Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Elizabeth Seton by Catherine O’Donnell
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Elizabeth Seton: I have no idea why this woman is a saint. Quick synopsis: A biography of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born saint. For some reason. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Seton was a terrible babysitter! She was constantly trying to convert kids against their parents wishes! Even…
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Museum Review: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Museum Focus: This is the annex of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Where is it: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151. Just outside of Washington D.C. to the west. What does it cost: Free! Well, sort of. It’s $15 for parking although every time I go there is no one at…
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Murder Aboard by C. Michael Hiam
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Murder Aboard: Of course, they blamed the minority and not the previously incarcerated crazy dude. Quick synopsis: A true crime story about murders aboard a ship in 1896. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Canadians used to call New England the “Boston States.” I feel like everywhere but Boston would find…
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Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Stalingrad: Which mass murderer is dumber, Hilter or Stalin? You decide! Quick synopsis: A chronicle of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. Basically, the soldiers were heroes and all the megalomaniacs at the top were…well megalomaniacs. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, Russians actually shot their own troops…
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Battle of the Books on Alfred the Great
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for This Book Battle: He did more than just whoop the Vikings. Quick synopsis: Biography of Alfred the Great, England’s first king (well, kinda. It is a super long story about who the first “king” is and well, let’s just assume he is.) Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Alfred the Great…
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The Killer Across the Table – J. Douglas/M. Olshaker
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Killer Across the Table: You won’t want to be a criminal profiler after this. You may want to be Dirty Harry, though. Is that reference too old? Ok, you’ll want to be the Punisher. Quick synopsis: John Douglas (the guy who made criminal profiling a “thing”) recounts four scum he…
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The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Winter Fortress: I love it when the good guys blow stuff up! Quick synopsis: The story of a group of Norwegian commandos in World War II trying to take out an important enemy site tied to an atomic bomb. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: It seems like something made…
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Battle of the Books on Rorke’s Drift
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Welcome to a badass last stand. Quick synopsis: The story of the battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. 150 British soldiers made a last stand against 4,000 Zulu warriors in defense of the field hospital located in Rorke’s Drift. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When the thousands of Zulu…
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The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Mirage Factory: L.A. was full of crazy people from the beginning. Quick synopsis: The story of the origins and early years of L.A. as it was becoming the city we know today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In trying to bring enough water to the fast-growing population of L.A.,…