The Lady in Gold

The Lady in Gold
by Anne Marie O'Connor [759.36 Kli]

Klimt's painting was originally titled "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer," but when the Nazis acquired it, (i.e. stole it) they changed the name to the "Lady in Gold," since Adele was Jewish. Many years after World War II, Adele's heirs filed suit to obtain the portrait. The book touches on both art and history and on the emotions that both can evoke. -- recommended by Rianne S. - Walt Branch Library

[ Publisher's official Lady in Gold web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk: A True Story of the Trek to Freedom
by Slavomir Rawicz [940.547 Raw]

Slavomir Rawicz is in the Polish Calvary in 1939 in his early twenties as Europe is becoming a hot zone, mobilizing towards WWII. Rawicz fights in a few skirmishes, but early on before the war begins, he is arrested by the Russian secret police. His personal narrative in The Long Walk describes his horrific experiences as a prisoner in Russian prison and a Siberian work camp. Leading up to his escape, Rawicz recounts the brutality of his life as an inmate. The meat of his story lies in a 4,000 mile walking escape from the Siberian work camp. Rawicz and a small group of man trek through the Siberian Arctic, Gobi Desert and over the Himalayan Mountains with little more than the clothes on their backs. It is an epic journey of man against nature. The group of escapees experiences every physical hardship one could. Rawicz writes so concisely and eloquently that you are propelled through their journey as physically and emotionally as possible as a reader. One of the most touching aspects of the story is in the relationship between the escapees. The group of men can only survive through the complete trust of one another and their ability to share resources and ideas. Their story is an account of the depth of team work, human suffering, endurance and the conquering of mind over body. The truth of the story has been disputed although it is considered nonfiction. Read it anyway, for a thrilling story and do some research later to decide whether or not you believe. The Long Walk is an enthralling quick read for historical/personal narrative fans, veterans, adventurists, or inspirational reading for someone recovering from an illness or accident. P.S.: Read the book first! The Long Walk has recently been adapted into the film The Way Back, but don't miss out on Rawicz's writing. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder, Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran by Roxana Saberi.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia entry for Slavomir Rawicz ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Nebraska's Fatal Air Crashes of WWII

Nebraska's Fatal Air Crashes of WWII
by Jerry Penry [940.544 qPen]

This book gives accounts of the hundreds of airplane crashes involving military aricraft in Nebraska during World War II. Many of these crashes were not reported by the media because they were part of training exercises and needed to be kept secret. History has overlooked the sacrifices made by these men and women. This book is dedicated to all of them. The amount of research that went into this book is incredible. I was most impressed with the photographs, the eyewitness accounts, and the detailed maps of the crash sites. This book would appeal to anyone with an interest in aviation history or World War II. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Nebraska Voices of World war II: Nebraska Veterans in the Great War by Ted Larson, Wings Over Nebraska: Historic Aviation Photographs by Vincent Goeres, or the extensive Air Force Base Lincoln microfilm collection of clippings related to Lincoln's historic airbase.] -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ Jerry Penry's official Nebraska Air Crashes web site ]

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Customer Review - Civilisation [on DVD]

Civilisation
by Kenneth Clark [DVD 909 Cla]

I really appreciate that the libraries still have this documentary production -- I remember seeing it in school classes when I was growing up, and then viewing it back when there was an AV department at the downtown library (I think it might have been on 3/4" videotapes!!). This is an incredible, and beautiful, examination of the history and development of Western European culture in the areas of the arts and architecture (and, to a certain degree, philosophy). The production is lavish, and provides an excellent introduction to cultural history for those not familiar with it (or those wanting a refresher course). One of the BBC's first color documentaries, this has help up well over time! [Note: In 2011 the BBC remastered this entire series and aired it for the first time in the UK in High Def. -- reviewed by Jeff M. - a regular customer at the Bennett Martin Public Library

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Operation Mincemeat (on compact disc)

Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory
by Ben Macintyre [Compact Disc 940.548 Mac]

How does one fool German intelligence? This was the question that British intelligence officers mulled. Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu and Squadron Leader Charles Cholmondeley dreamed up the idea of allowing the Germans to find the body of a courier carrying false invasion plans. This is the story of how this pair found a body that had appeared to have drowned and created an identity for him. The identity that the Germans would see could only come from the clothes he wore, the items in his pockets and the letters in his possession. They chose the body of Glyndwr Michael, the son of a poor Welsh coal miner to play the role of William Martin, a major in the British Marines. Montagu and Cholmondeley gave a lot of thought to the personal letters in his possession. With the letters they painted a picture of Martin as the impulsive son of a well-to-do family. Martin was not careful with his money as evidenced by a letter from his banker telling him that he had overdrawn his bank account. A scolding letter from his father, John, saying that he will cover the overdraft but that William must be more responsible in the future. And loving letters from his fiancé, Pam, a woman that he knew only a short time before he proposed. Much discussion went into the creation of the documents locked in Martin's briefcase. The Germans had to believe that Sardinia, not Sicily, would be the target of the allied invasion. And how would the Germans find the body? Montagu and Cholmondeley decided that Martin would be released from a submarine just off the coast of Spain since Spain was a German ally. The Spaniards would turn the documents over to the Germans and both groups were to believe that Martin was carrying these secret plans when his plane crashed in the sea and he drowned with the briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. (The British had spies in Spain to make sure that the fake plans fell into German hands.) Ben Macintyre wrote this fascinating account based on papers that Ewen Montagu left after his death. Montagu's family saved all these documents in a wooden chest. When Macintyre opened the box he found official records, memos, letters, photographs and a 200-page memoir that Montagu wrote, all pertaining to Operation Mincemeat. Macintyre is not the first author to write about Operation Mincemeat. Montagu published his own novel based on this scheme in 1953. It was titled The Man Who Never Was and an instant best seller. This book was made into a popular movie in 1956 starring Clifton Webb. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[Also available in Print and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ Wikipedia page for Operation Mincemeat ] | [ Publisher's official Ben Macintyre web page ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Apollo 11's Moon Landing

Apollo 11's Moon Landing
[Microfilm 629.454 Apo]

This microfilm reel is one of the library system's most unusual research resources, especially for space exploration buffs. Though there have been many books about humankind's first physical visit to the Moon's surface, written in the over-forty years since that mission took place, none have quite the same sense of immediacy as reading the articles that are included in this microfilm collection. This reel includes over 1000 pages of articles from 16 different newspapers (including The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post, The Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, and The Washington Post), and over 13 magazines (including Life, Look, National Geographic, Newsweek, Sky & Telescope, Time and U.S. News and World Report), all covering the build-up to the launch of Apollo 11, and the subsequent success of that mission that placed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in the moon's surface. Though the technology of microfilm may seem a bit antiquated in today's world of digitization, the images on this film capture the world-wide fascination with the Apollo program in a way that a book or a website just can't seem to manage. If you are a space buff, I highly encourage you to stop at Bennett Martin Public Library and explore this excellent research archive! (B&W printouts can be made of articles for 10¢ per page)

[ Apollo 11 page on the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum site ] | [ Interactive Online Recreation of Apollo 11 mission ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Wings Over Nebraska

Wings Over Nebraska: Historic Aviation Photographs
by Vince Goeres [629.13 qGoe]

Incredibly appealing work on the history of aviation in the state of Nebraska, by a long-time volunteer and researcher at the Nebraska State Historical Society. Goeres collects hundreds of black and white, and sepia-toned photographs that illustrated the birth and growth of the fledgling aviation industry across the entire state, with particular emphasis on Lincoln and Omaha. Many of the photos in this book are incredibly rare historical artifacts, and the information Goeres has unearthed to accompany them provide invaluable insight into Nebraska history. Of particular interest were the chapters on Charles Lindbergh's experiences in Nebraska, the history of women in early Nebraska aviation, the history of the Lincoln Airplane and Flying School (whose building still stands along "O" St.) and a chronicle of Nebraska air crashes. This is a marvelous book, and should appeal to anyone interested in either aviation history or unique elements of Nebraska history! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Early Aviation in Lincoln: When and Where Lindbergh Learned to Fly - a Preservation Association of Lincoln recording presented by Vince Goeres (only available on VHS).] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Nebraska State Historical Society page for this book ] | [ Nov 2010 video presentation about this book (56 minutes on YouTube) ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Author Vince Goeres is doing a number of local publicity events to promote this new book, including TONIGHT (Wed March 9 2011) at the UNL Bookstore!!

The War to End All Wars: World War I

The War to End All Wars: World War I
by Russell Freedman [j 940.3 Fre]

When this book was recently returned, the production value of it really caught my eye and I couldn't help but start browsing it. Aimed at young history researchers, this is a marvelous history of the first World War, filled with numerous photographs, clean and simple maps, and very simple text that tells the details about that era in world history. From explanations of the political, religious and ethnic conflicts that led to the start of the war, through the numerous bloody combat campaigns, to the historic Treaty of Versaille that brought the war to a close, this volume brings history to life. Includes a short chapter about the aftermath of the war, and the circumstances that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler into power in Germany in the 1930s. Excellent reference work, for both teens and adults! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Profiles of Nationally Distinguished Nebraskans

Profiles of Nationally Distinguished Nebraskans
by Elmer A. Kral and Jean Sanders [920.078 Kra] [Gage County Historical Society]

This book provides short biographies of Nebraskans who have distinguished themselves in many fields, including the arts, business, education, public affairs, science and sports, to name a few. All areas of the state are covered with biographies of nationally-known representatives, as described in the Foreword -"from western Nebraska with Frank Cyr, father of the yellow school bus, to central Nebraska with Jay Forrester, co-pioneer of the modern computer, and the eastern area with Hollywood film star Robert Taylor." I was impressed with the fact that many people were included that I had never heard of, such as Charlotte Buettenback Johnson, co-designer of the first Barbie doll, and Charles Purcell, chief engineer of the SanFrancisco-Oakland bay Bridge. There are also biographies of more well-known Nebraskans such as Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, and Charles E. Taylor, the mechanic who built the engines for the Wright brother's airplanes. This book does not attempt to provide information about every famous Nebraskan, but it does help fill in the gaps by providing sketches of Nebraskans who are not as well represented in past publications. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in famous Nebraskans or in historical research. -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Gage County Museum web site ]
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Wisconsin Death Trip

Wisconsin Death Trip
by Michael Lesy [917.75 obLes]

The 1800s out west is often stereotypically portrayed as a wholesome place where American dreams came true, communities thrived and conservative values were upheald. But was that actually the case? Historian Michael Lesy compiled this bizarre look into the life of the people of the West in the late 1800s using newspaper clippings and old photographs. Truth be told, there was a macabre side to the time including poverty, mental illness, violence, and suicide to name a few. This gritty look at Black River Falls, WI is an alternative and very real dark historical view of the past. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Diane Arbus, magazine work by Diane Arbus; The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers who Inspired Chicago by Douglas Perry.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Wisconsin Death Trip web site (for both book and film) ] | [ official Michael Lesy bio page from Hampshire College ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

And the winner is...

The title selected for the 2010 One Book - One Lincoln -- by popular public vote -- is Joe Starita's I Am a Man!

To see resources related to the topics and themes of I Am a Man, along with lists of discussion groups and special event programming for this year, visit our 2010 One Book - One Lincoln page.

You can also sign up to be notified by e-mail about all new developments regarding One Book -- One Lincoln. You can become a fan of One Book - One Lincoln on Facebook by "liking" the One Book Facebook group. We also encourage you to stop by the One Book -- One Lincoln Blog, where you can leave comments about the book selections and the entire One Book process in response to posted discussion topics.

Northern Light: Nordic Art at the Turn of the Century

Northern Light: Nordic Art at the Turn of the Century
by Kirk Varnedoe [709.48 qVar]

This book introduces the reader to many Scandinavian artists, most of whom the reader will not recognize. Probably the most well known artist in the book is Edvard Munch. (His most famous painting is undoubtedly "The Scream.") Sweden's Carl Larsson also appears. The book includes reproductions in color of every artist represented and is therefore a good opportunity to learn more about Scandinavian art. The author includes artists from Finland and Iceland, in addition to the perhaps better known painters from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the subject heading "Art--Scandinavia" or "Munch, Edvard."] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Biographical portrait of Kirk Varnedoe ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

West of Last Chance

West of Last Chance
by Peter Brown and Kent Haruf [917.82 qBro]

This coffee table book is collaboration between Kent Haruf, who known for his eloquent fiction set in the high plains, and Peter Brown who has photographed the plains for 25 years. Brown trained his lens on the small towns and vast landscape of the central United States. He roamed eastern Colorado, western Texas, Kansas, South Dakota and the Nebraska sandhills capturing moments in time. The beauty of photography is that it preserves a slice of life that will never come again. Be it a waitress leaning on the counter in a café or dark gray clouds roiling over the prairie. There will be similar moments to be sure, but none just like these. Brown's photography is enhanced by Kent Haruf's moving prose about life in the high plains. The stories range from pioneer days when a young couple from Ohio dug a dugout in the side of a hill. One day the wife watched in horror as rattlesnakes dropped from the dirt ceiling into her baby's crib. With her heart in her mouth she tiptoed to the crib and carefully took up her son. She left her husband this terse note: "Gone home." And end with modern day stories about the fellowship that is served along with the food at small town church suppers. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild by Michael Forsberg, Along the Edge of Daylight by Georg Jourtas, and Distinctly American : the photography of Wright Morris / essays by Alan Trachtenberg and Ralph Lieberman.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official West of Last Chance page on the official Peter Brown web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Fire Came By

The Fire Came By: The Riddle of the Great Siberian Explosion
by John Baxter and Thomas Atkins [001.94 Bax]

In 1908 a large meteorite hit the Tunguska region in central Siberia. The seismic shock was registered in Paris, London, Washington, D. C. and, of course, Moscow. At the time, the explosion and impact were not scientifically understood. With the passage of time, more was understood about astrophysics, including black holes and antimatter and the Tunguska event has been better investigated. This book relies on the aforementioned modern science to explore the "fire that came by." -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library
[ Wikipedia article on the Tungunska Event ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

A Tour of the White House With Mrs. John F. Kennedy

A Tour of the White House With Mrs. John F. Kennedy
by Perry Sidney Wolff [975.3 qWol]

In 1962, Jacqueline Kennedy hosted a television program about her renovations to the White House. She established a Fine Arts Committee to achieve her goal of refurbishing the mansion with as many authentic pieces as possible. In addition, the post of White House Curator was established, and the White House Historical Association was formed to prepare an official guidebook and publish other historical material. The program, which was broadcast on all three networks was watched by three out of four television viewers. The author, Perry Wolff, was also the CBS producer of the television program. Although the tour book place over 40 years ago, anyone who cares about the history of the White House will still find this book fascinating. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the subject heading "White House (Washington, D.C.)".] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ watch the original 1962 documentary on Hulu.com ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Princes in the Tower

The Princes in the Tower
by Alison Weir [942.045 Wei]

Who killed the princes in the tower? The boy king Edward V (only 12 or 13 when he died)and his brother, Richard, the Duke of York, who was only 10, died in 1483 and to this day the murderer remains unknown. The charismatic Edward IV was their father. Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, was Edward IV's ambitious brother, and upon the death of the two boys, he became the monarch, as Richard III. Did he kill his nephews to gain the throne? Other candidates for the murderer include the Duke of Buckingham and Sir James Tyrell. Weir examines each possible murderer in his turn. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Royal Blood: Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes, by Bertram Fields.] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ Wikipedia article on The Princes in the Tower ] | [ official Alison Weir web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Russian Imperial Style

Russian Imperial Style
by Laura Cerwinske [709.47 qCer]

This book documents Russian art from 1762 to 1917. The text points out the cultural life of the tsars and the noblity. But it is the lavish illustrations, almost all in color, of furs, Faberge eggs, gowns, jewels, tapestries, furniture, table settings, carriages, etc., all created for the aristocracy, that lure the reader. [If you enjoy this one, you may also wish to try In the Russian Style by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Laura Cerwinske web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Once Upon a Town

Once Upon a Town
by Bob Greene [940.548 Gre]

During World War II, citizens of North Platte met every troop train that came through, offering the servicemen cakes, pies, eggs, bread, fruit, vegetables, etc. This is a just a great feel good book that the city of North Platte and the surrounding area could keep up such spirit for the duration of the war. Best of all, of course, is that North Platte is in our own Nebraska! -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in unabridged audiotape, unabridged book-on-cd formats.]

[ official Once Upon a Town web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Bob Greene ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Archaeology and the Iliad

Archaeology and the Iliad: The Trojan War in Homer and History
by Eric Cline [Compact Disc 939.21 Cli]

Umberto Eco once wrote that humans are more passionate about the truth of their myths and of fiction than they are about the truths of their own history. Never has this played out more popularly than the search for the city of Troy, immortalized in the epic poem of the blind bard Homer. Professor Cline's lectures on the history of The Iliad, Homer, the area around what most consider to be Troy, and the men who sought to find Priam's palace there are lively, informative and delivered with care for the subject. He describes a world vastly more complicated than one that would or could go to war over a beautiful woman (even is she is so beautiful that her face launched 1,279 ships - Professor Cline counted). The lectures bring to life a world that has handed much to our own, and with them come reminders of the fragility of history and humanity. It is well worth seven evenings' listening. -- recommended by Sarah E.J. - (formerly of) Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Eric Cline web page at George Washington University ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Amber Room

The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Treasure
by Cathy Scott-Clark [940.531 Sco]

It is a well known fact among art aficionadoes that the Nazis looted a great deal of art from European museums, private collections, etc. during World War II. After the war, many of the art treasures were returned to their owners. Some are still trickling back to their owners to this day. And some are lost. Perhaps the most famous of the lost art treasures is the fabulous Amber Room. The room was a joint project in the 1700s of German and Russian talent. It's original home was in the Charlottenburg Palace in Prussia. Peter the Great of Russia expressed an admiration for the room and in 1716, Friedrich Wilhelm I presented it to Peter. During World War II, it was taken from Leningrad to Konigsberg in Germany. Konigsberg was heavily bombed late in the war and the Amber Room was never seen again. Was it destroyed by the bombing? Some of the art in Konigsberg was removed to saftey. Could the Amber Room have been saved? This book examines the various theories about what happened to the priceless room-- (one theory puts the room in an underground mine in Poland) and draws its own conclusions. -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia page about the actual Amber Room ] | [ official author page for these authors ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.