they die (usually) and leave the story. It's a very effective way of getting a feel for just how many people were imprisoned at Andersonville and how tragic all that suffering and death was.
If I had to come up with some criticisms, it would probably be these:
1. I didn't quite care enough about Ira Claffey and his family. I needed to love them more.
2. Slaves are largely ignored in the story. In a way, this is a virtue - because slaves simply were just in the background of the lives of many Southerners, just like tools and horses. However, I still felt a desire to hear more from them.
If I had to come up with some criticisms, it would probably be these:
1. I didn't quite care enough about Ira Claffey and his family. I needed to love them more.
2. Slaves are largely ignored in the story. In a way, this is a virtue - because slaves simply were just in the background of the lives of many Southerners, just like tools and horses. However, I still felt a desire to hear more from them.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
3.0
A whirlwind tour through astronomy, physics, geology, palaeontology etc. Of course, depending on the reader's prior knowledge and interests, it's sometimes more superficial than the reader would like (which is an invitation to find out more from somewhere else) and it's sometimes more detailed than the reader would like (which is an invitation to skim a few pages).
Overall, I found the book interesting and entertaining. It's always intriguing to me to see how much difference human personalities and rivalries make to how history unfolds. Much of this book is about the history of science, as well as the science itself. I liked hearing about the different personalities of people who discovered various things, but I can see how readers who want "just the science" could get annoyed by that. If you fall into that category, I wouldn't recommend this book. But for everyone else curious about science and the history of science, and looking for a basic introduction, I would recommend this book.
Overall, I found the book interesting and entertaining. It's always intriguing to me to see how much difference human personalities and rivalries make to how history unfolds. Much of this book is about the history of science, as well as the science itself. I liked hearing about the different personalities of people who discovered various things, but I can see how readers who want "just the science" could get annoyed by that. If you fall into that category, I wouldn't recommend this book. But for everyone else curious about science and the history of science, and looking for a basic introduction, I would recommend this book.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
3.0
The writing in this book is amazing. Very creative and unique. September (the main character), Fairyland, and the creatures who live there are all wonderful creations. However, in the end, the book was lacking. (It is a kids' book, after all.) There is not enough character development (although there is some) and the plot is too straightforward and linear. I found myself just wanting to get the book over and done with once I was about half way through. However, I do look forward to reading this to my 6 year old when she's older. It would be too difficult for her to understand the language right now, and my son would have difficulty, even at 10. While he has the necessary vocabulary, a child has to be very comfortable with not really knowing what's going on for a while, as things gradually become clearer. My son doesn't like that, but my daughter would enjoy it. Generally, I would recommend this book for kids around 10 - 13 years old, who are into language and who can handle being "disoriented" and challenged by a book.
Also, if you're looking for female heroes and adventurers to add to your kids' bookshelf, September is a great one.
Also, if you're looking for female heroes and adventurers to add to your kids' bookshelf, September is a great one.
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
4.0
This is a hard book to review, because it's not just a book. It can be evaluated as a piece of fictional literature, but it is also historical fiction and it is written by a white author, in the first person, about a black historical figure, Nat Turner.
What are an author's responsibilities? Is it just to write the best story they can? Do they have responsibilities to the truth when writing historical fiction? And what moral responsibilities do they have when representing politically sensitive people and events?
As a piece of literature, it's easy to review. It was exceptionally well written, with passages that are very beautiful and some very well drawn characters.
As for its historical accuracy, I don't know enough to review confidently, but as far as I know, we don't have much in the way of reliable primary sources regarding Nat Turner. We have his "confessions", which were dictated to and written by one of his white captors and we have newspaper reports written, no doubt, by appalled white journalists catering to a white, slaveholding (or at least slavery endorsing) readership. So we probably just don't know much about Nat Turner, the real person. The major events in the book were, as far as I know, fairly accurately portrayed (but I am open to correction). The book doesn't, however, mention the numerous reprisal killings that whites inflicted on blacks after Turner's revolt (including many who had nothing to do with it). That disturbs me.
As for its political significance, I don't know what to say. Since we don't know much about Turner himself, that means that Styron can largely choose how to portray him and that is a huge responsibility. He was a slave and he led other slaves in a revolt, so in that respect he is heroic. He was deeply religious: was he a crazy religious fundamentalist, or was he simply misguided, or was he a good man taking the only route left open by his situation (and with his belief in God to help justify his actions)? He planned and led the killing of about 60 white people, including children. While we can sympathize with the appalling, desperate circumstances that led him and his followers to do this, the murders are brutal and it's hard for an author to sustain that sympathy. Readers are in the uncomfortable position of condoning brutal murders or criticizing a hero of slave resistance. It's good to make readers uncomfortable — and I'm glad Styron didn't make it easy for his readers — but without knowing more of the facts about the real Turner, and more about the racial significance of certain of Styron's imagined elements (such as Turner's rape fantasies), I really don't know what to think of this book overall.
What are an author's responsibilities? Is it just to write the best story they can? Do they have responsibilities to the truth when writing historical fiction? And what moral responsibilities do they have when representing politically sensitive people and events?
As a piece of literature, it's easy to review. It was exceptionally well written, with passages that are very beautiful and some very well drawn characters.
As for its historical accuracy, I don't know enough to review confidently, but as far as I know, we don't have much in the way of reliable primary sources regarding Nat Turner. We have his "confessions", which were dictated to and written by one of his white captors and we have newspaper reports written, no doubt, by appalled white journalists catering to a white, slaveholding (or at least slavery endorsing) readership. So we probably just don't know much about Nat Turner, the real person. The major events in the book were, as far as I know, fairly accurately portrayed (but I am open to correction). The book doesn't, however, mention the numerous reprisal killings that whites inflicted on blacks after Turner's revolt (including many who had nothing to do with it). That disturbs me.
As for its political significance, I don't know what to say. Since we don't know much about Turner himself, that means that Styron can largely choose how to portray him and that is a huge responsibility. He was a slave and he led other slaves in a revolt, so in that respect he is heroic. He was deeply religious: was he a crazy religious fundamentalist, or was he simply misguided, or was he a good man taking the only route left open by his situation (and with his belief in God to help justify his actions)? He planned and led the killing of about 60 white people, including children. While we can sympathize with the appalling, desperate circumstances that led him and his followers to do this, the murders are brutal and it's hard for an author to sustain that sympathy. Readers are in the uncomfortable position of condoning brutal murders or criticizing a hero of slave resistance. It's good to make readers uncomfortable — and I'm glad Styron didn't make it easy for his readers — but without knowing more of the facts about the real Turner, and more about the racial significance of certain of Styron's imagined elements (such as Turner's rape fantasies), I really don't know what to think of this book overall.
Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential--and Endangered by Bruce D. Perry, Maia Szalavitz
1.0
I really can't be bothered to read books that purport to be "scientific", but that don't provide proper notes and references. An author could just make up any old crap (or provide the spin they like best) and if they don't give references for their claims, why should I believe them?
I think it's great to write popular science books, but this shouldn't be at the expense of proper references. (If it makes a book too long, they could be put online.)
I think it's great to write popular science books, but this shouldn't be at the expense of proper references. (If it makes a book too long, they could be put online.)
My Old True Love by Sheila Kay Adams
5.0
This book is beautiful. The characters are well drawn and I love the writing and the story. The very end is not perfect, so I'd probably give it 4.9 stars if I could. ;) However, it's still one of my all time favourite books and I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with the ending, but it was somehow unsatisfying.
The setting of the novel is also interesting. It is set in the North Carolina mountains and the reader sees how irrelevant to most people the looming Civil War is. They are not slave holders (they are poor themselves, working hard to get by) and they feel far more loyalty to their mountains — and of course their families and local community — than they do to the abstract notion of the United States. And the Union side began the war with the goal of restoring the union, not fighting slavery.
I love Appalachian folk music, so this novel was also a treat because of that theme that runs through it. I envy these people their music, dancing and close knit families and communities. (I can do without the poverty, back-breaking work and random disease though.)
The setting of the novel is also interesting. It is set in the North Carolina mountains and the reader sees how irrelevant to most people the looming Civil War is. They are not slave holders (they are poor themselves, working hard to get by) and they feel far more loyalty to their mountains — and of course their families and local community — than they do to the abstract notion of the United States. And the Union side began the war with the goal of restoring the union, not fighting slavery.
I love Appalachian folk music, so this novel was also a treat because of that theme that runs through it. I envy these people their music, dancing and close knit families and communities. (I can do without the poverty, back-breaking work and random disease though.)