Category: Books/Museum Reviews
-
The Graces by Breeze Barrington
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Graces: It’s all fun and games until someone loses their head. Quick synopsis: A look at the lives of women at the English Restoration Court. Fact for Non-History People: After the Restoration, women were allowed to act in public theaters for the first time. Fact for History Nerds: Charles II…
-
Last Branch Standing by Sarah Isgur
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Last Branch Standing: Let’s see what’s under those robes. Quick synopsis: A look at the Supreme Court and what is really going on there. Fact for Non-History People: In the current SCOTUS configuration, a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines is one of the least likely outcome for a case. Fact for…
-
Rasputin by Antony Beevor
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Rasputin: Stranger than any fiction. Quick synopsis: The bizarre life of Rasputin and the downfall of the Romanovs. Fact for Non-History People: He rarely bathed and smelled AWFUL. Fact for History Nerds: Rasputin was actually married and had seven children. This is in addition to being a sex crazed maniac. My…
-
The Oracle’s Daughter by Harrison Hill
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Oracle’s Daughter: The name kinda gives it away. Quick synopsis: The story of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps. Yes, that’s actually the name. Fact for Non-History People: There are estimated to be about 10,000 cults in the U.S. Fact for History Nerds: California has the highest concentration of cults…
-
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for London Falling: It’s a long way down. Quick synopsis: The mysterious death of a teenager in London. Fact for Non-History People: London is the world’s largest urban forest. Fact for History Nerds: Over 300 different languages are spoken in London. My Take on London Falling: Sorry, dear reader, this might be…
-
Arsenio by Arsenio Hall
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Arsenio: For God’s sake, do not take his pocket money. Quick synopsis: It’s Arsenio Hall’s memoir. Duh. Fact for Non-History People: The iconic “woof, woof” is actually based off the Cleveland Browns. Fact for History Nerds: Jay Leno and Arsenio are actually great friends. My Take on Arsenio: I love memoirs…
-
The Crown’s Silence by Brooke Newman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Crown’s Silence: It’s kind of their favorite move. Quick synopsis: The history of the British monarchy and the slave trade. Fact for Non-History People: The British slave trade enslaved and transported approximately 3.1 to 3.4 million Africans between 1640 and 1807. Fact for History Nerds: The UK government finished paying…
-
These Divided Isles by Philip Stephens
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for These Divided Isles: I know where I place the blame. Quick synopsis: The story of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and how the British government kept mucking it up. Fact for Non-History People: Approximately one million Irish died during the Great Famine. Fact for History Nerds: The population of Ireland has still not…
-
Seven Sisters by Veronica Buckley
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Seven Sisters: Maria Theresa didn’t raise wallflowers. Quick synopsis: The story of the seven surviving daughters of Empress Maria Theresa. Fact for Non-History People: Maria Theresa had 16 children in total but only 10 survived to adulthood. Fact for History Nerds: Maria Theresa is the only woman to hold the title…