Not every president can be Abraham Lincoln. Sometimes you’re James Buchanan and everyone has to have a mnemonic device to remember you existed. Klein does a great job laying out Buchanan’s rise and fall as the 15th President.
Author Archives: simplyneal
Book Review: The Fisherman
By John Langan The Fisherman is a story about two men, two worlds, and what really lives beneath the water. It begins with Abe and Dan who have both recently suffered a tragic loss. This brings them together initially and a fondness for fishing quickly cements together their relationship. Soon enough, each weekend begins theContinue reading “Book Review: The Fisherman”
Book Review: Circe
By Madeline Miller Circe is immortal and the very first witch. Her name is old and her story has been told before. But Madeline Miller puts a new perspective on this ancient tale by telling it from the viewpoint of the woman herself – not the perfunctory nod to a goddess spun into the heroicContinue reading “Book Review: Circe”
Book Review: Kings of the Wyld and Bloody Rose
By Nicholas Eames Kings of the Wyld is the first book I’ve read by Nicholas Eames. It follows Clay Cooper who has settled into a comfortable semi-retirement after his days touring the Heartwyld – a vast wilderness full of monsters, madmen, cannibals, and much worse. He is now a sentry on his town wall whereContinue reading “Book Review: Kings of the Wyld and Bloody Rose”
Book Review: Franklin Pierce: The 14th President
by Michael Holt Franklin Pierce often ranks as one of the worst presidents in US history. Michael Holt repeats this apparent axiom multiple times in his 133 page biography on the 14th President which is a part of Arthur Schlesinger’s The American President Project. Holt sticks to the facts and does not write to change anyone’s mind.Continue reading “Book Review: Franklin Pierce: The 14th President”
POTUS and Me: Reading my way through presidential history
Back in May 2016, I picked up Ron Chernow’s book Alexander Hamilton shortly after the fiftieth time listening to the cast recording of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Something inside me just clicked and I fell in love with biographies with an emphasis on American and political history. I realized though that I really hadContinue reading “POTUS and Me: Reading my way through presidential history”
Book Review: Ball Lightning
By Liu Cixin I have a love/hate relationship with this book. First, I loved the characters with their individual obsessions (Chen’s with ball lightning, Yun’s with weapons research, and Yi’s with physics). Each was well developed and I felt compelled to continue the book simply because of my attachment to the them. I also enjoyedContinue reading “Book Review: Ball Lightning”