Category: Books/Museum Reviews
-
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.,…
-
The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Children’s Blizzard: If this book doesn’t make you cry then you are a sociopath. Quick synopsis: The story of the blizzard of 1888 in the Midwest which surprised the heartland and caused massive sadness. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Weather forecasting used to be much worse! And in the…
-
Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Close to Shore: Here’s another reason never to go to New Jersey. Quick synopsis: The story of a rogue shark which terrified the New Jersey Shore in 1916. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Ever wonder why when you watch an old movie all the telephone operators are ladies? Turns out,…
-
Marooned by Joseph Kelly
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Marooned: I would’ve stayed in Bermuda. Quick synopsis: The founding of Jamestown and the absolutely crazy set of circumstances and difficult people that made it last. Also, a lot of Joseph Kelly philosophy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Stephen Hopkins was sentenced to death for mutiny in Bermuda. Years later…
-
The Escape Artists by Neal Bascomb
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Escape Artists: It’s Hogan’s Heroes, only it’s set in WWI and it’s real. Quick synopsis: Story of various POWs in WWI German prisons and their attempts to break out. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the escapees immediately sent a telegram after making it to neutral territory. It…
-
In the Enemy’s House by Howard Blum
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for In the Enemy’s House: Spying sounds exhausting. Quick synopsis: An espionage story about breaking Russian code after WWII in an attempt to stop the leaking of nuclear secrets. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Military recruiters lying their asses off! Who knew? Not a bunch of women during World War II…
-
Dannemora by Charles Gardner
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dannemora: This was a hell of a lot more like Shawshank than I expected. Quick synopsis: The prison escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat from New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility in 2015. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Seriously, it’s just like Shawshank! The two guys dug out of their…
-
The Shipwreck Hunter by David Mearns
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Shipwreck Hunter: It is really hard to find old shipwrecks. Who knew?! Quick synopsis: Selected shipwreck findings of celebrated explorer/shipwreck hunter David Mearns. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Shipwrecks are sometimes so easy to find it’s kind of embarrassing. The Esmeralda, a 500-year-old ship was found in about 5…
-
Brendan by Morgan Llywelyn
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Brendan: I hate this book so much. Quick synopsis: A biography of Brendan of Clonfert and his legendary voyage. I guess. Not sure I can really tell for reasons outlined below. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: St. Brendan discovered America. No, I will not entertain arguments and facts to the…