This nonfiction account tells of a group of 19-century explorers who attempted to reach the north pole but found disaster. With such a compelling premThis nonfiction account tells of a group of 19-century explorers who attempted to reach the north pole but found disaster. With such a compelling premise, this narrative should have been quite solid, but I found myself disappointed overall; parts of this were great, but the whole thing should have been much better.
I want to say first of all that I think the authors are good writers. They have an excellent ability to set the tone, and their instincts for finding the right word for the right moment are unerring. They do not talk down to the readers. The topics in this book that could have been dry, such as the type of ship and its different provisions, are still presented in an interesting manner, and the more dramatic elements (starvation, death, etc.) are not overwritten, not over-the-top, not melodramatic in any sense. Parts of this book feel as page-turning as a thriller, and the authors certainly made good use of dramatic tension. The writing is tasteful, and while the authors don't shrink from recording the more gruesome aspects of the journey, they also don't dwell too much on the gory details. There are dogs in this story, so here is my spoiler: (view spoiler)[The dogs all die, and one in particular is killed for food, but the writing is matter-of-fact and without a lot of tragic details. (hide spoiler)] I also applaud their wisdom in summarizing (but not dwelling on) some of the negative comments made by one of the survivors and published in the papers. The distinctive personalities of several of the adventurers shine through quite well. Primary sources abound, especially the journals kept by the lieutenant commander. It is very clear which elements are quotes from the primary sources and which are reconstructions, and yet this plethora of quoted material never disrupts the narrative flow. The writing is quite smooth. The subject matter is certainly interesting. The maps are helpful, and the epilogue ties up many loose ends.
The biggest problem is clarity. Some of these issues are relatively minor (e.g., one of the pen-and-ink drawings that illustrate this book was made by a specific crew member, but I have no idea who drew any of the others, if they're even from the expedition, or if they were made in modern times for this book). Other issues are more severe. For one thing, the timing is unclear. Some dates are given, but not all. How long was the initial delay, right at the start? Later, when the explorers were resting on an island, Melville and De Long disagreed about whether it was more important to rest or to leave immediately, and although their departure date is given, the date of their landing is not, so it is unclear how long the delay had been, or whether there had even been a delay at all. Consequently, it is impossible to know to what extent that rest cost them. It seems as though the whole party would have made it safely to Russian mainland if they hadn't been hit by a gale, and I think (again, it's not clear) that they only missed the fair weather by one day. Also frustrating was the lack of information about the travelers. Specifically, I wondered how many of them there were. 20-some? 30? It was difficult to visualize the party when I had no idea how large (or small) a group it was. A few of the names were given early on, with descriptions and even pictures of the men, but only six members of the expedition were described in this way. I wondered how many men there were. I wondered all the way from page 28, when it said that there were openings for 24 spots, to page 116, when the authors finally (finally!) listed the names of all the men who undertook this dangerous voyage: 34 names, all printed neatly in three columns across the page. What a relief! The group was quite a bit larger than I'd been picturing, but I wasn't about to reread the whole book just to re-imagine that one detail. At least I had an answer. Of course, now I'm back to wondering, because when I reached page 165, I read that 33 men undertook this voyage. So which is it?
Worst of all, for me, are the mistakes and omissions. There were 33 men but 34 names listed. There were 13 survivors (p. 150) but only 12 people survived (p. 165). De Long abandoned his rifle during his march through Siberia, leaving it behind on page 124, yet "De Long's rifle" was recovered with his body on page page 173. So did the group double back to retrieve it? Or did they have extra guns, and he just claimed a different (presumably lighter to carry) rifle as his own? The group of explorers included two Yup'ik men (Alaska Natives). Both of them were honored afterward with medals from the U.S. Congress. These medals are inscribed, but while the photos of them are clear enough for me to see that the letters are neat and well-formed, they are not clear enough for me to read the words, and the text of them is not given in the book. What a waste! But at least I know it was something positive. Conversely, the authors' lack of clarity is detrimental to the reputation of scientist and naturalist Raymond Newcomb. Newcomb had made friends with the Yup'ik men and took an interest in learning about their traditions, particularly when he worked closely with them on a task. On page 46, the authors quote a short excerpt from his journal in which he describes hunting with Alexey (one of the Yup'ik men). He recounts a conversation in which Alexey shared some hunting advice from his father. The authors uncharacteristically interrupt the flow of narrative here to interject, "Though Newcomb was fascinated by Yup'ik rituals, he incorrectly identified Alexey and Aneguin as Indians." This incorrect commentary hurts both Yup'ik men by muddying the information about their heritage. It also minimizes the relationship between these two friends, and Newcomb comes off as someone too careless even to pay attention to details about his coworkers. Every subsequent quote from Newcomb using the word "Indians" was equally distracting. Because here's the problem: Newcomb was correct. The different peoples native to North America were called Indians as early as the fifteenth century, and the term is still used today in schools, in books, and in official documents. The U.S. Government officially recognizes Native American nations as American Indians. That is the correct legal term, even to this day. According to the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Government recognizes 574 entities who have official "status as Indian Tribes." The Yup'ik people are on the list. So in what way do these authors think that they don't count as Indians? The BIA seems like an obvious source to miss, and I was stunned to see that the authors DID list that website as one of their sources. Did they not read the list all the way to the bottom? The list is alphabetical, so they could just skip to the end, or at the very least, simply use ctrl+F. I can't really believe they'd miss this, but if there is some sort of nuanced distinction here regarding the word "Indian" or the mens' status within their tribe, the authors never addressed it. I can't imagine what it could be.
Again, there was much to commend about this book. The writing is superb and the topic intriguing. But the editing seems rushed and sloppy, and that's really too bad....more
An excellent resource. The writing itself was so clear that even complicated subject matter was clearly explained. Furthermore, the book does not assuAn excellent resource. The writing itself was so clear that even complicated subject matter was clearly explained. Furthermore, the book does not assume that the readers have any familiarity with this battle, or with the admirals involved, or with the basic history of sailing or the mechanics thereof. Consequently, everything relevant is explained. Despite this, the book never feels as though it condescends or oversimplifies, nor does it get so bogged down as to become boring.
As for the information itself, this book offers a clear account of the battle, context for its importance in the greater conflict between England and France, and background information on many of the officers involved. Maps chart the position of the different ships at particular times in the battle. Several illustrations add to the charm of the people (and ships). All in all, a remarkable account....more
This delightful collection of facts and photographs will entertain and educate in equal measure. While ships, landforms, and history are featured, mosThis delightful collection of facts and photographs will entertain and educate in equal measure. While ships, landforms, and history are featured, most of this book focus specifically on animals in the ocean. Each piece of trivia is short, often just a single sentence, so reading is quick, and even reluctant readers can find something of interest. There are no lengthy explanations. This is a good thing for this type of book, but there were a few entries for which I would have liked more information. For example, one spread features an ocean-themed bowling alley with fancy and complicated decorations, yet the book does not state the name of the alley or even the country in which it is found. Still, for the most part, this format works well. Full-color pictures enhance the experience....more
Charming, whimsical artwork, variety of languages and phrases, maps showing relationship between the different countries’ languages.
The bad:
FThe good:
Charming, whimsical artwork, variety of languages and phrases, maps showing relationship between the different countries’ languages.
The bad:
First of all, so many languages didn't make the cut. So many common languages. This book is advertised as featuring both common and lesser-known languages, and for highlighting more than just a country's official language when there are pocket communities who use another. So, for example, how is it Canada's and the USA's substantial population of Pennsylvania Dutch speakers don't seem to exist here? It's such a distinct dialect of Deutsch (Deitsch!), and it covers such a broad geographic range, and it isn't even mentioned. Also, too much information that did make the cut has been relegated to the app. No pronunciation is given (not even IPA, which is both succinct and precise), nor any explanation on the languages and their difference. I have listened, for example, to the news from Paris and from Quebec, and even though they’re both recorded in French, they have a distinctly different sound. The Democratic Republic of the Congo uses yet a different style of pronunciation. In addition, even the similarities are hard to spot. Languages that are related often have words that are cognate, but here, the related languages are often separated by others in between, making it hard to see their linguistic connection. There’s enough here to inspire kids, I guess, but I think the most I got out of it was being able to look at a map and see (some of the places) where these different languages are spoken. I don’t know how useful or practical any of it is.
The ugly:
I had such a wretched time with the app. I thought, when I got the book, that the book would be a complete thing unto itself. But that’s not the case here; this book is meant to be read alongside an app that will talk in all the languages. That sounded nice at first, since I’d much rather hear something than read a person try to describe how something should sound. However, it was a little alarming to me how absolutely central the app was to understanding the book. (I mean, doesn’t the book mean anything?) Anyway, I installed the app, and it doesn’t work. I can select a country or a language, and I can see the picture of a smiling child, but the app freezes up and won’t speak. I tried restarting, uninstalling, reinstalling—nothing. I told some relatives, and we tried it on three different devices, and it didn’t work anywhere. Worse, I couldn’t even delete it successfully; now, it randomly keeps trying to re-install itself, and it makes the whole device crash. I can’t make it go away. So, to sum up, the book is kind of worthless without the app, and the app is kind of worthless anyway. Cute pictures, and a nice idea, but far too inaccessible to be worthwhile....more
Engaging and bright, this collection of infographics presents information in a memorable way. These infographics, as the title suggests, all relate toEngaging and bright, this collection of infographics presents information in a memorable way. These infographics, as the title suggests, all relate to our world: from its position in space, to its environment and animals, and to its people and their cultures. It raises important issues while still giving children space to think things through; it prepares them to be conscientious global citizens without being heavy-handed in its approach. Well-thought-out, at times powerful and at times subtle, this book gives children a new way of understanding this world and their role in it.
One criticism: I think the information might have been a touch clearer in a few places. It might be confusing for kids. For example, the infographic on clean water access is deeply moving because it draws attention to a very real problem that far too many people face. The design for the image is bright and memorable. But the numbers are confusing. Mozambique says "47%." Is that 47% of its people lack access to clean water? Or is it only 47% that have it, and 53% lack? I could compromise and say that it's about half and half, but not all the countries shown are so evenly divided. Despite this confusing setup, the main point of the diagram—that a substantial number of people lack access to clean water—comes through loud and clear. There are a few places in this book where the charts lack clarity, but the book never lacks purpose....more
Well-laid out and highly informative, this book traces the history of our alphabet, one letter at a time. This is an incredibly complicated history, bWell-laid out and highly informative, this book traces the history of our alphabet, one letter at a time. This is an incredibly complicated history, but Don Robb has done the impossible and presented it in a clear, concise format. There is a map showing the geographical relationship between the different cultures who shaped the forms of each letter, and this helps clarify their interaction, and the way information traveled. Throughout the book are charts chronicling the various stages of each letter's evolution (from Sinaitic to Phoenician, Early Greek, Classical Greek, and finally Roman). These charts are consistent in style throughout the book. Moreover, the sections are supplemented with extra bits of information that help expand the reader's understanding of this history. Consequently, children are able to interact with this book however they want, whether it's just reading bits of trivia, or looking at various shapes in the charts, or reading this cover to cover. Fascinating stuff!...more
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to English runes. The author clearly describes what runes are, what they meant, who carved them, how scholaOverall, this is an excellent introduction to English runes. The author clearly describes what runes are, what they meant, who carved them, how scholars interpret them, etc. He lists the runes of various groups across different time periods and regions, and he matches each one to the letter used in transliterating. He tone is easy, and his writing is clear even for people who have not previously studied runes or Old English. His work is clearly divided into chapters by topic, so there is a chapter on cryptic runes, and a chapter on ecclesiastical rune-stones, and so on. His maps showing the locations of different findings, as well as the section of photographs, lend even more background to a well-organized volume. As the title suggests, he focuses specifically on English runes, but he also isn't afraid to describe other runic traditions when doing so will help paint a more complete picture. He gives plenty of context for his conclusions. So all of that is good.
In general, information is only as good as its source, and since so much runic interpretation depends on the biases of the scholar, it is necessary to examine that scholar in depth. R. I. Page evidently agrees with this, since he is self-aware enough at the beginning to state that he tends toward the skeptical side of runic interpretation. He does not claim to be always right, or even always completely objective, and he is very open about the difficulties of some interpretations, right from the beginning. This type of honesty comes as sort of a breath of fresh air, and it helps me at least to know where he's coming from in all this. Moreover, throughout the book, he'll make sure to mention differing opinions. He'll describe an inscription, mention that so-and-so scholar thinks XYZ, while such-and-such believes it means ABC, and that he thinks the first one is right. So that is also good.
However—could you tell a "however" was coming?—I am seriously wondering if he started to get tired while writing this. About halfway through, the tone changes a little bit, and his remarks get a little more snide. At one point, he references another professional's opinion of a word's meaning, adding that people who would believe her would tend to believe anything. At first, I thought it might be a form of sexism, that he was disparaging the scholarly efforts of his female peers, but he seems equally dismissive of some of the men in the field. He'll quote some opinions, say that they're completely wrong, and then never speak of them again. On the one hand, I understand that this is meant to be a general overview, and that he can't take the time to outline his reasoning on every point. On the other hand, it felt a little abrupt. He made one very troubling comment about religion that didn't belong in a history book. His opinions about all things runic come so strongly to the center that it's hard to get a sense of the whole picture. It's hard to understand what alternatives exist beyond simply agreeing with him in all things.
And just when I thought I'd had enough, he landed his final insult—on himself. For being so old-fashioned and out-of-date that it was up to his readers (the next generation of scholars) to do even greater things than he. So yes, he was a bit harsh and cold, but he was just as likely to turn that on himself as on others.
Does anyone escape from these judgments and insults? Yes. The readers. Page is insanely protective of those who read his books. Remember how I said that it was okay not to have a background in this? That if you were picking the book up cold, he'd still explain things okay? I stand by that. Furthermore, to people like myself who have dabbled in Old English, the runes seen here are very intimidating. Even transliterated, they don't make sense. Page is absolutely reassuring. He'll say things like "If this section seems confusing to students of Old English, it's because these runes are much older than the manuscripts, and they're in the Northumbrian dialect." That's a paraphrase, since I don't have the book in front of me at the moment, but you get the idea. He anticipated confusion, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed, and he put those all to rest. At times, reading this book felt like someone next to me, holding my hand and saying "Of course it looks tough, but it's not so difficult. Start here, and read this section, and you'll understand." And then he made a completely inappropriate comment about Christianity, and I was unsure, all over again, what to think about this enigmatic author....more
Well, this book swept into my life and completely disrupted it. This was one of those books that I kept constantly near to hand: whenever I could readWell, this book swept into my life and completely disrupted it. This was one of those books that I kept constantly near to hand: whenever I could read it, I would; whenever I couldn't read it, I was thinking about it. Then, as soon as I'd finished, I immediately had to read the sequel. Then I had to finish the series. Then, I caught my breath for a few hours before reading this book all over again. So if nothing else, the author deserves major appreciation for writing something so compelling and so interesting.
But of course there's something else! This book is vivid with its descriptions and its construct of magic. Its characters are just all kinds of wonderful; they're bright and entertaining in their own right, but the friendships between them are what really drive the book, especially the relationship between the two brothers. The plot is involved but never plodding, and there were enough twists and turns along the way to keep me turning pages to the end. Things do get rather dark and disturbing in places, and the villains are absolutely creepy, as villains should be. This is grittier, bloodier, and more violent than most of the fantasy books I've read, but the result is an unforgettable journey with some extraordinary characters.
Finally, a huge shout-out to Chris at the local public library for suggesting this book in the first place. I would never have read this or even heard of it if not for her. Reader’s Advisory is an art, and she is an artist, and THIS is why libraries are so important. (Well, one of many reasons, I’m sure.)...more
What I liked: • Some of the maps addressed things I’d wondered about, such as time zones and plug/socketThis was interesting but still somewhat flawed.
What I liked: • Some of the maps addressed things I’d wondered about, such as time zones and plug/socket shape. • Some of the maps addressed things I’d never thought to wonder about, such as cats vs. dogs. In this way, the book lives up to its title—it does indeed inspire curious minds. • Bright colors • Quirkiness. It has serious elements such as casualties from wars, but it also has some unabashedly bizarre entries, such as the one titled “Chile is a ridiculously long country.” • A sense of fun. There is a lot more that I could say here, but I don’t want to take away from the pleasure of discovering it for yourself.
What I didn’t like: • Data was unclear. It’s definitely more for entertainment than for information. One of the maps, for example, shows different statistics, each in a shade of pink. Okay, it’s a very pretty map, but I have no idea which of the 6 or so almost-identical shades I’m looking at for any given country. Cute, but not helpful. There were several like this, where the data was illegible. • Data was incomplete. Sometimes the maps just raised more questions about the research. One map, for example, compares homicide statistics among certain countries (randomly? I assume?). The data goes by number of deaths, but it doesn’t show the number as a percentage of the total population, so naturally, the more populous countries tend to have more deaths by any cause, because they have more people in the first place. This doesn’t help me understand anything about the countries’ safety or violence levels. Another map, comparing the U.S. and Europe, shows murder stats as percentages, which would have been more meaningful if two-thirds of it weren’t shades of blue. As before, I couldn’t tell them apart. • Data was misleading. For example, one of the maps showed only four countries that don’t use the metric system. The U.S. was one of them. Only, here’s the thing: I live in the U.S., and this country uses the metric system in official capacities all the time. It’s taught in public schools, even to the youngest grades, and it’s the standard for any American working in science, medicine, or the military. Even our currency is based on the metric system, which I don’t think the case in every nation. So I’m not clear whether the author’s information is wrong, or whether he meant that all the other countries on their map no longer use any non-metric system. And it’s one thing to use the metric system—which we absolutely do—it’s another thing to abandon a different system altogether. If there aren’t any remnants left of other measuring systems in the whole world except for 4 nations, well, that’s really very sad. • Data might not have been neutral. Okay, I get it. The author is making a point; he’s entitled to that, since it’s his book. But some of these maps seem to raise loaded questions. I’m going to use the previous example of the metric system map. Seeing all the world drawn in one color (metric system) except for only four countries gives the impression that most of the world has agreed on something, and there are few stubborn holdouts. (I assume that was intentional?) It might be completely innocent, and yet it feels rather pointed, especially give the vague parameters by which he singled out these four nations. I have read enough British literature to know that Europeans have, on occasion, made fun of Americans. So maybe I’m reading too much into this, but it definitely felt like it was meant in that same vein. So what is the result of this? The U.S., which uses another system simultaneously with metric, is sort of mathematically bi-lingual, and like any bilingualist, we are heir to different traditions and heritages. We use a system that’s mostly standard worldwide, but which is also a relatively recent, inorganically manufactured newcomer to the world scene. We also use a different system which stems from an older form of measurements previously used in Great Britain. And Britain didn’t invent it; it was fashioned naturally by different practices from different cultures dating back to ancient times, not just for the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, but also the Romans, and presumably, the other countries for whom Rome was a center for trade and commerce. All roads lead to Rome (that’s another one of their maps)! The foot was just one ancient measurement that corresponded roughly to body parts, and it, along with the palm and cubit, was used by many ancient peoples. Some body-based measurements, common in Roman (the root of the U.S. system) had connections to similar methods in Egypt, Greece, Assyria, Persia, Babylon, the Akkadian Empire, and Sumeria, among others. They were used by ancient Jews, and later, by Christians and Muslims as well as by followers of ancient polytheistic faiths. It was a common ground of sorts among people who spoke different languages and wore different clothes and had different skin tones. It was multi-religious, mult-racial, multi-cultural. It was multi-everything. It was a shared world history. And now it’s just a joke on a map.
This book was interesting and colorful and thought-provoking, but it never lets the reader delve deeper into a topic. It has enough information to be entertaining, but not enough to be useful. It was based on a website, but it just feels like a series of highlights from the site—not anything that can expand on it. It doesn’t make full use of the book form, since it just feels like a collection of info graphics, and it severely underestimates its readers’ attention spans. I give it four stars for being interesting and encouraging people to ask questions....more
I picked this up without knowing anything about it, and I enjoyed it immensely. It seems like this children’s book is an adaptation of a longer book fI picked this up without knowing anything about it, and I enjoyed it immensely. It seems like this children’s book is an adaptation of a longer book for grown-ups. I’m curious what that one is like, and how its approach differs.
This book shows bird’s-eye-views of both natural and man-made phenomena. Some of these giant spreads also feature more normal views of the same thing, just to help kids understand what they see. Pictures showing the effects of climate change and deforestation are a powerful and yet tactful way to show children humankind’s ability to change the planet. Before and after pictures show stark contrasts, and a before/during picture of a volcanic eruption shows the red lava flowing into the sea (and the cloud of steam rising from the water). These pictures are fascinating and unexpected. Bridges over the ocean, lakes with odd colors, a graveyard of discarded airplanes, clouds (seen from above) casting shadows onto the ocean—this book delivers exactly what it promises in the title: here is “a new way of seeing Earth.”...more
This well-researched book provides a great deal of historical background for the events of the first Christmas as described in the Gospel accounts. AlThis well-researched book provides a great deal of historical background for the events of the first Christmas as described in the Gospel accounts. Although it is a relatively short book that doesn’t have much depth, it nevertheless covers a very broad range of topics connected to the Christmas story. It pieces together likely possibilities from a variety of sources, which it cites clearly. Maier writes in an engaging style, and maps, charts, and full-color photographs make for a charming reading experience....more
How shall I describe this slender volume? Lovely, charming, wholesome. It’s a very sweet and at times humorous collection of tales for children, and eHow shall I describe this slender volume? Lovely, charming, wholesome. It’s a very sweet and at times humorous collection of tales for children, and each chapter focuses on a different family in Sandy Cove. I don’t really know how to describe the overall feel, except to say that it has, perhaps, a kind of Anne-of-Green-Gables vibe. It is quite a bit shorter than Anne, and it’s meant, I think, for a much younger audience. There is a sense of peace throughout; readers can expect things to work out all right in the end, so the story never gets too tense or too sad. I have long appreciated stories that have a strong regional flavor, and this book draws extensively on the distinctive setting in telling its stories. All the stories take place in a little town right between the Bay of Fundy and the Cove which leads to St. Mary’s Bay, so the characters live with the sea on either side. I also enjoy stories about the sea, so what with that and the fact that the first two stories were largely about cats, you can probably imagine how much delight I found in these pages. This book made for a pleasant afternoon....more
Most of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expectinMost of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expecting to read about weren’t included at all, although I think they are probably featured in other books of this same series. It’s divided into sections by type of mystery (e.g. disappearance), and each section is chronological, which was wonderful. There are illustrations—portraits, photos of interest, and other pictures of the people involved. There is also plenty of background information, with pictures of vehicles and terrain, and maps, too, to help set the scene. This book also makes clear what is known and what is conjecture. It explores a few different theories for the different people involved, and it tells what evidence has led to those suppositions. In the hands of a lesser author, this fascinating and slightly morbid subject matter might be used only for its shock value; here, however, the book’s emphasis is exactly where it belongs: on the historical record, and the analysis of facts....more
Fantastic book! Author Fredrick Stonehouse really did his research for this one. He sets up the book with one of the most useful introductions I’ve evFantastic book! Author Fredrick Stonehouse really did his research for this one. He sets up the book with one of the most useful introductions I’ve ever read, in which he lays out the responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper and describes daily life for the “wickies.” Each chapter that follows tells a different story about a particular event at a particular location. The Great Lakes are vast and dangerous, but they often seem overlooked in books and stories. Stonehouse remedies that here by focusing exclusively on Great Lakes lighthouses. These intrepid keepers faced a very different set of challenges than their colleagues on the open sea, and I found it fascinating to read about their experiences. Stonehouse takes his readers on a journey from the early towers of the 1700s to the modern days of automation. There is variety here, too. One chapter tells of the lighthouse that inspired a famous hymn, while another tells of a brave rescue during a storm. One tells of a rescue that came too late for some. And there are many, many tales in this small volume. The most fanciful chapter by far—a delightful yarn that is still grounded in solid research—describes a tragedy from the lighthouse’s point of view. This book is both true in content and informal in tone. It’s both celebration and elegy. Most of all, it’s history. It’s local history for many, and especially for Stonehouse, whose pride for the Great Lakes region and its unique happenings shines through on every page....more
Stacy Horn did a tremendous amount of research for this. Her book tells of Blackwell’s Island and the different people who lived and Wow, what a book!
Stacy Horn did a tremendous amount of research for this. Her book tells of Blackwell’s Island and the different people who lived and worked there. She devotes different sections of her book to the different institutions on the island: the madhouse, the almshouse, the workhouse, the penitentiary, and the charity hospital. This is an incredibly broad scope, but she handles it well, telling her story—or perhaps many stories—with clarity and order. She chose to focus her history on the island’s missionary, Reverend French, who accessed each of the institutions on the island and witnessed many of its sorrows. He is the common thread in all of this book’s sections, and as readers, we experience Blackwell’s Island through his eyes. Like him, we are appalled by the violence, neglect, and danger that throve on the island. He worked hard to improve conditions and was met with resistance at almost every turn. He risked his life to minister to the people when the island was quarantined because of illness, he called attention to bad management and lack of funds, and he was behind many of the improvements on the island. He was truly a hero, and I’m grateful to Stacy Horn for sharing his story. Plus, he was responsible for acquiring books and making a library, so it’s obvious he was a great guy!
This was not an easy book to read. Despite many people’s best intentions, a whole lot of bad things happened. There are parts that are horrifying, and I am still saddened to think that these incidents were real. Illness, murder, madness, neglect, infant mortality, child abuse, wrongful convictions, unsanitary conditions, lice, poor ventilation, prejudice, greed—the list goes on and on. The death rates were staggering, and the description of medical “experiments” on a little dog just about broke my heart. Some issues are still relevant today; this book depicts a financial tug-of-war between people who wanted to care for the poor and people who wanted to cut their funding. This book also shows the journey toward something better, as the nurses’ training became more structured and the island’s standards began to improve. This book also touches on the services that prevent (or stop) child abuse. Horn describes the landmark case that changed the way the courts saw child abuse; here, you can read about the little girl who was represented by the ASPCA, because there wasn’t yet a society for the prevention of cruelty to children. Some of the rights we take for granted now had their origin in the reforms described here. Fascinating history, and very poignant.
What I liked: maps, photos of the different buildings, one book section for each island institution, tremendous level of detail, specific information on many individuals, tracking of changes and reform throughout the decades, and clear descriptions that tied up loose ends whenever possible. There were really only two things I didn’t like. First, although the book describes many different people—not just Rev. French, but also reporters, polititians, activists, and, of course, patients and inmates—there were very few pictures. There were more photos on the author’s website. I would have liked to know, while I was still reading, what some of these people looked like, or what the buildings looked liked, or even the island. Since these images exist, I don’t know why they weren’t used. Finally, the chronology was a little difficult to follow. She divides her book into sections for the different institutions, which is great, but it means that she constantly jumping around between different years, even different decades. It’s difficult to know when certain things happened, not just by year, but even in relation to other events elsewhere on the island. Still, a remarkable book that illuminates some very disturbing history. Anyone might learn from this, but it might be of special interest to people who want to learn about the history of New York, of mental illness and its treatments, of criminal justice, of social justice, or of nursing. This was gritty, memorable, and deeply disturbing....more
I liked this book very much. It’s optimistic and upbeat, and it’s got really interesting characters. They feel real, and their chemistry is believableI liked this book very much. It’s optimistic and upbeat, and it’s got really interesting characters. They feel real, and their chemistry is believable, and they have distinct personalities. They’re charming, for want of a better word. I liked the audio version, but then I found out that the printed book had pictures and diagrams, and that really gave it a unique flavor, too. This book was a delightful surprise in many respects....more
This pocketbook has been meticulously researched and is very well-crafted. Although it is a modern book, it is written in the style of a guidebook forThis pocketbook has been meticulously researched and is very well-crafted. Although it is a modern book, it is written in the style of a guidebook for Titanic passengers, so the tone imitates other writings from that era. The guidebook even includes some primary sources from that time, and it’s difficult to tell where the “real” material ends and the modern sections begin. Blake really nailed the writing to get such a seamless blend. This guidebook is somewhat fictional insofar as it reads as one big primary source, even though it was (mostly) only written recently. However, its content is nonfiction, and this has to be one of the most detailed accounts I’ve read of the construction of Titanic.
I really liked the level of detail, and the illustrations, charts, diagrams, etc. added a great deal to the experience of reading. I struggled through all the technical information about the ship; those sections used technical jargon without defining any of the terms. I appreciate that someone with more knowledge of ships might enjoy those passages—and I love that they weren’t oversimplified—but they also weren’t something that I could understand. It’s that same attention to deal that made other parts of the book so appealing. I read the menus from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class dining saloons; I learned about the history of the White Star Line and its rise in the mid-nineteenth century. I looked at maps showing the layout of all ten decks of the ship. I read the rules for flying different flags. I read the prices for sending telegrams, as well as the hours that either gender could use the swimming pool. It’s full of details about all sorts of things. My only criticism is that it should have been clearer where the primary sources ended. There is a list in the back of the book, but since it doens’t include page numbers, it’s hard to know what sections are included under a particular name. All in all, an unforgettable read....more
This history of books and art offers a fascinating look at the past. Books changed, as did the way in which the world perceived readers. Were books a This history of books and art offers a fascinating look at the past. Books changed, as did the way in which the world perceived readers. Were books a blessing or a threat? Were women readers dangerous or easily led astray—or were they virtuous and educated? As books became more accessible, customs and expectations changed. Reading this, I learned about the history of the book and about common reactions to literacy, but I didn’t feel that I learned very much about art. This book makes references to some works being genius and others mediocre, but it doesn’t go into much detail about why these assessments were made, or even when. (Was the work unappreciated in its time but valued now? Or was it popular then but dismissed later on?) There is very little context for some of the art analyses.
I was also puzzled by some of the historical comments. I think that this book has faced the formidable task of covering a VERY broad history, and for the most part it does it well, but there are some places where the information is a bit muddled. These authors are fond of making extreme statements that are also vague, and which are not supported by any cited source material. For example, books played a huge part in the Reformation, and these authors wrote, “Luther himself approved . . . only of [books] connected to Scripture” (p. 92). They don’t give any context for this, and since they don’t refer the reader to any other work, it’s tough to know just what they’re talking about. Martin Luther lived in a time of censorship and widespread Christianity; when the printers of the day refused to print the Qur’an, Luther fought them on it. Although he was Christian, he believed that people had the right to access books like the Qur’an, and that the printers had an obligation to make those works available. (The Qur’an was printed, because of him, and that particular translation was even printed with a preface by Luther.) So I honestly have no idea what these authors are talking about, since their extreme statement seems to run contrary to the history I’ve studied, and since they aren’t mentioning any other facts, histories, or anecdotes that might support their claim.
The authors also claim, “In the 18th century, reading for pleasure was first discovered by the social elite” (161). Again, I need a little more to go on here, especially from a book that addresses the history of books. I know that the rise of the novel hadn’t yet happened, but I can’t imagine that no one read for pleasure before this. Educational books, particularly for children, were often pleasurable as well, and that doesn’t even take into account the sheer volume of poetry that had been written, much of which recounted dramatic stories. What do they mean? I don’t know. After casually lobbing that bombshell, the authors change the subject and never bring it up again.
This is a very nice book, and it covers a lot of ground. The paintings are reproduced clearly, and each image has a caption, which helps a lot. The entire work is also a celebration of books, and that can be powerful and uplifting. But I would advise people to look carefully at which statements cite sources and which ones don’t. As long as you can take the text with a grain of salt and focus on the artwork, you might enjoy these visual depictions of several centuries’ worth of reading....more
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