Always Reading

Joe's Alamo Unsung

Lewis E. Cook

2017

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2070-4 (sc)

iUniverse

www.iuniverse.com

216 pages

We all see our American history in different ways and 'Joe's Alamo Unsung written by Lewis E. Cook shows and tells the readers another view of this historical moment. This account of the Alamo is seen through the eyes of a slave/freeman. 'Joe's Alamo Unsung' is a novel about how Texas became a part of the United States. Joe, who is the main character who happens to be 'educated' and deal with characters like Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Santa Ana as well as others to be able to say "Remember the Alamo!"

This is a novel that could be used as a supplemental reading assignment to describe the Texas-Mexico history. Topics that could be discussed is the actual battle and classes could also discuss the lives of the famous characters from the book starting with Davy Crockett and the US leaders then the teachers could move on to the other side and discuss Santa Ana and the Mexican issues at the time of the Alamo. One question that is on the literary side could be 'Is this book fiction or nonfiction or a little of both after reading the last chapter. The battle scenes were vivid and the reader feels the they are present during the action.

Lewis E. Cook has written a story that is purely entertaining as well as educational. The reader will not believe that they are reading a true historical event with all the side line stories of the female storylines, as in Emily's story and as she called him her 'Slow Joe'. Lewis is a creative writer with a flare for the past. This could also be used in classrooms to review research procedures and the teachers could have the students check for historical accuracy of the book after reading.

The Bedsprings Guy Part One

Gary C. McAuley

2018

Oh, the wonder of what goes through all our minds in various situations. This is a story that is a type of detective story without being one that follows one type of formula. This is a story of a man named 'Joyce Brennan' and his trials and tribulations of a crime he may not have committed. Joyce as he discovers how to survive in jail and waits for his trial he learns a bit about himself by the behaviors of who and what is in his environment.

Gary C. McAuley has written a novel that is quite psychological in nature. 'That Bedsprings Guy' is a novel that starts out with a misunderstanding and escalates into a criminal escapade a journey through the legal system. Gary uses the language of the law of the jail and shares the in's and out's of being in jail and keeping the faith of oneself.

'The Bedsprings Guy' is also a story that would be a good supplemental reading about the legal system from the standpoint of law enforcement. Gary used description to a tee when describing the interrogation room well as the jail cell and the other cellmates during his, the characters stay. He covers Joyce's feelings of being in jail even for a crime he did not or did commit maybe. Gary also describes the way a husband would feel when catching a wife having an affair. Who could blame him.

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I hope you enjoy these reviews. More to come.