Mickey Mouse History and Other Essays on American Memory

By Mick Wallace...Just finished this collection of essays for class.  This author takes us through historical sites and the different ways they are portrayed and why.  His bone is with those who would simplify history because of fear or not giving the public enough credit.  He is really critical of Walt Disney and his brand of history.  Makes you think about our experience with history.  What have we been told?  What do we believe?  Do we care if we aren't told the whole story.  I think Mike Wallace thinks we don't care.  We would rather have the HAPPILY EVER AFTER ending.  What do you think?  It was definitely a lot to think about.  Towards the end, Wallace talks about the government's attempt to sugar coat our history...or erase from memory things that have happened that our nation is not particularly proud of.  Is this okay?  How can we as a nation learn from our mistakes and not repeat the mistakes of others if we don't know what they are?  I will admit, I wasn't a fan of Wallace's writing...but he had some things to say that I found though provoking.

The Passage

By Justin Cronin...What a book!  I was mesmerized.  Yes, I should not be reading for fun...so I was listening to it on my CD player.  I managed to drive more than I needed to just to listen to the book more.  It was a great mixture of horror and suspense.  I would say it was like The Stand in many ways...but very different in others.  It is a vampire story...it does have religious overtones.  I wasn't sure how I would feel about that...but it wasn't so bad.  This is not a TWILIGHT style vampire story...this is more Resident Evil meets the apocalypse.  The saddest part was that it will be a series...and I have to wait to read (or listen) to more.  However, the book does wrap up okay...there is definitely more to come, but it ends well.  I recommend...but not to the weak of stomach...it can be graphic in places!

Slavery and Public History

The Tough Stuff of American Memory...by James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton.  Incredible book about a difficult subject.  I really enjoyed reading the different essays concerning Slavery in the United States and how it has been avoided and portrayed.  There are still controversies surrounding how it is told and who will suffer because of it.  I think if anything I took away a greater understanding of the struggles historical homes and buildings have when trying to portray an accurate depiction of history.  It is sad that in an age where it seems we have come so far...we still can't have an honest and open discussion about slavery and its existence here in America.