News and Media Books

This is a fascinating book, not just for Civil War buffs or journalism junkies - but for any of us who get a daily news fix from the newspapers, TV or the Web. It reminds us that we should always bear in mind who's delivering the information.
In his book, The Words of War, Mr. Bracken takes a very novel approach to a discussion of the Civil War, contrasting the coverage of several wartime events by two newspapers from two disparate regions, The Charleston Mercury of South Carolina and the northeast's New York Times. The differences in the reporting are striking, with the tenor and the details differing greatly.
How interesting it is to read news reports from over a century ago against current events. The politics, the war, the economy and the specific issues might vary; now it's not the North and the South, as much as it is the red states and the blue states.
This book serves as a terrific reminder that we must continue to question the objectivity and validity of the information we get. I highly recommend it.

The old axiom, "History is written by the winners," is essentially rejected in Donagh Bracken's new book, The Words of War. Bracken compares the Civil War battle reportage of the New York Times and the Charleston Mercury, juxtaposing the articles back to back. The result is a clear demonstration that history, at least during the many battles of the Civil War, is simply written by those who happened to be there.

In his introduction to the book, Bracken writes, "When the Civil War started, American journalism was put to the test. It was the start of the modern age of journalism, and it was a rough start indeed." The formative years of American journalism saw newspapers operated almost exclusively as propaganda organs, owned by some political person or party and used primarily to persuade the public for one cause or another. But when the Civil War came along, the very purpose of newspapers changed.

The public wanted information that was current, demanding up-to-date reportage of events that took place hundreds and thousands of miles away. Newspaper editors switched the focus of their papers' content from propaganda to covering the facts of battle, the "who-what-when and where" of it all. While the papers in the North and South always had different takes as to the "why" element of battle reportage, they still had to meet the chief demand of their reading public: that they get the facts, preferably as soon as possible. The new telegraph technology allowed for current reportage, and for the first time in the history of warfare, correspondents provided stories in a timely fashion.

New York was the newspaper capital of the country when war broke out, boasting 17 dailies. Many were pro-South and only five of them supported President Abraham Lincoln. Bracken focuses on one of those five, the New York Times, and its considerably talented editor Henry J. Raymond. Long interested in politics and journalism, Raymond was a principal founder of the New York Times in 1851 and also helped create the Republican Party after he left the Whigs in 1856.

In contrast, Bracken presents the firebrand editor of the Charleston Mercury, Robert Barnwell Rhett. Under the wonderful pseudonym "Hermes," Rhett penned the editorials that would lead South Carolina to be the first state to secede on Dec. 20, 1860. "He was quick of mind, brash and self-confident," writes Bracken, "and of the latter, annoyingly so to some." Rhett had considerable editorial influence over the Charleston Mercury, which was owned by Rhett's family.

Bracken is described on the book jacket as "...a writer of long standing having written extensively for newspapers and magazines for thirty years on subjects ranging from world history to economics." His familiarity with the Civil War subject matter is obvious in The Words of War and his approach to writing the book is organized and efficient.

Each chapter presents a battle, beginning with an author's commentary that sets the context. Then Bracken prints verbatim and unaltered the articles from the Charleston Mercury and then the articles from the New York Times that covered the battle. Sometimes maps, drawings and paintings are reprinted. Bracken then concludes each chapter with a section called "What Historians Say," usually a few paragraphs that cut the facts about the battle down to the barest of bones.

The most interesting portions of the book are found in the sections where actual dispatches and communications between the armies were published in the papers. For example, Bracken presents the fascinating exchange between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner during the battle at Fort Donelson early in 1862, as printed in the New York Times. Buckner sent Grant a dispatch proposing that a group of commissioners be appointed to determine terms of surrender. Grant responds:

Sir: Yours, of this date, proposing an armistice and the appointment of Commissioners to settle the terms of capitulation is just received. No terms except unconditional surrender and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works. I am very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Thus we learn how the famous nickname, Unconditional Surrender Grant, was created. The exchanges and notes between opposing commanders add a great deal of interest to Bracken's book.

The Words of War will appeal to a wide variety of audiences. Civil War buffs, journalists and history students will find a great deal of value in the book. The book is so well organized that the reader does not have to go through the entire book in one sitting; he can peruse this chapter or that chapter, go to whichever battles he finds most interesting, and not lose any of the overall context. The book reads easily and provides information and perspective that even the most diehard of Civil War buffs will find new and enlightening. Bracken's effort is a solid one.

Beginning with the firing on Fort Sumpter and concluding with the Appomattox surrender of General Lee to General Grant four years later, "The Words Of War" is a unique and seminal contribution to the American Civil War literature. What author and Civil War historian Donagh Bracken has done is to compile and organize in chronological sequence the reports by newspaper correspondents from both the North and the South with respect to how the journalists wrote about the war for their newspapers back home. Specifically, the reporters for 'The New York Times' like Franc Wilkie, L.L. Crounse and others who were embedded with the northern Armies of Grant, Sherman, McClellan, and other officers and admirals in the Eastern and Western Theatres; and the reporters for such southern newspapers like the 'Charleston Mercury' like Robert Barnwell Rhett Sr. & Jr. and George William Bagy (under the pen name of Hermes). The northern and southern newspaper accounts are placed in juxtaposition with each other making for an inherently fascinating, impressively informative, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, academic, and community library Civil War Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Fascinating perspective on the role journalism plays in guiding the minds and hearts of the public. The same events told from the perspective of the participants. Civil War scholars will want to add this to their collections!

The book x-files "voltage" by Easton Royce was very well written and had many issues and events to deal with including suspence. The story starts off in a small Oklahoma town when a 17 year old boy is struck by lightning and is able to tame electricity...
A must read book for all ages that will get you hooked!

This book is written extremely well throughout. It is the kind of short book that you feel you want to and should just read all through, from front to back. I almost did (if it wasn't for starting it late at night!) It is almost exactly as the episode on TV portrayed it, which is also a good point. Well worth a read even if you're not an x-phile, if you are, then it's a must-read book.

This book is rally good because it has a good climax. The story they give is expression because Darin loved Mrs.Kiveat and he wanted to show her how he feels.Darin has power to make ligthing strike any time he wants.The book is good I recamended.

How is lightning so accurate to kill residents in a small Oklahoma town every time it strikes? Lightning can't do that...can it? Ask Darrin Oswald, a big video game wiz, but a big geek who has a crush on Sharon Kiveat, married to Frank Kiveat. His crush won't go too far...will it? Does he have any paranormal powers? Naw...that's Mulder talk, a boy can't make lightning. Right?

I like this story because I think people everywhere should read it. This story is about a blizzard. This story was good. People should learn to work together.

I like this story because I think people everwhere should read it.This story is about a blizzard. This story was good. People should learn to work together

Yes maam they should read this book because they might want to read about blizzards. I liked to read it because I like to know about blizzards.I liked it because they are playing Simon Says.

My child loved this book. Unlike the other Arthur chapter books, the books from the "Good Sports" series have not been shown on "Arthur" on tv.

I read Arthur And The Pen-Pal Playoff. I think this book is great. I think little boys and girls will want to read this wonderful book. This book is great for nine year olds to read.
Little kids will want to read this book over and over again, it's an adventure. This is a way to keep young ones away from the TV. I do recommend this book.

When Arthur talks up his basketball skills in a letter to a pen-pal that he was assigned to write for class, he feels that he's in over his head. His pen-pal writes back that he's a great basketball player as well and then he learns that his pen-pal is the lunch-lady's grandson. Next thing he knows, Mrs. McGrady (the lunch-lady) arranges them to play a one-on-one basketball game. The thing that's great about this story is that it's a situation that many readers can identify with. Eventually, Arthur's forced to face his situation head-on, but he's not the only one...

This is the last book of the "Arthur Good Sports" series. Whether any more books will be published in this series is not yet known, but the six-year 2001 set make a great addition to the "Arthur" series.

This travel guide made my visit to London a complex experience. It offers all the basic sites, but it also gives you a chance to linger into the less central areas without the feelings of uncertainty.

It is a cool guide. Complete, structured and precise. I went to a different club every night and never was I dissatisfied. The rest of the guide is as informative as the Nightlife section with a wide range from exclusive places to the alternative ones.

I especially appreciate the section on Planning. It made my first trip to New York a pleasure. The guide is well organized and contains valuable information. Its layout is fun with many cool photos.

My class really liked the format of this book, and it encouraged them to find out what this culture was about.

Excellent bite sized tidbits of history presented in an interesting format. Inside you will find a map of the Aztec empire, articles detailing every day life of the Aztec from agriculture, the Spanish invasion, war, the ball game, a guide to the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, a girl talk section, food and classifieds that provide an insight to the culture. What a great series! I purchased a copy as a gift for my 9 year old niece and was so impressed that I am purchasing the whole series for her! What a find! A clever and delightful way to introduce history to youngsters.

I am in the process of doing a school project on the Aztec and this book has all the info I need! I would recomend this book to anyone! It has everything enterusting in it, there is not one boring word!

This is the greatest Malcolm in the Middle episode I have either read or seen on television. This short novel is just like watching an episode on television, and with your imagination seeing all the characters, you forget it is actually a book.

This hilarious story by Pollack (Pollack authored books in this series are funnier than the other authors) is about a taxidermed monkey Malcolm and Reese buy at a tag sale for 69c. It is named Banana Joe, an old man tells them its story of bad luck and death it brings to those who own it before he lets them purchase it. They tell Dewey the story to punish him for squealing on them and then weird stuff starts to happen. Reese and Malcolm quickly discover Banana Joe's stories are not fiction. The monkey is evil and Malcolm knows he will kill them all soon. With the help of Stevie they set out to rid themselves of the evil one before it is too late. Meanwhile Survivor Day (at Camp Crystal Lake, as if this horror book wasn't good enough already, but your going to the setting of Friday the 13th) is fast approaching and as punishment Malcolm and Reese must compete in the same team along with Dewey.

This is an excellent book for readers of all ages, easily the best in the series. It is a short novel so kids or those who do not like reading long novels can read it too. This is an hilarious novel, I will definitely be buying the other books in this series that I have not yet read, as you can never have enough Malcolm in the Middle.

The bad luck charm is a hillarious read. I certainly enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of the TV show, And this book was just as good as the show. I loved it. For school I even wrote a full page book report about this book. I highly recomend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh.

This book is hilarious! I loved the part where Dewey was hitting himself on the head with a spoon singing the Banana Boat song. If you're a big fan of the show like I am, you'll love this book!

The twins in this story are much, much, trouble!! The funny part is when the twins lock Alex out of the house. Then she I think either used her telekinesis or morphed into a puddle and got back into the house using the back door. The best part is at the HAUNTED HOUSE, she scares the twins using her telekinesis to move stuff around. They were so, so, scared!!! Now that taught them a lesson!!

I thought the book was EXCELLENT! I read it during one of my classes and I couldn't stop! I suggest anyone who likes Alex Mack books read it!! -Ashley M.

I liked the title but I think it could have been more creative. THE book really kept me reading though. I always would read it at night after I was suppose to be asleep. And I liked it so much I read it twice! My favorite part was when Alex was in the Hanted House and started to pick up all the furniture aand scare the kids out of their wits!! I love the ALEX MACK SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terry McGinnis patrols Gotham City as Batman. Drawn to an attack on a building, he flies down and sees Shriek. While they fight, Batman has to save a young deaf boy from falling rock. Batman tracks Shriek down, but their fight again involves young Tommy. Part of what makes Shriek evil is his own deafness, and Batman knows that.

Scott Peterson has written and edited several Batman stories for DC Comics. He's also written another Batman Beyond book for young readers: BATMAN BEYOND: NEW HERO IN TOWN.

BATMAN BEYOND: HEAR NO EVIL is written like a comic book. The use of panels and word balloons draw an early reader's eye on, and the layout makes the story fun to read out loud. The art is really well done, showing lots of action and color.

This book is recommended for young fans of the BATMAN BEYOND cartoon.

Terry McGinnis patrols Gotham City as Batman. Drawn to an attack on a building, he flies down and sees Shriek. While they fight, Batman has to save a young deaf boy from falling rock. Batman tracks Shriek down, but their fight again involves young Tommy. Part of what makes Shriek evil is his own deafness, and Batman knows that.

Scott Peterson has written and edited several Batman stories for DC Comics. He's also written another Batman Beyond book for young readers: BATMAN BEYOND: NEW HERO IN TOWN.

Terry McGinnis patrols Gotham City as Batman. Drawn to an attack on a building, he flies down and sees Shriek. While they fight, Batman has to save a young deaf boy from falling rock. Batman tracks Shriek down, but their fight again involves young Tommy. Part of what makes Shriek evil is his own deafness, and Batman knows that.

Scott Peterson has written and edited several Batman stories for DC Comics. He's also written another Batman Beyond book for young readers: BATMAN BEYOND: NEW HERO IN TOWN.

BATMAN BEYOND: HEAR NO EVIL is written like a comic book. The use of panels and word balloons draw an early reader's eye on, and the layout makes the story fun to read out loud. The art is really well done, showing lots of action and color.

This book is recommended for young fans of the BATMAN BEYOND cartoon.

This is such a good book. Its funny how pooh gets rabbit so frustrated when his singing keeps waking rabbit up in the morning. So, when pooh stops walking past his house in the morning, rabbit realizes he misses the silly old tune, when some unexpected visitors drop in for a visit. Sometimes it seems that the littlest things annoy people. But it sometimes takes a different point of view to get over it and realizes how great it can be. I would recommend this book to kids who have brothers and sister because it teaches them how to deal with sibling rivalry. Especially for ages 4-7.

This truly is a great book. It�s about how pooh gets rabbit mad by singing and waking him up in the morning. But when Pooh stops Rabbit miss it. After all that hard work to get him t stoop too. I recommend this book because it teaches you how much you miss something until after its gone. For ages2-6.

An excellent First Reader Book!! This story is about Pooh being his merrily self. He takes a walk each morning singing a silly tune, when he wakes up Rabbit. Rabbit gets so mad. Then the one day Pooh decides not to walk by, Rabbit misses his morning encounters with Pooh. This is a very cute story with catchy words. It is also very funny!! My two-year old son laughs histerically everytime we read this book. He loves it and takes it everywhere we go. In the back of the book is a picture and word matching game with objects in the story. There is also a word letter recognition activity. A great educational book with lots of humor and fun!