Ed Gray

The book in today's post was generously sent to me by Pegasus Books. There are some publishers that totally get the kind of books that I like and Pegasus is right at the top of the list. They sent me a copy of A Novel of the Lost Colony, Left in the Wind: The Roanoke Journal of Emme Merrimoth by Ed Gray which comes out on May 2nd of this year. It's a historical fiction book about the English that attempted to colonize Roanoke at the end of the 16th century...and were never heard from again. Gray took that concept and ran with it in a completely unique way. As the title suggests, it's the fictionalized journal of Emme who we know was one of the colonists who traveled to Roanoke. The preface explains that the governor who traveled over with the more than 100 individuals (including women and children) returned back to England for supplies, went back to Roanoke, and discovered that the colony was empty. There was no investigation. Gray created an entire backstory for 1. Why the governor really went back to England and 2. What actually happened to the colonists. I have to confess that this area of history is one which I am abysmally ignorant. However, the best works of historical fiction make the reader want to do their own research and if it's a really excellent book it will make you want to go out into the field to see it with your own eyes. I will warn that this book went in directions that I hadn't expected (there are scenes of a sexual nature is what I'm getting at here) but it fits with the characterization of Emme who is very sexually liberated for her time. It was fast paced, engaging, and had me wanting to know just what exactly happened to those people...maybe Gray had it spot on...guess we'll never know. If you're a history buff and/or you like an engrossing read (who doesn't?) then I highly recommend you go out and pick up Left in the Wind which comes out on May 2, 2016.… (plus d'informations)

Yes, I have a weakness when it comes to books written by those who were involved with President Nixon generally and Watergate specifically. I find it fascinating to see how they justify their behaviour and what they think of Nixon afterward. Patrick Gray was acting director of the FBI for less than a year in 71/72 and although he is widely believed to have been part of the government's cover-up, he was never found guilty of any crime. He is one of the few that I can think of who lost complete respect for Nixon as a result of the former president's actions. He also has an interesting theory about the identity of "Deep Throat" that I had never considered.

Interesting but I get tired of the "poor me" attitude that this book has in common with all the other biographies.… (plus d'informations)