A great book: Antony Beevor's "D-Day: The Battle for Normandy"

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely great book. It's hard to have such a densely packed, non-fiction book be so enjoyable to read, but Antony Beevor certainly achieved that.

With this well-researched book, Mr. Beevor takes us into the massive operations that went into the invasion of Normandy, showing both the Allied and Axis sides. In addition to all the detail, individual stories add color throughout, and he shows the great depth of knowledge and strategic understanding that comes with being a student of history.

He also confirmed much of what I'd already read about the poor behavior of Montgomery*, the bottomless egomania and selfishness of DeGaulle, and the unspeakable evil of many of the German troops.

Even for someone who has read a great deal about history and this period in history in particular, Antony Beevor's "D-Day" was well worth reading, and I highly recommend it!

*This bit at the end of the book is worth sharing: "The usually tolerant Eisenhower refused to forgive Montgomery for the claims he made after the war. 'First of all he's a psychopath,' Eisenhower exploded in an interview in 1963. 'Don't forget that. He is such an egocentric man--everything he has done is perfect--has never made a mistake in his life.' It was tragic that Montgomery should have thus diverted attention away from his own undoubted qualities and from the sacrifice of his troops, who had held down the vast bulk of the German panzer formations and faced the greatest concentration of 88mm anti-tank guns."

(I'd share some about the behavior of DeGaulle and some other French "leaders," but that could go on for pages. As someone who had a member of the French Resistance in his family, I was happy to see their bravery and sacrifice acknowledged, but some of the others, starting with DeGaulle, behaved abominably.)

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Book Review: "Goodbye to Berlin" by Christopher Isherwood

Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure where to begin. As I'm sure everyone who picks up the book knows, this is the work that spawned the movie and Broadway musical, "Cabaret." There certainly are similarities that carry from one into the other.

With that said, they most certainly aren't the same by any stretch. Yes, "Cabaret" included the Nazis on the march and foreshadowed their antisemitic oppression, but "Goodbye to Berlin" makes clearer how everyday Germans shrugged off the very obvious evil around them and how some applauded it. It is this indifference and even tacit acceptance that is a warning that needs to be heard generation after generation, including the current one, where too many are ready to ignore authoritarian efforts.

Isherwood shares an overheard conversation: "Those Nazis . . . They mean business . . . You mark my words: they're going to clear the Jews right out of Germany. Right out." This is just one example, but clearly, the "we didn't know" crowd, after the Nazis were routed, were as disingenuous as suspected.

Describing a night of Nazi violence, he shares the comments of one of the ladies of his acquaintance: "Frl. Mayr, of course, was delighted: 'Serves them right!' she exclaimed. 'This town is sick with Jews.'"

While describing the difficult circumstances of many Germans in the aftermath of their loss of World War I, it's painfully clear how these circumstances surfaced the very worst impulses.

By the same token, we see the foolishly naive view of some. A lady with whom Isherwood stayed is annoyed at her debt to the local Jewish tailor, despite his having made it possible for her family to purchase his skills by extending her credit. "'When Hitler comes, he'll show these Jews a thing or two.' But when I suggested that Hitler, if he got his own way, would remove the tailor altogether, then Frau Nowak would immediately change her tone: 'Oh, I shouldn't like that to happen. After all, he makes very good clothes. Besides, a Jew will always let you have time if you're in difficulties. You wouldn't catch a Christian giving credit like he does . . . You ask the people round here, Herr Christoph: they'd never turn out the Jews.'"

Of course, we know all too well the horrors that soon would follow. All of this to say, "Goodbye to Berlin," published after Nazi rule was a reality but before their "final solution" came fully to fruition, is an interesting but, of course, deeply disturbing view of Berlin as Germany and the world hurtled towards unspeakable nightmare. If you're expecting a book that will have the bounce of the very catchy "Cabaret," then you'll be disappointed. But if you're interested in the backstory that informed the creation of that catchy musical, together with an interesting historical perspective on a very important time in history, then grab a copy!

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Book Review: "Harm's Way" by John Gilstrap

Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I found this latest installment in the Jonathan Grave series very disappointing. The usual formula was there, with "Security Solutions" taking on a dangerous mission that the government couldn't. There really was nothing new in that, as it's the usual routine of these exceptional killers fighting bad guys to try to save the day. The problem is, this book was chock full of political diatribes. Rather than being entertainment, it was a polemic against the left, the government, the FBI, and everything you might expect from someone who holds such views. Also, newspapers are the enemy.

From the book:

"It's the legacy [news]papers that get it wrong. It's because they don't report news anymore. They make up shit their readers want to hear."

"Tell President Asshat. It's like he's shilling for them. The cartels and the Chi-Coms."

"Open border makes kiddie prostitution easy while keeping the cartels rich. All of that adds to murder."

Regarding the FBI Director, "Wolverine," "It'd be tough being the only honest person in a place as sprawling as the Hoover Building."

There's plenty more like that, making clear that the author thinks everyone is Washington, DC, is corrupt, from the President to FBI agents, etc., as well as demonizing anyone who isn't as politically hard-core as he is. We have problems in this country, but this isn't going to help. More to the point, this is supposed to be a work of entertainment.

It's his right to say what he wants, but I hate when an author fills a story with this kind of disparagement. He may have many fans who will agree and even enjoy that, but I don't think it belongs in a work of entertainment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

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Book Review: "The Siberia Job" by Josh Haven

The Siberia Job by Josh Haven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Siberia Job" is a quick read, which says a lot for how much it pulled me in. Apparently based on real-life stories shared with the author, the book explores the world of the post-USSR scramble for ownership of companies and industries that were supposed to be for the benefit of the people of Russia. Instead, modern-day carpetbaggers swoop in to try to take control of money they hadn't earned (unless you consider their ability to invest tiny amounts of "hard currency" earning anything) before Russian oligarchs can build their own empires with little more right to it than the American and European "investors."

While John, Petr and Anna are interesting characters, and I will admit to rooting for them at points (they're better than their murderous opponents), their way of getting rich is very questionable morally. If you like Gordon Gekko-style raiders, you will like them, but if that turns you off... well, then not so much.

Their view is that their approach will help make the new Russia rich, too, but it seems very unlikely that the average Russian is going to benefit any more under this new regime than they did under the old Communist one.

Still, an interesting book and a page-turner. I'm not the fastest reader, and I was through it in two days.

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Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me by Bernie Taupin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked this book more that I might have expected. Bernie Taupin is, of course, the other half of the duo that's completed by Elton John. Bernie is the lyricist behind so many very popular songs. In addition to his great success with Elton John, he wrote popular songs for other performers, as well.

When reading an autobiography by someone with this type of entertainment success, I worry that I'll just get an avalanche of pointless name-dropping. Don't get me wrong. I could take a header over the piles of names dropped in this book, but it doesn't come off as that. Rather, he tells stories of the ups and downs of his years in music and the various people who were a part of that, either directly or tangentially.

If you're looking for insight into the meanings or origins of his lyrics, Mr. Taupin does give some of that but also admits that some of it isn't clear even to him. For that matter, he writes that some should be left to the interpretation of the listeners. "That's the beauty of songwriting. Having those listening use their own imagination and draw their own conclusions is half the fun. It's like abstract art." He also acknowledges certain lyrics that haven't aged well: "the less said about 'Island Girl' the better."

This book goes beyond his work as a lyricist. We learn about his foray into being a restaurateur, his involvement in ranching, horses, bull-riding, and more, and a lot about his personal life. It's a pretty full picture. And of course, there are many insights into his writing process and inspiration for certain songs.

This book definitely is worth your time!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of the book. I very much enjoyed it!

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