Third Girl from the Left: A Memoir

Third Girl from the Left: A Memoir by Christine Barker. Interesting memoir of a person who would become a broadway dancer, and was in the original production of Chorus Line in the 1980s. While this is about her professional career, it is also about New York at a time when AIDS was just taking hold and of course devastating the Broadway world. There is also an interesting connection in that her brother was the lover of Perry Ellis, and Ellis' attourney, both of whom died of AIDS.

Lincoln on the Verge

Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington by Edward Widmer. After Lincoln's election as president, he had to travel from Springfield, IL to Washington DC to take office. This is the chronicle of the train journey that took him across the northern part of the country to. He travelled through the north to avoid any assassination attempts that were assumed would take place if he traveled a more direct route, which would take him through southern states just as they were beginning to succeed from the Union. Along the route of this trip he used the opportunity to have as many people see him as possible, at a time when newspapers were the only mass communication. Highlighted in this telling is the presence of the telegraph, which had come into its own and would play a part in the civil war. The author can tend to be a bit too 'wordy' and goes off on tangents, which may be necessary when the story is of a train trip. As Lincoln gave speeches during this trip the authors highlights how he was perfecting his style and approach that would mark the 4 years of his presidency.

Valley Forge

Valley Forge by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. An account of the winter of 1777 and 1778 when Washington held his troops at Valley Forge in during the horrible and brutal winter. Made worse by the lack of supplies of every kind, food and clothing. Like many things I read about the american revolution, it really is amazing that we won the war with the British. Two interesting things I learned from this book, one about a brutal bayonet battle that the British waged with the Americans that must have been terrifying. The second that George the third in the Spring of 1778 made a peace offering to the contenentals, that if they ceased hostilities he would end taxing the Americans, remove British troops from the colonies, recognize congress as an official body and provide representation in Parliament to the Colonies. In hindsight not a bad offer, and can't help but wonder what would happened if it had been accepted. Would slavery have ended sooner in North America? In some places a dense read but well researched and well written.

Cadillac Desert (1986)

Cadillac Desert (1986) by Marc Reisner. This excellent cultural and environmental history of the western US and the history of how water is used, abused and allocated. Published in 1986, it is amazing how right the author was about so many things that are now coming true. The history of planning for water that is not there and never would be is quite amazing. The first half of the book is a great chronology of how water was managed, how and why the damns were built, the well known story of Mulhalland and the Los Angeles water systems. It is interesting to see that our present situation was being predicted for decades, but no one took any actions around it.

The Great Air Race: Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn of American Aviation

The Great Air Race: Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn of American Aviation by John Lancaster. This is the story of the 1919 air race across the US, this was a race that was simultaneously from San Francisco to New York, and from New York to San Francisco. So two sets of planes took off simultaneouly from each coach, and passed each other on the way to their destintations. That in itself is a whacky enough idea, but the organizer of the event, Billy Mitchell, at practically the last minute decided to make it a round trip race. He did this in order to not have pay for the pilots and their planes to get back home.

Mitchell was a WW1 flying veteran and a member of the military administration for a long period, very forward thinking but also a risk taker with other people's lives. Most of the planes in the race were WW1 surplus and many of the pilots were veterans of WW1. Many people died participating in the race, many planes crashed and many people's reputations were established by participating in the race.

This book along with Into the Silence and the Moth and the Mountain have an intersection that is interesting. While early flight and 1920s Himalyan mountain climbing might not appear to have a lot in common, the people involved in them do. So many of these men were WW1 vets at a time long before PTSD was diagnosed. For many it seems that the manic pace and high risk of their lives may have been their own reaction to the horrors of participating in 'the Great War'. That would be an interesting research project.

Into the Silence

Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis. As the subtitle describes this is the story of attempted conquest of Everest in the early 1920s by three british expreditions, lead by Mallory and of course not successfull. The story that so many involved in these expeditions were veterans of WW1 is interesting and a major part of the story. The attempt to apply Alpine mountairing techniques to the climbing of the Himalayas is a natural progression for climbers who honed their skills in the Alps. But ultimately was not adequate for the very different conditions of the Himalayas and especially Everest. Technology was tried and started to be perfected, but was not trusted or utilized to its full capabilities. Added to this was the issue of going into countries where it was tough to get permissions, and to areas where Europeans had never been. This is a very thorough narrative and covers everything from travel issues to the class system in the UK at the time that really dictated who was going to be allowed to go on these expeditions.

Cuba: An American History

Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer. A comprehensive history of Cuba, from Columbus to the present time. This very thorough history provides great information on how Cuba became the Cuba of today. Very long trials as a Spanish colony, long history of slavery that was very contentious. The main point the author is making is about the history of Cuba in relation to the US. The US wanted to take possession of Cuba right from the beginning, and this relationshiop shaped Cuba.