AFTERNOON STORY- History of the States-Item GOOD READ

For almost a decade a green hardback has haunted my "to-read" shelf though I always put off perusing it. After all, how interesting could a history book about a newspaper can be? Surely it would be full of confusing transactions of ownerships and management shifts.

Well the book does have that...but it also reveals a cast of characters who ran some (more on this on a second) of New Orleans' daily papers.

Today's Times Picayune is a combination of a number of mergers and acquisitions over time. As I don't have the book in fornt of me, I believe today's entity is the combination of AT LEAST the following: the New Orleans Democrat, the New Orleans Times, the New Orleans States, the New Orleans Item and the Daily Picayune. But don't swear by the above.

The book does contain some interesting city history, especially regarding the old Lottery and the "Who killa de chief" case (the murder/assassination/killing) of New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy and the lynching of Italian suspects that took place afterwards led by some of the city's leading citizens. You can bet a king or two of Comus has sicilian blood on his hands.

References to the late great Lafcadio Hearn, the manner in which newspapers operated, the way they employed to further the self and political interests of publishers and the behind the scenes moves that led to the TP being bought out by SI Newhouse are also covered.

The book is out of print but easily available at out of print book stores (Beckham's in the Quarter has copies) and can be had for less than $10. The book reads quick and while the transaction histories can be confusing (especially as they contain individuals with the same surname) it sheds some light about how New Orleans' lone standing daily came to be and provides some information on the current publisher, Ashton Phelps (who I've only encountered during candidate interviews- and as I've never been endorsed by the TP those exchanges have not gone well).

Though the States-Item now only exists on microfilm, its history is worth reading.

The Fall of Mussolini: DON'T READ

After dragging my feet on this blog after launching it some time ago and having read a number of books in that period, I have finally read a book that has motivated me to take action so as to spare anyone else from reading it.

Here is what I plan to do with this blog:

First, I'm going to keep it simple. I'm not trying to write an introduction and as I won't receive school credit in an English class for writing a report on this. My goal is to keep reviews under 100 words for your sake and my own, as the less time it takes and less likely I am to put off writing future reviews. Also the more time I have to spend on writing on politics and the New Orleans Saints.

Second, to put the review in the title. There's no need to keep readers in suspense.

That simple.

On to The Fall of Mussolini.

It read like a college course book. And that's not a compliment.

Reading it reminded me of a course I took at LSU on German Civilization, where I was surprised that "history" had little to do with "civilization". In fact I learned more about obscure German art groups than I did about the raise of the Kaiser.

Despite the book's title, there's little about Benito Mussolini in the book or his reign. The author admits as much...after you have already purchased the book and started reading it.

Who is covered in the book is current Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, in an unflattering light.

The book is mistitled, likely intentionally in order to boost sales and sneak in front of a reader's eyes a critique on modern Italian politics.

Don't read.