In Down in the Chapel: Religious Life in an American Prison, “what Dubler has produced in his weeklong observance of activities is a rare combination of prison anthropology, deep journalism, history of religiosity in the United States, and a personal self-critique of his own upbringing.” Continue reading Down in the Chapel: Religious Life in an American Prison, by Joshua Dubler @ NYJB
In Harold and Jack: The Remarkable Friendship of Prime Minister Macmillan and President Kennedy Christopher Sandford “expertly uses historical and archival material to make Kennedy’s and Macmillan’s Special Relationship come to life.” Continue reading Harold and Jack: The Remarkable Friendship of Prime Minister Macmillan and President Kennedy, by Christopher Sandford @ NYJB
Espresso-sized book reviews for readers on the go. Karl Marx wrote in his 1852 book, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon, “Hegel remarks somewhere that all facts and personages of great importance in world history occur, as it were, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as a tragedy, the second time as farce.” This occurs in Judge Dredd: Mega-City Two, written by Douglas Wolk and illustrated by Ulises Farinas. The notorious Judge Dredd gets relocated to Mega-City Two in a judicial exchange program. Although one would not think so with this grimdark postapocalyptic setting, but hilarity ensues. Mega-City … Continue reading Reviews in Brief: Judge Dredd: Mega-City Two: Written by Douglas Wolk, Illustrated by Ulises Farinas
This week I review Joseph Trigoboff’s memoir, Rumble in Brooklyn. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Rumble in Brooklyn, by Joseph Trigoboff
The On Being Human Guerrilla Literary Salon is happening right now! You should totally go to it and get your hands on a limited edition handmade hardcover edition of the book. Continue reading The On Being Human Guerrilla Literary Salon
Joris-Karl Huysmans elucidates the philosophy of “bros before hoes.” Continue reading Commonplace Book: Joris-Karl Huysmans, the Perpetual Optimist
Over at CCLaP, I reviewed a revisionist history of Russia by Anthony Figes. Continue reading CCLaP Book Review: Revolutionary Russia, 1891 – 1991: a History, by Anthony Figes
This week Karl Wolff reviews “A Taste for Intrigue: the Multiple Lives of Francois Mitterrand,” by Philip Short, a political biography of France’s longest-serving Socialist President. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: A Taste for Intrigue: the Multiple Lives of Francois Mitterrand, by Philip Short
“The achievements of the Greatest Generation and the policies of FDR are without equal in American history, but the narrow focus and the crass partisan cheerleading ruin an otherwise fascinating introductory volume for those interested in the New Deal.” Continue reading The Fight for the Four Freedoms, by Harvey J. Kaye @ NYJB
Women’s Suffrage Memorabilia: an Illustrated Historical Study By Kenneth Florey McFarland Reviewed by Karl Wolff The book, Women’s Suffrage Memorabilia: an Illustrated Historical Guide, by Kenneth Florey, examines the stories behind the objects that were instrumental to the suffrage movement. The focus is primarily on the women’s suffrage movement in the United States and the United Kingdom. The study sees the women’s suffrage movement through the lens of political culture, pop culture, and material culture. (Material culture being the actual physical products of the suffrage and anti-suffrage movements.) As with other political movements, the suffrage movement coincided and exploited advances … Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Women’s Suffrage Memorabilia, by Kenneth Florey
