The Boys of Winter is about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team who won the gold in Lake Placid and inspired a nation. With details of the coaches’ and players’ lives (before and after the Olympics) and play-by-play of some of the more memorable moments of the US vs USSR game, you’ll be amazed by the team’s accomplishments, and may even want to watch the 44-year-old game. Continue reading
Category Archives: Historical Nonfiction
Book Review: The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
In The River of Doubt, author Candice Millard focuses her researching and storytelling prowess on Teddy Roosevelt’s ill-conceived exploration of the Brazilian rain forest following his ego bruising, failed attempt to secure a third term as President of the United States. The story is enthralling because of its glimpse into Roosevelt’s larger than life personality as well as its details about the journey and what the men of the expedition were up against by taking on an unexplored section of the Amazon jungle. Continue reading
Book Review: The House by the Lake: One House, Five Families, and a Hundred Years of German History by Thomas Harding
In The House by the Lake, Thomas Harding chronicles the history of the summer lake house his Jewish great grandparents built near Berlin in the 1920s. He also weaves in one hundred years of German history and its impact on the house’s different residents, creating a fascinating story. Continue reading
Book Review: Flyboys: A True Story of Courage by James Bradley
Flyboys is the devastating story of nine American aviators (Flyboys) who were shot down over the Japanese island of Chichi Jima during World War II. Eight of the nine were captured and died under mysterious circumstances. I credit the author for finally telling their stories, but I found his agenda-driven account of history to be a distracting disservice to the men whose story he is telling. Continue reading
Book Review: The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
Erik Larson has done it again! The author of Dead Wake and The Devil in the White City brings history to life with his latest, The Splendid and the Vile. This time he tackles the first year of Winston Churchill’s tenure as prime minister, with splendid results. Continue reading
Book Review: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Historical nonfiction can be so good when the subject is interesting and the author is talented. Destiny of the Republic has both things going for it. This book about President James Garfield’s life and assassination is engrossing and devastating. Continue reading
Book Review: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War is an account of the 1620 Mayflower voyage and the subsequent ~56 years of English settlements in the New England area of the United States. It includes details about the devastating war between colonists and some of the area’s native tribes known as King Philip’s War. History buffs should like this one. Continue reading
Book Review: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
In The Wright Brothers, author David McCullough brings to life Wilbur and Orville’s race to be the first to conquer the skies. Continue reading
“Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan”, by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
The 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor seemed like a really appropriate time to read “Killing the Rising Sun”, so that’s what I did. Authors Bill O’Reilly (of Fox News fame) and Martin Dugard provide an interesting, 30,000 foot account of the war in the Pacific during WWII. Continue reading
Book Review: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
The Boys in the Boat is the amazing, true story of the team that won the gold medal in eight man crew at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It’s an inspirational story about hard work, resilience and perseverance set in the middle of the Great Depression and on the cusp of World War II.
Book Thoughts from Bed 