The Big Scrum

The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football
John J. Miller
HarperCollins, 2011

Being the football nut I am, there was no way I could pass this one up. I haven't read much football history, and had no idea Teddy Roosevelt had anything to do with football - let alone saving it. Boy, did I learn a lot! John Miller did a wonderful job of blending fact and narrative - even though I was reading a lot of history and biography, it read like a story. Or possibly a collection of stories, since Roosevelt is not the only person spotlighted.

The Big Scrum is a look at the beginning of football in America: the very beginnings of "'pick-up games" and the evolution into a bloody battle-esque game that raised eyebrows even as it attracted a growing fan-base. To understand football, you have to understand everything surrounding it's "birth" and evolution, and Miller introduces the ideologies and mindsets that helped football prosper. Movements such as "Muscular Christianity" and the growing realization that a healthy, active nation will become a powerful nation. I loved getting a glimpse of the way "athletics" infiltrated society - even appearing in popular literature. I also loved watching the development of a distinctly American game - football - out of the English traditions of soccer and rugby.

In addition to the cultural and intellectual history presented, Miller also looks at the lives of key players in the development of American athletics, as well as football itself. While the primary focus is on Roosevelt: his life, his impact on society and nation, as well as his personal involvement with physical exertion and contests, particularly his love of football, other figures who are mentioned are examined more closely, to offer insight into their various positions on the issue. It adds a roundness, a completeness to the argument that my inner-historian appreciates. (My inner-historian also geeked out at Miller's use of a variety of sources, including a lot of primary sources that really added depth and merit to the study). And of course, I loved the story too, the way football grew, was attacked and almost did not survive, and then through masterful negotiations and much passion, it rose from the mud as that glorious past time I live for every fall.

A wonderful nonfiction offering that reads as a pleasure book, with a ton of historical information presented in a manner that intrigues and excites rather than overwhelms. (Why didn't anybody tell me you could do history like this?) It's football history, yes, but a reader with an interest in Teddy Roosevelt or America in the Gilded and Progressive eras will also appreciate The Big Scrum.

Book provided by my local library.

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien
Mark Horne
Thomas Nelson, 2011

When I saw this up for grabs on BookSneeze, I knew I wanted to review it. Even though I am crazy about The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, I know very little about their author. Having previously discovered that the Christian Encounters biography series is a great way to get a 'crash course' introduction to someone, I settled in for a 'get-to-know-you' session with Tolkien.

Horne does a wonderful job of breaking Tolkien's life into manageable chapters, and corresponding them with Tolkienesque chapter titles that made my inner geek smile. Beginning at the very beginning, Horne looks at Tolkien's life from a dual-perspective: how it impacted the man, and how it influenced the writing. Drawing from previously written, more extensive biographies as well as Tolkien's letters and writings, Horne creates a biography that is condensed without feeling lacking - an enjoyable read, but also substantive. And, of course, there's attention paid to Tolkien's faith and its role.

The writing of the biography is such that I am led from chapter to chapter - not just in the text, but in Tolkien's life as well. Spanning cultural and political changes (Tolkien 'came of age' during WWI, losing all but one of his closest friends), it's interesting to look at how his life experiences may have shaped his writing -- and I'm a literature major who hates to superimpose meaning on texts! In this instance, there's a compelling case. With this informative, though necessarily brief, introduction to the personal story of one of my favorite authors, I now feel compelled to track down some more in-depth information -- and I'm probably starting with Horne's own bibliography!

Book provided by publisher for review.

Six

Six
Marc Rasmussen
South Dakota State Historical Society Press, 2011

I am a football fan. Some call me a fanatic. And I love learning more about the game. So when I saw this available for review on LibraryThing, I knew I had to try for it. Going into the read, I had never even heard of six-man football. I thought you could only play eleven-man -- the variety I watch avidly every fall weekend. To say Six opened my eyes to a whole new world would be an understatement.

Functioning primarily as a biography of Coach Bill Welsh, Six also offers an in-depth look at life in rural South Dakota 'back in the day' when times were tough, and people were tougher. This was a time when sports meant everything to a town (although prior to Welsh's arrival, the primary sport in Claremont was baseball). Growing up in a similar environment, and working hard to earn - and play - his way through high school and college, Welsh was able to relate to his players on a personal level. He'd been there. He knew what they were going through, and he had a plan. Thanks to the positive influence of his own former coaches and teachers, Welsh understood the importance of investing in students as young men and not just players. This was the underlying theme of his entire coaching career - and it resulted in strong teams, and winning records. Respect and leadership are wonderful partners to enthusiasm on the playing field, and the Honkers had those factors plus talent.

Six is a biography of a man that is also the chronicle of a team. Under Welsh's leadership, the Honkers (Claremont High School's mascot) went on to earn an unprecedented, national record. Football fanatic that I am, I was mesmerized by the numbers put up by the teams who competed during the amazing run from 1947 to1954. The idea of six-man football is as foreign to me as it must have been to the town of Claremont back in the day, but man - what a show! I'm thinking we need to bring six-man football back, it sounds like an amazing spectacle. Back to the book: Rasmussun, whose father was one of Welsh's players, does a great job of explaining the concepts and weaving the story of the football and other athletic teams into the biography of Welsh. Including photos and mementos that he found in family collections, Rasmussen gives visual depth to the story he tells. Perhaps not something most people would just pick up on a whim, it was definitely an informative and enjoyable read from a sportsy-perspective.

Book provided by publisher for review.

Eleanor's Story

Eleanor's Story: An American Girl in Hitler's Germany
Eleanor Ramrath Garner
Peachtree Publishers, 1999

This is a striking, intriguing, and moving read. Eleanor is the American daughter of German parents. Her extended family still lives in Germany, and right before WWII breaks out her father decides to take advantage of a prosperous job opportunity and move the family from New Jersey to Berlin. War breaks out during their ocean crossing, and they find themselves stuck in Germany. At first, things aren't too bad and War seems like a bit of an adventure to Eleanor, her older brother Frank, and their new friends. But anyone familiar with the history of WWII knows that things get serious, and the story Eleanor tells is a unique perspective of the chaos and destruction.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't think of many accounts of WWII from a child's perspective - Diary of Anne Frank comes to mind, obviously, but other than that the titles I think of are historical fiction written after the fact by an unattached author. Eleanor's Story is different - it's the remembered experiences of a real-life American girl who found herself essentially trapped in Germany for the horror and aftermath of WWII. For me, this was a new reading experience - but a very 'enlightening' one. Eleanor's naivety and childish interpretations of what global War means ring true, and as she grows up - and the War is still going strong - her growth in understanding is also believable. Some of the stories -- I just can't even imagine. Most of the WWII books I've read have tended to focus on either the Holocaust aspect or the lives (and loves) of American forces...Eleanor let me see a different side: that of the German civilian and, in her case, the added danger of being an American - and thus a potential threat. At times it's a rough read, but it's a rough time in human history too, and I would be less inclined to give a "roses-and-puppies"-account of WWII Germany credit.

Eleanor's Story extends beyond the official end of WWII, which also offered a neat perspective, and includes two sections of pictures of Eleanor and family. All in all, it's an eye-opening read that offers a different look at things for someone who has some background knowledge/experience of WWII, but also is a really neat introduction for students. I think seeing the story of someone they are close to in age can help explain some of the trickier aspects of WWII, whether it's in a classroom setting or some other form of reading.

Book provided by publisher for review.

Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes
Tim Tebow
HarperCollins, 2011

I have been waiting on this one to release for...months. And maybe, on some philosophic level, I've been waiting on this book for years, since that first game - that first glimpse - of the football phenom known as 'Tim Tebow'. This may be a good time to note: I am a passionate SEC football fan, with special passion for the Florida Gators and their former quarterback Tim Tebow. Thus, this post is one-part book review and many-parts football girl responding to her favorite quarterback's memoir. Consider yourself forewarned.

Through My Eyes is Tebow's story - we know some of it: what we watched with our own eyes, what sports shows and reporters told us in blurbs and bits and specials, what the media in general picked up and broadcast. There's no denying that Tim Tebow is quite possibly one of the most polarizing figures to ever play the game of college football, if not among athletes in general. People love him or hate him, but there's no question his ability and presence demands respect. But these things developed around the outside view - and while we as a people like to claim we know our 'celebrities', how well do we really know them? Do we really know what's going on in their head, what they're thinking and feeling? Chances are: No. And that's where these memoirs come in - allowing us the chance to relive experiences, seeing it through the eyes of the person who actually lived it.

Starting at the very beginning, and working systematically through his life up to early this year, Tebow tells us the way he saw things - from reflections on how he was raised and the experiences that nontraditional upbringing allowed, to reliving some of the most amazing, breathless moments of college football, this is his story - through his eyes. And I absolutely loved it. Knowing some of the story from the years I've spent watching him play, I thoroughly enjoyed getting "the insider" perspective. I think anyone reading it would quickly see how the way he grew up translates onto his performance and spirit on the field. Also, once his college career at Florida started, I remembered so many of those games - watching them, texting my friends with running commentary and exclamations, holding my breath and shrieking in delight (sometimes agony), even crying -- I got to relive all those moments, and see things I didn't get to see over the television screen or in post-game write-ups.

Rest assured: while this is definitely a pro-football book, it's also the story of a very passionate young man who knows exactly who he is and why he is where he is - and is not afraid to share anything. There is emphasis placed on Tebow's unabashed Christian faith, but it's not intimidating or demeaning: it simply explains and helps define who he is and why he behaves and speaks as he does.  Additionally, this memoir serves double-duty as a challenge to live our lives with purpose and meaning, to "finish strong". It made me stop and think about who I am and where my dreams are - where I've been and where I'm going. It's a challenge and an encouragement, and some really amazing football.

Book provided by my local library.

Galileo

Galileo
Mitch Stokes
Thomas Nelson, 2011

When I saw this available for review on BookSneeze, I jumped at the chance. Ever since my college Astronomy classes, I've loved Galileo, and this biography seemed like something right up my alley.

Galileo covers the life and experiences of Galileo Galilei - the famed astronomer who revolutionized science and human understanding. It's a quick, easy read that takes readers on an accelerated journey through Galileo's life, from birth to death to reconciliation with the Catholic church.Needless to say, this is a lot of territory to cover in a smallish 213-page volume, especially considering the attention and details required to fully explain Galileo's scientific discoveries and contributions. Have no fear, however: Stokes has a very informal style, that makes reading Galileo less like trudging through a biography and more like picking up a "long magazine" or something similar. While some of the science and math discussed is very advanced, it's not presented in a way that intimidates or confuses. (This isn't a text book, after all). And if you have a background in science and/or math, it's that much of an easier, more enjoyable read.

I only had two minor problems with the book, first being the tone - and I realize this is purely a personal preference, and quite probably a result of my professional training. At times the informality of Stokes' writing style felt too informal, with too many personal opinions and interjections. The other issue I'm not sure how to label...At times, I felt as if I was reading a literature review of all the existing biographies on Galileo, but with a definite emphasis placed on finding religious meaning. Chalk this one up to all those history classes, but if you're going to make a claim, I need to see the primary evidence backing it - not just what someone else has said before.

Those two issues aside, I feel like Galileo definitely meets the goal of the Christian Encounters series, which is to "highlight important lives from all ages and areas of the Church through prose as accessible and concise as it is personal and engaging" (front flap). This is the first Christian Encounters biography I've read, but I look forward to reading more.

Book provided by publisher for review.

Blog Tour: Scribbling Women

Scribbling Women
Marthe Jocelyn
Tundra Books, 2011

Welcome to Day 4 of Tundra Books' "Scribbling Women Blog Tour"! (In case you've missed the first few days, or want to see what's happening tomorrow, be sure to check out Tundra's main schedule!)

When I saw that Tundra Books needed bloggers to host spots for Scribbling Women, I knew I had to try. When I found out I was on the list? I did a little happy dance. Before I ever read a word of the book, I knew it was one of those things I had to read -- not like you "have" to read the latest release of a favorite author, but deep-down-inside-need-to-read. Couldn't explain it, just knew it. And I did get to read it, and now I get to share it with you ...

From reading the "blurb" online, I knew that Scribbling Women was going to spotlight forgotten women writers, including some I had never even heard of in passing. Since I was a Literature and History double-major in undergrad, I found this mesmerizing. Once I got the book and started reading - wow. I guess in some part of my mind, I was expecting to discover "authors", not fully realizing I would be discovering writers. These women? They're normal women whose writings were sometimes appreciated, sometimes only seen by themselves. In a sense, they are just voices lost in the wilderness of writing - but when you stop, and take the time to really look at their stories, at their scribblings, the picture is extraordinary.

These are women who could not just "sit down and write" - while a few made a profession of writing, the others were using their pens (or pencils) to record their experiences, their thoughts, their views of their world. It is this that is so special - after getting the tiniest glimpse into the inner lives of these scribbling women, I feel like I've stumbled upon a sisterhood of scribblers. I may never find myself stranded in the Arctic or racing the clock 'round the world, I may not be compiling a first-of-its-kind recipe book or recording the minutia of a royal court - those are not my stories, but I recognized the need to write it all down.

Marthe Jocelyn did an exemplary job of threading the stories of these individual women together - linking their unique experiences by the comparisons and contrasts between them. She liberally sprinkles their own voices in her narrative, explaining who these scribblers were and the contribution their suddenly-uncovered writings can offer. I came away from the reading feeling much more knowledgeable, and also intrigued. I'd suggest that anyone who ever feels that ceaseless itch to write to read this - to realize that the important part is not fame or fortune or recognition, but the writing. That is, ultimately, what I came away from the reading with: the renewed belief in the power of words, and that when the words must come - they must come.

I like to consider myself a part of the Sisterhood of Scribblers - I have a new appreciation of the ease in which I can write, and a revived sense of dedication to scribbling away. Oh Hawthorne, your scornful title, I embrace - I want to be one of those scribbling women you bemoaned, if it means I join the ranks of such writers I've been introduced to. Maybe I'm just a hopeless WordGeek, but this was truly a learning experience for me. I'm very glad I've been able to share with you, in some part, my reading journey.

Don't forget to check out the other blog tour stops today, starting with Cassandra's post over at Indie Reader Houston!

Also, Tundra's hosting an AMAZING giveaway: You could win Marthe Jocelyn's entire collection of books, simply by commenting on this post! And you can gain another entry by commenting on every post in the tour! Check out the details, and what you could win here! And good luck!

Book provided by publisher for review.

It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly!

It Can't be Done, Nellie Bly!
Nancy Butcher
Peachtree, 2003

In the spirit of Women's History Month (yes, I realize it's actually almost over...), how about an introduction to one of the little known female journalists in American history? But Nellie Bly was not just another journalist - this young woman had an adventurous-streak that prompted her to embark on A Quest: To go 'round the world in less than 80 days, thus beating the record set in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. How does a real person break a record set by a fictional character? Especially in 1889! Nellie Bly had some ideas, and she managed to convince her employers - The New York World - to trust her and back the attempt.

It Can't be Done, is an easy-to-read brief biography of Nellie's experiences. Targeted for early-middle readers, it's broken down into short, accessible chapters and the information is presented in a relaxed story-style that is almost conversational. Butcher does a good job of explaining terms and what's going on, without completely spelling it out or watering it down. There are fun details and illustrations scattered throughout, and the reading experience is a satisfying one in terms of both information and entertainment. Having never heard of Nellie Bly before this read, I am now intrigued. As an older-than-intended-audience reader, I appreciated the story and it's "teaser"-aspect - which will make it a good one for the intended-audience, to introduce them to history and biography, without feeling too 'schoolish'.

Book provided by publisher for review.