 |
 | The Night Stalker |
 | "All You Want to Know and More" | 2009-04-08 |
This book will tell you all you want to know and more about "The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez." Vivid detail is provided regarding the individuals whose lives were abused and lost due to the twisted personality of Richard Ramirez. Richard's childhood is well explored, and one of his cousins named Mike provided Richard with a horrible role model to emulate. Mike was a Vietnam veteran who taught Richard the use of drugs and how to go about stealing and disabling those who may thwart your efforts. Once Richard's face was plastered in every newspaper it was just a matter of time before he was recognized somewhere on the street. He tried to steal one car too many, and this roused the neighborhood citizens to bring him down. The book goes into a lengthy detail on the trial and conviction of Richard. This part of the book can be both tedious and educational depending on your interest in courtroom drama. Richard continues to have several female admirers, some willing to dedicate their lives to him including one of the jurors who found him guilty. These women appear to have too much time on their hands. They obviously forget that had Richard invaded their home they would have been raped and probably murdered. Nevertheless, they find a morbid fascination with him, and refuse to recognize he is simply using their infatuation (they believe it is love) for him. If you enjoy true crime books I'm sure this one will hold your interest.
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 | He's a Rebel |
| "A Troubled Musical Genius" | 2009-02-02 |
Author Mark Ribowsky has covered the troubled career of "Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer" quite well in this up-to-date biography of Phil Spector. The suicidal death of his father while Phil was a young boy robbed him of a male role model. Many words can be used to describe Phil. He established his Wall of Sound while recording some of the early hits such as Be My Baby, He's A Rebel, and Da Doo Ron Ron that distinguish the early 1960s. The book covers his relationship with his first wife who he cheated on by romancing and later marrying Veronica Bennett of The Ronettes, Darlene Love, The Righteous Brothers, Lenny Bruce, and others whose life crossed Phil Spector's. He was a perfectionist in his work, and he could be very difficult to work with. His insecurities keep popping up throughout his life as illustrated by his looking to alcohol as a solution to his problems, having temper tantrums by insisting on having things his own way, secluding himself in his home, and his disrespectful treatment of women. Phil Spector undoubtedly is/was a musical genius, but he is a deeply troubled man. This is a good biography, but be prepared to wade through a lot of ghastly situations in the life of Phil Spector.
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 | Ebbets to Veeck to Busch: Eight Owners Who Shaped Baseball |
 | "From The Owners' Point of View" | 2008-09-14 |
My only complaint about this book is the $35.00 price tag for a paperback book. Otherwise I believe the idea of choosing eight owners who shaped the course of baseball is a great idea for a book. I have to admit I have never heard of Helene Britton, a one-time owner of the St. Louis Cardinals. The choices of Walter O'Malley, Bill Veeck, Charlie Finley, and "Gussie" Busch should be very familiar to anyone who has followed the game the past 50 years. Charles Ebbets, who proclaimed, "Baseball is in its infancy.", Clark Griffith, who hated doubleheaders because fans got to see two games for the price of one, and the recently elected member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Barney Dreyfuss (along with O'Malley) are all worthy choices for this book. I found most of the anecdotes about the individuals in this book have been covered in other books, but the reader is provided with a good summary of their careers. On page 79 the authors state that Eddie "Kid" Foster had such great bat control that Clark Griffith allowed a runner at first to go at will and "was duly credited with introducing a new hit-and-run play to baseball." However, the much respected baseball writer Fred Lieb in his book entitled The Baltimore Orioles credit John McGraw and Willie Keeler with the introduction of the hit-and-run play in the 1890s. You will find that many of the labor problems that plagued baseball in the 1970s were really nothing new dating back to before the turn of the 20th century. We read plenty of books about the men who play the game. Take a seat and see the game from the owners' point of view. I think you will find it to be quite interesting.
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 | Grand Old Game: 365 Days Of Baseball |
| "Study the Photographs" | 2008-08-21 |
I rank this book five stars as I did for the author's companion volume mainly for the photographs. It is interesting to take note of the way fans dressed at ball games (suits, ties, and bowler hats). I also found it interesting to see photographs of players not in uniform from my initial decade of baseball interest, the 1950s. I would like to point out three dates (the method in which the pages are listed). June 14th shows three fans, two of which are a young girl and boy with pop bottles about seven years of age expressing their displeasure at an umpire's call. October 27th shows Leo Durocher's son giving The Lip a kiss. Author Joe Wallace states "no one since Babe Ruth left a bigger mark on baseball than Durocher." Wallace obviously forgot about Jackie Robinson. November 27th shows a group of Little Leaguers at a tryout camp in Scarsdale, New York in 1959. Somewhat below the center of the photo is a boy wearing a catcher's chest protector with a bent elbow extending his middle finger on his right hand. The book provides a good mixture of photographs from each decade from the beginning of the 20th century through the 1950s. A few of them I have seen in other books, but for the most part, the photographs are new to me. This is a very worth while photographic book on baseball history.
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 | The Four Aces - The Four Aces' Greatest Hits |
| "This Is The One You Want" | 2008-07-10 |
There are various CDs available for sale here on Amazon on singing groups from the early 1950s, and if you are looking for one on The Four Aces this is the one you want to buy. It includes all the hits and the sound is first rate. The sound you hear on this CD is how I remember listening to The Four Aces when they were in their prime. I honestly can't imagine anyone rating this CD with a negative review. The voices you hear on this CD is how I remember them sounding, and that's good enough for me. If you enjoy the singing groups from this time period then this CD belongs in your collection. I've purchased several extra copies (I'd be embarrassed to say how many) as a gift for students in my after school elementary music class.
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 | But He Was Good to His Mother : The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters |
| "A Tough Way to Make A Living" | 2008-03-10 |
The title of this book comes from the fact that Jewish gangsters took a very protective attitude towards their mothers, and did everything they could to keep them and other family members in the dark regarding their unsavory behavior. Gangsters may have led immoral lives regarding their so-called profession, but would turn weepy when the subject of their mother came up. Perhaps this was due in part to the fact they knew their mother would be disappointed in them. Unlike those in the mafia the offspring of Jewish gangsters did not intermarry with others so their profession did not extend beyond one generation. I found the book to be well written, and what I especially liked was the number of photos of gangsters I have read about in previous books, but of which photos have been scanty. Gyp the Blood (square name Harry Horowitz), Irving Wexler (Waxey Gordon), Jacob "Gurrah" Shapiro, Abe Reles, Harry Strauss (Pittsburgh Phil), and a family photo of the Purple Gang were all included in addition to photos of Dutch Schultz (square name Arthur Flegenheimer), Jack Guzik, Lepke Buchalter, and numerous others. This book is a worthy addition to my gangster library, and you can purloin this book for only $10.00.
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 | Words and Music |
| "Each One Needed The Other" | 2007-08-05 |
I have waited for a few years to have Words and Music available on DVD and the wait was worth it to me. True, the story is loose with the facts on the relationship between Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Mickey Rooney as Larry Hart is more Rooney than he is Hart in the character he plays. However, there is an all-star cast in this movie and it is worth watching. I do admit there were some songs that dragged along for me, but I have several favorites in the movie such as The Lady Is A Tramp, With A Song In My Heart, Blue Moon, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, and my all-time favorite song entitled Manhattan. Larry Hart as a lyricist is first rate as his lyrics to Manhattan illustrate. In addition to the movie there is a commentary by historian Richard Barrios with others discussing the real relationship between Rogers and Hart. Hart's erratic behavior could make him a difficult partner to work with, and Rogers eventually partnered up with Oscar Hammerstein. Rogers and Hart formed a winning combination while it lasted and the songs they teamed up on are a lasting legacy. This is a very worthwhile DVD to add to your collection.
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 | Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich |
| "Lessons To Be Learned" | 2007-07-23 |
Whether you are a basketball fan or not this biography of Pete Maravich will provide you with lessons to be learned. People search for happiness in all the wrong places such as alcohol, fame, or even in their chosen profession. Pete Maravich's stage was a basketball floor, but during his heyday as a college star at LSU and being coached by his father happiness eluded him. His introduction to the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks and later with the New Orleans/Utah Jazz, and finally the Boston Celtics brought him more heartache than pleasure. It wasn't until his playing days were over and by simple faith accepted Jesus Christ as his savior that the load he had been carrying was finally removed. He found happiness in the simple things in life by being devoted to his two sons and telling others what Christ had done for him. The loss of his father was a difficult blow to him, but he took comfort in knowing that he, too, had accepted the Lord into his life. Biographies of people can teach us a lot, not the least of which is that others, who we often think of as living famous and glamorous lives, are often saddled with problems we can be thankful we don't have. While anyone who enjoys biographies would enjoy this book I think it would be especially appreciated by high school students who love basketball.
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 | Rivers of Gold : The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan |
 | "Stick with Morison--The Master on This Subject" | 2007-03-07 |
I was not thrilled with this book at all. I enjoy reading books about early explorers, and I guess I expect others to live up to the standards of my favorite author on this subject, Samuel Eliot Morison, the late historian from Harvard University. As others have stated, minor figures are given too much coverage causing me to lose interest. Ferdinand Magellan was given too little coverage for his achievements. If you want to read about Columbus and others from this time period stick with "The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages" and "The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages" by Morison. They are riveting reading at their best.
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 | Murder in Mississippi: United States v. Price and the Struggle for |
| "A Quick Read, But Worth Your Time" | 2007-02-04 |
Author Howard Ball provides us with a detailed analysis of the June 1964 murders of three civil rights workers (James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner) in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The author effectively sets the scene for what the volunteer workers can expect as they prepare to travel to Mississippi to register blacks to vote. Most Mississippians view them as interlopers who have no business upsetting their way of life. Michael Schwerner was the one the KKK targeted for elimination. The other two individuals just happened to be with him when the crime was committed. The racist judge meted out only perfunctory penalities considering the seriousness of the crime. The story is left undone because a mistrial was declared for the one who planned the crime, Edgar Ray "Preacher" Killen, because the one lone holdout was a woman who declared she "could never convict a preacher." In that case she should never have been on the jury in the first place. She has since said she "was sorry to let him go." This is a first rate book, and the author's follow up entitled "Justice in Mississippi" is about the June of 2005 murder conviction of Edgar Ray Killen.
|
 | Somethin Smith ,Redheads - Come to Broadway / Put the Blame on Mame |
| "New York City and More" | 2007-01-31 |
I bought this CD primarily for the songs about New York such as Manhattan, Lullaby of Broadway, Give My Regards to Broadway, and Forty Second Street. This is the only CD I have found that includes the lyrics to each of these songs on one CD. The entire lyrics for the songs weren't sung, but I didn't think they would be so I can't claim to be disappointed. I also enjoyed such songs as Cruising Down the River, Honey, Mandy, and You Always Hurt the One You Love. If you enjoy old songs this is a CD you should enjoy.
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 | Halfway to Paradise |
| "Tony Bares His Soul" | 2007-01-18 |
Tony Orlando has provided us with a look at his life from growing up near Hell's Kitchen in New York City where he began as a doo wop singer until he settled down in the Ozarks of Missouri during the 21st century. In between Tony relates stories of those who helped to get him started in music such as Don Kirshner located at 1650 Broadway where several music publishers and record companies had their headquarters. His heyday as a performer, of course, was during the mid 1970's when his television show with Dawn was a weekly favorite. Interesting stories regarding guests such as Jackie Gleason, Danny Thomas, George Burns, and others are related in this part of the book. It is also a story of infidelity and heartbreak. The downward spiral began with his introduction to cocaine thanks to the lovable Fred Sanford, Redd Foxx, and the death of close friend Freddie Prinze to a suicide. His experiences at a Massachusetts mental hospital are included along with his assistance to the suffering Murray the K during his final days. However, the story of Tony Orlando has a happy ending to date with his marriage to his present wife and move to Missouri. Each of us are a part of all that we have met and Tony Orlando gives ample credit to those who helped him along the way throughout his life. This is an easy to read book and anyone who enjoyed his television show during the 1970's will enjoy this book. By the way, purchase the DVD set available at Amazon and relive those enjoyable times as well.
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 | Halfway to Paradise |
| "Tony Bares His Soul" | 2007-01-18 |
Tony Orlando has provided us with a look at his life from growing up near Hell's Kitchen in New York City where he began as a doo wop singer until he settled down in the Ozarks of Missouri during the 21st century. In between Tony relates stories of those who helped to get him started in music such as Don Kirshner located at 1650 Broadway where several music publishers and record companies had their headquarters. His heyday as a performer, of course, was during the mid 1970's when his television show with Dawn was a weekly favorite. Interesting stories regarding guests such as Jackie Gleason, Danny Thomas, George Burns, and others are related in this part of the book. It is also a story of infidelity and heartbreak. The downward spiral began with his introduction to cocaine thanks to the lovable Fred Sanford, Redd Foxx, and the death of close friend Freddie Prinze to a suicide. His experiences at a Massachusetts mental hospital are included along with his assistance to the suffering Murray the K during his final days. However, the story of Tony Orlando has a happy ending to date with his marriage to his present wife and move to Missouri. Each of us are a part of all that we have met and Tony Orlando gives ample credit to those who helped him along the way throughout his life. This is an easy to read book and anyone who enjoyed his television show during the 1970's will enjoy this book. By the way, purchase the DVD set available at Amazon and relive those enjoyable times as well.
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 | ABBA - Waterloo (Digipak) |
| "This CD Filled My Wants" | 2006-08-07 |
I can't imagine giving any ABBA CD anything but a five star rating, but I'm giving this one only four because I bought it simply to hear Waterloo and Honey Honey sung in Swedish. In addition both songs are also sung here in English. These songs along with Ring Ring are what I bought the CD for. I have these songs in English on other CD's, but I wanted to hear the two mentioned above in Swedish. I really didn't care for the rest of the songs, but that's okay. I got what I wanted.
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 | Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns - Original Soundtrack Recording |
| "This CD completes the Book and Video or DVD Set" | 2006-04-25 |
I should have posted this review here several years ago. This CD complements the book and video or DVD set and includes a variety of songs and great moments from baseball's glorious history. Several renditions of Take Me Out to the Ball Game are included, my favorite being the one done by Carly Simon. Other songs include those of players Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, and Willie Mays. Gee It's A Wonderful Game is a song written by Ring Lardner several years ago, and probably not recognizable to most fans. Some of the great moments included are Bobby Thomson's memorable home run on 10-3-51, and Henry Aaron's historic home run passing Babe Ruth. If you have the book and the video or DVD set, but don't have this CD, your set is incomplete. Include the CD now. It is certainly worth it.
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 | Miracle at Sing Sing: How One Man Transformed the Lives of America's Most Dangerous Prisoners |
| "The Man Who Made Sing Sing Sing" | 2006-03-24 |
Lewis Lawes was the warden of Sing Sing prison for nearly 25 years when previous wardens lasted a period of a few months to a few years. Those who were jealous of Warden Lawes criticized his methods of running the prison with his belief in treating the prisoners with respect and dignity while still maintaining discipline through mutual respect. Although several individuals walked to their death in the prison's electric chair Lawes was an opponent of the death penalty. He also felt it sad that several prisoners had to go to prison in order to learn a trade rather than in an educational system outside the prison. Since most of the prisoners never had an education beyond the sixth grade they should have been able to acquire a trade when academics was not suited to them. He often referred to the men in the prison as his "boys" and while in New York City he and his wife may have been in a restaurant when the waiter came over to them and said the meal was "on the chef", one of Lawes's former "boys." The same held true when riding in a taxi. The driver would say the ride was on him, one of the warden's former "boys." Lawes felt a special kinship towards the men he was in control of, and he felt personally offended and disappointed when in April of 1941 the worst breakout in Sing Sing's history occurred and two guards were killed. The inevitable criticism took place saying that Lawes was too lenient with his prisoners, but Lawes was not found to be at fault in what took place. Nevertheless, Lawes felt let down by what happened and he resigned shortly thereafter. Lewis Lawes was a very respected warden of Sing Sing prison, and regardless of the prison break that took place under his watch, he brought stability to the prison that went through several wardens over short periods of time that weren't able manage the situation they found themselves in. There are a few other books about Sing Sing prison that contain some overlapping of information found in this book, but I found it to be worth my time nonetheless.
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 | The Rise and Fall of the Dillinger Gang |
 | "Interesting, But A Rehash of Old Stories" | 2006-01-29 |
Several books have been written about John Dillinger and his cohorts along with the recently published book entitled The Vendetta by Alston Purvis. Each of the books cover the same cast of characters and incidents such as the shootout at the Little Bohemia lodge in northern Wisconsin. Jeffery King's book does provide a great deal of information on the gang's members, but not anything different than what can already be found in numerous other books on this subject. King states that the Purvis family was "deeply upset" that Hoover ignored Melvin's death. However, in Alston Purvis's book "The Vendetta", in a telegram to Hoover after Melvin's death, his wife stated, "We are honored that you ignored Melvin's death. Your jealously hurt him very much..." I did find numerous spelling errors, the same word repeated in a sentence, word omissions, and incorrect words placed in sentences especially, but certainly not limited to, the chapter on Little Bohemia. In summary, while I found the book to be interesting, it doesn't have any information to speak of that can't be found in numerous other similar volumes. It also is in serious need of a proofreader.
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 | The Rose Man of Sing Sing: A True Tale of Life, Murder, and Redemption in the Age of Yellow Journalism |
| "Well Researched but the Title is Somewhat Deceiving" | 2006-01-09 |
Author James Morris has done his research well on his subject, newspaperman Charles Chapin. Chapin was a stern taskmaster with his employees in running the New York World. Chapin probably picked up on this attitude from an early editor named Fred Hall of the Chicago Tribune. Some called Hall a "slave driver" who was, as Chapin related, "a demon for hard work and a slave to his profession and intolerant toward shirkers." Author Morris follows Chapin's career through the years in detail. An interesting anecdote is related when Chapin was firing a reporter because he was, as Chapin said, "too sentimental for your own good." The reorter shot back at Chapin with, "True for you, Chapin! But when I die, there'll be a hell of a lot of people who will come to the funeral." Chapin winced at the verbal retort and turned white and spent considerable time contemplating the remark. Later in life when Chapin was in debt he felt it necessary to kill his wife to spare her of any future difficulties. Chapin felt he would receive the electric chair for his dastardly dark deed. Having been sentenced to Sing Sing prison he found himself the editor of the prison newspaper. It is finally on page 302 that we get to what the title of the book is all about, namely Chapin and his flower gardens on the prison grounds. I found the book to be interesting, but more time could have been spent on what the title of the book leads us to believe it is about.
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 | Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President |
| "Lyndon Johnson, President During a Difficult Decade" | 2005-07-29 |
Lyndon B. Johnson will be remembered as President for his passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and also for his unwillingness to become the first president to lose a war. A career in politics will invariably lead one to people you dislike and Lyndon had his share of those, notably Bobby Kennedy. Johnson was a very down to earth individual, some would say crude, in his manner of speech to others, but he was a tireless worker in the area of Civil Rights in which he was successful, and in regard to the Vietnam war which wore him down to the extent that he chose not to run for a second term in 1968. His reason for not more actively bombing North Vietnam and escalating the war in that regard was his fear of China and Russia entering the conflict. It so happened that it was he who was president when the war reached the stalemate stage, but chances are anyone else would have adopted the same policy as he did. However, his stubborness in not having his presidency tarnished with a defeat in the war ultimately wore him down with him leaving office with an escalated war beyond his control. Our history is littered with presidents whose names are barely remembered, but Lyndon Baines Johnson will always be remembered, mostly for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which brought the southern states in line with the rest of the nation regarding an integrated society and for a fruitless war fought over an erroneous domino theory in which one successive country after another will fall to communism if one of them does. The book is nearly 400 pages long, but it is a read well worth your time.
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 | Dynasty's End: Bill Russell and the 1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics |
| "A Team Appreciated More Now Than When They Played" | 2005-06-25 |
I feel the book's strength is that you receive in-depth portraits of many of the star's who played for the Boston Celtics in addition to their announcer Johnny Most. In addition we are also provided with descriptions of Wilt Chamberlain and other NBA stars during this time period. Chamberlain, by the way, acquired his nickname "The Big Dipper" by having to often duck when entering through a doorway. However, the title suggests a concentration on the 1968-1969 season, and only the chapters on the playoffs at the end of the book provide us with this information. I enjoyed the book, but I found much of the same information in Bob Cousy's book and Red Auerbach's recent book. In addition, former St. Louis Hawks' superstar, Bob Pettit, the first man to score 20,000 points, had his name spelled incorrectly both times it appeared in the book and also in the index. If you enjoy the Celtics I'm quite sure you will enjoy the book, but I found it to be repetitious in what I found in other books. It is, indeed, unfortunate that this great Celtics team often played before a half empty Boston Garden before fans who really didn't appreciate what they had representing their city.
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 | Sixties Soft Rock |
| "This Could Have Been Much Better" | 2005-01-27 |
My favorite songs on this DVD are Leslie Gore singing "It's My Party", "Five O'clock World by The Vogues, "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys, "1-2-3" by Len Barry, "Good Lovin" by The Young Rascals, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra, "Silhouettes" by Herman's Hermits, "I Got You, Babe" by Sonny & Cher and "Do the Freddie" by Freddie and The Dreamers. To a lesser degree I also enjoyed "You're Adorable" by The Dixie Cups ("Chapel of Love" would have been better) and "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows" by Leslie Gore. The Turtles, The Everly Brothers, and The Association also sing but don't look for a hit song from any of them. All but one song are shown in glorious black and white, but the picture isn't so hot throughout the DVD.
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 | The Songmakers Collection |
| "A Worthy Addition to Your Music Collection" | 2004-11-18 |
My two favorite sections of the two DVD's include "The Hitmakers" which include sections on girl groups such as The Shirelles and The Ronettes, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Monkees, The Archies, Phil Spector, and others that will be familiar to you. My other favorite section is that of "Leiber and Stoller" and the songs that they wrote for such groups as The Drifters and The Coasters. The sections on Bobby Darin, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach are also worthy additions. The section on the Brill Building songwriters entitled "The Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music" alone is worth the price of this set. I plan on using parts of these DVD's in my after-school music class with middle school students. I have also purchased extra copies to give for friends.
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 | The Songmakers Collection |
| "A Worthy Addition to Your Music Collection" | 2004-11-18 |
My two favorite sections of the two DVD's include "The Hitmakers" which include sections on girl groups such as The Shirelles and The Ronettes, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Monkees, The Archies, Phil Spector, and others that will be familiar to you. My other favorite section is that of "Leiber and Stoller" and the songs that they wrote for such groups as The Drifters and The Coasters. The sections on Bobby Darin, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach are also worthy additions. The section on the Brill Building songwriters entitled "The Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music" alone is worth the price of this set. I plan on using parts of these DVD's in my after-school music class with middle school students. I have also purchased extra copies to give for friends.
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 | PUPPETMASTER: THE SECRET LIFE OF J. EDGAR HOOVER |
| "An Unscrupulous Way To Stay In Power" | 2004-09-23 |
Richard Hack has written a biography that really doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know about J. Edgar Hoover, a strange man who headed the F.B.I. for several decades. Hoover kept files on the skeletons in the closet, both real and imagined, on people whose behavior he wanted to control. Hoover used this blackmail to remain in office throughout the changes in the political climate in Washington. His idea of a good read would be to remain home and sift through the files of various individuals and entertain himself with the perceived weaknesses of others. The man who had files on so many people should have had a file himself. Perhaps it gave him comfort to know others had problems that he had a difficult time facing in himself. He was a glory hunter who wanted the credit to go to him in highly publicized cases such as the cases of John Dillinger and "Baby Face" Nelson. Hoover didn't like the publicity Melvin Purvis got in the Dillinger case, so he had him eventually removed from the F.B.I. Hoover also didn't want to admit to the existence of the mafia. Perhaps he wanted to concentrate on two bit gangsters rather than accept the challenge of organized crime. It's scary to think the F.B.I. had such a strange man at the helm for so many years. The improvements made during his tenure could certainly have been made by someone else during all these years.
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 | Operation Eichmann : The Truth about the Pursuit, Capture and Trial |
| "An Infamous Individual Is Brought To Justice" | 2004-09-07 |
This account of the life of Nazi Adolf Eichmann from his role in persecuting the Jews under Adolf Hitler's infamous Third Reich until his capture in May of 1960 and his ultimate death by hanging is told by Zvi Aharoni, the man who was a key player in the plot to kidnap Eichmann and bring him to trial. Vivid details that had to be attended to both prior to and after the capture of the Nazi criminal are provided to appreciate the difficulty in carrying out this complicated undertaking. Eichmann had a number of sons, the last of which, Richardo, was a generation younger than his brothers who really has no recollection of his father. He states he feels nothing towards his father, and can't find words to describe his terrible deeds during the war. During a visit to the site of the Wannsee-Konferenz which showed a photo of Adolf, Ricardo explained the role of his children's grandfather to them. The two children sadly said they "could not love a grandpa like him." I guess we all serve as an example to others, even if it is in a negative way. Anyone interested in Hitler's shady characters will enjoy seeing justice served in this book.
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 | 1603 : The Death of Queen Elizabeth I, the Return of the Black Plague, the Rise of Shakespeare, Piracy, Witchcraft, and the Birth of the Stuart Era |
| "Rating Based On My Limited Background" | 2004-07-27 |
The year 1603 was a busy year in England, and author Christopher Lee has provided us with a rather in-depth account of the happenings that took place. Beginning with the death of Queen Elizabeth I which brought the rise of James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England, Lee brings the reader through other events that were taking place during this time, namely the return of the plague which reared its ugly head periodically to wipe out thousands of people, piracy on the seas, William Shakespeare and his plays, and witchcraft which already at that time was an old superstition. Almost half of the book's 356 pages deal with the death of Queen Elizabeth and the rise of King James. My background in this subject matter is negligible, so I base my rating on the interest this book had for me. I found difficulty with the diaries and notes that the author uses to quote from due to the way the people expressed themselves. If you have a better background in this subject matter than I do, you probably will enjoy the book more than I did. If your background is like mine, you may want to read it, but not purchase it.
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 | Summer in the City: New York Baseball, 1947-1957 |
| "The Photographs Make The Book" | 2004-07-09 |
There have been numerous books written on New York baseball, but, at least for me, it is the photographs that make this a unique baseball book. I have vivid memories of the World Series of the 1950's, and all except 1959 involved at least one of the teams in New York City. The New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers series were classics, and will always be remembered. I enjoyed the descriptive writing of New York Daily News writer Dick Young. When Duke Snider made a wide turn at 3rd base in coming home, Young wrote, "Duke, who is a poor base-runner for a man of his superior speed, took the scenic route home...He was out by some 20 feet." Many of the photos brought back the names of players and umpires of my youth. The photographs illustrate how small the dugouts were in that era. Fans are predominantly dressed in suit coats, ties, and fedoras. Also of interest are photos of fans leaving the park via the playing field, and photographers near home plate photographing the action. Photographs of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds show views from above the playing field in addition to close ups of the center field area of the Polo Grounds and the center and right field areas of Ebbets Field with the advertising on the wall are also of interest. I am a fan of the Detroit Tigers, but I will always have precious memories of those historic New York teams in addition to the arenas they played in. The text is nice, but it is the photos that make this book unique.
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 | Ed Delahanty in the Emerald Age of Baseball |
| "Lessons To Be Learned" | 2004-07-04 |
Jerrold Casway has provided us with an in-depth study of 19th century baseball star Ed Delahanty. Like so many other athletes in his time Delahanty lived for today rather than postpone immediate gratification for a greater future reward. The lure of the racetrack while wintering in New Orleans and later alcohol were contributing factors leading up to the decline of this once great superstar. "The Only Del" toiled for unheralded losing teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Senators. Baseball wars were on and Delahanty had the problem of not caring how many contracts he signed as long as he played with the team that offered him the most money. I felt the author did a good job of sorting through the possibilities regarding Delahanty's death on the International Bridge crossing the Niagara River between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York. Delahanty was removed from the train for abusive behavior, and from what information we have available it appears that he stumbled over railroad ties in an effort to elude the bridge watchman. His body was discovered below the Canadian Horseshoe Falls in the Niagara River one week later on July 9th. This was an era in which the owners had it all their way, and players had no financial benefits that today's players enjoy. Players usually reentered the regular workforce once their playing days were over. Delahanty, however, lived lavishly during his playing days without a thought to his post-playing days. Information is also provided on his baseball playing brothers in addition to his wife and daughter after Ed's death. If you enjoy 19th century baseball history I believe this is another book from that colorful age that you will find enjoyable to read.
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 | Bill Madden: My 25 Years Covering Baseball's Heroes, Scoundrels, Triumphs and Tragedies |
| "Madden's Collection from The Daily News" | 2004-06-01 |
New York Daily News sportswriter Bill Madden has provided us with a collection of his columns from the past 25 years. I like that the book is divided into chapters such as Remembered Friends, Scoops and Exclusives, Villains and Scoundrels, Tragedies and Travesties, and Colorful Characters to mention a few. I enjoy reading about events and people who were once part of the baseball scene that I remember. Most, but not all, involve the Yankees. You don't have to be a Yankees' fan, I'm not, but I still enjoy reading the articles of sportswriters in different parts of the country. If you are a fan of the Yankees, you will especially enjoy the book.
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 | The 5th Dimension Travelling Sunshine Show |
 | "Hit Songs Are Included Only On A Medley" | 2004-05-31 |
I base my rating of two stars on the fact the group's hit songs such as Up Up And Away, Wedding Bell Blues, Acquarius/Let The Sun Shine In, and Stoned Soul Picnic are only very briefly sung with a few lines of each song. I bought the DVD with the idea they would sing the entire song, but was disappointed. If this doesn't bother you, I'm sure you will rate the DVD higher than I did.
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