Siege

Wow. Informative and infuriating. I've purposely avoided most news since 2016 and didn't know the substance of what the conspiracy theories claim, nor have I watched much about Jan 6. Now I'm in utter shock. I was riveted and finished this in a few hours. It takes us into the Capitol, onto the front lines with the officers, and introduces us to several of the terrorists. Finally, it lays out the issues surrounding the fate of democracy, such as it is, in the US. Very well researched; both thought-provoking and enraging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

An eye-opening, disturbing read. Even though I watched the storming of the U.S. Capitol, reading all the details from start to finish, learning of all the miscues and delays in response and preparation, it is still jarring and at times unbelievable that it even happened. Bartholomew captures the horror of the day quite eloquently, so much so that it's hard to not read even as you get filled with shock at what happened. An excellent, emotionally gripping book.

Siege by Anita Bartholomew carries the sub-title An American Tragedy. To anyone who loves the USA and believes in democracy, the events in Washington DC on 6 January 2021 were a very real tragedy and this extensively researched, superbly written and powerful book exposes just how close the rampaging mob of Trump supporters, encouraged by the outgoing president and a motley collection of lawyers, right-wing media pundits and conspiracy theorists, came to overthrowing the legitimate result of the 2020 presidential election. Like millions in the USA and around the world, I watched the live television images from the Capitol building on that awful day initially with incomprehension and then with mounting horror but the television cameras could not capture everything that was going on inside the building. This book helps paint the full, shocking picture. One particular image from the book resonated massively with me. A battered and exhausted Capitol Police officer, who had battled the invading mob for hours, was able to rest after the building was finally cleared. He sat on a bench in the Rotunda, reflected on the horrors he had seen and experienced that day, and cried out in anguish “Is this America?”

There is no doubt which side of the “insurrectionists or patriots?” argument Anita Bartholomew is on but the way she marshals and presents impeccably resourced facts add weight and credibility to her account. The impression I got from this book is that it is written with a tightly controlled fury (which only very occasionally spills over into explicit outrage) and this makes the story it tells even more compelling. The book also warns of the challenges to American democracy which may still be to come - a very sobering thought.

An important and highly recommended book.

Considering the hearings that are going on about the riot on the Capitol, "Siege" gives background and understand, not found any where else

This is a fantastic narrative overview covering the 2021 United States Capitol attack/insurrection on 6th January 2021. Comprehensive in nature yet succinct enough to be a quick read, this is a perfect guide to someone who doesn’t completely understand the nuances of American politics and the political system under which the Presidential election takes place. This book covers the before, the during, and the aftermath of this colossal event staining US contemporary history, and offers poignant warnings on how to prevent something so catastrophe and vile from happening again.

With interviews from law enforcement, congress members, and even details explaining the speculative motive of certain insurrectionists, including the “QAnon Shaman” this is a truly spectacular read. The psychology of Trump is fascinating to all regardless of political affiliation, this is a historic and important read/lesson for ALL - even those who have/still unfortunately support wild conspiracy theories and fringe groups.

A thoroughly interesting and engrossing non-fiction book, the writing was superb and it is evident a huge amount of research has gone into this book.

A stunning amount of research must have been done for this book. It's a minute by minute accounting of what went on in DC on January 6, 2021. The January 6th Congressional committee should subpoena this book. It is cinematic in style. I could easily see what was happening in my mind's eye. I highly recommend.

Anita Bartholomew delivers a brilliant account of the January 6th siege of the US Capitol. She looks at the build up and foreshadowing to the event, showing that something like this was in danger of happening for a while. She also gives a play by play of events on 6th January and the aftermath of the event. The book is very well researched and the author shows how the siege could have been prevented, or at least less serious in nature. She brings humanity to the story, by giving profiles of the some of the insurrectionists and also police who were there. This was interesting, particularly regarding the insurrectionists. We can see their background and how they became involved in the events of 6th January - how the message of Trump became so deeply ingrained in their psyches to the point where they were willing to storm the Capitol. The accounts of the police are particularly moving and we can see the depth of the aftermath. We can see the affects on those involved on all sides, including the system that was being fought over and it is an important lesson for the future. This book is an important read.

Was not aware of this title or this author, but I am very interested in what happened on January 6, 2021 and the impact on our country and democracy. In short, this is a well-written and detailed analysis of the events on the afternoon of 1/06/2021 when the Capitol of the United States was breached by a mob of Trump loyalists and others with the goal of disrupting or overtaking the government. I found the writing to be very objective and balanced given the topic. I learned a lot that I didn't know about some of the participants, the officers and Capitol police who were attacked, beaten and nearly killed, and the aftermath--which is still pending given the House investigation of the incident.

It is truly a shocking, disappointing and sad to experience what happened on January 6. I am still disgusted by what happened, and like many I hold Donald Trump responsible. This comes from a conservative Republican who respects the Constitution and the Rule of Law in the United States.

I'm still amazed that there are many Americans who viewed what happened on January 6 as an event blown out of proportion by the liberal news media or let the Trump Administration off with no accountability. If you read Siege your viewpoint may change. Hopefully Trump will never hold another office in his lifetime.

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book as well as the author and publisher.

January 6th was a horrible day. And I believe Trump needs to be held accountable. Reading this I was disgusted anew by the sycophants who allowed this to happen and those who continue to dismiss the event and "peaceful protest"
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.

Siege An American Tragey by Anita Bartholomew

9780983992226

228 Pages
Publisher: Bartholomew & Co. Inc, Independent Book Publisher Association
Release Date: June 30, 2022

Nonfiction, History, Politics, Civil Unrest

This is a book that everyone in America should read. At times, it is difficult because it brings us bad to that terrible day. It tells how January 6, 2021, happens and the events that led up to it. We all saw the events as it was unfolding in real time on television, but we did not know how well thought out and planned the coup attempt it was. The book is well researched, and it is written in an easy-to-understand style. I have read it twice already because I could not truly believe the back story to the insurrection. I highly recommend this book to everyone.