All About Books | NET Radio

Guest reviewer Jane Hood looks at, “The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War” by David Halberstam. The noted, late-author’s last book is about the nearly forgotten Korean War.

Historian, David Von Drehle looks at the struggles and major issues facing President Lincoln and the nation in 1862 in his book, “Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America’s Most Perilous Year”

Guest reviewer David Williams looks at “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain. A novel detailing a day in the life of a squad of Iraq War soldiers at a Dallas Cowboys football game on Thanksgiving Day. Also reviewed, “The Great Divide” a critical look at the widening gap between rich and...

Guest reviewer Bruce Stephen looks at a biography of one of the first important voices of modern environmental awareness, Rachel Carson called “A Further Shore”. Also reviewed, “Dying on the Vine” by Aaron Elkins. A fine, new crime novel set in the vineyards of Tuscany.

Guest reviewer Deb Stephen looks at a murder mystery set in a remote monastery in Northern Quebec, “The Beautiful Mystery” by Louise Penny. Also reviewed, “The Second World War” by Antony Beevor. A one volume, epic history of the great conflict.

Charles Stephen looks back at his favorite books from 2012. Just in time for holiday gift season, his top picks for: novel, biography, non-fiction, mystery and other categories.

“Do Not Ask What Good We Do” an inside look at how the House of Representatives functions... or doesn’t. Also reviewed, “Global Weirdness” a well documented look at the history and present situation of global warming.

Seward: Lincoln’s Indispensable Man” by Walter Stahr. A full-length biography of William Henry Seward, who served as Secretary of State in the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln.

“Fear Itself” by Andrew Rosenheim. A political thriller which sees an FBI agent infiltrate a German-American group trying to keep the U.S. out of WWII. Also reviewed, “The Jewels of Paradise” by Donna Leon

“The Shadow of a Great Rock: a Literary Appreciation of the King James Bible” by Harold Bloom. Also reviewed, “A Sunless Sea” by Anne Perry. A Victorian crime novel set in London.

“The Sahara: A Cultural History”. A lively look at the geography, the myths and history of the great desert. Also reviewed, “Mortality” by Christopher Hitchens. A small, moving book written during the last year of the author’s life.

Guest reviewer Don Hanway looks at, “The Dog Stars” a novel set in a post apocalyptic future about a man trying to recover the values that made life worth living. Also reviewed, “Losing It” a light-hearted memoir about aging

Two crimes novels: one from a Swedish author, “Munster’s Case” and one from an American, “X-O”.

Guest reviewer David Williams looks at “Canada” by Richard Ford. A novel in which a boy takes refuge in Canada when his parents commit a crime. Also reviewed, “Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives” A look at the backgrounds of WWII’s most famous generals.

“Final Victory: FDR’s Extraordinary World War II Presidential Campaign” by Stanely Weintraub. An historian looks at the busy last year of FDR’s life as he won his fourth term as President.