Alice Echols

A semi-biographical book that looks at the collapse of one of Colorado Springs' building and loan firms in the Great Depression, written from the point of view of the grand-daughter of the B&L's head. Somewhat mixed views on this book. The positives: very good selection of illustration material, and a fairly clear-eyed and clear-headed analysis of what went wrong at the B&L. In addition, the discussion of the family dynamics (and misfunctions) of the family does bear a great deal of interest. I do think the author, however, tries to shoehorn in some slaps at capitalism in general, and the Republican Party in particular, that aren't particularly germane. It might have been an effort to describe a culture that led to the B&L's collapse, but it doesn't really work. Every family, as the old expression goes, is unhappy in its own way, and I'm not really sure that the politics of Colorado Springs had a huge amount to do with the collapse, as opposed to the family history. An interesting read, to be sure (I read it in one day), but not perfect.… (altro)