Review: A Bridge Too Far

Full title: A Bridge Too Far - The Classic History of the Greatest Battle of World War II
Author: Cornelius Ryan
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 670

Perhaps better known as a movie bearing the same title, A Bridge Too Far is tale of the struggle of the Allies to reach Germany in an effort to end World War II as quickly as possible.  Their plan calls for an aggressive strategy, capturing and holding a number of bridgeheads that will allow them access into Germany.  The story ultimately centers on the Dutch town of Arnhem and the struggle that was waged there for one bridge.

Ryan begins his telling of this event through the eyes of the Dutch people, who will, in a manner of speaking, host this battle.  From there, he expands to include the German and Allied planning up to the launch of Operation Market-Garden, which will have a major impact both on the war and the Dutch.  The author includes first hand accounts from participant on all sides, including civilians. In his writing, Ryan beautifully recreates the conditions during this time and allows the reader to easily identify with the people he is writing about. As the story unfolds, Ryan moves seamlessly from the viewpoint of one group to another.

Because so much of this story is told within the context of military action and the effort to move large groups of men over vast expanses of territory, the fact that the book contains many, many maps is very helpful to the reader.  Due to the sheer enormity of this battle and Ryan's efforts to provide as much information as possible, the number of people included in the book is quite large.  While it does become a bit difficult remembering who is who (especially two British officers who share the same surname), the book does include pictures of some of the more notable and note-worthy participants, which does help.  One of my favorite features (if you haven't already picked up on this from other entries) included in this book is a comprehensive list of what all those mentioned throughout were doing as of publication.

I came away from this book extremely impressed with Ryan as an author and having learned quite a bit about a part of World War II I was not previously familiar with.  While a tad long, it is an easy, riveting read and another instance in which the movie adaptation truly does not do the book justice.

Bottom line:

Would I read it again? Yes

Would I recommend this book to someone else? Yes

Review: Agent Zigzag

Full title: Agent Zigzag - A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal
Author: Ben Macintyre
Publisher: Harmony Books
Total Pages: 364

It has been said that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. The story of Agent Zigzag is one such instance. Ben Macintyre tells the story of Eddie Chapman, a suave and debonair petty criminal, who began World War II as a prisoner and nearly ended it as one of Britain's top secret agents.

Macintyre takes the reader through the escapades of Chapman the criminal up to his arrest by the Germans. It is shortly after this point that Chapman is recruited, not by his homeland, but by the Nazis to act as a secret agent for Germany. Chapman is sent back to England with orders to sabotage a factory and to record as much useful intelligence information as possible. Upon his arrival, Chapman promptly reports himself to the British authorities as a German spy. Ever the patriot, Chapman volunteers to work as a double-agent, spying on the Germans. With the help of many within the British government, an elaborate ruse makes him appear to have accomplished his mission and he returns to the Germans, who are none the wiser. The book goes on to detail Chapman's time with the Germans and his return (a second time) to England, as well as his tangled love life.

Throughout this work, Macintyre paints an intriguing profile of a man who could be both extraordinarily likable yet decidedly deceitful. This contrast is on display throughout. Written from many first-hand accounts from those who knew or worked with Chapman, as well as Chapman himself, the book contains much research, including an interesting appendix on coding for radio messages. The book also contains an interesting assortment of pictures, both of main characters in the story, as well as prominent locations. Finally, the book concludes with a brief recounting of the lives of the main characters from the end of the war to the present.

While the story itself is, on the surface, an intriguing one, for whatever reason, I had a very difficult time reading this book. I never felt truly engaged in the story or by its characters. While it is well-written, with great description, there seemed to be almost a lack of urgency. There are several points where the plot slowed to a crawl. I did not find myself turning the pages, anxious to see what would happen next. I will admit that it is certainly possible that I entered this book with unrealistic expectations and, as such, also left it feeling unfulfilled.

Bottom line:

Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend this book to someone else? Only to those who are truly interested in espionage and/or British history.

Review: All The President's Men

Full title: All The President's Men
Authors: Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 349

The names Nixon, Watergate, Woodward, and Bernstein are, to many, forever linked in one of the greatest political scandals in American History. This book helps explain how that association came to be.

As two young reporters for The Washington Post, Bernstein and Woodward became involved in covering a break-in at the campaign headquarters of the Democratic Party. Spurred by a casual remark from one of the accused burglars that he previously worked for the CIA, Woodward and Bernstein begin researching these men in an investigation that will lead them across the county. This work of chronicles their investigative journalism, providing readers with a first-hand account of how these two men connected the dots between the break-in and the White House. Full of intrigue, drama, and mystery, this book is still a page turner.

In addition to being an exciting account of the beginning of the fall of the Nixon Administration, this book is also an interesting period piece. It serves as a great reminder that today's 24-hour-a-day news cycle did not exist, and hearkens back to a simpler era, when stories were researched and told using pay phones and typewriters. There are several photographs of many of the individuals involved and includes a "Cast of Characters", which became helpful in keeping track of an ever-increasing number of people, from White House Staff to journalists to attorneys. Despite its age, the book is an easy read and is well-written. Unfortunately, the original book ends before a final resolution was actually reached, which does, to me, leave a feeling of unfinished business (possibly because I do know what the final outcome was). However, it should be noted that a 20th anniversary edition has subsequently been released - this may well enhance the reading experience and may include additional information not originally known when this book went to press.

Whether you are old enough to remember the actual events surrounding Watergate or not, this book offers intriguing insights into both journalism and politics. Don't just watch the movie of the same name, try the book, as well.

Bottom line:

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

Review: The Amber Room

Full title: The Amber Room - The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure
Author: Catherine Scott-Clarke and Adrian Levy
Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group
Total Pages: 386

Scott-Clarke and Levy seek to solve one of modern history's mysteries: the fate of one of Russia's greatest treasures, a room made completely from amber. During Germany's invasion of Russia during World War II, this work of art was disassembled and taken to Germany, where it seemingly vanished.

The book covers with a history of the room itself, beginning with the creation of the room itself up to its last days in a Leningrad museum as the Russians frantically attempted to hide it from the invading Nazi armies. The authors intertwine the story of the room with their own research efforts as they attempted to determine, once and for all, the fate of this treasure. Filled with a multitude of twists and turns, their investigation takes them throughout both Russia and Germany. It also offers insights into the Cold War history, as well as the bureaucratic workings, of the two nations.

This book was truly difficult to put down and is written in such a way that makes it very easy for the reader to identify with the authors in their search for any kind of information related to the Amber Room. Scott-Clarke and Levy worked diligently to uncover the truth about the fate of the room and their research is quite compelling and evident throughout. Dead ends and triumphs are both detailed and make the story seem alive.

Covering such a long period of time there are, as one might expect, numerous people who have a role in this story, both those who interacted directly with the authors and those whose association with the room have been historically recorded. The book does include a list of many of these characters, with a brief description, which is helpful as one moved deeper into the book. There are also many pictures of both people and places referenced in this work, which is also quite helpful.

While there are a few brief moments where the story does lag, I found it to be, overall, a very engrossing read. I found myself rooting for the authors to succeed and could not wait to find out what happened to this great work of art. This is a complex work, not only covering the room whose name is the book's title, but also painting an interesting picture of two nations and their post-Cold War conditions. Certainly an enjoyable and recommended read.

Bottom line:

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

Review: Hunting Eichmann

Full title: Hunting Eichmann - How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi
Author: Neal Bascomb
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Total Pages: 390

An interesting mixture of one well known war criminal, his family, several holocaust survivors, and dedicated sleuths add up to a riveting tale. In this work, Neal Bascomb chronicles Adolf Eichmann's quest to escape from Germany at the end of World War II, eventually ending in South America. As Eichmann begins his new life, there are still those in Europe and other parts of the globe determined to track him down.

The author describes, in depth, Eichmann's life of paranoia in Argentina, where he constantly fears detection and punishment, as he tried to rationalize his actions during the war. At the same time, Bascomb introduces a wide and varying cast of individuals from, literally, around the world, who would work together in an attempt to bring Eichmann to justice.

While the perspective frequently shifts between characters, Bascomb does a magnificent job of describing the emotions of both Eichmann and his pursuers. Borrowing from both existing materials and using first-hand interviews, the author does well to expose the reader to the perspective of both the hunted and the hunter.

The tension in this book gradually built up to Eichmann's initial escape, then slowed slightly, only to build up again as attempts were made to capture this criminal. I was drawn in by both the story itself and the emotions so richly conveyed as this work kept my attention throughout. Certainly an enjoyable and informative reading experience.

Bottom line:

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

Review: Killing Lincoln

Full title: Killing Lincoln - The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
Authors: Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Publisher: Holt, Henry & Company, Inc.
Total Pages: 336

Oddly enough, it was the author, not the title or subject matter that first caught my eye with this book. And, yes, it is that Bill O'Reilly (Full disclosure: I'm not a follower of Fox News or any other news network. I would have been equally intrigued had one of the authors been Wolf Blitzer or any other talking head.). Figuring I knew the basic gist of the story, I decided to see if this book was worth my time. In brief, yes, it was.

O'Reilly and Dugard begin by setting the stage in the closing days of the Civil War, tracking the movements of the two primary players who will soon meet on one fateful evening: Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. The authors track the movements of both men, relaying their contrasting emotional states as the war draws to a close. It is these emotions that fuel Booth in his quest to first kidnap, then assassinate, the president. The events of the book do include Lincoln's murder, Booth's escape and subsequent capture, although, in comparison, events that occurred in the aftermath of the assassination did not seem to receive quite the same amount of attention as those leading up to it. That said, I will admit that, for those who are interested, these are covered in greater detail in other books.

One unique aspect of this book is that it is written largely in present tense. While I initially found this somewhat odd and a little off-putting (I am, admittedly, used to books about history being written in the past tense), the tense was not an insurmountable challenge; it just took a little getting used to.

With a story of this magnitude, it might be expected that there would be a large case of characters, including government and military participants, Booth's conspirators, and ordinary citizens. While the list of individuals borders on overwhelming, I found it surprisingly easy to keep track of most of those involved.
A large number of pictures, sketches, and maps further helped to provide detail into both the people and places described throughout.

The authors appear to have done their research and do cite a large number of sources, including many first-hand accounts. Despite my initial discomfort with the writing style, I was pleasantly surprised at how the book kept my attention, turning out to be quite the page turner, even though I already knew how it would ultimately end. Even for those, like myself, who know the story, this book offers a different perspective and is worth a look.

Bottom line:

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

Review: The Lost City of Z

Full title: The Lost City of Z - A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
Author: David Grann
Publisher: Vintage Books
Total Pages: 400

For centuries, man has been intrigued by the unknown. What lies beyond the horizon? What treasures might be found in the unexplored areas on the map? It is that very question that drives David Grann's tale of British explorer Percy Fawcett. Fawcett was a professional explorer who was determined to explore the interior of South America, convinced that he would find what he called "Z", a lost city hidden deep in the Amazon jungle. The explorer made several attempts to locate the city, his last trip being the most intriguing - he entered the jungle in 1925, never to be seen again.

Grann does a masterful job of introducing the reader to Percy Fawcett and revealing what drove him to such great lengths in exploring the Amazon. This work also chronicles numerous rescue expeditions that were launched in hopes of finding Fawcett or, at least, determining what end he met in South America. Grann goes to great lengths to paint a painful picture of what exploring deep in the jungles of the Amazon is truly like, as he undertakes his own journey into the Amazon, hoping to answer the mystery of Fawcett's disappearance.

Grann includes entries from Facett's own journal, as well as letters and first-hand accounts from those who had accompanied the explorer on previous journeys while intertwining his own journey with that of the explorer. Descriptive, easy to read and quite gripping, I found myself reading quickly, hoping to find out how both men's expeditions might intersect deep in the heart of the jungle.

Whether you have ever pictured yourself as a modern day Indiana Jones or simply wondered "What's out there that man has not yet found?", this book is quite enjoyable and highly recommended.

Bottom line:

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