The Richest Woman in America: Hetty Green in the Gilded Age   Janet Wallach
“Feminist” history of a Trump-like woman, mean financially and emotionally. Nothing about her seems admirable, even her wealth was initially inherited. Wallach’s praise, written in young-adult-like prose, centers solely on the fact that she was a woman, and liked “nothing better than to best a man.” She valued “influence and position.” I found her to be an example of what was bad about the whole period. Didn’t like Green or this book.

Germany 1945: From War to Peace   Richard Bessel
Detailed, informative history of the end of World War II in Germany. Incredible physical and economic destruction, and social, political, and cultural dislocation. The number of deaths is staggering. Poland and Germany were changed completely, and Germany was essentially wiped out. Though the prose is sometimes a little clumsy, doesn’t really detract from the wealth of information. Impressively documented. Enjoyed it and learned a lot.

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America   Nancy Isenberg
The problems with this book begin with the title; it’s a “history” of an underclass that exists only in the traditional south, not “in America” at large. While all the details she uses point to it, Isenberg never admits what is completely obvious: the underclass she is discussing was created and perpetuated by slavery, and exits only in the south. She gets badly muddled between class, race, and economic status without clarifying the distinctions, perhaps intentionally blurring them. Some good information on the founding of Georgia, but much of the other history was already well known to me. In the end, unconvincing. Disappointing.

The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime   Toshio Ban, Tezuka Productions, Frederik L. Schodt Disappointing hagiography of one of the 20^th century’s most influential artists, especially in Manga. I was expecting an autobiography, not a formulaic worship of his greatness. Nothing like Mizuki Shigeru’s incredible four volume history and autobiography. Quit after 100 pages of 900. Too bad.

The Third Reich at War   Richard J. Evans
Third, huge volume of Evans’ trilogy history of Hitler’s Reich. Not really about battles. Much more about the strategy, decisions, and administration of the army and Nazi government during the war from September 1939-May 1945. While organized more chronologically than the previous volume, it still covers the continuation and expansion of policies implemented before the war. Amazing that the Nazi leadership knew as early as fall 1941 that they did not have the industrial capacity to win the war. Diabolical, the savagery and brutality were hard to read. Interested in the details of the domestic social situation in Germany during the war. Excellent, informative history, as were the two preceding volumes.

Crooked Little Vein   Warren Ellis
A very well-written novel about a private investigator hired to find a secret book written by the founding fathers that would get the United States back to what it should be. Bizarre caricature of the American sexual underground in the first decade of the 21^st Century. Like Mike and Trix, I got tired of it all by the end, but I really got to like Mike and Trix and their attempt to have a relationship against all odds. Mostly fun, and a pretty good ending.

Gun Machine   Warren Ellis
Inventive, well-written, highly-intelligent, and deeply entertaining police procedural about a detective tracking a serial killer in high totem phase. Really interesting characters, especially the CSUs, and even the psychotic killer was fascinating. Read it because I recently re-watched Red and Red 2 which Ellis created. Loved it, wish it hadn’t ended.