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Category Archives: book reviews
1928 Children’s Book Recommendations From a Former Chicago Public Librarian, Just in Time for Christmas…
Since my previous Christmas book recommendations were popular last year, I figured I’d try another one. This time around, however, we’re focusing on children’s books. ~*~ Today’s 1928 recommendations come from Agatha L. Shea, a former Supervisor of Children’s Services at … Continue reading
“Books for Every One”: A Christmas Gift Guide from 1928
Scrambling for a last minute Christmas gift? Why not try a book recommendation from 1928? What do you think was the most popular Christmas gift in 1928? If you said “a book,” you’d be right! 🙂 Books were extremely … Continue reading
The Yanks Are Coming! A Booklist in Honor of America Entering WWI One Hundred Years Ago Today
One hundred years ago on April 6th, 1917, America entered WWI and changed the world forever. Over the course of the War, America went from an isolationist, frontier power to a major player on the international stage, both economically and politically. … Continue reading
Posted in book list, book reviews, video post
Tagged America in WWI, America WWI booklist, April 6th 1917, book review, WWI
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Book List: The Best Prohibition Books for Kids and Teens
There are lots of great books about Prohibition out there, but not all of them are kid or teen friendly. Here’s a list of books that wouldn’t look out of place in a high school or middle school research paper—and … Continue reading
C is for Cocktail: How to Conjugate “Cocktail” as per F. Scott Fitzgerald
Hey everyone! I’m still busy working on my Assassination Theater review, so I thought I’d post something quick and fun for you all today… Lately I’ve been flipping through a book called Lists of Note: An Eclectic Collection Deserving … Continue reading
Posted in book reviews, list post
Tagged F. Scott Fitzgerald cocktail, origin of term cocktail
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Chicago’s Very Own Ponzi: Review of Dean Jobb’s “Empire of Deception” (June 2015)
When most people think of con men, the first name that comes to mind is Charles Ponzi. Widely known as the man who gave his name to the classic pyramid scheme, Ponzi raked in roughly $20 million (equal to roughly … Continue reading
Posted in book reviews
Tagged 1920s con men, book review, Dean Jobb Empire of Deception book review, Leo Koretz
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Primary Source Book Review: The Professional Thief, by Edwin Sutherland and Chic Connall, 1937
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a professional thief in 1925? Well, wonder no more! In his study The Professional Thief: by a Professional Thief, Annotated and Interpreted by Edwin H. Sutherland, Indiana University sociologist Edwin … Continue reading
Book Review: Tinseltown by William J. Mann, an Edgar Award Nominee
On a chilly February morning in 1922, William Desmond Taylor was found lying dead on the floor of his Hollywood home with a .38 caliber bullet lodged in his guts. His murder shocked the film industry. After all, everyone loved … Continue reading
Posted in book reviews
Tagged 1922, book review, historical true crime, murder, silent movies, Tinseltown, true crime, William Desmond Taylor, William J. Mann
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