Book Review: 'Over the River and Through the Wood' by L. Maria Child

✰✰✰✰ A family sets off for Grandfather's house for a holiday feast. Along the way they encounter crisp air and drifted snow as they travel over the river and through the wood. The dogs bark, and the bells ring. The journey seems slow as the children can't wait, but they arrive just in time for the Thanksgiving feast and pumpkin pie.

The Bottom Line: This beautifully illustrated edition features  nostalgic watercolor, gouache, and pencil paintings. It contains the full-length version of the beloved poem and an interesting note about the author. Enthusiastically recommended for holiday reading.

Details: Over the River and Through the Wood: The New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day written by L. Maria Child & illustrated by Matt Tavares. Hardcover picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2011. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-2790-4  

Book Review: 'Triangle: The Fire That Changed America' by David von Drehle

✰✰✰✰½ Travel back in time to a fine spring day in 1911. It was a Saturday, the end of the work week, and payday. The workers of the Triangle Waist Company were eager to collect their pay and head out with their friends. As workers waited by the only open exit, a fire broke out on the eighth floor. Within minutes the top three stories of the building were consumed by flame. Employees had just minutes, sometimes seconds, to make a decision. Choices were limited and the wrong choice was fatal. 

When the blaze was finally extinguished, 146 workers were dead. The city of New York began to ask, "Who was to blame?" What followed was a courtroom spectacle. Eventually, from the ashes of death, new reforms rose. This is a riveting look at a forgotten piece of history.

The Bottom Line: This compelling read reconstructs the worst workplace disaster in New York City until the events of 9/11. Once you pick this up, you won't be able to put it down. Highly recommended for history buffs, college students, architects, and politicians. Note: Sensitive readers may want to skip over the graphic descriptions of the fire and the victims.

Book Club Notes: Our group met for a fast-paced and emotional discussion. At 4.75 stars on a scale from 1 - 5, this was one of the better reads for this year. We enjoyed the writing style. The author seamlessly wove together topics of immigration, history, suffrage, unions, workplace safety, and politics. One member noted that there was something for everyone in this book. Another liked the informative, engaging style; it reminded her a "Dickens-like" era. The book also gave the reader a sense of the culture of the era. Plus, it was interesting to note how history seems to repeat itself again and again.

This discussion was supplemented with information from Cornell University, short video from the History channel, and questions from Reading Group Guides and an AP U.S. History Class.

Details: Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David von Drehle. Paperback published by Grove Press in 2004, reprint edition. 352 p. ISBN: 978-0-8021-4151-4

Book Review: 'Friday Night Lights' by H. G. Bissinger

✰✰✰✰½ It’s Friday night in the late ’80s, and the town of Odessa, Texas is deserted. Where has everyone gone? Chances are they went to the Permian High School football game. Follow the 1988 Permian Panthers as they face the ups and downs of a tough season including injuries, losses, and controversy.

With a steep tradition of winning, the young men on the team face incredible pressure to be perfect and deliver what everyone wants – another state championship. In an odd twist straight out of a movie, it could all end in a three-way coin toss. In a town that is larger than life, these young men will face the biggest challenge of theirs. Win or lose, this is the stuff of dreams and memories.

The Bottom Line: Sports fans will want to check out this pager-turner that inspired the movie and the TV series. With a main focus on sports, this book also takes a look at education, American culture, local history, economics, and politics. The updated version is just as riveting as it was when it was first published and features a look at where the young men are twenty-five years later. Still relevant today, “Friday Night Lights” will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read (or reread) this classic sports story. Highly recommended for sports fans, educators, parents, students, and history buffs.

Book Club Notes: Although this group had a small turnout, the discussion about race, sports, and education was very animated. The book emphasized the importance of athletics over education time and again. There was also more concern about economic issues in the book than in the movie. Both the book and the movie feature racial tension with the book using strong language.  

Additionally, we spent some time discussing the obvious differences between the movie and the book. For example, McDougal isn’t even featured in the film, and the portrayal of Winchell’s mother in the move is not accurate.

Overall, we rated the book 4.5 on a scale from 1 – 5. We liked the journalistic writing style, and highly recommend both the book and the movie. Book clubs can find a Reading Group Guide here. Also, to supplement the discussion, here are more current articles of what the players are up to now: Article 1 and Article 2.

Details: Friday Night Lights: A Town, a team, and a dream by H. G. Bissinger. 25th Anniversary edition paperback published by Da Capo Press in 2015. 413 p. ISBN: 978-0-306-82420-3