Book reviews- October edition
Oct. 7th, 2015 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War - by Tony Horowitz Not to be confused with the "Oldest Confederate Widow Tells All", though Horowitz does find a Civil War widow and interviews her.
Horowitz's book is to travel through the South and discover the legacy of the South. Although written in the late 90s, as I read it, there was a renewed debate in the appropriateness of the Confederate flag, so my reading was well timed.
Of course, the legacy of the Confederacy is a complicated one. Much of the book talks to Civil War reenactors who for the most part feel they are honoring the legacy of their forefathers who fought for the South. I have had friends and family who have done this hobby so I certainly can appreciate these feelings. With any hobby, there are those hardcore followers, and Horowitz finds those who condemn the reenactors who are not 'authentic' as Farbs. Being authentic is somewhat comical as these dedicated men will sleep in the frozen outdoors spooning together for warmth.
At first glance, it may look like Horowitz is picking on Rednecks, but it's not, he knows the truth is more than that. While indeed today's social media argues over the appropriateness of the Stars and Bars, in the 90s it was "You wear your X and I will wear mine." There are real tensions, there indeed is racism hiding behind heritage, and in much of the South, it is an interesting juxtaposition of heroes and images- Stonewall Jackson and Rosa Parks, Robert E Lee and George Wallace, Selma and Andersonville.
Horowitz points out that Atlanta has commercialized it (and clearly commercialism has won as many of the sites Horowitz visits are run over by McDonalds and Wal Marts and other urban sprawl), while other cities have struggled. It is interesting to note that William T Sherman is hated more by today's Southerners than the ones he 'burn'ed. Whilst Robert E Lee now ranks in popularity behind Nathan Bedford Forrest.
There are people for whom this means a lot and for others have taken parts for there own end. Besides the heavy theme, it really is a fun and often funny book, with a lot of stuff you wouldn't probably know- such as a particular Japanese affinity for Scarlett O'Hara.
Why does the War have such an effect on us/ Well, it was a mere 150 years ago. Also it was the first war to truly be captured through photography (making it relate-able) but was the last great war that was still fought hand to hand before the time of tanks and trenches and gas warfare and bombs dropped from above. We are fascinated by it.
This is a pretty quick read and one that would be easily re-readable. I learned alot about battles that I did not know about, and there's a lot of fun facts along the way. Certainly recommended, and as I said I don't think it mocks the people interviewed (clearly Horowitz tries his best to be fair), but also important in its own way as well at illuminating some of our culture.
One Summer: America, 1927- by Bill Bryson - I had big hopes for this and did not disappoint. What a fantastic book. The Bryson that I have read before has always been his more personal stories. In this one, Bryson removes himself, so it's not easily identifiable with what I consider a Bryson book, but it is filled with humor and intelligence.
It's pretty apolitical if you worry about that stuff. Herbert Hoover was very much a man who never did a good deed without mentioning it to the press, though he indeed did plenty of good deeds. Even Hoover fans will cop to that. Charles Lindbergh's political career has been well documented, and history has decided his fate, with a few exceptions to this day like Ann Coulter or Pat Buchanan.
1927 indeed is a fantastic year. If only for the first few pages on the build up to the Atlantic crossing and aviation history, would this be a must read. Lindbergh became the most famous person on the planet. He was also not socially prepared for it all, starting with being too shy and too businesslike up to his anti-Semitic statements in Des Moines in 1941 which has subsequently come to define him as well. It is amazing though what Lindbergh did, especially given others with more money and better equipment did not only fail to achieve but also usually died trying.
1927 was The Jazz Singer and the birth of the talkie. It was the year of Babe Ruth and often regarded best baseball team of all time- the 1927 Yankees. These stories are well worth hearing.
Prohibition was at his high watermark but quickly on its way to repeal, and Capone was equally at his height. Bankers were putting together the policy that was heading us towards the Stock Market crash and depression. There was Sacco and Vanzetti and the Great Mississippi Flood. Flagpole sitting trended.
You may know many of these stories, but even if you do, you will still get new details. Similarly, you may not know of Calvin Coolidge's three month vacation to South Dakota in the summer of '27 (at the same time, what is a risky gamble called Mt Rushmore is being built, and seems to be a bad idea to many). People complain when Obama or Bush took any time off, can you even imagine?
There's Ponzi and his scheme.There's the bizarre story of Fordlandia, a "city" in Brazil which was to supply Ford with rubber, while the male workers lived a life free of women, alcohol, and sin. Of course, none of that went as planned, and was a terrible failure, costing the Ford Family $20 million.
It's just an amazing book and really is amazing to think of all these things going on at the same time. So much to learn and enjoy. Well recommended.
Horowitz's book is to travel through the South and discover the legacy of the South. Although written in the late 90s, as I read it, there was a renewed debate in the appropriateness of the Confederate flag, so my reading was well timed.
Of course, the legacy of the Confederacy is a complicated one. Much of the book talks to Civil War reenactors who for the most part feel they are honoring the legacy of their forefathers who fought for the South. I have had friends and family who have done this hobby so I certainly can appreciate these feelings. With any hobby, there are those hardcore followers, and Horowitz finds those who condemn the reenactors who are not 'authentic' as Farbs. Being authentic is somewhat comical as these dedicated men will sleep in the frozen outdoors spooning together for warmth.
At first glance, it may look like Horowitz is picking on Rednecks, but it's not, he knows the truth is more than that. While indeed today's social media argues over the appropriateness of the Stars and Bars, in the 90s it was "You wear your X and I will wear mine." There are real tensions, there indeed is racism hiding behind heritage, and in much of the South, it is an interesting juxtaposition of heroes and images- Stonewall Jackson and Rosa Parks, Robert E Lee and George Wallace, Selma and Andersonville.
Horowitz points out that Atlanta has commercialized it (and clearly commercialism has won as many of the sites Horowitz visits are run over by McDonalds and Wal Marts and other urban sprawl), while other cities have struggled. It is interesting to note that William T Sherman is hated more by today's Southerners than the ones he 'burn'ed. Whilst Robert E Lee now ranks in popularity behind Nathan Bedford Forrest.
There are people for whom this means a lot and for others have taken parts for there own end. Besides the heavy theme, it really is a fun and often funny book, with a lot of stuff you wouldn't probably know- such as a particular Japanese affinity for Scarlett O'Hara.
Why does the War have such an effect on us/ Well, it was a mere 150 years ago. Also it was the first war to truly be captured through photography (making it relate-able) but was the last great war that was still fought hand to hand before the time of tanks and trenches and gas warfare and bombs dropped from above. We are fascinated by it.
This is a pretty quick read and one that would be easily re-readable. I learned alot about battles that I did not know about, and there's a lot of fun facts along the way. Certainly recommended, and as I said I don't think it mocks the people interviewed (clearly Horowitz tries his best to be fair), but also important in its own way as well at illuminating some of our culture.
One Summer: America, 1927- by Bill Bryson - I had big hopes for this and did not disappoint. What a fantastic book. The Bryson that I have read before has always been his more personal stories. In this one, Bryson removes himself, so it's not easily identifiable with what I consider a Bryson book, but it is filled with humor and intelligence.
It's pretty apolitical if you worry about that stuff. Herbert Hoover was very much a man who never did a good deed without mentioning it to the press, though he indeed did plenty of good deeds. Even Hoover fans will cop to that. Charles Lindbergh's political career has been well documented, and history has decided his fate, with a few exceptions to this day like Ann Coulter or Pat Buchanan.
1927 indeed is a fantastic year. If only for the first few pages on the build up to the Atlantic crossing and aviation history, would this be a must read. Lindbergh became the most famous person on the planet. He was also not socially prepared for it all, starting with being too shy and too businesslike up to his anti-Semitic statements in Des Moines in 1941 which has subsequently come to define him as well. It is amazing though what Lindbergh did, especially given others with more money and better equipment did not only fail to achieve but also usually died trying.
1927 was The Jazz Singer and the birth of the talkie. It was the year of Babe Ruth and often regarded best baseball team of all time- the 1927 Yankees. These stories are well worth hearing.
Prohibition was at his high watermark but quickly on its way to repeal, and Capone was equally at his height. Bankers were putting together the policy that was heading us towards the Stock Market crash and depression. There was Sacco and Vanzetti and the Great Mississippi Flood. Flagpole sitting trended.
You may know many of these stories, but even if you do, you will still get new details. Similarly, you may not know of Calvin Coolidge's three month vacation to South Dakota in the summer of '27 (at the same time, what is a risky gamble called Mt Rushmore is being built, and seems to be a bad idea to many). People complain when Obama or Bush took any time off, can you even imagine?
There's Ponzi and his scheme.There's the bizarre story of Fordlandia, a "city" in Brazil which was to supply Ford with rubber, while the male workers lived a life free of women, alcohol, and sin. Of course, none of that went as planned, and was a terrible failure, costing the Ford Family $20 million.
It's just an amazing book and really is amazing to think of all these things going on at the same time. So much to learn and enjoy. Well recommended.
