Book: Call Me Russell - Russell Peters

This candid, first-person memoir chronicles Russell's life from his humble beginnings in suburbia as a scrawny, brown, bullied kid with ADD all the way to his remarkable rise as one of the world's top-earning comics. This is a shockingly honest book filled with poignant memories of his family, his life and his career. Call Me Russell is a deeply inspirational story for aspiring artists of any culture about having hope, working hard and dreaming big.

As I have said before, I usually do not like autobiographies very much, but now have read two in a row that I have really enjoyed.

I am a big fan of Russell Peters who is a stand-up comedian from Brampton, which is just outside of Toronto. His stuff is hilarious on TV and even better live. Teena and I were at a sold out show over over 17,000 people at the Air Canada Centre last year.

To my delight, the book is very honestly written. I gained insight into his life, the inside of the the Canadian comedy industry, and the comedy industry, both on TV, in movies and the stand-up scene from around the world. It was a very easy read, enjoyable and fast moving.

I found him humble yet very proud of where he was from, where he is now and how he got there. He sums it up at the end, that in a very fickle industry all that he has accomplished was "through no fault of my own".

I found myself liking him more at the end of the book, than when I started, and I liked him going in. A book definitely worth the read.

Book: The China Wall: The Timeless Legend of Johnny Bower

I rarely ever watch hockey these days but growing up in the 60s I was a huge hockey fan. I ate slept and breathed hockey and lived and died with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Even better for me was that the 60s were the glory years for the Leafs and their fans ... four Stanley Cups, Armstrong, Kelly, Shack, Mahovlich, that great defense of Baun, Brewer, Stanley and Horton, and, of course, my favorite goalie of all time, Johnny Bower.

When I saw this book of the shelf at the book store, I knew it was a must read. I was disappointed to find that it was a biography as I find most not very good. I usually come away disappointed but not this time.

He started playing in the AHL in 1945 and toiled there until 1954, when he spent a year with the New York Rangers in the NHL where he set a team record for most wins by a rookie goalie. Then for some reason, he was sent back to the AHL. In 1958, at 33 years old, he was picked up by Punch Imlach to play for Toronto and then the good times started to roll for him and the Leafs. He played in the NHL until he was 45.

He tells his story very well. He comes through as a humble person, not scared to speak of the highlights of his very career and life, but does not wave the banner in a bragging manner that I find in most autobiographies. He is appreciative of the chances he was given, the advice he received.

I love the chapter that tells the story of how he was chosen to sing Honky, the Christmas Goose back in 1965. It is quite comical. Interesting to note that he sold over 40,000 records and at the time was biggest selling Canadian record up to that time. You can listen to it here.

I have never met the man but know he is one of the most well-respected people in Toronto. He works hard for different charities and I have heard how he is always there for the kids and fans. I can feel that in this book. Toronto is lucky to have had him wear the Leaf uniform and lead us to four Stanley Cups and equally lucky he decided to stay and be a great citizen to this great city.

This book is definitely worth reading.

Here is a short 1 minute tribute, showing many highlights of his play in the NHL. It too is worth taking look at.

Book: Wings of a Hero: Canadian Pioneer Flying Ace Wilfrid Wop May

A Stompin' Tom Conners song tells the story of Wop May. As a result, I have always wanted to read about the life of this individual. So the other week I did a search of the Toronto Public Library for a book on his life and found Wings of a Hero: Canadian Pioneer Flying Ace Wilfrid Wop May by Sheila Reid.

"A look at May's life as a Flying Corps pilot in World War I &, later, as a commercial pilot, & part of the Canadian Pioneer Flying Ace missions. Much of the material for Wings of a Hero was provided to the author by May's son, Dennis, & the result is an inside look at an intriguing & admirable life."

At first I was disappointed when I picked up this book as it was only 100 pages long. The 100 pages, though, are well written about a man who was a force in opening up the north to aviation. It was also exciting to read about his role in the dogfight with Manfred von Richthofen in World War 1 which Roy Brown, another Canadian, shot down the infamous Red Baron.

In the end I was glad the book was not any longer as I learned all I wanted to know about Wop May in a short time. Well written and many great pictures of those old flying crates.

"Wop May!
Wop May!
You’re the top Canadian pilot of the day,
Wop May!
The top Canadian pilot of the day."
Stompin' Tom Conners

A Soldier First by General Rick Hillier

With the war in Afghanistan continuing and more and more of Canada's great soldiers dieing or coming home with serious wounds, when I saw a book about the Canadian Armed Forces, I grabbed it.

A Soldier First: bullets, bureaucrats and the politics of war, is a book that was written by Canada's Chief of the Defence from 2005 to 2008, General Rick Hillier.

In the summer of 2008, General Rick Hillier resigned his command as Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. You could almost hear the sigh of relief in Ottawa as Canada's most popular, and most controversial, leader since the Second World War left a role in which he'd been as frank-speaking, as unpredictable, and as resolutely apolitical as any military leader this country has ever seen.

A SOLDIER FIRST is a hard-hitting, frank account of Hillier's role in his own words. The man who never backed down from the Taliban or Canada's top political leaders tells all in what will be one of the most important books to come out of this country this decade.

It was a very interesting read. It is the story of his life in the Canadian Military as a young recruit through to his retirement as Chief of Defence. He is very honest about all that was right, and all that was/is wrong with our military. Most of what is wrong, not surprisingly, is the way Parliament Hill is slow to react to the military's needs, and the problems of bringing a peace keeping force from the cold war era into a one fighting an active war.

The one problem I had with the book is that he is very long winded. His 500 page book could have been an excellent 300 page read. Being a commander, he is into details. So instead of writing that he went went to Bosnia with 2 stops along the way for briefings, instead would describe each stop in detail which would take pages. The book could have been shortened for even better effect.

His description of commanding multi-national forces, whether it was UN forces or NATO forces was quite revealing and troublesome. Much work needs to be done as a cohesive force rather than each nation wanting their own little fiefdom.

I did enjoy most of it though and would recommend it to anyone interested in today's world events or our armed forces. It is a very good read.

Player One: What Is to Become of Us by Douglas Coupland

I saw a list of the Giller Awards long list of nominees and realized that I have never purposely read a book because it has been nominated for a Giller, so I decided to change that. I went through the list and a book by Douglas Coupland caught my eye, Player One: What Is to Become of Us.

The subtitle to the book is A Novel in Five Hours, and was part of the Massey Lecture series on CBC Radio. The book is a real-time, five-hour story set in an airport cocktail lounge during a global disaster. Five disparate people are trapped inside: Karen, a single mother waiting for her online date; Rick, the down-on-his-luck airport lounge bartender; Luke, a pastor on the run; Rachel, a cool Hitchcock blonde incapable of true human contact; and finally a mysterious voice known as Player One. Slowly, each reveals the truth about themselves while the world as they know it comes to an end.
Coupland explores the modern crises of time, human identity, society, religion, and the afterlife.

It is a very deep book and interestingly put together. Each hour is told from the separate viewpoint of each character. All 4 characters are broken people who end up in the bar of an airport hotel bar just as the world goes into chaos. When it does, they fight for survival while at the same time trying to figure out all the greater questions about life itself.

Funny that I never really knew much about Douglas Coupland and in the period of a week-end have read a book and seen a monument created by him. Would not even have realized it, had Teena not pointed it out to me while reading my Gord's Eye View of Toronto. She has a good eye.

The book is interesting and a little depressing, but one worth reading.

Glenn Cochrane's "Toronto: Tales of the City"

From the Publisher:

Telling tales and unearthing a history you won't find in tourist guides, this humorous book focuses on the quirky characters of Toronto.

About the Author:

Glenn Cochrane was a reporter for Worldbeat and Nightbeat news from 1968 to 1993, covering local interest stories that captivated a city and its neighborhoods. He was named Beaches Citizen of the Year in 2002.

I found this book when I was doing a little research for my second Gord's Eye View of Toronto. It looked like an entertaining read so I decided to pick it up.

The book is basically a stroll through the different neighborhoods of Toronto, with a little history and entertaining stories thrown in. It is very light, but enjoyable reading, a little scattered in places and I finished it quickly.

The audience for this book is limited. I would recommend this to anyone who lives in or who has lived in Toronto. If you haven't, this book is definitely not for you.

Last Canadian Beer: The Moosehead Story by Harvey Sawler

With the super Canadian breweries, Labatt's and Molson's being sold to foreign interests, the last remaining major independent brewery left in Canada is New Brunswick's Moosehead Brewery. Last Canadian Beer: The Moosehead Story is
the story of the brewery which was founded in 1867 by Susannah Oland.

"Moosehead Breweries and its long-time owner, the Oland family, is the last of the independent Canadian beer companies. From the moment in 1867 when family matriarch Susannah Oland began brewing beer in her Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, backyard, the Oland name has been synonymous with Maritime beer and, perhaps more importantly, successful family business. Last Canadian Beer is the story of the Oland family's long tenure running one of Canada's most popular breweries in the face of increasing pressure from international brew giants. While other beer brands have sold out to American and European interests, Moosehead has remained fiercely independent. The author sets out to answer three primary questions: Who are the Olands?; What has made them successful?; and How will the Olands continue to keep Moosehead as an independently owned family business?"

Although much of the book details the last 20 years of the company, it also gives a quick and interesting history of it's early years where the company had to survive fires, the Halifax Explosion, family battles and how it came to settle in Saint John New Brunswick, after being founded in Halifax Nova Scotia. The brewery is still in Oland hands as the 6th generation Oland, Andrew, is now in charge.

The book is a light entertaining read, which at times sounds like it is a cheerleader for the company. More could have been written on the family split-up, which really was just touched on as it was a huge moment in the companies history.

It is very insightful as to how other beers are being promoted in Canada, which turns out to be a plus for Moosehead. Also interesting was Mooseheads realization that the East Coast beer market was not growing and their decision to expand first into the competitive US market instead of across Canada due to inter-provincial beer regulations. Now 40% of the beer they sell are sold to Americans and they can afford to now move slowly across Canada.

This is a little slice of Canadian history, and is worth a read.

"Christine: A Search for Christine Granville" by Madeline Massonin

This book has since been reprinted in 2005 and is now called Christine : SOE agent and Churchill's favourite spy. 

"The remarkable life story of Christine Granville, one of the most successful women agents of the Second World War. Christine Granville, O.B.E. and Croix de Guerre, was one of the most celebrated female agents of World War II. Said to have been Churchill's "favorite spy," her exploits in Poland, Hungary, and France were legendary, even in her lifetime. As an agent of the Special Operations Executive, Christine-the first woman to be dropped into France from Algiers-landed in the Vercors in 1944, where as "Pauline Armand," she performed with tremendous valor. Christine is the thrilling tale of a fearless woman ready to die for freedom." 

After I read Casino Royale, I discovered that Ian Fleming had based the character Vesper Lynd on Christine Granville, which made me want to read about her. That's when I discovered this book at the library. It was originally written in 1976. I wondered how dry the writing might be but this true story is told in a very lively fashion. 

It is about how an incredible Polish girl, Krystyna Skarbek, came to be a top spy known as Christine Granville who rose to become a top British agent during World War II. Her operations took her to Poland, Hungary and France and at the end of the war was awarded the the French Croix de Guerre medal, as well as the British George Cross, and she was appointed the Order of the British Empire. No small feat. If you're interested in spies or the second world war, this is an excellent read.

The Canadian Century, moving out of America's shadow

The Canadian Century, moving out of America's shadow is an inter-institute effort by Brian Lee Crowley (MacDonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy), Jason Clemens (Pacific Research Institute), and Niels Veldhuis (Fraser Institute).

For years Canada has lived in the shadow of the United States. No more. As the authors argue, while the United States was busy precipitating a global economic disaster, Canada was on a path that could lead it into an era of unprecedented prosperity. It won't be easy. We must be prepared to follow through on reforms enacted and complete the work already begun. If so, Canada will become the country that Laurier foretold, a land of work for all who want it, of opportunity, investment, innovation and prosperity. Laurier said that the twentieth century belonged to Canada. He was absolutely right; he was merely off by 100 years.

I usually do not read books on economics but this one intrigued me. It is just new to the bookshelves so the information and arguments are all relevant to today. I know the U.S. has been in the doldrums for some time but wondered what the authors thought our advantage was.

I have never been much for free trade, the GST or HST but the book explains these well, and I now have a better understanding of their importance. The book focuses on what Canada has done well in the past 20 years, what we did poorly before that and what we need to do.

I do like and agree with the quote from Allan Gotlieb, who was Canada's former ambassador to the U.S on how we must deal with the U.S. "For any initiative to succeed, it must meet a number of conditions. It must be bold, it must come from Canada and be espoused at the highest level. It also must be comprehensive so as to allow trade-offs and broad constituencies to come into play. It must address the the U>S> agenda as well as ours"

The book is easy to understand and an interesting look at our country today. Definitely worth a read.

Tecumseh: Shooting Star, Crouching Panther by Jim Poling Sr

Tecumseh was one of the great figures of the War of 1812. To me, he is the greatest aboriginal chief of all time. Other chiefs in the late 1800's became more famous with their stand against the Americans due to the success of the press in the East. Tecumseh though, int he late 1700's and early 1800's had the greatest vision. To unite all aboriginal peoples together as one nation, to stand against the encroachment of the Americans. Tecumseh: Shooting Star, Crouching Panther tells his story. Shawnee war chief Tecumseh dedicated his life to stopping American expansion and preserving the lands and cultures of North American Aboriginal peoples. He travelled relentlessly trying to build a confederation of tribes that would stop the territorial ambitions of the newly created United States of America. Tecumseh tried both diplomacy and battle to preserve his Ohio Valley homelands. When he realized that neither could stop the American advancement, he turned to the British in Canada for help was the War of 1812 began. He and Isaac Brock, British general and Canadian hero, captured Detroit early in the war and historians believe they would have gone on to more impressive battles had Brock not fallen at Queenston Heights in 1812. A great leader, Tecumseh left an indelible mark on the history of both Canada and the United States. The story of his struggle to preserve a vanishing culture is one that remains relevant today. One of the greatest tributes to Tecumseh came from his enemy, Harrison, who later became president of the United States. He called Tecumseh an "uncommon genius," who in another place, another time, could have built an empire. I found the writing to be a little simple, as if the author was writing to a juvenile audience. This did improve as the book went on. There were a few stories where certain facts should have been told before the event and not after, but overall this was a decent read. One thing I did love was the authors use of quoting excerpts from letters and documents of witnesses and participants of the various events. Again one criticism is when the author gave Tecumseh's impassioned plea to General Henry Proctor at Fort Malden. Most of the speech was used, but some key elements left out. For the full speech, please click here. This is one of the great figures in Canadian history. He did not fight for Canada or the British but for his own people and in the process saved Canada in the early part of the war. He was a man of great vision for his people. How great? Soon after he was killed in The Battle of the Thames, Ottawa Chief Naywash spoke of his affect of his passing, "Since our great chief Tecumtha (sic) has been killed, we do not listen to one another, we do not rise together, we hurt ourselves by it. It is our own fault, it is not our Fathers fault. You warriors, when our father gives us good encouragement, we hurt ourselves, we do not, when we go to war, rise together, but we go one or two and the rest say they will go tomorrow." Although I know the subject I did learn from this book. The epilogue was excellent! If one wanted to know about Tecumseh, this would be an excellent place to start.

Niagara 1814: The Final Invasion by Jon Latimer

With the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812 fast approaching, many historic sites from that period are sprucing up and new material about the war and its battles are being written.

I have read and studied the conflict for quite a few years and now like to concentrate on campaigns, battles or individuals involved in the conflict.

I was quite excited when I saw Niagara 1814: The Final Invasion.

The War of 1812 (or the American War as it is known in Britain) has the strange distinction of being a war largely forgotten by both of its main participants. Despite being overshadowed by the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe, the War of 1812 saw Americans, British, Canadians, and Native Americans wage an increasing brutal conflict all along the border.

By 1814, with war coming to a close in Europe, the Americans decided to launch one last, major land offensive in an attempt to seize Canada. Although previous attempts had most often ended in disaster, the American army of 1814 contained several highly trained units under competent leadership including the legendary Winfield Scott. This final Niagara campaign saw a number of pitched battles including Chippawa, Lundy''s Lane, and Cook''s Mill, where the American Bluecoats matched the British shot for shot. However, due to poor planning at the highest levels of American office, the campaign was ultimately a failure and the result ensured the survival of Canada as an independent state.

A critically-acclaimed researcher on the War of 1812, author John Latimer presents a new look at an oft-forgotten yet crucially important campaign in the history of North America.

Most of the books written have been written by Canadian and U.S. authors/historians so it was most interesting to read one written from the British viewpoint. Latimer describes the period and the battles in a very effective, comprehensive and entertaining manner. There were things which I learned from this book. Also he did well to describe how the events with Napoleon not only affected the war in Canada but how the decisions made also affected Napoleon's escape and the Battle of Waterloo, something rarely looked at.

It is well-illustrated, although the coloured prints by Graham Turner I felt were quite ineffective. When I saw the cover of the book, I almost put it back, thinking it was a children's book by the quality of the drawing. All the faces of the English forces shown were the same. Maybe they were triplets!

The maps were well-drawn, with excellent accompanying description attached as to the order of events.

I did laugh at one line, which proved it was written by someone from England. "Izard had blown up Fort Erie in a pyrotechnic display worthy of Guy Fawkes Night." If I hadn't watch "V for Vendetta", I would not even know who Guy Fawkes was.

This is an excellent read for anyone interested in the war of 1812.

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Awhile ago, I found myself in the unusual position of not having anything that I wanted to read. Then I remembered that a friend of mine, Eric, had recommended Casino Royale as a great read. Although I have seen most of the James Bond movies, I had never read any of Ian Flemings books. I figured this was a great place to start. 

In the first of Ian Fleming's tales of 007, Bond finds himself on a mission to neutralize lethal, high-rolling Russian operative called "Le Chiffre". Monsieur Le Chiffre ("the cypher"), the treasurer of a Soviet-backed trade union in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, is running a baccarat game in the casino at Royale-les-Eaux, France, in order to recover union money he lost in a failed chain of brothels. This was originally released in 1953, a year before an older fella like me was born. 

Forget all the high tech spy tool from the movies, this is basic spy stuff. I was surprised by how simplistic the plan was for Bond to take on Le Chiffre but then the plot evolved. What I also found interesting was Bond's view on woman while he worked. He didn't like it. Totally different from the movies! Ian Fleming was the personal assistant to the Director of British Naval Intelligence during World War II and trained at the famous Camp X in Oshawa as a spy. No wonder when he started to write he wrote about a subject he was well-versed at. 

Two interesting notes from the book. First, Ian Fleming celebrated the completion of the "Casino Royale" novel's first draft by purchasing a gold-plated typewriter. Pierce Brosnan who played Bond in a few movies bought the typewriter a few years ago for $52,000US. The second was that Vesper Lynd's character was based on a WW II resistance fighter, Christine Granville, whom Fleming had met in real life and supposedly had an affair with. Her nickname was Vesperale and was said to have been Churchill's favorite spy. She was murdered in a London hotel in 1952. Hmmm! Looks like I have another book to find and read. She sounds like she has an interesting story. Casino Royale is a good work of fiction, well-written and I can see myself reading the entire series in the future. Thanks for the recommendation Eric!

The Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst

I enjoy books on minor league baseball so this one caught my eye. 

From the humble heights of a Class-A pitcher's mound to the deflating lows of sleeping on his gun-toting grandmother's air mattress, veteran reliever Dirk Hayhurst steps out of the bullpen to deliver the best pitch of his career-a raw, unflinching and surprisingly moving account of his life in the minors. Hayhurst captures the absurdities, the grim realities, and the occasional nuggets of hard-won wisdom culled from four seasons in the minors. "After many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years spent in the bullpen, I can verify that this is a true picture of baseball." -Tim McCarver . 

This was an excellent read. I found Hayhurst brutally honest about his emotions, abilities, insecurities and family. There were many touching stories, intermingled with some funny team antics, and some antics and conversations I could do without but were crucial to put the reader into the bullpen with the author. Some of the stories give Hayhurst a struggle as to how baseball fits into life, or how life fits into baseball. I would recommend this to any baseball fan or to someone who enjoys reading a brutally honest story of a year in a person's life.

Sailors, Slackers, and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War by Stephen Kimber

The untold story of how war transformed the city of Halifax. Stephen Kimber recreates life in Halifax during the Second World War, a city transformed by the influx of military and civilian personnel serving the war effort. Through the eyes and experiences of the people who lived it -- sailors, slackers (civilians), prohibitionists, spies, profiteers, and just plain local folk -- Stephen Kimber brings this extraordinary period of history to life. From an initial outpouring of imperial patriotism and local paternalism to the final Bacchanalian orgy of booze, looting, dancing in the streets, public fornication and general mayhem, this is the true, untold story of how a city changed a war, and a war changed a city. 

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of research to get into the heads of the people involved so the story can be told in a lively fashion from many viewpoints. I love this style of history writing, which puts the reader mentally into the period, by being told through the stories of those who lived it, and not told as an outside observer. Anyone with an interest in Canadian History, World War 2, or maritime history, would love this book. I think this book was well done! Read Teena's review here.

"The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III" by Tim Carroll

"The true story of one of the most heroic feats of World War II...the daring prison camp breakout that inspired the classic film The Great Escape. Stalag Luft III was one of the Germans'' "escape-proof" prison camps, specially built to hold Allied troops. But on March 24, 1944, in a courageous attempt by 200 prisoners to break out through a series of tunnels, 76 Allied officers managed to evade capture -- and create havoc behind enemy lines in the months before the Normandy Invasion. This is the incredible story of these brave men who broke free from the supposedly impenetrable barbed wire and watchtowers of Stalag Luft III. Some of them were involved in other daring escape attempts, including the famous Wooden Horse episode, also turned into a classic film, and the little-known Sachsenhausen breakout, engineered by five Great Escapers sent to die in the notorious concentration camp on Hitler''s personal orders. Tragically, fifty of those involved in the Great Escape were murdered by the Gestapo. Others were recaptured; only a few made it all the way to freedom. This dramatic account of personal heroism is a testament to their ingenuity and achievement -- a stirring tribute to the men who never gave up fighting." 

This was a great read, every bit as lively and entertaining as the movie. No motorcycle chases, no stolen planes (the movie did get the plane idea from another escape made in this story but the plane never got off the ground) ... just told the way it happened. 

The true story needs no embellishment. The book was written in 2004 and at that time there were only 7 men living who made their escape that night. It is interesting in the Prologue, that each gave a short version of their escape and each commented on looking back whether it was worth it or not, knowing that 50 of their friends were executed. Five said it was worth it, one said it was not, that the war was close to being over, and one did not even wish to think back to that time but concentrate on the present. The five that said it was worth it knew their job was to "harass, confuse and confound the enemy". That they did! My dad fought in World War II and his father in the First World War. I always wondered if I would have the courage and fortitude of that generation had should I have had to go to war. I am forever thankful that I never had to find out. Tim Carroll does a great job of telling the story the way it happened. It's a book worth reading.

Toronto Book of Everything

Teena picked up "Toronto Book of Everything" from the library for herself, and seeing as though I had given up on my other book early, had nothing to read. I wanted to read this one but was going to wait until Teena was done with it. Luckily, Teena was still in the middle of a book, so I had this one to read. 

From Hogtown to capital city and Leafs Nation, from cold wet winters to desperately humid summers, from Blackberry-addicted Bay Street financiers to profiles of Ed Mirvish, Glenn Gould, David Cronenberg and Rush, no book is more comprehensive than the Toronto Book of Everything. No book is more fun! Well-known Torontonians weigh in on what they love about their city. Linda Leatherdale reveals her top five places to power lunch; Chef Jamie Kennedy shares five ways Toronto inspires his menus; Paul Godfrey tells us who the top Toronto powerbrokers are; John Sewell points out five Toronto buildings not to miss; and Kevin O’Leary shares his uniquely Toronto innovations. From Bay Street slang and the Great Toronto Fire to immigrant city and Pride Toronto, it’s all here! 

It is an enjoyable and interesting read. For anyone living in Toronto, or who is looking to visit Toronto, this is a must read. It does have some boring statistics, and some information is repeated, as it was done as a story of it's own, then included in a time line, but overall an enjoyable read. Personally, I could have done without all notes on Olivia Chow, former Toronto City Councillor, and regrettably now a member of Federal Parliament. The author is obviously a fan of hers. She is mentioned more than twice, and held up as an activist and defender of civil rights, instead as the cop hater, and defender of the criminal element that she was and is. It is a quick read and one that I totally recommend.

1812, War with America by Jon Latimer

I have read dozens, and dozens, and perhaps dozens of books of the War of 1812, visited battlefields and forts, watched re-enactments and feel that although not an expert, have a good working knowledge of the subject. My latest read was “1812, War with America” by Jon Latimer. Most books on the subject are written from an American or Canadian point of view. 

“In the first complete history of the War of 1812 written from a British perspective, Jon Latimer offers an authoritative and compelling account that places the conflict in its strategic context within the Napoleonic wars.” 

I found his style very uninteresting and the accounts of the battles were flat and uninspired. He did not do well in placing the reader into the action like many historians are able to do. Most importantly, were the errors. After reading the chapter about Sir Issac Brock, a hero of mine, and about the Battle of Queenston Heights, I was ready to return the book. The sequence of battle was wrong! The British counter attacks were done in the wrong order. Uninteresting is one thing, but inaccuracy is another. It doesn't seem like much, but it is history and I like accuracy.

The next chapter on the naval actions in the Atlantic titled “Frigates and Privateers”, was written in a more interesting manner, but much of the accounts of the actions were quite confusing. It was at this point that I gave up on the book. If you are going to pick up a book on the War of 1812, and it is a very interesting subject, there are many that I would recommend. This is definitely not one of them.

"Willie Mays, The Life, The Legend” by James S Hirsch

Every spring, impatient for baseball season to start, I head off to the library to pick up a book about (what else?) baseball. This year I picked up the book about one of my favourite all time players, Willie Mays, The Life, The Legend by James S Hirsch. I'm glad I did. 

Considered to be "as monumental -- and enigmatic -- a legend as American sport has ever seen" ("Sports Illustrated"), Willie Mays is arguably the greatest player in baseball history, still revered for the passion he brought to the game. He began as a teenager in the Negro Leagues, became a cult hero in New York, and was the headliner in Major League Baseball's bold expansion to California. With 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, and 338 stolen bases, he was a blend of power, speed, and stylistic bravado that enraptured fans for more than two decades. Now, in the first biography authorized by and written with the cooperation of Willie Mays, James Hirsch reveals the man behind the player." 

Even though the book is an authorized biography, it does show Willie’s skills and flaws. It is not only a look at May’s career and life but it is also a look at discrimination, being a black ball player in the south, being one of the first black players to join the major leagues after Jackie Robinson, and how it all was handled by May’s. There were no dull moments. An enjoyable read for anyone who loves the game of baseball.

Bear Child: The Life and Times of Jerry Potts

Everyday I go to a website, Today in Canadian History, to see what happened in this country on that day. On July 14, I was visiting the site and saw that on that date in 1896 Jerry Potts had died. Who was Jerry Potts? I have read a few books on settling the Canadian West and Jerry Potts name seems to be everywhere. So I decided it was time I found a book about this amazing character and was happy to come up with Bear Child: The Life and Times of Jerry Potts by Rodger D. Touchie. The West was a lawless domain when Jerry Potts was born into the Upper Missouri fur trade in 1838. The son of a Scottish father and a Blood mother, he was given the name Bear Child by his Blood tribe for his bravery and tenacity while he was still a teen. In 1874, when the North West Mounted Police first marched west and sat lost and starving near the Canada-U.S. border, it was Potts who led them to shelter. Over the next 22 years he played a critical role in the peaceful settlement of the Canadian West. Bear Child: The Life and Times of Jerry Potts tells the story of this legendary character who personifies the turmoil of the frontier in two countries, the clash of two cultures he could call his own, and the strikingly different approaches of two expanding nations as they encroached upon the land of the buffalo and the nomadic tribes of the western Plains. It was a fascinating and entertaining read. Very interesting was how the U.S. and Canada took different approaches to settling the west. Canada took the view of peaceful settlement and working with the various Indian tribes, while the U.S. was bent on extermination. Jerry Potts was in the middle of it all. The book never dragged and there were a few great antidotes. One of my favorites was

"When a small group of Bloods and Peigans entered the fort, Macleod received them with all the pomp he could muster. Potts was summoned to listen to the extended oratory while Mcleod waited for an interpretation. Unfamiliar with the dramatic gestures and expressions before him, the colonel could only hope that the demands were not unreasonable.

Finally the speech ended, and Macleod turned to Potts. For one of the first but not the last time, he got the succinct Potts translation. 'Dey damn glad you're here'" A man of few words but huge loyalty and great deeds. The Canadian west would be a very different place without Jerry Potts. His contribution is one which should be taught in our schools. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to anyone who likes biographies or Canadian History. It is a lively read.