An excellent read about this period of history that is often covered in school by lists of Explorers with accompanying dates. I highly recommend this as reading preparation for any trip to Mexico or Peru. I have had it on my bookcase forever and wish I had read it sooner. Mr. Verrill makes the people come alive.
I found this very helpful in understanding people going through tough times.
Touching story. Wonderful storyteller. Genuine characters. Vivid surroundings.
Clever story. I almost stopped at the beginning, thinking I knew the storyline already. So glad I kept tagging along with Elsie. The story length was just right.
I highly recommend this book. In retrospect, it could be called a mystery but the way the story unfolded initially didn't have that feel. The excellent character descriptions made each character so distinct even I couldn't confuse them after I had let the book set midway for a week. The story moved seamlessly. I don't usually pick up books of this genre, but I was intrigued by the title. I am very glad I picked it up.
Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Gripping tale, beautifully rendered and a quick read. It serves as a perfect retort to those talk show hosts blabbing on about how slavery wasn't all bad. It also serves as a reminder to how people can rationalize dehumanizing other people. I started looking it over in a book store, took it home and didn't want to put it down. So I didn't. I recommend this book.
The storytelling of history rivals that of David McCullough though this author's outrage at the goings on is loud on the pages. For example, she quotes a manager's letter saying he gave the slave woman a good whipping and in the next sentence refers to the brutal whipping. (I'm too lazy to get the proper quotes but that is the gist.) I did not find her outrage lessened the accuracy and perhaps that insertion of a modern lexicon for the events made the story more readable.
The storytelling of history rivals that of David McCullough though this author's outrage at the goings on is loud on the pages. For example, she quotes a manager's letter saying he gave the slave woman a good whipping and in the next sentence refers to the brutal whipping. (I'm too lazy to get the proper quotes but that is the gist.) I did not find her outrage lessened the accuracy and perhaps that insertion of a modern lexicon for the events made the story more readable.
I recommend Italian Neighbors. Mr. Parks recounts his time in the neighborhood with colorful vignettes of people and places. I felt I might recognize his characters if we were to meet. (I have now added molto simpatico to my Italian vocabulary.) The homes and gardens reminded me of my childhood's neighborhood. But then, I had some Italian neighbors too! These pages made me smile.
Tom Sharpe has done it again. My life was once again suspended whilst I wallowed in the gossip fodder of his characters. He has the knack of introducing characters with no palpable attributes and telling you about their plights with no clue about whether this means they are about to get their just desserts or continue to outwit karma. Maybe it's just me. But I swear I have met most of his characters or their soul mates. And his rendition of their thought processes only seems to confirm the fact. It's a fun read with wonderful characters spilling onto the pages. I believe the modern world would call it dark comedy. When I die, they'll find a complete library of Tom Sharpe in my bookcase. I recommend you give this book a try.