Kinkikali

The Last Days of Hitler

Never one to attract good public relations, Hitler, despite his world class meanness, gets yet another book under his belt.  Not the calm narrative like Cornelius Ryan’s The Last Battle, The Last Days of Hitler goes gaga into character stalking and assassination.  Yes Hitler hung out with wackos and weirdos, but they were not incompetent buffoons either.

Interesting reading for those who into the popular “last Days” theme. Trevor-Roper goes full bore into belittling the personalities…Hitler in a perpetual froth, Goering grabbing for power, Bormann silently plotting. I am taking a guess, but chaos comes with titanic destruction by conquering armies.

This was a discount book; No doubt very used, like the Death Star exploding, worth watching again and again.

Swapshop

Hillsborough “dump” has its own Swapshop where goods and not so good goods can be swapped versus trashed.  Everything from loose change to diapers may be found.  It is definietley hit or miss.  Timing, other junk hunters, and ebb and flow of stuff makes the process unpredicatble and exciting.  But the price is right.

Lee’s Spot

Used books, especially history books, never go bad.  On Elm Street, in downtown Manchester NH there is an itsy bitsy teenie weenie used bookstore called Lee’s Spot.  It has been around forever and even the music played on the little radio is WFEA–the nostalgia station, also a landmark in Manchester.  The place is claustrophobic, two parallel aisles with books, books, books, and books.  I sued to work a few blocks away and spent many a lunch break browsing for history books.  The prices are in the under $10 range for the most part.  Browsing can be tight as space is limited and only a few visitors can elbow and jowl the experience.

In a Barren Land

Locally we have a Swapshop at the town “dump”.  There you can drop-off (leave) stuff and grab stuff you like.  Among the goodies found are books.  It is matter of luck, fortune, and timing.  The other day I found a nice tome by Paula Mitchell Marks.  She wrote a book called In a Barren Land:  The American Indian Quest for Cultural Survival, 1607 to the Present.

This book greatly informs about the perennially ignored story of the struggle of the natives.  Even though the shooting stopped at Wounded Knee, the natives had to fight battles in the courtroom and in council meetings.  Those who question the competency and sincerity of the government will find food for thought.