Words, Art, Photography

Killing Lincoln

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:11:10 -0400

After visiting Washington D.C. and many of its historic sites including Ford’s Theater, I decided that I’d like to learn more about the history of that city and our nation. My wife gave me this book as a birthday present a few weeks ago, so I took the first opportunity I could to read it.

Regardless of the author with the largest billing, I was intrigued to see how the story of Lincoln’s assassination was described in this “Thriller” style. I had learned a good bit of information about the assassination while visiting Ford’s Theater and I picked up more reading this book.

I finished the book rather quickly, I do feel like I could tell when the O’Reilly was writing versus when the pen fell to Martin Dugard. The pen may never have never been given to Dugard other than to edit, but the book’s flow didn’t always feel like one author penned it. The story was sensational, but I felt like certain points were even more sensationalized when it came to talking about conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. I want the facts, not what someone thinks may have happened, just the facts.

Please don’t spin it unless you can back it up.

Learning that the book did have inaccurate information just after I finished was very disappointing. O’Reilly called the controversy “a concerted effort by people who don’t like me to diminish the book”. I doubt that, considering it was the Deputy Superintendent of Ford’s Theater National Historic Site. I’m not sure she has an agenda against news commentators, just that she wanted the event to be written about accurately. They may have been small inaccuracies or misstatements, but it makes me wonder who fact checked the content.

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O’Reilly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Tomb of the Unknowns, Freedom is never free, Memorial Day 2012 ...

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:31:46 -0400

Tomb of the Unknowns, Freedom is never free, Memorial Day 2012 (Taken with instagram)

Black House

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:53:29 -0400

This collaboration is the sequel to the Talisman, again following Jack Sawyer. This time, years later, he’s a retired Los Angeles Police Department Lieutenant. Sawyer retires in his thirties to French Landing, Wisconsin, the town he tracked a murder to on his last LAPD case. The local police chief comes to him and asks him to help investigate a string of murders involving children. He dodges the investigation until the killer, dubbed “The Fisherman” sends him a package. The contents of the package pull him into the investigation, Sawyer know he’s going to have to confront his past and travel to “The Territories” once again.

I would like to be able to rank books a little more incrementally, to give the book 3 and 3/4stars since I can’t, I’ll just round up and give the book a four.

I enjoyed the story and the collaboration between authors was nice. Their combined style was very interesting and flowed well; never did I feel like I was reading something written by two authors. I always enjoy getting to glimpse again at the worlds created through King’s writing of the Black Tower story.

All in all … all things server the beam.

Black House by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

On The Calendar

Sun, 27 May 2012 16:23:11 -0400

Since, I’ve registered for my first half-marathon I’ve been planning my training routine. Today I mapped out training schedule and put it on the calendar.

My first week of training for the half will be the first week of August, twelve weeks before the half-marathon. This is getting real, but I am excited and ready for the challenge!

#shoes, my wife posted about her new shoes … I will post...

Sat, 26 May 2012 18:14:01 -0400

#shoes, my wife posted about her new shoes … I will post about mine. (Taken with instagram)

Happy Birthday To Me! #applepie (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:50:22 -0400

Happy Birthday To Me! #applepie (Taken with instagram)

My new favorite writing spot! (Taken with instagram)

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:44:54 -0400

My new favorite writing spot! (Taken with instagram)

Exclusive Anchorman 2 Teaser from Will Ferrell

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:12 -0400

Exclusive Anchorman 2 Teaser from Will Ferrell

15 Rad Robot Accessories for Your Office

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:59:42 -0400

15 Rad Robot Accessories for Your Office:

Some interesting robot accessories for the office!

#delicious asparagus! (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:15:05 -0400

#delicious asparagus! (Taken with instagram)

#kickball at the National Mall & Washington Monument (Taken...

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:23:58 -0400

#kickball at the National Mall & Washington Monument (Taken with instagram)

Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:20:26 -0400

Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

The Capitol Rotunda (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:37:27 -0400

The Capitol Rotunda (Taken with instagram)

Library of Congress, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:33:53 -0400

Library of Congress, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

Angels of Vengeance

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:53:46 -0400

In this final book of the Without Warning trilogy, John Birmingham wraps up his post “Wave” apocalypse story with a bang. Birmingham follows three “Angels of Vengeance”; all were characters from the two previous parts of the story. They all have a score settle and this final book follows their path towards that goal.

The stories momentum continually builds through the book. Secrets are revealed, blood is shed, and life is lost. Birmingham does a good job tying up the loose ends of the story, though the ending does leave the option to begin a new arc should he choose.

I enjoyed this book and the trilogy very much; I hope to read Birmingham’s older books soon and anything new that he puts out in the future.

Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

The Wind Through the Keyhole

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:28:45 -0400

Stephen King takes us once again to Mid-World and back to Roland Deschain of Gilead’s “ka-tet”, his band of misfits brought together by fate. This story is set between the events of The Wizard and Glass and the Wolfs of the Calla.

I really enjoyed the book; it allowed me to sink back into the world that I thoroughly enjoyed reading the original stories. It tied in well without taking away from the core adventures he’s already covered.

It makes me want to read the whole series again … in time I will.

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Dinner @ Gordon Biersch, Washington D.C. (Taken with Instagram...

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:36:10 -0400

Dinner @ Gordon Biersch, Washington D.C. (Taken with Instagram at Gordon Biersch)

Iwo Jima Memorial, US Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington...

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:22:26 -0400

Iwo Jima Memorial, US Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington Virgina (Taken with instagram)

DuPont Circle, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:17:55 -0400

DuPont Circle, Washington D.C. (Taken with instagram)

Honor & Respect, Arlington National Cemetary (Taken with...

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:55:48 -0400

Honor & Respect, Arlington National Cemetary (Taken with instagram)