book reviews

Yes, more! I'm in a nice little book-finishing groove right now. :)

George Francis Dow, Everyday Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. While this book was filled with information, the fact that it's very old (copyright 1935) means that it's also very dull and very dry. The information is accessible in other places that don't require so much slogging.

Louis L'Amour, The Key-Lock Man. L'Amour does it again. While certain elements (the rugged, extremely competent Western man) remain the same, he always seems to find a way to keep things fresh. This time with an unusual kind of woman, a posse chasing the hero, and a set of groups that continue to shift personnel between each other all the way through to the finale.

John Le Carre, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. This may not have been the best Le Carre to start with, as Russian/English/American spy tales leave me cold. Or perhaps it's representative of his work. Either way, while I liked Le Carre's writing style and I did find some of the characters interesting, the plot and the jumping around of same left me cold.

James McIvor, God Rest Ye Merry, Soldiers. This brief retelling of the events of Christmas 1862, where the Union and Confederate armies took a moment for a brief respite as they all sang "Home, Sweet Home" is a touching look at the lives of the soldiers at this single point in the war. Perhaps not a breakthrough, but a tender reminder that the story of the war is sometimes best told in moments instead of overviews.