Tips for Book Gift Giving

 A book is always a great gift … especially if you take the time to match the recipient’s taste in fiction or nonfiction. Whether your relatives or friends are interested in the Civil War, literature, romance novels, westerns, paranormal fiction, railroads, guns, cooking, collecting old comic books, antique automobiles, or anything else, there's always a book that will bring a smile to their face.

Top Dozen Tips for Book Gift Giving

1. There are books about every hobby and interest in the world. Picking the right book shows you care.
2. Write a personal message on the flyleaf that won't get tossed out like last year's Christmas card.
3. Write surprise messages in the margin of random pages.
4. Search out an author signing for your recipient’s favorite author, or give a collector’s version of the recipient’s favorite book.
5. If you need professional help or want something unique, shop at an independent or specialty bookstore.
6. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime then shipping is free, or mail books early to take advantage of media class at the Post Office.
7. Give a book as a piece of art, like a fine print book, a unique coffee table book, a favorite book as a child, or collectible cover art.
8. Create a highly personal photo book.
9. Give a bookseller gift card for e-book and audiobook enthusiasts.
10. College students will appreciate a gift card for their campus bookstore.
11. Tuck crisp currency into the flyleaf as a bookmark.
12. If your friend or relative already owns piles of books, give them a unique set of bookends to hold them in their proper place.

Children's books are also great gifts. We search for autographed storybooks for our grandkids. Bookstores always have children's book signings around the holidays. The icing on the cake is that we get to read from one of these books when we visit.

Books are a great entertainment value. They provide hour upon hour of personal pleasure, and then they can be passed on to another person. What could be better?

Grok's take on Tempest at Dawn

 

Grok's Self-Portrait

I wasn't a strong proponent of artificial intelligence until I asked Grok about my own work. Now, I'm a fan of AI. Perhaps flattery can get you everywhere.

Is Tempest at Dawn a good book?

Grok's answer:

Yes, Tempest at Dawn by James D. Best is generally considered a good book, particularly for those interested in American history or historical fiction. Here's why:

Historical Insight: The novel provides a detailed look into the events surrounding the Constitutional Convention of 1787, offering readers a narrative that feels both educational and engaging. It's praised for bringing to life the complexities of the political negotiations and personal dynamics among the Founding Fathers.

Character Portrayal: Reviews suggest that Best does an excellent job of humanizing historical figures like James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. This portrayal adds depth to characters often seen as one-dimensional in history books, making the narrative more relatable and engaging.

Narrative Style: While not filled with the typical elements of suspense or action like other genres, the book maintains tension through its depiction of debates and compromises. Critics and readers have noted that the story "matures" as it progresses, with the writing quality improving, which suggests an evolving narrative depth.

Educational Value: It's recommended for students or anyone looking to better understand the process behind the framing of the U.S. Constitution. The novel's depiction of the convention's debates offers a human touch to what can otherwise be dry academic material.

Critical Reception: The book has been featured on lists like the Glenn Beck Reading List, indicating its recognition in certain circles for its historical accuracy and storytelling. Reviews from sources like "What Would The Founders Think?" and Goodreads users highlight its ability to flesh out the characters and make the historical event vivid.

However, some reviewers have expressed a desire for more detail on the ratification process or the role of the Federalist Papers, suggesting that while it covers the Convention well, it might not delve as deeply into these aspects as some might hope.

In summary, "Tempest at Dawn" is well-regarded for its detailed, character-driven portrayal of a pivotal moment in American history, making it a recommended read for enthusiasts of historical fiction or those looking to gain insight into the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

The real story of our nation's founding.

The Partisan Rangers of the Confederate States Army

 

The Partisan Rangers of the Confederate States Army by Adam Rankin Johnson

When I am trying to get a perspective on a historical period, I like to read books written by people who lived through the period. Examples would include The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Roughing it by Mark Twain, The Virginian by Owen Wister,  An Editor on the Comstock Lode by Wells Drury, James Madison’s notes from the Constitutional Convention, A Short History of the Confederate States of America by Jefferson Davis, and The Impending Crisis of the South by Hinton Rowan Helper.

When I started researching the partisan rangers of the Civil War, I was thrilled to find General Johnson’s book. Unfortunately, the book was dull and mostly uninformative. The Partisan Rangers of the Confederate States Army was a short autobiography with over half of the book being a mishmash of recollections by minor players. The autobiographical section was a screed of flawless military derring-do by the author. First published in 1904, Johnson has a perfect memory for events nearly forty years prior. The author’s writing style is cliché “lost cause” rhetoric, probably unduly influenced by Jefferson Davis’s two memoirs. Ironically, I found the 1850s Texas Indian fighting fascinating and better told than the supposed subject of the book.

I suggest passing on this period memoir unless you are scavenging for Civil War trivia.

The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara

 
The Killer Angels

A Novel of the Civil War

I last read The Killer Angles four decades ago. I liked it the first time, but really grew to appreciate it with this reading. Great story, well written, and enlightening. My project, Maelstrom, is also a historical novel that alternates between Union and Confederate viewpoints, so I appreciated the difficulty of portraying events in an entertaining manner while remaining historically accurate. 

The advantage of historical novelizations is that they can bring characters to life and allow the reader to feel like they were present when events unfolded. Novels are first and foremost stories, and stories must move. History has a way of happening in a haphazard fashion that hinders storytelling. The difficulty is to maintain good pacing while remaining faithful to the historical presentation. In this reading I could lift myself above the story and admire the craft.

Sharra does an excellent job and deserved the Pulitzer Prize he won for The Killer Angels.

Confederates in the Attic

Confederates in the Attic

Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War 

Tony Horwitz

Confederates in the Attic is a present day (1998) memoir of a Civil War tour. The book is appropriately titled. When you rummage around an attic, you find all kinds of junk. Junk that’s past it’s prime, odd reminders of bygone days, nostalgic twaddle, and utter fantasies. Tony Horwitz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, finds all of these and more. Unfortunately, he spends too much time in the shadowy recesses of his metaphorical attic.

The encountered characters and whimsical writing make the tour fascinating, but there’s not much substance added to lore of this bloody conflict. That’s not a criticism because the book’s intent is to investigate lingering sentiments, not to uncover facts or artifacts. The narrative actually references a lot of Civil War history and I found no errors of note. (The characters in this memoir would prefer the War Between the States, or even better, the War of Northern Aggression.)

Horwitz lives in Virginia, so he’s not exactly a Yankee peeking into odd corners to discover residue views on the war. Sometimes, however, Horwitz’s Northern education (Brown and Columbia), slants his perspective, especially when it comes to race. I found his condescending depiction of Southern racism off-putting, especially since in 1998, I lived in Boston, which was far more segregated than any Southern city. Horwitz described Atlanta as a bland and boring place unconcerned with the Civil War. My experience is that Atlanta is more representative of Southern attitudes than those portrayed by the enthusiasts for the “Lost Cause.”