Review: Priceless

Full title: Priceless - How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures
Author: Robert K. Wittman (with John Shiffman)
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Total Pages: 324

After 20 years in the FBI, Robert Wittman has seen a lot, including the creation of the Art Crime Team and the recovery of many stolen pieces of art. In his position, Wittman has literally touched hundreds of pieces of history.

In this New York Times bestseller, part memoir, part true-crime story, Wittman retells how he recovered stolen art, including numerous undercover operations, during his time in the FBI. There is conflict and action aplenty, as the author draws back the curtain on the world of art theft. There are occasional lulls in the action, as it seems that the story gets a little sidetracked.

The story is told in the first-person perspective, making it easy to identify with the author. However, this does also limit the reader to one point of view. While Witmann makes great efforts to include the readers in what happens before and after the undercover and recovery processes, it's these moments that cause the story to lose momentum. In some places, it feels as if elements of the back story are forced, rather than flowing into and out of the overall tale.

While many of the stories he shares are interesting, there are times throughout the book where it feels like Wittman is simply patting himself on the back. To be fair, what he has done is certainly remarkable and deserving of commendation. In the opinion of this reviewer, though, when said commendations are coming from the one person whose accomplishments are being lauded, it makes the whole effort seem a bit hollow and self-serving.

Bottom line:

Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend this book to someone else? Yes, but not enthusiastically

Review: Thunder Run

Full title: Thunder Run - The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad
Author: David Zucchino
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Total Pages: 352

Sometimes choosing a good book really is as easy as making a decision based on a catchy title. The title of this work is what first drew my attention to David Zucchino's work chronicling the mechanized drive of U.S. troops into the heart of Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I can safely say that there is more to this book than just an attention-getting title.

Throughout this book, Zucchino does an excellent job of both detailing the events of the operation while mixing in enough personal information about the participants to create an emotional attachment with the reader. Enough characters are introduced to give the reader many different views of what is happening, but not so many as to create confusion as to who's who. Tension builds throughout, as the U.S. tanks make their way into Baghdad, continuing toward their ultimate goal of capturing the palace complex.

This was a book that, once I started, I hated to have to put down for any reason. I was enthralled from the first paragraph and felt compelled to constantly continue reading to see what would happen next, hoping that the American soldiers would make it safely through their mission. Zucchino provides plenty of description and continually keeps the tension high. Maps are located at the front of the book, providing easy access and helping provide an overview of the operation's path. However, at least in the copy I have, no pictures are included.

The story is told largely from the American point of view, but does include some accounts from Iraqi citizens, as well. It is a book about a military action (I promise not all books I review here will be) and, as such, there are some graphic descriptions as to the injuries inflicted upon the combatants on both sides, along with some adult language. However, nothing that I would consider gratuitous.

Bottom line:

Would I read it again? Yes
Would I recommend this book to someone else? Yes

Review: Enemy At The Gates

Full title: Enemy At The Gates - The Battle For Stalingrad
Author: William Craig
Publisher: Konekcy & Konecky
Total Pages: 457

William Craig takes readers inside one of the most infamous battles of World War II with this work. After laying some groundwork, explaining the events that lead to the battler itself, Craig meticulously lays out the events that unfolded in and around Stalingrad from August of 1942 through early February of 1943. Using first-hand accounts, this work weaves a tapestry of emotions of the military men and women who fought on both sides and also the civilians caught in the middle while presenting the facts of the battle itself.

Some may remember the movie of this same title that was released several years ago. While I am sometimes wary of reading books that have been made into major motion pictures, I was quite pleasantly surprised by Enemy At The Gates. The movie simply didn't do the book justice. I'll admit that it's been some time since I've seen the movie, but my memory is that it is primarily the story of two snipers battling in the cauldron that was Stalingrad. What took Hollywood nearly two hours to portray takes place over the course of just 4 pages in this book. There is so much more to this story outside of that duel. Craig's treatment of the battle goes far beyond and includes a wide array of participants, but not so many that the reader can't remember who is who (something I have encountered in other books). Craig does his best to tell the tale from both the German and Russian perspective. Both sides are well represented.

The author's writing style is very easy to read, even 38 plus years after its initial publication. The book contains several maps, which are helpful in illustrating troop movements and the lines that made up the front throughout the conflict, as well as pictures of the city and several key participants. Additionally, the book ends with one of my favorite features, a epilogue, which describes what happened to the survivors who were introduced to the reader throughout the book after the conclusion of the battle.

There are some graphic descriptions, both of injuries suffered by participants and of living conditions in the battle zones, that some readers may find disturbing. That being said, these details are not merely for shock value, but to help paint a true picture of the toll this battle took on all involved.

Bottom line:

Would I read it again? Yes
Would I recommend this book to someone else? Yes

Welcome - The Inaugural Post

Hi and welcome to the Reviews of Old News blog. I'll be periodically posting reviews of books about history which I have recently read.

Why do this blog? Fair question. I like to read. A lot. And when I read, it's non-fiction books about something historical in nature. While I enjoy learning about new people and things, there are also many times I find myself standing in a bookstore or library or perusing books online, wondering "Should I buy this book? Is it worth my time?" I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has ever had that moment of pause. If so, I'd like to let my reading experience help you. Plus, it also gives me a good outlet to discuss what I've read.

Fair warning: I readily acknowledge that I have biases. Really, we all do, whether we realize it or not. I will try to point out any personal or environmental biases that may color my review (provided, of course, that I recognize them). And I'll also do the same about the book's author, if bias is readily apparent. Additionally, I will try not to lean too much toward any particular time period or author, although I am starting to see from my collection, that I apparently do favor World War II a little bit. See, we all have biases... :)

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