Author: Genyc79

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American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America’s Deadliest Drug Epidemic – John Temple

On By Genyc79In American History, Opioid CrisisLeave a comment

It is no secret that America has been embroiled in an epidemic regarding opioid addiction. But in 2024, the country saw a decrease in overdose deaths which provides hope that the crisis will be further contained. Despite the positive trend, the battle continues against the synthetic opioid fentanyl which has become the drug of choice due to its strong addiction inducing properties. In 1874, C. R. Wright, a physician at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, first synthesized heroin. However, he could not have known what would exist in 2025. In the state of Florida, “pill mills” popped up across the state as addicts obtained their fix of the euphoria producing narcotics. These small circular pills inside of a prescription bottle were initially misunderstood but caught the attention of Derik Nolan and twin brothers Chris and Jeff George who created the blueprint for the mills through their business venture American Pain. This is an investigative report into its rise and fall by author John Temple.

Although the George brothers and Nolan did not create the opioid crisis, what they did with American Pain was instrumental in the exponential growth of pill mills. But what is shocking is that none of them had any medical training and were not licensed physicians. In fact, they knew nothing about running a medical clinic or the drugs that customers would kill to obtain. However, they did have a passion for making money and that thirst would drive them to create an empire that was nothing short of horrifying. Temple introduces us to the main players, and their back stories come with dark aspects. Nolan survives family trauma which left me speechless. Upon meeting the George brothers, his fortunes change and he becomes centrally involved in Chris’s new venture into the pain management arena. And when their brainchild named American Pain opens for business, everything changes in ways no one could have predicted. Temple takes us on a wild ride complete with addiction, money, sex, and the attention of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”).

The clinic was set up but the guys realized they needed doctors and began recruiting physicians who had no qualms about prescribing pain medication. And the way in which they find the doctors left me shaking my head. It is as no frills as one would expect. But once the doctors arrive and the parking lot begins to fill up, the book takes a much darker turn. Between the excessive amounts of pills, the behavior of addicts in and outside of the clinic, and the effect on residents of other states, American Pain transformed into a menace to society. However, readers will be shocked to learn how the law initially viewed their operation. And that stance extended to other states as well. Frankly, as Temple shows, America was slow to react to a crisis brewing right under its nose.

The success the boys enjoyed provided extensive wealth, notoriety, and a steady stream of addicts in need of their fix. But soon people begin to take notice and ask questions. The media and law enforcement soon surmise that all is not right with this clinic and its line of daily visitors. And when the FBI enters the picture, we see the writing on the wall. But their downfall happens in slow motion in a step-by-step process which reveals the arrogance and recklessness which should have been raising alarm bells for anyone connected to American Pain. And when other clinics begin to pop up copying their platform, their response and the events that follow should have also served as a warning that they were approaching the edge of a cliff. Unbeknownst to them, the FBI and DEA had already set into motion the operation that would pull everything apart at the seams. And when the fallout occurs, everyone wants off the sinking ship. However, once section that gave me chills is the role of Dr. Cynthia Cadet and the dark effects of the prescriptions she wrote. What Temple shows is chilling and after finishing the book I continued to think about it.

Once the clinic falls apart and the American Pain team is face to face with the reality that they are not going home, the wheels of justice spin in overdrive as defendants turn state’s evidence and admit their role in the spread of addiction and death. They also face the families of the people whose lives were lost to the black hole of addiction. The tragedy of Stacy Mason as told by the author is only one example of the heartbreak families endured as the crisis hit home. His mother Alice helps clench the outcome towards the end of the story as the government proves its case. Tina Reed emerges as a voice of reason through her crusade to create a statewide database to monitor drug usage and distribution should not be overlooked. These women from small towns in America are a fraction of the list of mothers whose children succumbed to opioid dependence.

American Pain is eventually shut down but the crisis is far from over. Derik Nolan is the most talkative of them all and is frank in the book about his actions. But that in no way excuses what he did. He, the George brothers, and staff at the clinic operated a business which thrived on fraud. Today, doctors are under tighter controls when prescribing opioids and lessons of the past have been learned. But the fight is not over and the temptation to earn significant revenue by exploiting the desperation of others never disappears. This book by John Temple is eye-opening, shocking, and upsetting, but it is also a case study of what happens when regulation is non-existent and greed is left unchecked.

“Of course we did it. The f–ed-up thing is that we were allowed to do it. That they let us do it. Why were two guys like me and Chris allowed to set up a business like this? When we said we wanted to set up a pain clinic, they shoulda been like, ‘Umm . . . No.’ Or, ‘Let’s see your criminal record.’ When we said we wanted to order $100,000 worth of pain medication, they shoulda said no.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01448QLIS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyons Press, ‎ September 29, 2015

Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography – Staci Robinson

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

In October 1994, the late rap star and actor Tupac Amaru Shakur (1971-1996) appeared for an interview with journalist Ed Gordon of Black Entertainment Television (“BET”). During their conversation, Gordon asked Shakur where he saw himself in ten years. The response was “I just want to be alive”. Two years later he was gone at the age of twenty-five. Twenty-nine years have passed since his death, yet we continue to speak of him, ask about him, and shake our heads at his premature death. A young Black male lost to gun violence is a recurring nightmare which has replayed itself in trouble neighborhoods across America. However, in his short life, Shakur also touched millions of people through his music and his roles in feature films. But there is always more to the story than the flashy jewelry and perfect smiles before the cameras. Author Staci Robinson examines Shakur’s life in a biography which is both thorough and haunting.

Shakur’s story begins long before his birth, and his story cannot be told without discussing his mother Afeni Shakur (1947-2016). As a member of the Black Panther Party, Afeni became well-known by law enforcement and found herself fighting for her freedom during a criminal trial in New York State Supreme Court. Her arrest, incarceration and quest for freedom set the stage for the way she would raise her future son who arrives in June 1971. There are feature films, documentaries, and books about Shakur’s death, but I still found interesting tidbits of information in Robinson’s account. Further, the narrative provides a very intimate look into their lives. And while I read, I could feel the frustration and despair which engulfed him with each relocation and humiliating experience due to their mother’s lack of a steady income. And the absence of a father only added to the anger and grief.

Despite their dire situations, there are bright moments in the book. From an early age, Shakur was talented and had an uncanny ability to connect with people. In 1984, he embarks on his journey to fame with a performance at the Apollo Theater. This part of his life is often overlooked but as Robinson explains how he landed the role of Travis an adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s (1930-1965) ‘A Raisin in the Sun‘, I was able to see that the roots for his future success in the entertainment industry were being planted. And though several years would pass before his breakthrough as part of the rap group Digital Underground, a star was born. But I also noticed something else in the book which I had not previously focused on. As we follow Shakur through his pre-teen and teen years, we are also able to see his capacity for absorbing knowledge and deep appreciation for the arts. His mind was a sponge that soaked up anything and everything. His time at the Baltimore School of Performing Arts where he meets lifelong friend Jada Pinkett Smith is one the brightest moments in the story. But the softer side of Shakur stands in stark contrast to the rap star later murdered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The family’s move to Marin City, California opened new doors for Shakur and paved the way for his life in the music industry. But it was not without its hiccups and the long journey he makes to finding his footing is interesting and highlights the role luck plays in our lives. Of course, Shakur was incredibly talented, but meeting the right people at the right time always pays dividends. And when he meets Leila Steinberg, Atron Gregory and the late Shock G (1963-2021), the story shifts gears as the Tupac we came to know begins to take shape. The story is a roller coaster ride in which Tupac befriends other artists, dates celebrities, breaks into Hollywood and finds himself on the wrong side of the law. And throughout the story, I felt chills each time he told someone he would not live past twenty-five. This dark premonition hangs over the story, and when he is shot and wounded at Quad Studio in Manhattan on November 30, 1994, his premonition is no longer brushed aside.

The Shakur family did not have money, but they did have an endless supply of love for each other, and that is on full display in the book. And despite Afeni’s addiction to crack cocaine which is a dark section in the book, Tupac always loves his mother, and family is there for each other until his last moments. In December 1994, Shakur was convicted in New York State Supreme Court of sexual abuse in a case with many unanswered questions. Shakur always maintained his innocence and was acquitted of far more serious charges, but the experience and his incarceration weighed heavily on him and played crucial roles in the artist who found a new home at Death Row Records. Family is there to lean on throughout it all, but we can also see that he is on a collision course with a dark fate. Eventually he is released on appeal, and the author clarifies exactly how he was bailed out. Marion “Suge” Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records at the time, did play an instrumental role in helping Shakur obtain his freedom, but the full story is a bit more complex and sometimes misunderstood.

Once free and in California, Tupac does not waste time and hits the studio with a vengeance and creates one of the most successful rap albums in history, ‘All Eyez on Me’. Following a trip to New York City in late August 1996, Knight asks Shakur to go to Las Vegas for the Mike Tyson & Bruce Seldon boxing match. The trip should have been routine, but it would be the last time anyone would see Shakur alive. Robinson goes through the series of events culminating with the gunfire from a white Cadillac which pulled alongside Knight and Shakur as they waited at a traffic light on the Las Vegas strip on September 7. The aftermath and scene at the hospital is discussed and the story concludes with his death on September 13. Readers interested in the shooting and pending trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis, will need to look elsewhere. Robinson does not discuss conspiracy theories or the murder investigations. Nor does she discuss the East and West Coast rivalry in the rap music industry in detail. And she made the right call as that would have resulted in the story veering far off course. I also felt this way after thinking about the other aspects of his life which are not discussed at full length here. There are things I wish had been discussed but I also realized that had she done so, the text would have been extensive and required a multi-volume biography. The author included just enough information to keep the story moving at the right pace. And the most important moments are captured in the narrative. When I reflected on the book after I was finished reading it, I realized that some parts of his life could be a book of their own. Robinson’s book is balanced, with the right mix of Shakur’s gifts, his flaws, the highs, and lows of his life, and all that came with his ascension to stardom. This is a good look at the life of the immortal and infinitely controversial Tupac Shakur. 

 “I‘m not saying I’ll change the world, but I guarantee I’ll spark the brain that will change the world. So keep your head up. Do what you gotta do. And then inside of you, I’ll be reborn.” – Tupac Shakur 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BTLC8NTX
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown, October 24, 2023

Chief Joseph & The Flight of the Nez Pearce: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy – Kent Nerburn

On By Genyc79In American HistoryLeave a comment

Recently, I have found myself curious about Native American history and discovered this book by author Kent Nerburn regarding Chief Joseph (1840-1904) and the Nez Pearce Tribe, whose experience is an overlooked part of American history. Regrettably, I was not aware of their story and the chain of events which resulted in their re-settlement in North America. However, this book tells the tale in full detail, and Nerburn has given us a book that separates fact from fiction while revealing the intimate views and feelings of both native tribes and officials of the United States Government.

I must warn readers that this book is not an easy read. The author presents the story well and the narrative flows smoothly, but the content within is bound to stir emotions. One will be required to accept the fact that meetings between Native Americans and representatives of the United States were not always pleasant, and violence was a common occurrence. But to understand how we reach that point in the story, the author explains the arrival of White Christians who believe it is their life’s mission to convert the natives to more “civilized” ways of living. And while some natives do adapt to the European customs, others were content in the ways of their ancestors and their reaction to the ways of whites which they saw as unfair, provoked a violent rebuke which sets the stage for future events. Additionally, the difference in opinion on how land is occupied becomes the crux of the story as the Nez Pearce yearn for their home while being moved from one outpost to another.

The full story of how the Nez Pearce became nomads within their own continent is complex, but the author thoroughly explains the series of events which changed a continent. Multiple factors are at play, but consist of failed treaties, division within the Nez Pearce, the discovery of gold in California, and bloodthirsty troops in the United States Military who wanted nothing more than to exterminate the native tribes. Famed General William T. Sherman (1820-1891) makes an appearance in the story, and his words are nothing short of haunting. In 1863, both parties meet for a treaty which fails to produce positive results, and the Nez Pearce leaders decided that they will not abandon their homeland. This is the turning point in the story when their lives are altered forever, and we bear witness to their flight across North America. 

The flight of the Nez Pearce at first is a journey to avoid confrontations with white settlers and soldiers. Assisted by Chief Looking Glass (1832-1877), the tribe sets it sight north in the hopes that American troops will leave them alone. However, Joseph soon realizes that running is futile, and a rift soon develops between the two. Sadly, two factions form within one group, and each decision has long-reaching consequences in the story. And while they debate the best course of action, American soldiers quickly advance and soon all hell breaks loose as the two sides engage in deadly combat. Joseph would personally feel the agony of war, and the horrors of the conflict are never far behind. The descriptions of acts committed by both sides will remove any doubt as to how violent North America was. Frankly, it was a very dark time in this nation’s history, and this section of the book will be difficult to accept but this is the reality of the hell brought on by war.

Eventually Joseph realizes that war is only going to lead to extinction and makes the difficult decision to agree with American terms. But this is far from the end of the story, and their lives become even more bizarre as the United States Government shuffles them around as if they were pieces on a chessboard. It is both bewildering and bizarre, and the reaction from residents as the Nez Pearce travels from town to the next takes on a carnival like atmosphere which is surreal. But it also reveals that the United States Government did not have a long-term plan for them. The sub-human conditions endured by the tribe are just awful and heartbreaking. And although Joseph and the Nez Pearce do accomplish their goal from the beginning, the personal sacrifices made by all of them are shocking. Joseph personally suffers enormous loss which left me speechless. By the end of the story, the Nez Pearce are a battered and broken people. But they still exist today which is more than can be said for other tribes which are extinct.

History is not always pleasant or uplifting, but it must be understood and acknowledged. And there is no American history without Native Americans. North America was once an uncharted and violent continent home to many but owned by none. The creation of the United States changed things in ways no one saw coming. And though we are long way from the events in this book, we can continue to learn the stories of Native Americans and why their history is as important as any other, and how it shaped the nation called the United States of America. This is the story of the Nez Pearce and their ordeal which should never be forgotten. 

“The real story, the true story, is every bit as poignant and every bit as dramatic. But it is obscured by the myth because the myth is so powerful and so perfectly suited to our American need to find nobility rather than tragedy in our past. It is also a myth of our own devise, and therein lies a story.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FCKH2O
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne, October 13, 2009

All the Young Men: A Memoir of Love, AIDS & Chosen Family in the American South – Ruth Coker Burks with Kevin Carr O’Leary

On By Genyc79In American History, Autobiography, JournalLeave a comment

I was browsing recommendations when I saw this book which received a near five-star rating on Amazon. Knowing that obtaining a rating that high was not easy, I decided to take a further look, and in the process, I discovered a gem of a book which I could not stop reading. The location for the story is in Arkansas, in the heart of the American South, or the “Bible Belt”. Ruth Coker Burks starts off the story with a visit to the past where a young man named Jimmy is declining to the effects of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (“AIDS”) and is treated like a leper by the nursing staff. Coker refuses to sit idling while Jimmy enters the final stage of life and performs actions unheard of at the time. And this begins a long journey into the AIDS epidemic and the struggle to treat and bury the young gay men diagnosed with the killer disease during the height of the crisis.

Readers old enough to remember the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) and AIDS, will recall the fear and paranoia which gripped the United States. What was originally seen as a “gay cancer” in San Francisco, became a nationwide threat when doctors learned that the disease did not discriminate based on sexual orientation or ethnic background. AIDS was equally destructive to every section of society it reached. I must warn readers that this book will trigger a range of emotions, including anger, joy, shock, and grief. And if you lost someone close to the virus, it will be like a step back into time to a dark period when answers were short in supply. Coker goes through each, and learns that in the Deep South, religion trumps all else.

In addition to her occupation as a nurse, Coker is also a single mother to daughter Allison who becomes not only a dependable assistant, but also a source of wise words when her mother is feeling conflicted. But the friends they make provided them with a second family who treat them with the love and kindness close relatives fail to deliver. However, her family drama takes a back seat to the lives of the gay men who have been disowned by their families, ostracized by society, and even refused the dignity of a formal sendoff when they die. Coker refused to accept this and morphs into a guardian angel whose devotion and relentless pursuit of assistance for the men is nothing short of incredible. But that does not mean the journey was easy. In fact, there are moments in the book which are beyond infuriating and will leave readers shaking their heads. And of course, there are secrets in Arkansas, some of which reminded me of James Baldwin’s novel ‘Giovanni’s Room‘. However, the bright moments arrive in the men we meet whose larger-than-life personalities are momentary reprieve from the looming grim reaper. And as I read, I found myself becoming acquainted with them as well as they told their stories and accepted their fates which they knew would end in death.

Life for gay men diagnosed with AIDS was incredibly difficult but there are other people in the book who provided help to Coker when needed. They are in the shadows, but the influence is undeniable, and Coker was not afraid to lean on them when needed. Their actions are not the focus of the book, but they helped in ways which were crucial at a time when being seen publicly with an AIDS patient was taboo. The story of Ryan White (1971-1990), included in the narrative, is just one example of long reach of HIV and how a virus reshaped an entire decade and changed world history. And sadly, in Coker’s account, we see health professionals refusing to even set foot in a room with a patient afflicted by the virus. Today it seems unthinkable that a doctor would refuse to treat an AIDS patient, but in the time period when but in the time when current information was scant, this was the reality. I felt Coker’s rage as I read of her encounters with hospital staff who wanted no part of any AIDS patients. But those encounters only fueled her resolve to help even more, and she pulls off successful projects and even earns an invitation to the inaugural ball of fellow Arkansas native and friend, President William J. Clinton.

To say that Coker suffered personal setbacks due to her goal would be an understatement. There is immense personal sacrifice, and another person may have broken under the strain. However, she continues to move forward determined to ensure as many people as possible are protected from HIV and cared for after a positive diagnosis. And in the process, she left a legacy of compassion and humanity which is on display here in one of the best books I have ever read about the AIDS epidemic. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085MMH732
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press, February 22, 2023

Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s First Frontier – Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

On By Genyc79In American History, BiographiesLeave a comment

In two weeks, the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, with family dinners, the National Football League on television, and memories to last a lifetime. History books used in schools long held the notion that the meetings between Native Americans and European settlers were harmonious and full of warmth. The image its projects is heartwarming and removes the dark truth behind a clash of cultures which saw horrific violence, death, destruction, and the extinction of Indigenous people. Settlers courageous enough to venture in unsettled areas faced life or death decisions daily, and in some cases, they paid the ultimate price for their curiosity. Among these settlers in search of new territory was Daniel Boone (1734-1820), a frontiersman who is credited with westward expansion resulting in the settlement of what is known today as the State of Kentucky. This book is a discussion of his life and the turbulent continent of North America by authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. And to call it eye-opening would be an understatement. This book is must-read.

Boone’s name is known in American history. However, the full story is far more complex than the snippets provided in textbooks. The story told here is not a “feel good” account but a raw and unfiltered look at hardships of life during the 1700s and the deadly battles which raged as white settlers pushed further west. I must warn readers that this book is vivid, containing graphic descriptions of battlefield injuries and post-mortem desecration by both Native Americans and the new explorers. Scalping is a well-known custom of Native tribes but the extent to which remains were altered surpasses the depravity of the head wounds one would receive on the losing end of a conflict. Boone would come to have his own experiences battling Native tribes but before we reach the part of the book where blood is spilled, we are provided with a recap of the Boone family and Daniel’s upbringing.

A sizeable portion of the story takes place before the creation of the United States of American on July 4, 1776. Of course, the war is discussed, but it is a back story to Boone’s account. The North America examined by the authors was a land of open territory home to Native Americans. However, the Indigenous people who lived here had a vastly different view of land, and this difference in cultures would set the stage for the bloody battles to follow. I had previously read books which focused on the American frontier and the expansion of the United States, and while those stories were eye-opening, this book is just as gripping, and there were sections of the story which gave me chills. 

As I read, I noticed that the version of Boone we have come to know is different from the real Daniel Boone. We see in the story that the real Danie Boone did not see himself as a folk hero but as a frontiersman with a deep understanding of the complexities of Native American tribes and the dangers of being captured by the Indians. Proof of this comes from Boone’s own ordeal following his capture by a Native Americans. The surreal story is revisited, and it provides us with an inside look at the experiences of people taken as property. Boone lived to tell his tale, but others did not. Grisly fates awaited those chosen for death, and those scenes rival the battlefield atrocities we learn of as the story progresses. And both the tensions and acts of vengeance increase tenfold through the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 and Battle of Blue Licks in 1782. Boone was not at the first battle, but the latter would have tragic consequences for Boone and his family. The role of Boone’s brother Squire (1744-1815) was a curveball I did not see coming and left me speechless. The same applies with brother Edward “Neddie” Boone (1740-1780). And at home was Boone’s wife Rebecca (1739-1813) who increases their family size repeatedly throughout the story. This is significant because the amount of time Boone and other explorers were away from home was extensive, and without the aid of telephones and other means of quick communication, information traveled slowly, sometimes taking months to arrive. Frankly, Rebecca was left at home and more than once believed Boone had died. Today it seems unthinkable but in the 1700s, this was the reality of life as an explorer.

Eventually, the American colonists declare war on their British rulers, and the movement for independence kicks into high gear. Although the story here does not focus on the war extensively, it is a factor in the story. Further, the settlement of Boonesborough comes into focus, and the showdown Boone has with Native American tribes lead by the Shawnee in September 1778. It is a pivotal moment in the story, and it help to cement his legacy in American history. Additionally, there are other figures in the story who were also in charge of campaigns against the native tribes, and their roles in the reshaping of North American should not be overlooked such as Richard Henderson, the man behind the ill-fated Transylvania Purchase in March 1775 and Brigadier General George Rogers Clark (1752-1818) of the Virginia Militia. 

Following the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the story winds down and Boone life enters the final stages in the 1820s. Surprisingly, for a man who experienced a staggering amount of physical and emotional pain, he lived longer than most of the people around him but never forgot the pain which came from the tremendous losses his family suffered as North America was engulfed by conflict. The United States Government eventually succeeded in claiming lands once inhabited by Native Americans, and in the process, many became victims of extinction. These dark chapters in American history should not be forgotten and when we give thanks for the lives we have, we should remember those who died in violent conflicts across the continent. Highly recommended. 

ASIN: B08BYC44VP
Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin’s Press, April 20, 2021

 

Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper – Lyudmila Pavlichenko

On By Genyc79In Autobiography, World War IILeave a comment

When I saw this title in my recommendation list, I paused for a moment while focusing intently on the cover. As a history lover, World War II (1939-1945) always fascinates me, but I also realized that the material I tend to read typically comes from the American point of view or from those who survived the horrors of the Third Reich. This book was a change of pace and allowed me to read about the war from the view of a soldier in the Soviet Union‘s Red Army by the name of Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko (1916-1974). This is her story of how she joined the war effort and became one of the Soviet Union’s deadliest snipers.

The story begins in her native Ukraine in 1916 during World War I, and her childhood post-war is ordinary. But when she is introduced to a rifle, shooting becomes an addictive hobby. However, her life a sniper is still years away and she explains the changes in her personal life including her first husband Alexei and son Rostislav Alekseevich Pavlichenko (1932-2007). But everything changes for all of them when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 in “Operation Barbarossa“. Lyudmila answers the call and joins the military as a sniper determined to defeat the German menace. At this point in the story, the book changes gears as the ugliness of warfare takes center stage. Readers may find her candid discussions of the kill shots she takes to be shocking but it is crucial to remember that the war had affected and shaped her, and Germany atrocities against Soviet men and women had conditioned them to believe that Nazi deaths were the only options. In between her kill shots, she also suffers battlefield wounds, and one incident nearly claims her life. She revisits each one highlighting the danger snipers faced when out on their missions. Frankly, death was everywhere and I felt chills as she recalls the missions.

In between military missions, briefings and keeping her skills sharp, she also finds love in second husband Alexei Kitsenko. The relationship blossoms despite the chaos around them and their roles as snipers, but a series of events shatter everything between them, and as I read I could feel the grief in her words. The section about Alexei is both shocking and heartbreaking, and it also reinforces the words that war is hell. However, a war was still brewing, and Lyudmila’s job was far from finished. She was determined to leave her mark, and it is apparent from the awards she received and her record that she accomplished that goal. In the Soviet Union she becomes a star and is chosen to lead a delegation to visit the United States. Prior to reading this book, I had heard of Pavlichenko’s name, but her story was not familiar with me, and the section about her trip abroad was a surprise. But this is why I love reading as much as I do because there is always something to learn. And when visited America, it was the United States that something to learn.

Upon arriving in America she meets the first couple, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) and wife Eleanor (1884-1962). I enjoyed this part of the book, and learning about her experiences in Washington was fascinating. In the years before the Cold War, the Soviet delegation receives star treatment in America where they are seen as “ambassadors” of good will approved by Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) himself. There are humorous moments during the visit and some moments which are bewildering, but it is her friendship with the first lady that stands out. It also continued after the war as readers will learn. Following the visit to America, it was off to England where Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965) and wife Clementine (1885-1977) were waiting for their Soviet guests. The British visit is equally as interesting, and as I read, I thought of the differences in culture and how we as people find common ground. The west was genuinely curious about these Soviet troops and in particular a female sniper which was unheard of in American and British military circles. Pavlichenko was a rarity, but she was appreciated back home, and when the delegation returns to the Soviet Union, she is summoned by Stalin himself who wants to know all about her trip. However, the meeting results in changes she did not expect but nothing negative.

After her service in the field, Pavlichenko is assigned other functions to assist the war effort until the Nazi defeat on April 30, 1945. We follow her after the war when she returns to civilian life and begins to reclaim the parts of her past the war had prevented her from embracing. And although she survived the war, she did not escape unscathed and carried both mental and physical scars with her. But throughout everything she remains humble and tells her story of a young woman from Kyiv (Kiev) who went on to became one of the deadliest snipers in Russian history. And I enjoyed reading her autobiography. Sadly, on October 10, 1974, Lyudmila Pavlichenko died at the age of fifty-eight following a stroke and is buried in Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, alcohol, and physical wounds combined to take their toll later in her life. Pavlichenko died prematurely but during her life, she served her nation as it fought for its survival in the deadliest war in history.

“To become a sniper, it is not only important to be able to shoot accurately. One other thing is important – a cold hatred for the enemy, so emotions are subordinated to calculation. Here the iron will of the soldier plays a role. Snipers did not take their eyes of the enemy by day or night, and information in reconnaissance log-books would often be verified through snipers’ operations. A sniper had to know by heart every bump in the ground, every bush in front of his or her position. ” – Lyudmila Pavlichenko

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B7MGZ4B
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenhill Books,  January 24, 2020

American Caesar: Douglas McArthur (1880-1964) – William Manchester

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

On November 11, 2025, the United States will observe Veteran’s Day and  pay its respect to the nation’s military veterans. Eighty years have now passed since the conclusion of World War II. In Europe, Allied Forces battled the Axis powers, fueled by German Chancellor Adolf Hitler‘s (1889-1945) quest for world domination and in the Pacific, Japan was aging its own war as it sought to spread its influence across Asia. Allied resistance to the Pacific was fierce and important as the European campaign, and at the helm was one of the American military’s greatest leaders, General Douglas McArthur (1880-1964). Today there are buildings, airports and streets named for him, but who was this legendary figure in military circles? Author William Manchester (1922-2004) explores his life in this extensive biography that peels back the layers to reveal the man behind the dark sunglasses and corn cob smoking pipe. 

In American military history, McArthur’s name is firmly cemented. Previously, I reviewed H.W. Brand’s ‘The General v. The President: McArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War‘, which focuses on the fallout between McArthur and United States President Harry S.  Truman (1884-1972). The complicated story of the two powerful figures is also told here by Manchester, and is a crucial part of McArthur’s fall from grace. But before we reach that point, his icredible life takes center stage, and from the beginning I felt myself pulled into the biography. Manchester was a noted historian and a meticulous writer, who had a talent for bringing history to life with vivid clarity and smooth narratives. Readers should be aware that this book is long and contains well over seven hundred pages of text. But contained within it is a wealth of information about an iconic figure. 

Early in the book, it becomes clear that the military is a crucial part of the McArthur family’s life. The role of McArthur’s father Arthur McArthur, Jr. (1845-1912) is firm, and young Douglas proves to be a brilliant student and blessed with high intellect. But no one could have predicted the name he would make for himself later in life. As we follow the young McArthur from one continent to the next, we witness his gains in battlefield experience, exposure to cultures abroad and ascension in military rank. The young bachelor also finds love in the story, and second wife Jean (1898-2000) would prove to be the rock he needed as he moved through life. The addition of son Arthur, IV introduces fatherhood into the story and throughout the book, McArthur embraces his role as protector of his immediately family and a series of islands in the Pacific known as the Philippines. The story behind his god-like status on the islands is explained thoroughly, and includes his actions during World War II (1939-1945) as Japan ramped up its attacks on the small islands. Although Japan was defeated, the threat from Tokyo was real and the McArthurs faced danger more than once before the Allies began to turn the tide. The discussion regarding the war forms a sizeable section of the book for obvious reasons. When Japan does surrender, McArthur also plays a pivotal role in post-war events but there was another looming threat on the horizon also in Asia. 

On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops poured across the 38th Parallel into South Korea igniting the Korean War. The White House sprang into action, and McArthur once again would be called into service. Korea proves to be far more complicated than World War II, and the reasons why are explored by Manchester without taking the focus away from McArthur. However, we also see the rift developing between Truman and the famed general. And when Truman signs NSC-68, 1950, more confusion is added to the mix. For McArthur the situation was simple and he would do what was needed to defeat North Korea. But the White House and America had no desire for another world war. But what happens to the life long combat soldier who has no more wars to fight?Soon a major issue developes and readers will notice that McArthur is somehat of a “Frankenstein” created by the system he served. And when he acts on his own, the stage is set for a showdown with the White House. I understood Truman’s decision regarding McArthur’sremoval but I did question his methods.  Once home in the United States, the story takes another turn as McArthur becomes a national celebrity with public opinion on his side. But it does not last long and the impact to his image is significant. The story is surreal at times and the differences in which he was revered and loathed are striking. By autumn 1953, the world wars were over and McArthur was already back in America, living out his days quietly as his health began to decline. 

As the 1960s approached, McArthur had begun to decline physically, and in the story, we can see the end is near. But even as he was confronting his own mortality, he sill saw himself as the general of service and there is an interesting meeting with President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) which sent chills down my spine. McArthur would also have a similar discussion with President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973), and we can only wonder what would have happened had his advice been followed. In the spring of 1964, his health turns sharply for the worse and his last days draw near. The book ends with a somber note at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland as slips away but his death felt strange after a voluminous account of his life which is intertwined with world history. However, we are all mortal and although he is gone, his memory lives on in our rememberance of his name and accomplishments. He truly was the “American Caesar”. 

“People grow old only by deserting their ideals,” MacArthur had written, paraphrasing another writer. “Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.… You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, so long are you young. When… your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then and then only are you grown old—and then, indeed, as the ballad says, you just fade away.”

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2008

Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, The Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber – John Boessenecker

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

While browsing through my recommendations, I stumbled across this book by author John Boessenecker about Charles  E. Boles (1829-1888)  whom we know as “Black Bart”, a stagecoach robber who executed brazen heists in the United States during the late 1800s. I knew Bart’s name, but his life story was foreign to me, so I decided to purchase this book and learn what I could about a stickup artist who remains infamous in American history. However, the book is not simply a story about a brazen thief, but a story about a complicated man whose life was mysterious and confusing.

Boles’s exploits are certainly a source of fascination, but his personal life is equally captivating. In fact, readers may find the story behind the robber to be even more interesting than his theft of lock boxes from stagecoaches. Boesseenecker carefully traces the Boles’s family history from Shelfanger, England to North America. And though Boles would call the continent home for most of his life, there is a surprise twist regarding his residency in America. His early life is typical of the era, and even when he meets his wife Mary, there is nothing to indicate what would come later. The story moves along nicely, but when the American Civil War erupts, Boles’s life changes permanently.

Prior to reading this book, I was not aware that Boles had served in the Union Army. The author ‘s discussion of Bole’s military service is interesting and highlights the varied experiences of Union troops. Hunger, fatigue and battlefield injuries are part of the story and Boles suffered all three. And like other soldiers, he had left his family at home while he aided the Union effort. In hindsight, it is likely that his time in the military provided the physical and mental training which he employ later as he moved across America executing staged heists. But how did he do this with a family at home? Well, there is an explanation for it, and I was speechless at this point in the book. I can only guess what Boles’s reasons were for his decisions regarding his family, but it suffices to say that he was a strange character. And once he embarks on his career in theft, the story becomes even more surreal.

Black Bart became famous due to the press coverage of the stagecoach heists, but Boles’s identity was a mystery to law enforcement. Further, his nomadic tendencies made tracking him even more difficult. He became ghostlike, moving around from place to place with no final destination in sight. However, the author does a thorough job of compiling a timeline of his movements following his discharge from the Union Army. To be clear, there are parts of Boles’s life which remain a mystery. When his parents pass away in the early 1870s, it seems that it at this point where Black Bart began to take shape and Charles Boles no longe exist. But despite his peculiar nature and social quirks, Boles was highly intelligent, completely literate and in pristine physical condition. And Boessenecker provides a simple yet effective explanation for Boles’s aversion to horses. His heists are daring and comical, but attracted the growing attention of law enforcement who became determined to get the man known as “Black Bart”.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the walls are closing in and that Boles’s luck will run out. California proves to be the end of the line for him, and his downfall is swift but not without its flair. He soon finds himself at San Quentin prison for a multi-year stretch. And when he leaves several years later, it seems as if Black Bart will once again wreak havoc across America. However, the story soon ends, not because the author stopped writing but because Bart disappeared. Without any advanced notice or signs, Boles vanished into thin air never to be seen again. To this day, it is unknown what happened to him. Of course there are rumors, but no official account of his death exists. We may never know what happened to Black Bart, but we do know what he accomplished in life, for better or worse and this book is a valuable record of his  life. This account by John Boessenecker is a solid look at the unorthodox life of the “gentleman bandit” who became the most prolific stagecoach robber in American history.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2023

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – David Grann

On By Genyc79In Investigative Report, True CrimeLeave a comment

I was in the search for a new book and saw this title by David Grann which caught my attention because I knew that I had seen the name before. Then I realized that a Hollywood film of the same name had been released starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro. I have yet to see the film and in hindsight, having read the book first may be a bonus. The movie is on my watchlist and if it is close to the story told within, I can expect a powerful film from director Martin Scorsese. Prior to reading the book, I was not familiar with the Osage murders in Oklahoma during the early 1900s. As a result, I learned the story for the first time, and after finishing the book, I felt anger and sadness. But despite the range of emotions triggered by the story, the book is excellent and the suspense kept me glued to the book as I learned the story of a dark time in Oklahoma’s history.

The book begins with the disappearance of Anna Brown (1885-1921) on May 21, 1921. We soon learn about Anna’s family history and the Osage tribe to which they belong. Her sister Molly Burkhart (1886-1937) and husband Ernest Burkhart (1892-1986) quickly emerge as the central figures in the story, and begin a desperate search for Anna. However, there is more than meets the eye, and to understand Anna’s fate, the author explains the Osage tribe and their relocation from Kansas to Oklahoma by the United States Government. The move proved to be a blessing and a curse but the statistics regarding the Osage’s financial status left me speechless. I was not prepared for the jaw dropping numbers presented by the author. But it was easy to see how they became targets for the violence which arrived at their doorsteps. The situation is made more complex with the mixed marriages between Osage women and white men. Today the couples would not earn a second glance but in the 1920s, Native Americans were still sadly viewed as “savages”. Statements by Ernest’s aunt in the book reflect this mindset. At first, the mixed marriages provided me with a sense of hope but as the layers are pulled back on murders, the plot thickens in ways I did not expect. And this resulted in me wanting to read even more of the book as the saga continued to unfold.

Every story regarding the dark side of human nature has an antagonist, and this book is no different. Here, that person is William K. Hale (1874-1962). It did not take long to realize that Hale was a strange character, and he cast a dark cloud over the story. I could feel the shift in the mood through the author’s words as I learned of Hale’s background and his actions regarding the Osage. The feeling I had about Hale was right on the mark. In Washington, D.C., the Osage murders did not go unnoticed and the Bureau of Investigation, later renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), found itself involved with the case after its director J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1792) dispatched special agents under Tom White (1881-1971) to solve the case and bring the murderers to justice. White had his hands full but soon learns that there are dark secrets in the Osage case, and his investigation also highlights the mistakes made by local police. But he gets a break when the home of local resident Bill Smith implodes. The fallout from the collapse of the Smith house soon leads White on another path that goes into the heart of the Osage murders, and what he learns will leave readers reeling. If the story had you on the edge of your seat up until this point,  you had better hold on tight because it soon takes another turn into the dark.

At first, I was not sure how the Smith case would help break the murder investigation, but like a series of dominoes, people begin to fall, and the truth begins to come out, and I could not believe what I read. The tragedy of the Osage tribe is heartbreaking, and the way in which they were targeted is repulsive. Actions of those cursed with greed highlight the power money has over people and the lengths to which people are willing to go to obtain wealth. However, justice prevails and there are prison sentences handed out. And while they may seem light to some readers, I was both surprised and grateful that justice was done in a time when being Native American still provoked disgust and discrimination. But just when you think the story is over, the author takes us another ride in the epilogue where he discusses a disturbing aspect of the Osage murders that the police and FBI have not fully addressed. And the question emerges; how many murders have occurred which were never solved? And how long did the crimes occur? And did the perpetrators have the protection of local officials? The full truth will never be known, but the author presents a chilling case for a far more disturbing trend which had developed in Osage territory.

After I finished the book, I had a moment of silence for Anna Brown and the Osage tribe members whose lives were taken due to greed and vindictiveness. Their story is a tragic tale of Native Americans whose lives were upended, improved and then imperiled. We are unable to go back in time and correct the wrongs done to them, but we can honor their legacy by never forgetting their story. I did not know what to expect when I began this book but it has become a story I will not forget.  This book is well-written and well-researched, and the story is told in a narrative which maintains the right mix of elements to convey the author’s words. And when I do watch the film about the Osage murders, I can reflect back on Grann’s work which I am grateful to have discovered. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0385534248
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday, April 18, 2017

All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard: Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy – Phil Keith with Tom Clavin

On By Genyc79In Biographies, World War I, World War IILeave a comment

People have asked me how I decide on the next book I want to read. Well, the truth is I do not always know and sometimes find hidden gems purely by accident. Such is the case with this book. It was not on my radar at all, but I am deeply grateful that I did discover it. And to be brutally honest, I admit feeling a sense of guilt that I did not know of Eugene Jacques Bullard (1895-1961), whose life story is preserved in this biography by Phil Keith with Tom Clavin which left me grateful and humbled. 

Before continuing, I must point out that there are aspects of Bullard’s life lost to history. However, there is a wealth of information about him in public records, and Bullard both wrote and spoke about his life. You might be wondering how this Black American ended up in France becoming an infantry soldier, pilot, business owner, and celebrity in his own right. The proof is in the pudding as they say, and once I began the book, I found myself glued to it, stealing any spare time to open my Kindle and pick up where I left off. There are sections of the book which are not pleasant to read, and readers sensitive to descriptions of warfare and racial discrimination may want to use discretion. Despite the dark moments in the story, the book is an incredible story of a man who made history in his own way.

Bullard’s story begins in the Deep South, in Georgia where he is born in 1895. It is understood that this time in America was exceedingly difficult for Black people, particularly in rural Georgia. And the difficulties one would expect are in the story, highlighting the sacrifices parents made for their children. As for Eugene, it soon becomes clear that life under Jim Crow is not what he wants, and by the age of sixteen, he is on his way to a life abroad which took him to places he could have never imagined. The unorthodox and surprising chain of events detailed by the authors is a testament to the luck and help from others which shape our lives.

Although he had departed from America, the story is far from over. Arrival in the United Kingdom provides the starting point for his European journey which takes him to France and in the trenches during World War I. The story feels like a depiction out of Hollywood, and as I read about the injuries he sustained and the loss of life, I could not imagine the fear and anxiety which must have gripped him and his fellow soldiers. War is brutal and its savagery is on full display here. However, Bullard had an unusual ability to keep pressing forward, first as a boxer and then as a soldier. And when battlefield wounds and a chance opportunity present a rare opportunity, he takes to the skies in the seat of a cockpit. It is here when the story changes gears as the legend is born.

The book has its twists and turns including his brief love affair with a “lady of the night” and the arrival of American forces in World War I (1914-1918) which brings the nightmare of Jim Crow to France where Bullard and his contemporaries make it clear to the Americans that Europe was not the South. Nonetheless, there were those who tried their best to make his life miserable, and Dr. Edmund Gros (1869-1942) proves to be his arch nemesis. Despite the roadblocks, Bullard continues to earn his fame and builds a life in France. Although the country was not void of racial prejudice, Bullard does well for himself and his club became so popular that he entertained people from all walks of life including authors Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940).  He also found love and marriage which produced two daughters and an ill-fated son. The marriage did not last, and it is not clear what happened. We have a general idea based on the book, but Bullard remained silent on some details. Regardless, it is a sad moment in his story and the arrival of World War II (1939-1945) would split the family apart. But there is a happy conclusion to their story which will make you smile. The war brought the reality of the Nazi menace to France’s doorstep, and an underground resistance network develops. Bullard finds a friend and partner in Cleopatre “Kitty” Terrier who becomes a lifelong friend and plays an instrumental role in saving Bullard’s family. Resistance to Nazi Germany’s Third Reich was dangerous and Bullard comes close to meeting his maker in one disturbing incident as explained by the authors. The surreal and uplifting story is a  shining moment in the book.

In July 1940, Bullard returned to the United States and Harlem became his home for the rest of his life. But he was not one to sit still and attempts to revisit the past with a trip to his native Georgia. This part of the book will stir emotions for readers who have spent an extensive amount of time away from home. Today we have email, instant messaging, and social media, but in Bullard’s time, letters and telephone were the methods of communication. Reading his plight reminded me of the conveniences of modern technology and the saying that “there is no place like home”. Bullard returned to New York and found employment at Rockefeller Center operating an elevator while attending official functions in Manhattan related to the French government. And that is the iron of his story. In America his skills and war record were unknown but to the French, he was one of their greatest heroes.But a chance encounter with a studio executive gives Bullard his “fifteen minutes” of fame on national television. Alas, the “Black Swallow of Death” had earned recognition on home soil. 

Time catches up with us all and Bullard was no exception. His physical decline is hard to accept but I also thought of the physical and emotional trauma throughout the story and how each took its toll on him. But throughout the book, Bullard kept pressing forward and beamed with pride at the medals and recognition he earned in Europe. And in time, his own country would honor his life in ways he could not have predicted as a young boy living under Jim Crow. His life story is full of highs, lows, heartbreak, and moments of unimaginable glory. This book has quickly become a favorite of mine and I have already recommended it to a close friend. I now recommended it to anyone interested in an incredible story about world history and Eugene Bullard who proved throughout his life that all blood runs red. 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07N7G776W
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press, January 18, 2023