My Rise and Fall by: Benito Mussolini

This is one of those books that just kept me astounded! I know that the standard mentality of a person that rises up to become a dictator has to be somewhat of an egomaniac. But this story was amazingly so. To read this book one would believe that Mussolini single handedly managed to get Italy into World War I, and then managed to pull them back from the brink of complete destruction following the war.

There were several passages that read more like the old wives tale of what life was like in your parent's day -- "I would walk 12 miles to school, uphill both ways, always in the snow, with no shoes, and there was nothing to eat, and I was always grateful for what I had." Mussolini actually has a passage that sounds like a slightly adjusted version of this tale, when he describes his surgeries following his wounding, during World War I. He had some 27 surgeries, and all of them were accomplished without anesthesia, except for two -- and there was never a word of complaint from him.

I did find interesting his insights on his successful use of the press to bring about his goals, in taking over power. When he couldn't get the current press of the day to print his points of view, and established his own printing company that printed its own paper. This he successfully used through out his life to sway the thinking of the people, and shape what they believed, and accepted.

This is an interesting look into the mind of a narcissistic personality, with an exceptionally pronounced God Complex. But it does provide for some interesting reading -- if you can get past Mussolini's over sized ego, long enough to actually understand what he was talking about specifically. But if you are looking for unbiased history -- this is certainly not the source to consider using.

Thunderstruck by: Erik Larsen

This has been an interesting book to read. While at some points I got frustrated with the author's "digression" as he puts it. And the constant focus on the minutia of the details were tiresome, the overall story itself was very interesting. Told as two stories rolled into one, it is the story of Marconi, the man that invented the wireless telegraph, for ships at sea; it also tells the story of a doctor, his wife, and the murder that made headlines -- as well as the career of Mr. Marconi.

At the turn of the century, late 1800's, early 1900's Marconi developed the first wireless telegraph, which was designed to make it possible for ships at sea, to remain in touch with both the main land, and other ships. While he never faltered in his belief that his invention would change the world -- it wasn't until two major events that changed the world, and set forever Mr. Marconi's name in history.

The first event was the murder of Mrs. Hawley Crippen, by her husband, Dr. Hawley Crippen. The murder would ultimately lead to his execution -- but his capture was accomplished by the successful invention of wireless telegraphs from the ship, which he sailed from England on, in an attempt to flee the law, and return home to the United States, following the murder. Dr. Crippen was a tragic figure of history that was doomed to be overshadowed and forgotten due to his passive, and even timid personality. The murder of his wife came as the most unexplained of events, due to the passive nature that Dr. Crippen always demonstrated to the outside world. Even in the end, following his capture, he was still doomed to be relegated to a back seat in history, and Marconi's invention made even greater headlines, with the sinking of the Titanic -- and the many lives that his invention saved, since the Titanic was able to call for help, prior to her sinking.

The individuals in this book are fascinating, in not only their interaction with history, but there impact on the course of history. This has been a fun book to read, especially since it is outside the realm of what I would usually read. I would recommend the story to anyone that is a lover of history, but be prepared for intricate detail woven into the background of a truly compelling historical events.

The Hidden Life of Otto Frank by: Carol Ann Lee

When I was in Junior High School, I was given an assignment to complete an oral book report. While the assignment was nothing unusual for any English class, the book I read at the time had a dramatic impact on my life -- and fueled my life long fascination with learning about the Holocaust. The book -- Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. The irony of this is that -- at the time, it was a class assignment -- and I didn't exactly get the entire thing read. It took me a couple more years -- and a failed assignment because I didn't actually finish reading the book for class, before I got around to finishing it. My responses to the book were complex, and hard to explain. I was captivated of course -- and wanted to learn more about how the ultimate source of evil could come so close to accomplishing Genocide. But there were other questions as well. How did the Frank family survive for so long without discovery, and then how did they end up being discovered. I came away from the book deeply moved -- but also questioning. That questioning has continued throughout my life. How did some survive the unspeakable horrors of this nightmare? How could so many others have died without the world crying out in outrage, and disgust for the cruel, and careless disregard for life? How could some demonstrate so much brutality on a daily basis, and then go home as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred? And how could so many others have demonstrated heroism beyond the means of the normal individual? All these questions, and many more surfaced with my first introduction to the Holocaust, through the diary of a girl between the ages of 14, and 16. In my most recent reading, The Hidden Life of Otto Frank, I have come to a more profound understanding of not only this amazing young woman, who came to early adulthood while living isolated from a world of insanity; but I have come to appreciate the remarkable family, and the amazing people that were willing to risk everything to try to keep them safe. This book offers a great deal of historical perspective, from an individual point of view. Otto Frank, a man who lost everything, but found his salvation, and survival through giving to, and educating others provides an interesting insight into the life, and times of his family. The author of this book, Carol Ann Lee, has presented her conclusions, based on extensive documentation, and a profound respect for all the individuals involved, while still remaining faithful to the facts as she has been able to uncover them. This is a book that I cannot give a high enough recommendation to. It is deeply moving, and very timely, for a world that is quickly losing the generation that is able to remember a part of history that should never be forgotten.

Children of the Flames by: Lucette Matalon Lagnado

OK, those of you who know me well, know that I have always been a student of the Holocaust. Many consider it a morbid fascination, however, I have always considered it an important topic of study for many reasons. This book is a classic case in point, as justification for that belief. This book, though short, had many lessons to teach, and presents a story that should never be forgotten. It explores the story of the "twins of Auschwitz," and the tragic epic that became their lives. And yet this book is not a story of tragedy, so much as a story of survival, not only during a traumatic experience, but beyond the experience as well.
This book is presented in an interesting format, told in first person accounts, it is constantly shifting from one person to the next, through each section, to provide a broad perspective of the experience as a whole. In addition, woven throughout, are the experiences, as perceived through the eyes of Dr. Mengle -- the "Angel of Death" in the concentration camp. This is an unusual approach to a story, to have the perpetrator of a crime, and the victim of the crime, tell the story together. And yet it makes for a powerful study in what really happened.
Presented in this fashion, it portrays the strength of the victim's, next to the shallow characteristics, and self-centered desires of Dr. Mengle. And it portrayed, in a very powerful manor, what is truly important in a life -- and what value a life really has. One of the greatest tributes, I have ever read, to the victims, and the survivors alike, of the Holocaust; this book shows what great strength of character the Nazi victims really carried, and how petty, and insignificant their captors really were. This is a book I would highly recommend. A must read, that deals with a very significant subject in history.

Man's Search For Meaning by: Viktor E. Frankl

This was a very powerful book to read. Mr. Frankl presents in this book, the concept of man's ability to survive even the most traumatic experiences, through his own responses to those events. Based on the theory of "logotherapy," Mr. Frankl has presented his belief that man must have something to live for. That something, or someone may be different for every individual, but there must be something that they choose to live for, beyond themselves.
His field of study was conducted in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was a prisoner for several years. And yet this book is not the usual depressing presentation of a condemned people. Mr. Frankl presents the argument that even in the worst of times, if man keeps seeking for meaning, and choosing how he will respond to any given event -- then he will always be the master of himself -- and through that mastery find meaning within his own life, and existence. This is a short book that has a lot to think about, and reflect upon. A profoundly simple, but powerful source of strength, I found this book to be both moving, and very insightful.

The Somnambulist by: Jonathan Barnes

Book four, of my 50 book challenge; and book one of my What's In a Name book challenge, is complete. This book was a surprise read for me in many ways -- it just wasn't what I was expecting -- but in a very good way! The book was one that I picked up on a whim, while I was looking for a new book to read. The language is surprisingly clean, for the most part -- and the story is very well written.
Written as a mystery -- the narrator is an interesting voice that adds an unusual appeal to the story throughout. Told as a mystery in late 19th, early 20th century England -- it explores some interesting ideas that carry significant perspectives on our world today. Cult mentality, mysticism, prejudice, and the power of the group on the world around it. The story is about a man that is a dark version of Sherlock Holmes, with an unusual sidekick -- known only as the somnambulist. Asked by a friend, a detective with the Scotland Yard, to investigate a seemingly random murder -- the trail leads to unexpected locations -- and investigation of unusual groups.
Guided by a psychic -- commonly held to be a hoax, an Albino who works for a tenuous secret government agency, and his ever faithful, mute companion -- commonly held to be a freak of nature -- the story is filled with an unusual cast of characters that add a strange combination of depth -- as well as the bizarre. This strange combination of people are striving to prevent the complete destruction of London as they know it. Aided by a man with a mysterious past -- who appears to move through time, and offer strange foretelling of both the past, and the future -- Edward Moon is confronted with the most unusual people in a web of deceit, and plotted destruction of society, in an attempt to set up the newest form of a utopia.
I would highly recommend this book for most readers. It is a fun, and unexpected read that kept me entertained beginning to end.

The Lightning Thief by: Rick Riordan

I have completed book three of my 50 book challenge, for 2009. The Lightning Thief was actually a fun read. It provided an interesting combination of modern day civilization, with Greek Mythology, to create a pretty successful story. The story of a young demi-god -- the illegal son of Poseidon -- is called on to undertake a quest to find and return the stolen symbol of power, Zeus' lightning bolt, in order to prevent the eruption of World War III. This is a lighter book for reading, but great for kids, and young readers. It was fun, and interesting, and a tale well envisioned, and told. This book is an interesting reinvention of the old Greek mythology tales -- that brings them to life, right in the heart of modern day America. The two societies clash in apocalyptic proportions, and the author accounts for the rise of modern day western culture out of the beginnings of the Greek world of ancient times.