Reviews and Comments

A flowery, reverential epitaph for a larger-than-life hero from the bullring's golden age. The effusive praise of Manolete's skill in the ring, in contrast with his awkwardness and melancholy outside of it, is very much a Spanish cliche, but the generous, dramatic use of real footage makes this short book an honest keepsake of the spectacle that is bullfighting.

My initial reaction to this book was that at nearly 500 pages, it was much too long. Considering the 31 year duration of the phenomenon that was R.E.M., however, anything less would have short-changed the artist, and ultimately the reader.

Each album and tour is covered in nuanced detail, delving into the collective demeanor of the band and its thoroughly unique creative process. The marvel of four unique personalities collaborating over time and distance is celebrated throughout.

The author, while clearly a fan, provides a polished professional touch that elevates this biography to the top of many. It is a definitive account of one of rock music's most beloved bands.

A very thorough behind-the-scenes history of the independence of India and Pakistan told from the perspective of an author determined to delve into the complex personalities involved. Far from a dry history book, we explore the unlikely relationships that resulted from goals shared and at cross-purposes with one another. Alex von Tunzelmann's work is impeccably sourced, but also strives to entertain, adding the occasional wry commentary throughout.

This memoir of the author's 4 years as a Border Patrol agent is harrowing first-person narrative weaved with historical background and cultural analysis. The prose borders on lyrical, teeming with life and complexity like the border world it portrays. Even more gripping than the accounts from his days as a sign cutter is the slow, unsettling realization that while the author has left the job, the reverse would never be true, and that what started out as an honest effort to balance out his academic knowledge with first-hand experience would become a Faustian pact of lasting duration.

"Let's Go" proves that you don't need a ghost writer to achieve a very good autobiography. Jeff Tweedy uses honest, unpretentious prose to chronicle his life so far - from his earliest childhood memories in Belleville, IL to his current days as the leader of Wilco and backup singer of the Racoonists. His winking sense of humor lets the reader know that he's not overly impressed with his own accomplishments, and his gratitude for making it this far is obvious and genuine. One wouldn't know that he might very well have his best days ahead of him.

I particularly enjoyed his technique of incorporating snippets of conversation with his wife and son regarding whether or not to include certain elements of his past life. Like the book itself, it was entertaining, enlightening and ultimately uplifting.

Luis Alberto Urrea's prose is as lyrical and eloquent as it is timely and essential. It is a work of fiction imbued with the author's own life experience on both sides of the Mexican border, depicting the struggles to assimilate while clinging to one's culture and dignity.

Written before his name became a household word, this is Barack Obama's struggle to connect with his distant father and an extended family he never knew. It's an honest look at a man driven to do the right thing, clearly curious to learn how far the apple fell from the tree.

A story of a true "Dreamer", brought to the U.S. legally by Mexican parents who ultimately overstayed their visa. While not old enough to have made this decision, the author knew its ramifications, essentially living a double life - rapidly accelerating up the ladder of a prestigious Wall Street firm while harboring this deep secret. This is not just a tale of triumph over adversity, but it provides the simplest answer to the nagging question "why couldn't you just go back and do it legally?"