The final tally is in. I read 56 books in 2012. Some old, some new, some may be out of print and only be available at your local library. In looking back, here are the highlights and the ones that I would highly recommend.
Non-Fiction
"Destiny of the Republic" by Candice Miller - The story of the assassination and death of President James Garfield in 1881. You will learn that it was not so much the bullet that killed the President, but the medical treatment he received in trying to save him. You will also learn how the phrase "Ignorance is bliss" came about.
"On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery" by Robert M. Poole - Great story about how the federal government appropriated the property of the Robert E. Lee family and turned it into the country's most hallowed ground. Fascinating stories about how the Lee family sued the government to have their property returned (and won!), the rush job to arrange for the burial of President Kennedy, and the selections of the Unknowns from the nation's wars.
"American Triumvirate: Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and the Modern Age of Golf" by James Dodson - The title says it all. It's great reading, but pretty much for golf fans only.
"The Best Pittsburgh Sports Arguments" by John Mehno - 100 questions raised and answered by sportswriter Mehno. Examples: "Was the Super Bowl XXX loss really Neil O'Donnell's fault?" and "Was Barry Bonds really that bad a guy?" (Answers: No and Maybe) Lots of fun stuff in here for the Pittsburgh sports fan.
"Over Time, My Life As A Sportswriter" by Frank Deford - A memoir covering covering the fifty year career of one of the great sportswriters of all time.
"One Shot At Forever" by Chris Ballard - The story of a small time high school baseball team - and their unusual coach - that made it all the way to the Illinois high school championship game in the early 1970's. A real life "Hoosiers", and a story of the impact a coach or a teacher can have on young persons throughout their lives.
"Hellhound on His Trail" by Hampton Sides - The Story of James Earl Ray and how he stalked and killed Martin Luther King in 1968, and the FBI search to capture him.
"The Devil in the White City" by Eric Larson - The story of the World's Colombian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago and the concurrent story of a serial killer that preyed upon the city of Chicago during that Fair.
"The Johnstown Flood" by David McCullough - All about the calamity of the great Johnstown Flood. Great "you are there" kind of reporting on an event that happened in the 19th century.
"Close-Up on Sunset Boulevard" by Sam Stiles - Terrific account of he making and the history of the classic 1950 Billy Wilder movie, "Sunset Boulevard". Great book for movie fans and almost a must for fans of this movie in particular.
Fiction
"Cop Hater" by Ed McBain - This book was published in 1956 and is worth reading, or re-reading, because it was the first in McBain's 87th Precinct series of police procedural novels. This series was not only among the first, but perhaps the best of the genre.
"Victims" by Jonathan Kellerman - Any new entry in Kellerman's Alex Delaware series will always make my list.
"Stolen Prey" and "Mad River" by John Sandford - New entries in the Lucas Davenport and Virgil series, respectively. Great detective/thriller/mystery yarns.
"This Is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper - The story about a thirty-something guy whose marriage is falling apart at the time of his father's death. The Jewish family begins the seven day shiva after the death and all sorts of family secrets, problems, and peculiarities arise. Not the sort of book I usually read, but I really enjoyed this one.
"The Racketeer" by John Grisham - This new thriller from Grisham is not up to his usual standards, but still a worthwhile read for a long plane ride or a day at the beach.
There you have it. Right now, I am currently reading a book that I received for Christmas that I suspect will be on this same list in 2013. It's about the Eisenhower Presidency.
Enjoy!
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