Jul 28 2011

Noble Warrior: The Life and Times of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston

I have recently read two books on the Vietnam War. The first of these, Noble Warrior: The Life and Times of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor by James E. Livingston, Colin D. Heaton, and Anne-Marie Lewis, is a biography of Major General James E. Livingston – a Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. The book is a quick read at 272 pages. It includes 23 b/w photographs and seven maps (which are very helpful in following the action in the book).

A majority of the book is spent on Livingston’s time in Vietnam, specifically the battle for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor – the Battle of Dai Do in 1968. The main battle pitted a reinforced Marine battalion (2nd Battalion/4th Marine Regiment) against a significant portion of a North Vietnamese Army division. In the battle, Livingston commanded a company.

I won’t go into the details of the battle, but the phrase “uncommon valor was a common virtue” was prevalent on the battlefield. Livingston’s leadership appears to have made a difference in saving not only many of the lives in his company, but also in his battalion. The book is a good narrative of what occurred during the battle from the American perspective.

Keep Reading

By Jeff Grim • Reviews • 1 • Tags: , , , ,

Jul 26 2011

The Woodcutter

The Woodcutter: A Novel

By Kevin Holtsberry • Asides • 0 • Tags: , ,

Jul 26 2011

Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead by Jason Henderson

Here is what I had to say about the first book in the Alex Van Helsing series:

This was another hard to rate YA fantasy adventure novel. It has a nice hook (a Van Helsing is sent to a Geneva boarding school after getting in to trouble at his previous school and finds out his famous last name more appropriate than he ever thought) and some good action but it just feels little thin somehow. The set up is good but it just never really grabbed my attention.

There was enough to like, however, that I decided to give the second book – Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead - a try.  And I am glad I did because it picked up the pace and character development creating a much more satisfying story.

Here is the publishers blurb for the sequel

Now that Alex is in the know about the deadly vampires that live—and hunt—around his boarding school, everything is different. Putting his talents to use, Alex is training with the Polidorium to become a vampire hunter, just like his Van Helsing ancestors. Sure, he’s only fourteen, but c’mon: This runs in his blood.

But Alex is wondering if he’ll live long enough to succeed. His archnemesis Elle, a vampire whose youthful appearance and blond hair disguise a rage that’s directed at him, is out to get him before a powerful leader called Ultravox arrives on the scene. Ultravox specializes in assassinations, but who is he targeting? As he dodges Elle’s attacks, Alex is on a mission to uncover Ultravox’s deadly plan before his friends and his school become collateral damage. There’s no time to report back; innocent lives hang in the balance, and it’s on Alex to act now—or else.

My take after the jump.

Keep Reading

By Kevin Holtsberry • Reviews • 0

Jul 23 2011

An Apple a Day by Caroline Taggart

An Apple a Day: Old-Fashioned Proverbs –Timeless Words to Live By is not really a book you read like a novel so I put the volume in my “office” and read a couple of entries as I was able.  As you might imagine, reading it in this way took awhile which is why I am reviewing it months after it was published.

Here is the publishers description:

From Old Testament proverbs to modern phrases like “the best things in life are free,” An Apple a Day takes a fun look at expressions that “have stood the test of time.” Read through from start to finish or search through the list of hundreds of the most common proverbs, arranged from A to Z for easy reference. You’ll learn about each proverb’s surprising origins, why some are valid and others are not, the derivation and meanings behind them, and their relevance in today’s society.

My take? This is another fun addition to this series from Readers Digest. It happens to be more entertainment that reference material however. Sure, Taggart often gives insight and information into the sources and development of the proverbs, phrases and aphorisms listed but more often she offers her own commentary and witticisms. You get  a sense of the development of proverbs and how the culture and time influence both the wording and the perspective.  Rather than a technical resource this feels like a miscellany type meditation on the subject.

But nevertheless it is an interesting tour through some of the more famous proverbs and how we might use, understand and discuss them today. You come away with a sense of the role these types of phrases play in out language and conversations. Wordsmiths and literature lovers would enjoy this one.

By Kevin Holtsberry • Reviews • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Jul 23 2011

A Nation Like No Other

A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters

By Kevin Holtsberry • Asides • 0 • Tags: , ,

1 2 3