You can use the InputStream property of the HttpPostedFile to read the file into memory.
Maybe you can take a look at Koogra this is an Open Source excel reader (readonly no writer) I think you will get a stream back from the client. Then you can do all your things like you're doing now Read from memorystream and write to Database.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.