Reading.

Book reviews:
Black Mass: good book could have been a great book. Well written book describing Irish mobster Whitey Bulger's involvement with the FBI. Interesting read right up until everyone gets indited. Similar elements to 'The Departed,' only real. The book bogs down in some not so dramatic courtroom drama, but the set up is well worth the slow end. A good read, especially for anyone familiar with Boston, or with irish heritage, but you will have to use wikipedia to see how the story ends, because the book was written before some of the trials were completed. I give it a C+, should have been a B+.

Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates: As someone who has been infatuated with pirates and piracy since I was a kid, this book was a good read. Just enough blood and guts to be interesting. Lots of vignettes and anecdotes backed up with good research, and source documents. It's a little dry in places, but not for long. It's a great vacation book, one you can pick up and put down at your leisure. B