Month: February 2020
-
Battle of the Books: A Land So Strange Vs. Brutal Journey
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Land So Strange by Andres Resendez and Brutal Journey by Paul Schneider: Florida had crazy stories even back in 1528. Quick synopsis: A group of Spaniards who attempted to colonize Florida end up in a battle of survival. The survivors end up walking across most of North America. Fun Fact…
-
Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lost in Shangri-La: Wait until you get to the unneeded male nudity. Quick synopsis: Story of an airplane crash during World War II in New Guinea. The survivors of the crash are caught in a valley which will require an ingenious exit strategy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: A drunk…
-
When Montezuma Met Cortes by Matthew Restall
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for When Montezuma Met Cortes: When good scholarship goes wrong. Quick synopsis: A reexamination of when Montezuma first met Hernan Cortes. The author has many thoughts. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: N/A. This is historical scholarship that would put anyone not absolutely enamored with the time period into a coma. Fun…
-
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Big Burn: Well I’m certainly going to be nice to Forest Rangers after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the “Big Burn,” the largest forest fire in American history and Teddy Roosevelt’s efforts to create and protect national forests. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Camp Fire of…
-
Dodge City by Tom Clavin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dodge City: Came for the Wild West. Stayed for the ridiculous nicknames. Quick synopsis: Part biography of Dodge City and what it was like in the time of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Part biography of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Also, part random cowboy stories which are almost completely tangential…
-
1917
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1917: Holy S—! Quick synopsis: Two British soldiers in World War I are sent to stop Allied Forces from walking into a trap. Yes, it’s fiction but I don’t care even a little bit. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The entire movie is shot in three continuous shots. The camera…