Literally the Best Reviews: The Second Midnight

The Second Midnight - Andrew Taylor

Harper Collins

400 Pages

I must have been in an historical fiction mood when I visited the Lockport Public Library way back in late February or early March when I was last able to stroll among the stacks. I picked up The Second Midnight by Andrew Taylor the same day I picked up The Rabbit Girls. Not only are both historical fiction novels, but they both deal with events that took place in Europe during World War II.

Literally the Best Reviews: The Will to Survive

The Will to Survive - Karen Zale

Lulu.com Publishing

198 Pages

A couple of weeks ago, I was handed a book that I was told that I had to read. My friend, Chris, loaned me The Will to Survive by Karen Zale to read, which I was able to do over the course of a quiet afternoon. As with any local history, I was definitely interested in this book.

The Will to Survive is the story of a man who went off to war during World War II and ended up surviving some of the worst that man can do to itself. Written by his daughter, Karen, we learn the trials and tribulations of John Zale as he suffered through the ignominy of being a prisoner of war with the Japanese.

Literally the Best Reviews: Eagle & Crane

Eagle & Crane -- Suzanne Rindell

GP Putnams Sons

448 Pages

A couple of months ago, Howie Balaban wrote a book review (HERE) on this book. At the time of publication, I had this book on my shelf, borrowed from the library. It looked interesting, but I just hadn’t gotten to it yet. After reading Howie’s review, I knew I had to move this book to the top of the list. Did it live up to the hype that Howie gave it?

Book Reviews Reloaded: The Wind Is Not A River

This article first appeared on East Niagara Post on October 14, 2014. It is repeated here as I work to put all my book reviews in one place. They will be posted on Thursdays and only be altered from the original in that I will add publisher information and pages. Hopefully, by revisiting these reviews, other people might find a book they'd like to pick up for their own enjoyment.

The Wind is Not a River - Brian Payton

Ecco Publishing

320 Pages

I would like to start off by saying that I like to read...a lot. I generally read 2 or 3 books a week, and it seems like all the librarians at the Lockport Public Library know me on sight. I always head directly to the “New Releases” by the circulation desk to catch the latest and greatest by authors both established and new. I hope to be able to bring a few reviews to you each month on some of these new releases.

Literally the Best Reviews: The Boat Runner

The Boat Runner -- Devin Murphy

Harper Perennial

400 Pages

There has been quite a bit of historical fiction on the book shelves lately. I find that there are two types of historical fiction. First there is the really good stuff, where the author has done great research and takes the time to make sure the minutiae is correct. The other is where an author sets his or her modern characters in an historic time where they stick out like sore thumbs. Devin Murphy’s debut novel, The Boat Runner, is one from the first category.

Ron Cary: What the Camera Captured

Editor's Note: Ron Cary's discovery of some of his father's photos from World War II came up in casual conversation and we thought others might be interested in the story. As a special to Niagara's Watercooler, we'd like to thank Ron for taking the time.

The way I remember it, it was 1956, and I was a ten year old kid living in Syracuse, New York.  Having grown up with that relatively new invention, the television, like most boys of my age during the mid-nineteen fifties, I was heavily into watching the westerns (cowboys and Indians), sci-fi (space movies), horror (monster movies), and especially "war" movies that the three TV channels would show every Saturday afternoon.  World War II had seen Hollywood produce many movies about the adventures of "heroic" Americans in our Armed Forces.  These dramas continued to be popular well into the 1950's, and Saturday TV showed all the old ones made during the war years.

So We Was Talkin' And...: Wading Into the Memorial Fountain Debate

Craig and George generally chat every day about something. Usually they're funny little bits that fly off into tangents that probably no one could actually follow. We thought, wouldn't it be cool if people got a glimpse behind the insanity that runs Niagara's Watercooler. So, we decided that we would test it out. It just so happened that this week's chat was a tad more serious than our normal chats. Stay tuned. These things may pop up occasionally. And they more likely than not will be something that's completely irreverent, and definitely full of tangents.