Deus Misereatur

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fascinating rehearsal of the adventures and personality of Percy Harrison Fawcett. The development of his explorer's ways, slide into the occult, and obsession with "Z" is gripping. The ending is quite the pleasant surprise, not quite were you expect it to end. Grann, who doesn't need my accolades, is an attention-grabbing writer, and draws the reader into the story for pages and chapters on end. I highly recommend the book. View all my reviews

Recently I heard David Grann speak about another book he authored,  Killers of the Flower Moon . While at the presentation, I picked up a copy of "The White Darkness" at the book table. After perusing it I thought it would be worthwhile, purchased it, and received the author's autograph. It's a slender, glossy-paged hardback, that chronicles the three treks of Henry Worsley (4 October 1960 - 24 January 2016) as he pursued the trail of his ancestral relation, Frank Worsley. But more, as he followed the path of his hero, Ernest Shackleton in leadership and in obsessing on the Antarctica and the South Pole. Though the volume is slightly overpriced, it was a gripping read. Grann masterfully draws in several layers of narrative that cover family, history, and sheer stamina in the face of insurmountable odds, braids them together, and secures the reader's interest. The manuscript also includes photographs that give a good sense of the austere and spartan environmen...

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann My rating: 5 of 5 stars Intrigues and murders, subtle and sly assailants from the top of society to the bottom! A whole "culture of killing" (308). David Grann has allowed this tale of terror to tell itself, giving the investigators their due, and then adding his own unveiling examinations. The story will leave you convinced that Calvin was not far off the mark when he described the fallen nature of humanity as total depravity. I highly recommend the book because the story needs to be remembered for the sake of the violently victimized, and for the sake of the victimzers. I highly recommend the book because it is well written, and gives readers an excellent example of good writing. And I highly recommend the book to those who need to know more of Oklahoma history, or gain informative details about the birth of the Federal Bureau of Investigators (FBI). View all my reviews