Review: Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men

Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The strange and brutal murders of at least 9 people in La Porte, Indiana in the early 21st century has perplexed the town residents for years. It is the case of Belle Gunness, a matrimonial murderess dubbed "Hell's Princess" among other erstwhile nicknames. Young Belle was a Norwegian immigrant to the US in the late 1800s. Once she arrived, she moved to Chicago to live near her sister. Unmarried with no kids, Belle takes on the foster care of a couple of children, as well as her niece. Soon after, she marries and her husband eventually passes away. She moves to the Norwegian settlement of La Porte, Indiana. It is there that her second husband suffers a fatal accident, leaving her twice widowed. Thereafter, many men come into her life, but they never seem to leave. This true tale echoes similar odd and mysterious circumstances such as the likes of H. H. Holmes and his Murder Capital, the notorious serial killer of the Chicago's 1893 World Exposition.

Harold Schechter details Gunness's life from her landing in the United States through her supposed death and beyond. It has been a confounding case that continues unsolved or has it? I was completely engrossed in this story. Schechter has an engaging writing style that keeps you drawn into Belle's life. It is a quick read but includes a great amount of information. I happened to read the Kindle In Motion version of this story which added to the experience. This new Kindle technology has animated pictures that keep the story interesting. I highly recommend any book that is being read on a Kindle app to utilize the Kindle In Motion technology.

I received this book gratis through Goodreads Giveaways.

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Review: The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation

The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation by Gene Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Pulitzer Prize winning book examins the role that the media had on the modern Civil Rights movement. In the late 40s and into the 50s, little coverage in newsprint was given to the issues of African Americans in the southern United States. The stories of beatings, lynchings, and mistreatment were detailed in segregationist newspapers printed for and sold to southern Black Americans. As key figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X began to gain national attention, media sources picked up the stories. In print and eventually in television and radio, the Civil Rights movement garnered headline news and breaking stories. The role of the media during this time should not be overlooked. Indeed, the media brought these issues to the forefront of the nation's mind and helped in the fight to bring about much needed legistlation, such as the Voting Rights Act.

Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff recount the events of the civil rights struggle from Brown V. BOE to Selma and beyond through the eyes of the journalists, photographers, and newscasters, both black and white. These were the people working what came to be known as the Race Beat. Many put themselves in harm's way to get the stories that needed to be told to the nation and it is these stories that helped give a voice to civil rights issues in America.

"If it hadn't been for the media - the print media and television - the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings, a choir without a song." - John Lewis

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Review: Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father

Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a detailed biography of the lives of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, and her father Amos Bronson Alcott. To get a full sense of who Louisa was, one needs to get a fair picture of her father and her entire family. Bronson was of the group of Transcendentalists which included the likes of Emerson, Thoreau, and Fuller. Bronson, an author himself, educator, and speaker did not always live up to the same stature of his peers and the family often struggled because of it. His wife and their four daughters were often left alone to handle the home situation while Bronson traveled for business. It was during these times that the women spent together that gave Louisa inspiration to write Little Women and many other published works. Despite having a strained relationship at times, Louisa and Bronson became close in their later years.

This is a great book for any fan of LMA and the Little Women series. I wasn't always a fan of Bronson and reading about his life was my least favorite part of the book; however, it really helps to understand him and his thoughts and ideas to understand Louisa and what drove and inspired her.

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Review: Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon

Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon by Anthony Harkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Moonshiner, Redneck, Country Folk, Hillbilly. These are all terms that have been used throughout southern US history to describe the residents of the Appalachian and Ozark mountain ranges. Anthony Harkins details the history of the word Hillbilly which is both a cultural icon and at times, a derogatory term. Hillbilly has its roots in the Appalachian area but eventually migrated to include the mountainous area of Missouri and Arkansas. The term seemed to have its start in literary and regional history and grew to be used in songs, comics, movies, and television.

This book started out as Harkin's dissertation and was expanded to be published in book form. It is at times a bit on the dry side showing its scholarly roots, but by the time you get to movies and television, the information becomes much more relatable. This is a good example of how old regional vernacular is becoming more offensive and derogatory as our country's worldview has expanded.

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Review: Woodstock: Three Days that Rocked the World

Woodstock: Three Days that Rocked the World by Mike Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful retrospective of the iconic 3-day music and arts festival known as Woodstock. Full of colorful photos from the weekend event, this book also details the organization of the concert as well as the individual performances. Specific information includes the time that each act performed, set lists, and band members. The book is also full of quotes and oral histories of participants and attendees. Behind the scenes information and pictures are also included. This is a great coffee table book for the Woodstock fan.

At first glance the book looks to be a bit discombobulated due to the color and look of the text throughout, but as you read you find it to have a wealth of information and the pictures are fascinating.

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Review: The Road to Woodstock

The Road to Woodstock by Michael Lang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the definitive book on the 1969 Woodstock music festival. Written by organizer Michael Lang, The Road to Woodstock details his early life, how he got into the music business, and how he came up with the idea of a massive concert. Along with partner Artie Kornfeld, Lang approached venture capitalists Joel Rosenman and John Roberts to help plan and fund the iconic concert weekend. The weekend was meant to only cater to approximately 200,000 concert goers, but more than 1/2 million people attended. The plans for the concert was not without its issues, as the men dealt with venue, security, food, and sanitation issues. Many details, including the venue spot, was not determined until the final weeks of preparation. Throughout the 3 days and beyond, other issues arose that were dealt with on the fly and the results turned out to be a rare event of music and peace that has never been duplicated.

Lang's candid book covered Woodstock from inception until well after the concertgoers were gone. It is well written, never boring, yet full of details and amazing stories from interviews with participants and attendees. What an amazing weekend it must have been despite the chaos and constant rain. This is a must-read for the music enthusiast.

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Review: Woodstock: The History and Legacy of America's Most Famous Music Festival

Woodstock: The History and Legacy of America's Most Famous Music Festival by Charles River Editors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quick read to give you the down and dirty details on the iconic Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music Festival. The weekend-long festival was not without its problems and issues. Organizers expected less than 200,000 participants and ended up with 1/2 million. Logistics were changing up until the last minute. Some performers were unable to get to the venue due to traffic and the crowds, while others were flown in by helicopter. Despite the issues, there were very few problems once the show was started.

The size and the star power certainly made the weekend an indelible event in American history. This is a good read for someone that is interested in how the event was planned and about the performers who played without getting into the specific day to day details.

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Review: Invisible Man

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the classic tale of an unnamed protagonist who struggles to find his place in the world. He is a young black man in the early 20th century coming to terms with being an invisible person, that is one that is often overlooked and does not stand out. Multiple times throughout the book, he must shed his identity and take on a new persona in order to survive. He always has hope but is often let down, and most of the time by his own doing.

This book explores themes of identity and individualism, responsibility, and race relations. It is a book that still resonates today.

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