Rating: 
Summary: A Quiet Episode in War
Review: Throughout the history of war, numerous myths have arisen to tell tales of the daring exploits that our men in uniform perform. Many of these myths are exactly that - they are exaggerated, convulted stories of possible happenings. It is remarkable that one of those stories, which is almost too improbable to be real, actually occurred; and that is what Stanley Weintruab recounts in "Silent Night"."Silent Night" is the exploration of the Christmas Truce of WWI, which occurred in December 1914. On both sides of the fighting, soldiers called for an uneasy truce in order to celebrate Christmas. It was time for celebration, not for fighting; not to mention the fact that the war had reached a terrible stalemate along the Western front, and no real progress was being made. During those few glorious Christmas days, soldiers on each side participated in gift exchanges, games of football and the clearing of "No Man's Land" so that they could bury the bodies of their fallen comrades. Weintraub weaves the tale of the 1914 Christmas truce with eye-witness accounts from soldiers, and supplements it with pictures and drawings that prove it actually happened. Sometimes his storytelling fluctuates too much; numerous accounts are given and it can be confusing as to the time frame and setting in regards to the whole picture. At the end of his portrayal of this remarkable event, Weintraub offers up a "What if..." chapter - while this may seem irrelevant due to the facts of WWI, it is always a question that will remain in our minds. Weintraub offers some startling possibilities and does justice to a truth of mythic proportions.
Rating: 
Summary: proof, but...
Review: Weintraub is a good researcher. He has compiled enough ancedotal evidence that will assure that the Christmas truce of 1914 will never again be regarded as a "myth" of WWI. On the other hand, this is a plodding, fairly lifeless read. Perhaps I am unfairly comparing this book to some of the excellent first hand accounts to come out of the war (e.g., Vaughan's Some Desperate Glory). I found myself skipping paragraphs to avoid the constant repetition. Maybe there is not enough material here for a full length book-- a ten page article could probably do this event justice.
Rating: 
Summary: Get it from the Library or borrow from a friend
Review: What is happening to Non fiction .... Time and time again I find myself buying and then reading a great story for 30-40 pages then its downhill fast .. Having read many of the classics associated with WWI ,I was looking forward to an extra dimention to an extraordinary event . The book delivers early on then becomes a series of random references and is repetitive . I dont blame the author , the editors and publishers must accept responsibility for this occurring .
Get it from the Library or borrow from a friend
Rating:
Summary: Get it from the Library or borrow from a friend
Review: What is happening to Non fiction .... Time and time again I find myself buying and then reading a great story for 30-40 pages then its downhill fast .. Having read many of the classics associated with WWI ,I was looking forward to an extra dimention to an extraordinary event . The book delivers early on then becomes a series of random references and is repetitive . I dont blame the author , the editors and publishers must accept responsibility for this occurring .
Get it from the Library or borrow from a friend
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