The Young Lions

The Young Lions

Irwin Shaw, 1948, (repr., New York: Open Road Media, 2013)

     This is a magnificent story that illustrates the faces and attitudes of war. Shaw's epic narrative follows World War II through the eyes of an obedient German sergeant, an insecure young Jewish soldier, who endures the prejudice of fellows soldiers, and a cynic from Broadway trying to define himself. The story begins in the late 1930s and follows the lives of these men until the end of the War. Shaw paints a picture of men evolving from civilians into hardened soldiers. As this was written in 1948, the voice of war was not tainted by time. Shaw, himself a soldier during WWII, clearly relates the history he lived. His prose is flawless and engaging. The vast opinions of the period are expressed through the characters, with Shaw tacitly incorporating his own beliefs into the narrative. Further, the actual battles that Shaw incorporates into the narrative are detailed and the actions taken by the characters are often times disturbing. Overall, the reader is afforded the opportunity to experience the effects war has on the souls of those who endure. This is a timeless masterpiece and a must read, not only for fans of historical fiction but for those who appreciate a wonderful literary experience.

Infinite Sacrifice

Infinite Sacrifice

(Infinite Series: Book 1)

L.E. Waters (Rock Castle Publishing, 2011)

  I love the premise of this book; a person guided through past lives by a super-natural being. This person, who has recently died, delves into a past where she was an Egyptian King, an orphaned Irish lad, and a heroic figure during the Black Plague of Europe. Through each incarnation the soul evolves amid fellow evolving souls who were encountered previously. This idea fascinates me and the writer combines the metaphysical genre with historical fiction.
      The flaws with the book are in the writing. The third person narrative is somewhat flat and historically vague. Additionally, it is difficult to keep up with the characters over time. Finally, the conclusion with the so-called "soul guide" is overly long and somewhat incompatible with the writing style of the book. That being said; however, I will purchase the next book in this series as this premise is very intriguing. With tighter writing and a clearer narrative, this would be an excellent book. Both the author and story have great potential and I recommend this book while it is free on Kindle.

Garden on Sunset

The Garden on Sunset: A Novel of Golden-Era Hollywood
(Hollywood's Garden of Allah Novels Book 1)
Martin Turnbull (Amazon Unlimited, 2011)

     I devoured this book and anyone with a love of old Hollywood will do the same. Martin Turnbull has produced pure entertainment. The story follows three young people trying to make their way in the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. Turnbull seamlessly blends fact and fiction to paint a behind-the-scenes picture of what being a player in the movie business entailed. Big name stars are woven into the fabric of the lives of Kathryn, Gwendolyn, and Marcus. The story captures American history as experienced on Sunset Boulevard, the MGM lot, and the Coconut Grove.
     Turnbull also tackles issues that were---and still are---controversial and potentially career ending. The young protagonists of the story all come to The Garden of Allah hotel through various routes and reasons yet their goals are the same; to escape their pasts and live their dreams. They navigate their way with the help of rising movie stars,bootleggers, and a lot of bathtub gin.
     This story is at once humorous and sad;pensive and exciting;triumphant and heartbreaking. This exceptionally well-written story will keep you awake late into the night and immediately prompt you to buy the next book in the series.

Battle Cry Of Freedom

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
James McPherson ( New York: Oxford University Press, 1988)

     McPherson's "Battle Cry" is arguably the best single-volume account of the Civil War. Nearly 30 years since its initial publication by Oxford, this book is still being used at the university level to educate students about the Civil War. McPherson not only wrote a masterful narrative, he also sourced the text impeccably. Further, I disagree with some previous reviews that the writer has a political bias, or agenda, if you will. As a Civil War historian, I can confidently state that writing in a neutral voice about this period is one of the most difficult challenges an author faces. McPherson gives ample time to both "sides" of the cause and puts forth well-documented facts. Those who dispute his objectivity have ample resources, provided through detailed footnotes and an extensive bibliography, to research the author's claims.
     If you are just becoming interested in the Civil War or seeking to extend your knowledge, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. From novices to academics, this is the one book that must be on your shelf.

The London Blitz Murders

The London Blitz Murders: Agatha Christie vs. The Blackout Ripper
Max Allan Collins (Las Vegas: Thomas and Mercer, 2004)

The Blitz, murder, and Agatha Christie seems like a winning combination but Max Collins falls short of meeting the expectations of such a promising mixture. Even the title of the book is deceiving in that the Blitz occurred prior to 1942 and has no relevance to the story. Although slow and disappointing in areas, Collins quite adeptly interweaves fact and fiction by altering history a bit and seamlessly inserting Dame Agatha into a true-crime police investigation. The so-called Blackout Ripper is on the lose in London among the war-weary citizens on the home front. With the help of Agatha, the police race to catch the killer before he can strike again. Accounts of the actual investigation are quite interesting as are depictions of London during the War years. I found the story to begin far too slowly and end far too abruptly. The ending itself is probably one of the worst I have ever read. Overall, the idea is intriguing and the historical events fascinating. It was okay for 2 bucks and a one night read.

Larson Has Done It Again

 Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

Erik Larson (New York: Crown Publishers, 2015)

 Erik Larson has done it again. He has written history that reads like a novel and is complete with notes, bibliography, and index. Published to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, "Dead Wake" adeptly covers the politics, technical details, and most especially, the humanity of the tragedy. With quickly alternating chapters, the author takes us to London, Washington, New York, Berlin, and most importantly, he places us on board the ship. With the use of primary sources, he produces a narrative that also includes the mission and routine of the German U-Boat responsible for the sinking.

     The Great War was in its first year when the liner sailed from New York; headed for England. The atmosphere in Europe was one of total war while the U.S. maintained neutrality. Larson covers the political decisions made by the leaders of Germany, Britain, and the U.S. so as to afford the reader ample understanding of the circumstances under which the ship sailed. Admittedly, there are times when the narrative is slow in nature and I found myself struggling to turn a page. Some of the details surrounding President Wilson are insignificant to the story and tend to drone on for too long. However, the backgrounds of the passengers and crew members of the Lusitania are well-developed and lead to a much more empathetic reading when the torpedo strikes. It is from this point on that Larson is magnificent. He provides an almost minute-by-minute account of the sinking that is vivid and complete. The story does not end there, however, as Larson follows through with descriptions of the make-shift morgues, accounts of the fate of the passengers, and the placing of blame. Overall, this is a truly remarkable account of a truly profound tragedy.

Stateline

Stateline: A Dan Reno Novel (Dan Reno Novel Series, BookI)
Dave Stanton (LaSalle Davis Books, 2013)

*** Free on Kindle***

     I could come to really like detective Dan Reno, as long as author Dave Stanton does not get in the way. Stanton's character is reminiscent of the noir detectives of the 1940s and 50s. There will never be another Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe, but Dan Reno is a modern version of a hard-luck, self-destructive hero who will always save the day. In "Stateline", Reno finds himself in the middle the investigation into the murder of the son of a very wealthy man on the eve of his wedding. Our hero must navigate a maze of crooked cops, drug addicts, bigotry, prostitutes, and his ex-wife. The story is intriguing and at first I was flying through the pages of the mysterious drama. The author's descriptions of winter in Lake Tahoe and smoky barrooms is absolutely excellent and he has crafted complex villains that the reader will easily loathe. The action is brisk and exciting and you will be rooting for Reno to beat the bad guys. The fault I find is that the story goes on for just too long. Stanton takes Reno, and the reader, a bit too far away from the setting over the last few chapters. Otherwise, this is a well-crafted, noirish murder mystery with a very likeable hero and tight plot.