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June 08
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Russell
gave
 
to:
Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus (Paperback)
by Rick Perlstein
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in June, 2008
Russell said:
"Never picked this up when it came out...now that its sequel "Nixonland," has come out, I thought I'd order a copy. No such luck, out of print, and the cheapest copy is over $100.00! So, I discovered this neat program known as Inter Librar...more
Never picked this up when it came out...now that its sequel "Nixonland," has come out, I thought I'd order a copy. No such luck, out of print, and the cheapest copy is over $100.00! So, I discovered this neat program known as Inter Library Loan.
Anyhow, all I knew about Barry Goldwater was that he wanted to nuke the Russians, and that's why he lost to LBJ. Well, that's not ALL I knew, but this book certainly provides a lot of background to the '64 campaign, while employing a pretty smooth narrative. Goldwater seemed less interested in being president than all of the Goldwaterites wanted him to be. And, Bill Moyers has not always been the soft-spoken, saintly fellow that you see on your TeeVee. Perlstein doesn't mention it, but Hillary Clinton was a Goldwater Girl. I look forward to reading "Nixonland," which should be arriving on my porch any day now....less
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May 18
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Russell
added:
Eye Mind: Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators (Hardcover)
by Paul Drummond
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in February, 2008
Russell said:
" Many articles and rock encyclopedia entries have been written about the 13th Floor Elevators; how they were true believers in the transformative powers of hallucinogens; how they were busted more than once for drugs; how their lead singer, Roky ...more
Many articles and rock encyclopedia entries have been written about the 13th Floor Elevators; how they were true believers in the transformative powers of hallucinogens; how they were busted more than once for drugs; how their lead singer, Roky Erickson, has spent time in and out of institutions; how their producer was Kenny Rogers' brother Lelan. This is the first comprehensive book about the band. The author includes many photos and a whole lot of facts. Unsurprisingly, when your book is about a band that was tripping on LSD during most of their live performances, it is not always possible to determine exactly what happened every step along the way. And, whether or not you choose to blame the drugs, it is evident that members of the band were not immune to making bad career choices. A somewhat depressing, but nonetheless fascinating book....less
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Russell
added:
Charles Dickens (Penguin Lives)
by Jane Smiley
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in May, 2008
Russell said:
" I've read all of Dickens' novels and several biographies (Peter Ackroyd's is the best), so I wasn't expecting anything new here. Smiley is a fan of David Copperfield and Our Mutual Friend; I'm more partial to Great Expectations, The Pickwick Pa...more
I've read all of Dickens' novels and several biographies (Peter Ackroyd's is the best), so I wasn't expecting anything new here. Smiley is a fan of David Copperfield and Our Mutual Friend; I'm more partial to Great Expectations, The Pickwick Papers and Hard Times. She may not have closely read Barnaby Rudge...not that I'd blame her that much....less
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Russell
gave
to:
Road, River, And Ol'boy Politics: A Texas Country's Path from Farm to Supersuburb (Hardcover)
by Linda Scarbrough
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in May, 2008
Russell said:
" Very detailed local history on the political battles over dams and the Interstate Highway System in Williamson County, home to some of Austin's suburbs. One of Scarbrough's main points is that local people can sometimes make a difference, even ...more
Very detailed local history on the political battles over dams and the Interstate Highway System in Williamson County, home to some of Austin's suburbs. One of Scarbrough's main points is that local people can sometimes make a difference, even when the federal government is the ultimate "decider." Of course, having a relatively "local" boy (LBJ) as President couldn't have hurt either. The author details how a small, rural county became home to some of the fastest-growing communities in the country (savvy Round Rock is the home of, most notably, Dell Computers), but is careful not to harshly judge any of the major players (local historians who wish to continue publishing in their field tend to follow this practice)....less
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