Category Archives: Biography

At the intersection of nature and imagination

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Linda

It’s always a pleasure to have a review from Tom Dillon, who draws attention to books I might otherwise miss. Reviewed by Tom Dillon THE INVENTION OF NATURE: ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT’S NEW WORLD. By Andrea Wulf. Alfred A. Knopf. 473 pages. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Contemporary Nonfiction, History, Nature | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What did the president know …

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson RICHARD NIXON: The Life. By John A. Farrell. Random House Audio. Read by Dan Woren. 29 hours; 23 CDs. $60. Also available in hardcover from Doubleday. There have been other biographies of Richard Nixon, the … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, Contemporary Nonfiction, History, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A most misunderstood president

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Linda

Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor HERBERT HOOVER: A LIFE. By Glen Jeansonne. Berkley. 464 pages. $28. Also available from Penguin Audio, read by Mark Deakins. 16 hours, 28 minutes. $29.95. Head west across Interstate 80 from Chicago, and you’ll come … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, Contemporary Nonfiction, History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fighting Irish – a tale for our times

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Linda

Paul O’Connor reviews a new biography of a 19th-century immigrant who battled discrimination against himself even as he fought for freedom for those who were enslaved. Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor THE IMMORTAL IRISHMAN. By Timothy Egan. Brilliance Audio. 14 hours, 9 … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, Contemporary Nonfiction, History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An uncommon friendship

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Linda

The Roosevelts, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War – these are fascinating topics of fairly recent history that have been dealt with extensively in books, movies and TV documentaries. Susan Quinn, coming at them from a different … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Prepare to be charmed

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Linda

Also a big fan of Lee Smith, I reviewed this book earlier for the Greensboro News & Record: http://www.greensboro.com/go_triad/arts/books/review-dimestore-a-writer-s-life/article_f691fad4-cd46-5b96-9c54-3269b6c73c98.html Not to be outdone, Bob Moyer has reviewed it for Briar Patch Books. Such a fine book merits a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in memoir | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A writer’s own stories

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE PIGEON TUNNEL: STORIES FROM MY LIFE. By John LeCarre. Read by the author. Penguin Audio. 10 CDs; 11 ½ hours. $40. Also available in hardcover from Viking. Imagine that you could visit John le … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio Books, memoir | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A new look at a forgotten war

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Linda

Before he was a journalist or a public school teacher or administrator, and before he was my husband, Lloyd Brinson was a young U.S. Marine officer who served in Vietnam. He finds much that’s worthwhile in a new book by … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Nonfiction, memoir, Military, Military History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The remarkable story of the second First Lady Adams

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Linda

Here’s an outstanding biography of an often-overlooked woman. Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson LOUISA: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams. By Louisa Thomas. Books on Tape. Read by Kirsten Potter. 15 ½ hours; 13 CDs. Also available in hardcover from … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A man of his times

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Linda

Paul O’Connor found more than he expected in a new biography of General Custer. Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor CUSTER’S TRIALS: A LIFE ON THE FRONTIER OF A NEW AMERICA. By T.J. Stiles. Books on Tape. Read by Arthur Morey. … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Audio Books, Biography, Contemporary Nonfiction, History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment