The History Book Club discussion

Alisa, this is your thread for 2017. I have included the link to the required format thread and an example. If you had a 2016 thread - it is archived - but you can still add books to it for the last few days of December.

Please follow the standard required format below - I hope you enjoy your reading in 2017. Here is also a link for assistance with the required guidelines:

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: January 2017
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.

IMPORTANT - THE REVIEW SHOULD BE SHORT AND SWEET - THERE ARE NO LINKS OF ANY KIND IN THE BODY OF THE REVIEW ALLOWED. NONE. DO NOT REFER TO ANY OTHER BOOK IN YOUR BRIEF REVIEW. THE ONLY BOOK CITED IN YOUR REVIEW IS THE ONE YOU ARE REVIEWING - NO OTHERS. ALL LINKS TO OTHER THREADS OR REVIEWS ARE DELETED IMMEDIATELY - THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. WE CONSIDER THIS SELF PROMOTION AND IT IS NOT ALLOWED AND IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES.

JANUARY

1. by Daniel Silva
Finish date: Jan 1, 2017
Genre: spy espionage thriller
Rating: A
Review: Gabriel Allon is enlisted to find the killer of a former British spy who was thought to be the last person to possess a masterpiece by Carravagio stolen many years ago. The set up in the first chapter sets a lot of wheels in motion and there are some complicated plot twists weaving in modern day international political issues that adds complexity and richness to the story. The character development is very well done, and the romp through the underbelly of the art collecting and theft world make a worthy setting. Another quality spy espionage mystery penned by Daniel Silva, good to the last page.

Very good - and I agree

I generally like this genre, but somehow Silva's novels never really appealed.

I must give this series a try.

Peter do not forget to cite the author -

Daniel Silva

Peter wrote: "I generally like this genre, but somehow Silva's novels never really appealed."

Have you tried any of the books by Alan Furst? Also good espionage has more of a historical element that might appeal to you.
by Alan Furst

Donna wrote: "I must give this series a try."

Donna, I really enjoy his stuff - more on my to-read pile. Lots to choose from!

Alisa, I love the series as well, so much so that after reading a few of the later books, I have started at the beginning of the series to read what I had missed! Donna, I think you would like it too.

A new series! Cool!

Peter wrote: "A new series! Cool!"

Peter, I bet you will like it.
Glad to be of service to my fellow readers. Look forward to everyone's reviews!

2. by Johnette Howard (no photo)
Finish date: Jan 15, 2017
Genre: sports
Rating: A
Review: Great book! Goes beyond their epic sports rivalry and personal friendship, but also exposes the development of women's professional tennis at the forefront of challenging stereotypes about women athletes and women's pro sports generally. Both of these extraordinary women led lives very different from each other, and each had distinct challenges which plagued them during the course of their careers. Their on-court duels drove each of them behind the scenes, and provided the sport spectator wth memorable spectacle. Thoroughly researched, very well written, this story was a page turner. I walked away feeling like I know so much more about each of these women personally, as well as an appreciation for their contribution to their craft and the progress towards equality in all phases of life.

I don't recall whatever possessed me to pick up this book or where I got it. I love a good spectator sport but have barely paid much attention to tennis - except for lessons in junior high school I never played. Even if you are not a fan of the sport, there is so much more in this book that is engaging and thought provoking. Great book.

Good for you Alisa and glad that it was a great book too.

3. by Martin Luther King Jr.
Finish date: Jan 16, 2017
Genre: civil rights
Rating: A++
Review: Powerful. Searing. Eloquent. Masterful. The moral argument of our time.

Excellent and timely

4. by Sheri Fink
Finish date: Jan 30, 2017
Genre: natural disaster
Rating: A
Review: Hurricane Katrina stands as one of the worst disasters in modern American history. The storm and its immediate aftermath caused widespread property destruction, severe geographic and environmental impact, and loss of life throughout south Louisiana and Mississippi. The levee system in New Orleans proved to be an inadequate barrier, causing flooding to 80% of the city. Advance orders to evacuate the area were late in coming leaving the roads and highways jammed beyond capacity, and leaving behind those of limited means and resources with no safety net. The lack of a coordinated plan by city, Parrish, state, and federal authorities either before or after the storm meant people were left to their own devices. It is a recipe for magnifying disaster. For even the sturdiest New Orleanian, the customary tactic of filling the bathtub with water and shuttering the windows would be grossfully inadequate. People who couldn't get out were left to fend for themselves. That naturally includes hospital patients.

Yikes.

This book describes what occurred at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans for the five days during and following the hurricane's landfall. Power outages started the chain of complications which initially compromised patient care resources and means of communication. Flooding cut off access to the hospital so that those in need could not get in and those inside could not evacuate. Plumbing systems were destroyed. No running water. The heat was stifling. And the hospital staff had no developed disaster plan to guide them through how to respond in such a situation. It was up to the hospital staff at the hospital at the time the storm hit to figure out what to do. If you or a,loved one has ever been a hospital patient, you know that we demand a lot of medical professionals in the ordinary course. The circumstances the doctors and nurses found themselves in at Memorial is almost beyond comprehension.

This book is a phenomenal body of work. The description of events is detailed and thorough. It can be hard to follow - understandable considering the chaotic nature of the situation. There is so much going on here - from the early decisions and response by the hospital staff, their challenges in understanding and identifying the means to evacuate the hospital and finding a way to deliver patient care without electricity and food and water was just the beginning. They had to prioritize and ration everything, including patient care and rescue. Life and death decisions under the worst circumstances imaginable. It resulted in more death decisions than life decisions.

And that's the first half of the book.

There is an ensuing criminal nvestigation into the events of the five days at Memorial. Politics are a complicated thing in Louisiana and infused in just about every aspect of life and history in this part of the country, and it comes into play in the eventual outcome of the investigation here.

The narrative is very well written. The events and conditions are horrific, and the outcome of what happened in that hospital are gut-wrenching on multiple levels. I applaud the author for what must have been a monumental and emotionally difficult book to research and write. She did an amazing job of bringing the reader deep into every aspect of this complicated disaster. It lays bare the risks and potential disasterous outcomes from inadequate emergency plans and ill prepared organizations and government. It was a hard book to get through for the subject matter. It is impossible to not react emotionally to the what happened. Keep the tissues handy.

A very interesting book. The media legacy of Katrina to foreign eyes was black and white a short phase of overwhelm followed by ever-efficient American relief & damage control.

Dimitri, that is an interesting international perspective. Closer inspection of events like this reveal a much more chaotic picture.

FEBRUARY

5. by Frank McCourt
Finish date: Feb 25, 2017
Genre: Memoir
Rating: B
Review: Right up there as one of the most depressing books ever. I kept waiting for the humor promised by other readers but found it in short supply. Few writers can pull off narration through the eyes of a child without making it overly simplistic and on that front it was an enjoyable read. A kids view of the world is always a bit wry. It's just this this slice of the world was filled with suffering and tragedy, and even the parts that were amusing centered on some sad scenario.

Great

MARCH

6. by Colson Whitehead
Finish date: Mar 13, 2017
Genre: historical fiction/slavery
Rating: B-
Review: Any book involving the topic of slavery is not going to be an enjoyable read. Grueling inhumanity is not a pleasant topic and the author lays bare the harsh realities even though this is a work of fiction. Normally that kind of intensity makes for compelling reading. It's also clear Colson Whitehead is an accomplished and talented writer. He uses the metaphor of a physical Underground Railroad effectively in the telling of young Cora's journey. Yet I'm at a loss to explain why this book didn't grip me. It's different and thoughtfully written, and that alone is worth a strong positive rating. But in the end, it fell flat for me.

Alisa, I agree that this was a tough book to read but what a message. A great review!

7. by Debbie Clarke Moderow (no photo)
Finish date: Mar 25, 2017
Genre: Sport/adventure - The Iditarod
Rating: B+
Review: The Iditarod is one of those events that most people experience as a casual observer and, unless you know someone personally involved, probably don't pay much attention to other than hearing the announcement of the winner. There is comparatively little controversy involved, and is primarily associated with the infamous serum run it was established to honor. As challenging as the Alaska wilderness can be, the image of huskys and mushers racing against time sledding across a snow covered expanse congers up a kind of romantic image. But consider this - 1,200+ miles over 13 days in subzero temps sometimes in blizzard conditions following a "trail" marked by little more than the occasional flag of reflective tape, how do you know where you are going? How do you possibly feed and care for the dogs over that long stretch? What does the musher wear to stay warm? Where do you sleep? And pee? (That question is always on my mind.) I mean, this is one grueling event. What possesses anyone to do this? The preparation alone must require careful planning and gigantic commitment by human and beast.

This book is a personal account by a woman who ran the Iditarod twice, in 2003 and 2005. We learn about what drew her to Alaska as a young woman, her adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors, and how she came to establish her adult life in Alaska. Running the Iditarod was not on her mind when she took in her first dog, but the experience of sledding and camping and hiking with that dog in the wilderness clearly influenced her eventual decision to do it.

Debbie Moderow has an authentic and personal voice to her writing style. She draws you into the relationship with her dogs and their distinct personalities, the mental, emotional, and physical challenges she faced, and paints a visual along the race course so that you feel like you are witnessing it firsthand. This is one tough race and Debbie is one tough woman for her resilience, perseverance, and resolve. I commiserated when she failed to finish her first race, and was cheering her on the entire way to Nome for both races, and was jubilant when she finally passed through the wood burled arch.

I was perhaps expecting a little more to the backstory of the history of the race and other mushers but honestly the book doesn't need it. This was really well done and written with the same passion and spirit that drove her on. Great book.

Thanks Alisa

APRIL

8. by Kent Hartman (no photo)
Finish date: Apr 22, 2017
Genre: Music
Rating: A
Review: Fascinating and detailed romp through the emergence of the American rock and roll music business in Los Angeles, arguably the epicenter of Pop/Top 40 hit machine. The Wrecking Crew were the unsung heroes of the emergence of rock. They were the studio musicians who brought the music to life and gave legs to countless hits by injecting their skill, creativity, and ear, adding dimension and heart to every recording.

I got a kick out of learning how the business side was so unrefined in the beginning. Success of a group, individual, or song, could be completely haphazard. And the recording technology was blissfully primitive. At one point Hal Blaine thinks a song needs a distinctive percussive riff and empties an ashtray he then uses to add a few tinny sounding beats. Turned out to be a huge hit for Dean Martin. Crazy. The writing moves along and the author packs a staggering amount of information into the narrative. The characters are clear but there are so many people to keep track of it can get a little dizzying. Still, it was a fun and stimulating journey through the '60s and '70s American rock scene. I had no idea when I was growing up how this all came about. I'm glad I know now. Great book. Highly recommend for rock music fans.

MAY
9. by Barbara Holland
Finish date: May 4, 2017
Genre: satire/humor
Rating: A-
Review: What a delight! At first I was put off by the somewhat haughty tone to her writing, but it quickly evolved into a wry and clever style that was perfectly suited to the lyric of the book. Each indulgence is covered in a short essay so you can read this in brief sittings without missing a beat. The treasure in this is the reminder that the seemingly "little" things in life - bare feet, working, clothes, weekends, happy hour - are true gifts if we are attentive to and relish in the nuances. Absolute fun little romp of a book.

I usually pass books along when I am done with them but might have to hang onto this one so I can revisit the occasional topic just to lift my day.

I'll give this a chance.

10. by A.J. Liebling
Finish date: May 15, 2017
Genre: food/Paris 1920's
Rating: A
Review: Brilliant writing. A gustatory memoir to Paris of the mid-1920's. A.J.Liebling wrote for The New Yorker and this book, which is more like a series of long essays, embodies some of that trademark wit and air of a bon vivant. Hedonistic and entirely endearing.

11. by Max Allan Collins
Finish date: May 28, 2017
Genre: murder mystery
Rating: C
Review: Ugh. Predictable plot using a tired formula: retired cop with patrician good looks and above average reasoning skills brought in as 'special' agent to work an investigation with a less seasoned but perfectly attractive female detective. This being the first book in the series the two detectives are getting to know each other (both are single, of course) and thankfully in this book the gratuitous sex between them has yet to occur. This being a story involving the Supreme Court and centered in DC, of course there is a political point of view brought into the picture. The saving grace to the book was that it was free, and served its purpose as a mindless airplane read. Otherwise, not really worth the time.

12. by Alan Tillier (no photo)
Finish date: May 23, 2017
Genre: travel
Rating: B+
Review: Love the Eyewitness travel guides. Detailed and concise, excellent graphics and maps, and well thought out suggested walks and sights that will get you into the heart of a place and learn something as well. My only issue is that the book itself is heavy to carry around all day. The maps are great, very handy. Will use this for future trips.

13. by Andy Herbach (no photo)
Finish date: May 23, 2017
Genre: travel
Rating: B
Review: Very handy food and restaurant guide for Paris. The places we tried that were recommended in this book were excellent choices. The food dictionary is very thorough and made for the perfect pocket resource during our trip throughout France. Small enough to carry and use discreetly. The various shops, eating, and drinking venues are listed alphabetically and the index by arrondisement in the back only lists restaurants so made it a little difficult to use for identifying on-the-spot locations when out and about. Still, a great guide. Will hang onto this for future trips.

JUNE
14. by Lauren Elkin
Finish date: June 6, 2017
Genre: travel
Rating: D
Review: Truth be told I didn't read all the way to the end, but I read enough to convince me there would be more of the same had I stuck with it. Disappointing. The premise holds so much promise and in those few moments when the author sticks to it the book is quite good. Unfortunately the majority of the book is a narcissistic excercise to impress us with her worldly travels and privileged youth while demonstrating her retention of everything she researched to get her PhD. Lacks cohesion to the premise and her life just isn't that interesting. One big fail.

Are you planning a trip to Paris soon?

Returned last week. Paris, Dijon, and Florence. Great trip.

Good for you. Did you fly or drive between all of these points? Which one did you like the best? And Dijon is great for Burgundy wine and Dijon mustard - did you bring back both (smile)

Thank you for your cooperation Alisa - for additional details check the introduction thread for this folder.

15. by Don Kladstrup (no photo)
Finish date: June 19, 2017
Genre: WWII
Rating: B+
Review: A fascinating slice of WWII history focusing on the German occupation of France. The backbone of the story centers on the fight to control Frances's most precious commodity which is also the cornerstone to much of its culture and way of life: wine. The Occupation left many French in the unenviable predicament of having to find a way to survive while holding onto their way of life and means of survival living in a war zone. Wine fueled economic independance for the rural French and was central to their culture and way of life. The German invasion tore that apart, taking control of property, supplies, and of course the wine. It wasn't that Hitler or the Germans had a taste for wine - quite the opposite - but rather it signified social control. The French put up one hell of a valiant fight and they were clever about it. They hid their prized vintages by building secret walls in their caves, they ditched their worst quality wines by selling them to unsuspecting winefuhrers or on the black market, and they smuggled members of the French Resistance. This reads like a spy novel and features some of the great chateaus throughout the country. At times humorous and suspenseful and filled with anguish, this book ends up being a tribute to an industry and people who found a way to endure until the liberation, and a lesson of the horror of war. Great book.

Alisa, a perfect review for a wonderful book. I loved this book as well and the ingenuity of the French, especially when it came to their wine.

Right? No wonder WWII relics are still being uncovered. They were stashed everywhere!

When you think of all of the culture and arts that were protected and preserved, you have to be grateful to all of those people that recognized their importance. Cheers!

16. by Lindy West
Finish date: June 25, 2017
Genre: Feminism
Rating: B-/C+
Review: If you read the first 30 pages and think this sucks then keep reading, it gets better. If you read the first 30 pages and think "hell yes!" then walk away before you're disappointed. I dunno, if you are a thirty-something filled with angst and rage and trying to piece life together maybe this appeals to you. Sometimes the writing felt like she was trying way too hard to be relevant and "out there." There were humorous parts to be sure. But it didn't grab me in a way worthy of all the hype.

JULY
17. by Elizabeth M. Norman
Finish date: July 6, 2017
Genre: WWII/the role of women in war
Rating: A
Review: Mention Bataan to anyone familiar with the WWII Pacific battleground and the reaction is likely to be one of pain. Unspeakable misery was inflicted in what became known as the Bataan Death March. The much lesser known story but no less compelling is the story of the Band of Angels: the 100 Army and Navy nurses stationed in the Phillipines when it was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Army. This is the story of the military nurses who were surrendered by their government and taken prisoner in December 1941 until the Phillipines were liberated in 1945.

These women came to military nursing service from all walks of life and all parts of the country. As professionals they each embodied a passion for nurturing and protecting others. For some, the military afforded them the opportunity for a good education, worthy occupational training, and to experience life outside the confines of their humble daily existence. Life working in a tropical military hospital had its advantages. Exotic location, regular hours, and a congenial social life. Combat duty was the farthest thing from their minds. In an instant, everything changed once the bombs started flying. War is hell, and these women were suddenly tossed in the middle of it. They were there to heal, not to fight. But in order to survive while attending to the rapidly mounting casualties they had to do both.

They organized themselves into a team across the normal boundaries of Military unit command. They improvised as resources became strained. They tended to the weakest, the maimed, the injured, the suffering. They built, organized, and managed hospital units spread out on the jungle floor. They slept on bamboo cots, worked nonstop shifts, and lived by their wits. And then they were captured by (arguably surrendered by their own government to) the Japanese and sent off to prison camps. Everything gets worse!!

Eventually they are liberated and not a moment too soon. By this time the nurses are somehow still upright but just barely. They carried on their nursing duties while being imprisoned, and were subjected to the same inhumane treatment as other prisoners. At the time of their liberation they were suffering from dysentery, dengue fever, and all the other gruesome physical and mental effects of starvation and isolation. They were quickly flung back into life in the US and paraded around and, being women, objectified as fragile heroes. But when the military honors and medals were passed out, despite their remarkable resiliency and heroism and service to their country, their government could barely see fit to bestow a form of military honor below what their rank or service deserved.

We follow these women, who became known as The Band of Angels, through their reintegration into post-war life in the States right up until their last breath.

It is a remarkable story expertly told at the hands of a careful, thoughtful, and empathetic writer. It is a story that will break your heart a few dozen times and leave you in awe of what these women accomplished, and what humans are capable of doing, good and bad. After reading this I will never ever forget the story of these amazing women, thrown together by chance to endure one of the most horrific experiences in history.

18. by Graeme Simsion
Finish date: July 12, 2017
Genre: romantic comedy
Rating: B
Review: Cute and lighthearted romantic comedy. Geek brainiac genetics professor completely lacking in social skills decides it's time to find a companion and develops a science project to find the perfect wife. That project is quickly derailed when he embarks on another project to help a college student identify her father. The story is funny, imaginative, and the moral to the story themes are well done. A delightful quick read.

19. by Michael Lewis
Finish date: July 31, 2017
Genre: Sports/baseball
Rating: B+
Review: The inside story of the unlikely success of the Oakland Athletics 2002 team at the hands of General Manager Billy Beane and his unconventional talent evaluation methodology that enabled him to field a division winning team at bargain basement salaries. The history of baseball statistics and analysis was actually pretty interesting. I'm no mathlete but the theory behind it was thought provoking. Success on the field is sometimes calculated and ascribed a value that has just as much to do with circumstances outside the players control. Baseball is a sport that is a mix of skill, mystique, and historical lore. Ultimately the reason Billy Beane was successful was that he took a well reasoned but unconventional approach and took an active hand in managing the outcome.

The author did a great job of shedding light on some of the prominent characters, many of whom are not likely to be household names. What I found a little frustrating was when the author injected himself into the story. Pet peeve of mine - I think it disrupts the story unnecessarily. I'm also a,little surprised that no other teams were paying attention to OBP before 2002. And he made out Art Howe to be a disgruntled puppet, and that didn't sit well with me. Overall it was very enjoyable but, so far, not my favorite baseball book. And if you are not a baseball fan then this book will likely only have limited appeal.

AUGUST
20. by Kate Moore
Finish date: Aug 7, 2017
Genre: American industrial history - women in the workforce
Rating: A+
Review: Lip . . Dip . . . Paint. Repeat. The Radium Luminous Materials Company manufactured watches and dials that could be seen in the dark. A luminous paint was used to hand paint the numbers on the dial using a thin pointed brush. To give it that glow, the paint - undark, as it was referred to - used a new substance called radium. It worked like a dream. Everything it touched glowed.

Manufacturing watch and instrument dials was a commercial operation and in the 1920's that meant manual labor. The work of dial painters in a clock factory in 1920 was straightforward. It was a simple a task to paint a watch dial, but it took some precision to get it right and insure that all the paint stayed neatly inside the lines. The dial paint had special properties which made it luminous, and whatever the substance was it wasn't cheap. No wasting that paint, it had to last. The brushes that the dial painters used were small and to paint precisely inside the lines the painters would swirl the brush in the paint, bring it to their lips to form a point, and then paint the dial. Lip. Dip. Paint. Repeat.

At that time America's young industrial economy was ramping up, and that meant jobs. War meant work in the industrial sector and with the men needed for military service it was the women who entered the workforce. Most were young women - some as young as 14 or 15 - who were glad to find a good paying job so they could support their families and with the hopes of one day branching out onto their own, maybe get married, have children, make a life. When they entered the workforce, particularly someplace that employed a lot of women, they naturally had a new avenue for socialization. Sitting in a room all day painting watch dials with other young women they quickly formed friendships and established a certain esprit de corp. They liked each other, enjoyed the work, made good money, and soon started encouraging their sisters and friends to join them at work. As war waged on, watch and dial production accelerated. The company had high production demand and couldn't hire dial painters fast enough. The diligent dial painters were in demand, and paid according to their production volume. Lip. Dip. Paint. Repeat.

They worked hard but also had fun. On their breaks they would sometimes sneak a vial of paint into a dark room, paint their nails and lips, turn off the lights, and prance around in the glow. Some noticed that their work smock took on a faint glow when they hung it up in their closet at home. Paint dust that got into their hair would give off a certain radiance. It was magic. They thought nothing of it. Who cared, the dial painters were having fun and making good money. Lip. Dip. Paint. Repeat.

So what was in this paint? Radium, it turns out. Precious little was known about radium and its properties, yet it was touted as a great new discovery that would benefit mankind. It made paint glow, but its effects on humans was unknown. The dial company didn't know and didn't care, they just wanted to produce luminous dials. They had a scientist on staff, but worker safety was not his concern. No one was concerned about worker safety. What's so dangerous about painting a watch dial? Pfft.

Then some of the dial painters started feeling ill. Odd random maladies. Aching jaw, pain in the hip, general tiredness, loose teeth, inability to walk without pain, aching and breaking bones, it kept getting worse. Sores would sprout up. Wounds or a simple cut wouldn't heal. More women would get sick. The dentists and doctors who treated them had no idea what was going on, or why none of their treatments were working. The women seemed to get worse, not better. And then they started dying. Still, no one put it together. The women were suspicious that their co-workers were falling ill with similar complaints and symptoms. Many had to quit because they were too ill to work. They complained to the company. The response was a corporate shrug. Occupational safety regulations were barely a thought, so the dial painters had no real government authority to turn to. Medical costs were ruining them, so they had little resources to hire legal help. And the laws were simply not in place that could have done them much good. A lot of people in this predicament would be rendered helpless. Not the dial painters. These gals were not going to go quietly. Not a chance.

The story of the dial painters is painful on a number of levels. Parts of this story are heartbreaking and grim. But these women also showed amazing resilience - physically, mentally, emotionally, and intellectually. The relationships they forged with each other early on served them well. They truly cared for each other and, as friends do, looked out for each other. They referred each other to dentists and physicians who aided them in finding physical relief. They shopped and ran errands for each other. They shared information and comforted each other when the going got tough. They questioned authority, and when they didn't like the answers they got they pressed on anyway. They organized to share information. They banded together to fight for their lives and explored every avenue to find relief, compensation, and justice.

The author excels in telling this story. She brings the dial painters back to life. We learn about who these women are, their hopes and dreams, their battles, their families, their loves, their humanity. The doctors and dentists who treated the dial painters did all they could and were strapped by slowly evolving science and poor access to relevant research. The lawyers who represented the dial painters were not perfect at every turn, but they deserve credit for taking on an unpopular and vexing problem in the face of nonexistent and unfair laws and fought on behalf of these women the best way they knew how. The pernicious and appalling behavior of the company and corporate executives is laid bare. Corporate greed and ignorance fueled the misery and untimely deaths of these women. The corporate response - or lack thereof in some instances - is painful, gut wrenching, and frankly criminal.

These women did not die in vain. As a result of the battle they waged, industrial workplace safety standards were put into place. The legal precedent was established which challenged the statute of limitations and allowed for recovery of damages from an ongoing cause. Radium poisoning was proven scientifically to be real, and its dangers to human health were uncovered. OSHA was formed.

This is one of the most moving stories I have ever read. It was not easy to get through this book, and at times I had to read in small segments and take a break because it was just too raw. It felt intensely personal yet historically and factually important for so many reasons. It is impossible to journey through this previously little-known saga and not be deeply moved. I will never ever forget these women, their courageousness, and unrelenting spirit. The author truly delivered a second justice to these women by telling their story. She shined a light on America's shining women. May they all rest in peace.

21. by Lynne Olson
Finish date: Aug 27, 2017
Genre: WWII history
Rating: A
Review: Reading about WWII can be overwhelming but this book covers a lot of ground by focusing on three Americans (Edward Murrow, Gill Winant, and Averell Harriman) who each played a key role in working the diplomatic and political relations between the US and Great Britain. The details of the unique role each of these gentlemen played during the war is brought to light particularly as intermediaries between FDR and Winston Churchill. The author did a stellar job of bringing out the personalities The central character however is the city of London. The resiliency of the Britons enduring the war shines through and the imagery of the city at the time and the spirit of the people is on full display. Thorough and detailed account told in a compelling way. Highly recommend, and essential reading for anyone interested in WWII.

TBR'd this...

Dimitri I think you would get a lot out of this one. Definitely worth putting in the queue!

SEPTEMBER
22. by Sue Monk Kidd
Finish date: Sept 5, 2017
Genre: young adult/fiction
Rating: B+
Review: Lovely and touching young adult/coming of age novel set in the segregated South in the 60s. It's about coming of age, belonging, sense of self, relationships, and finding inner strength through the inevitable pains of life, and emerging through harsh realities. Not the usual genre for me but this one was very well done.

23. by David Grann
Finish date: Sept 17, 2017
Genre: true crime/Native American history
Rating: A
Review: Man's inhumanity to man is laid bare in this searing examination of the little known "Reign of Terror" that besieged the then-wealthy Osage Indians in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. One of the most complex weaves of greed, deceit, and social control I think I have ever read. There are so many layers and narratives in this story it is hard to describe them all in a book review. My heart aches for the insidious wrongs perpetrated on these people, in so many ways. I salute the author who not only brings to life a story long buried in the country's not so distant past, but for sticking with it decades after others have abandoned the narrative that reverberates through the the Osage community and culture to this day. I don't mean to sound sensationalist about this, at all, but this is a page turner to the very end including shocking revelations until the very end of the book. I also don't think for a minute that was done intentionally by the author to make his book more interesting, rather it is the stunning truth. You have to be a hermit to not have at least a glimpse into the white man's insidious treatment of
Native Americans in the US. It is part of the Original Sin grounded in foundational US history. But this story has been long buried if it was ever known but to a small handful in the first place. Devastating.