After Lincoln: How the North Won the Civil War and Lost the Peace   A. J. Langguth
Very readable overview of the mismanagement of the post Civil War period from 1865-1877. As with his other books, Langguth uses the main players for the framework of the history. Very informative for me especially about Andrew Johnson’s corrupt mismanagement of Reconstruction and racist policies that led to the Jim Crow south. Reinforces the point that the failure of Reconstruction wasn’t the unsuccessful reconstruction of the union, it was the betrayal of the negroes by allowing the construction of a social order in the south almost as brutal and discriminatory as slavery. Deeply tragic.

The Stainless Steel Kimono   Elliot Chaze
A collection of short stories set in occupied Japan shortly after the end of World War II. Chaze’s tone and descriptions capture the sordid, pathetic, and uncomfortable relationships between the U.S. soldiers themselves and with the Japanese civilians. Very well written in clear, straightforward, readable prose. Very good, too bad he is not well known.

The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 3: Red River to Appomattox   Shelby Foote
Incredibly detailed, very beautifully written, 1000+ page “narrative” of the last 18 months or so of the Civil War. Impressive use of primary sources, though nothing is footnoted. I guess that’s why it’s a narrative. Even though I read other books before and simultaneously, I really learned a lot from it. Many powerful images from the narrative are stuck in my mind. Really enjoyed reading about the North’s victory and the destruction of the elitist, racist society of the South. Very, very good, notwithstanding the inappropriately reverential eulogizing of Jefferson Davis at the end.

Quarry’s Deal   Max Allan Collins
Another of Collins’ generally entertaining Quarry novels about the ex-hitman who now kills only other hitmen. This time she’s beautiful and he starts falling for her. Even though there’s plenty of sex, this iteration lacks the intelligence and violence that made others in the series more fun and interesting, it was just a little boring. Too bad. Good thing the style still made it a quick, easy read.

The New York Times: Complete Civil War, 1861-1865   Harold Holzer, Craig Symonds
Original news articles covering the war. Disappointed that they are not produced as facsimiles, but I understand that that wouldn’t have worked spatially. Also, the included DVD was useless, didn’t work in either of my computers, too bad. That having been said, this is an invaluable historical source, well organized, well presented. Thoughtful and helpful annotations, inclusion of interesting drawings and photographs from the published editions. Also includes dispatches from other papers, even from the south. Many of the histories I’ve read and learned so much from use the same accounts assembled here. Excellent to have these original accounts compiled together.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass   Frederick Douglass
Deeply troubling and well-written brief firsthand account of Douglass’s life as a slave in Maryland. As bad as I thought slavery was, this account portrays it as worse than I imagined even though Douglass’s tone isn’t bitter or incendiary. The ugliness, violence, and hypocrisy of slaveholders is astonishing and sickening. I wish I could have read how he escaped, but I fully understand why he could not record it. My view of our history is changed, and it is nauseating that ¼ of U.S. presidents have owned slaves. Everyone should read this.

Borderline   Lawrence Block
Reprinted 1958 novel about people in El Paso and Juarez exploring sex and committing psychotic violence. I’ve really enjoyed several books by Block in the past, but this one, perhaps because it was early in his career, didn’t have his usual clean style, and it just seemed sordid rather than anything else. Not bad, just didn’t like as much as others.

Battle Pieces   Herman Melville
After people stopped reading Melville’s increasingly difficult novels, he decided to become a poet. So he produced, among others, these brilliant, highly-structured, and sometimes difficult poems based on Civil War battles (Antietam, Vicksburg, The Wilderness, etc.). Just as much of an achievement as his novels, they help prove Melville’s literary genius. Stylistically, pretty much the opposite of Whitman’s. Very good.

The Book of Dead Philosophers   Simon Critchley
A history of philosophers rather than a history of philosophy. Short, some very short, essays about philosophers and their deaths. Very engagingly written. Covers more than just European philosophers, some Arabs, some Chinese, and more than just philosophers, some scientists and some religious writers. Many very obscure thinkers as well. I was moved by Critchley’s account of Gadamer and his death because I had the privilege to spend a day with him back in the 80s. Really enjoyable. Didn’t want it to end.

 

Southern Storm: Sherman's March to the Sea   Noah Andre Trudeau
Incredibly detailed, sometimes excruciatingly so, well-written account of each day, November 15, 1864 – January 21, 1865 of Sherman’s march from Atlanta to Savannah, and it’s occupation. Outstanding research, relies primarily on first-hand accounts. Another excellent book by a “non-professional historian.” Ends with an outstanding summary analysis. For me, this was an excellent book, informative and well done.

Drum Taps  Walt Whitman Whitman’s poems about the Civil War. His usual beautiful rhythms and powerful images, especially in poems such as “The Wound Dresser.” Also read his poems about President Lincoln. Makes me very sad. Excellent additions to my Civil War reading.

Silken Prey   John Sandford
2013 Lucas Davenport police procedural about political very-dirty tricks during a Minnesota senatorial campaign. Really enjoyed the appearances of Kidd and Lauren, and Virgil Flowers’ cameo. Unfortunately, the bad guys, one senatorial candidate and her two security people, were completely unconvincing. Also, the dénouement was weak. But, Camp’s prose, and what action there was, were good enough to be a satisfactory distraction.

War Like the Thunderbolt: The Battle and Burning of Atlanta   Russell S. Bonds
Well-written, detailed history of Sherman’s campaign to take Atlanta and its aftermath. Excellent, extensive  use of primary sources for everything. Though Bonds is not a “professional historian,” this is a very good history of events that I find deeply interesting. Sherman is my namesake, and the more I learn about him, the more I like and admire him. I really liked the afterward. Well done and very interesting.

Pinball 1973   Haruki Murakami
Surreal novel about a man’s life and involvement with playing pinball, and his buddy The Rat. Strangely, their narratives are completely separate, and, to be honest, make no sense, at least, none that is explained. Even though his style is again very readable, probably like this least of all the Murakami I’ve read.

Atlas of the Civil War: A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle   Stephen Hyslop
Outstanding collection of maps related to the Civil War battles. Also, great photographs, good text and descriptions and narrative. Really helped understanding what happened in each battle, amazingly lucid descriptions of the tactics and battles. Invaluable accompaniment to any reading of Civil War history. Really useful.

 

Battle Cry of Freedom, The Civil War Era   James M. McPherson
Well-written, thorough, especially for a single volume, account of the American “Civil War Era,” as the subtitle states. Many details about political party internal struggles and voter demographics, and financial foundations for the war, all necessary, but tedious. Excellent detail and analysis of most battles, and all of the important ones, amazingly lucid descriptions of the tactics and movements. Disappointing, truncated ending and  epilogue which deals with nothing is a haze of unanswered questions. Overall, very valuable.