What Books Have You Read Recently

[RicinYakima]

SLA Marshall

"In 1940, he published Blitzkrieg: Armies on Wheels, an analysis of the tactics used by the Wehrmacht, and re-entered the U.S. Army as its chief combat historian during World War II and the Korean War. He officially retired in 1960 but acted as an unofficial advisor and historian during the Vietnam War. In total, Marshall wrote over 30 books, including Pork Chop Hill: The American Fighting Man in Action, later made into a film of the same name, as well as The Vietnam Primer, co-authored by Colonel David H. Hackworth."

 

[Mitty38]

Just finishing "Night Passage".
Not a literary work of genius. Not all that thrilling. But an easy, somewhat entertaining, read. Kind of a lazy persons read.
Maybe enough for me to get the second book in the series. The main character is kind of dark and his past is somewhat relieved, but left a slight mystery. Just kind of a beat down guy. Not quite recovering alcoholic. Who lost his marriage and previous job to alcohol.
Who has no patience left for taking crap. Then seams to fall in the midst of a big crap pile of a town.
The most memorable part of the book is the saddest. When he loses his dog. Won't get into how because if I told you there would go half the reason to read the book.

 

[JWinAZ]

Sir Max Hastings' "Abyss, Nuclear Crisis Cuba 1962". He provides context about the state of affairs in Cuba, USSR, and the US in the time leading up to the crisis. His critiques of the actions of the people seem well founded if somewhat unsupported. His boorish condescension of U.S. culture is to be expected from a product of the English public school aristocracy. Lots of food for thought here, and pertinent to current world events. He is a very engaging writer, easy to read, even if an unsettling topic.

 

[462]

Michael Connelly's "Angels Flight", the sixth book of his Bosch series.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

...........His critiques of the actions of the people seem well founded if somewhat unsupported. His boorish condescension of U.S. culture is to be expected from a product of the English public school aristocracy.

English authors have the ability to subtlety raise snobbery to an annoying level. I don’t know if that is a product of their education or culture or both.

 

[L Ross]

English authors have the ability to subtlety raise snobbery to an annoying level. I don’t know if that is a product of their education or culture or both.

Must have something to do with wearing rubber knickers and getting caned in their boy's school's.

 

[462]

As posted in this forum, I've read five or six of Hasting's books and must say he is quite the researcher, and I enjoyed and learned from all of them. That said, his syntax and use of the King's English caused many paragraphs to be read more than once.

 

[JWinAZ]

^^^ @462 Your postings encouraged me to read his books. Thank you.

 

[462]

You are welcome, sir.

 

[Rick H]

Mostly Brits annoy the hell out of me. I get tired of them looking down their noses at the US. They frittered away an empire and regressed into a socialist welfare state unable and unwilling to even defend themselves on a personal level. A shining example of what NOT to do when running a country. Can you say "Effete Snobbery"?

Catch me someday in a bad mood and I'll tell you what I really think of them.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I don’t want to bash the Brits too much because they’ve done great things for the world, and they are our allies. Plus, like any group of people, they are not all the same. But a few of them can get on their high horse from time to time, particularly some of their authors.

There are, of course, exceptions. Martin Gilbert wrote several historical accounts, and his style doesn’t offend me. He was a UK national and well educated but his family comes from Lithuanian Jews, so there was some struggle in their past. Perhaps that helps instill some humility?

Alan Clark was a conservative Brit politician and author. I liked his views and his writing style. He wrote “Barbarossa – The Russian-German Conflict 1941-45”. It is probably one of the most complete records of the European eastern front.

However, there are some British authors whose style just doesn’t click with me. Ben Macintyre is one of them. Can’t outright say he is snobbish, but when you read his work you know he went to an English prep school and an upper-crust English college.

 

[RicinYakima]

No where in the world is social hierarchy more important to people than in Britain. It is not who you are but who your ancestors were that is important to them.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

No where in the world is social hierarchy more important to people than in Britain. It is not who you are but who your ancestors were that is important to them.

I've been there and talked to some of them. (and I've also talked to Brits that weren't in the UK but were still Brits) The average Brit isn't much different than the average American. The rich ones think their ancestors are important and the middle-class Brits are pretty much like middle class Americans.

The United Kingdom isn't very UNITED. The Scots don't like the English. The English don't like the Irish but refuse to let go of Northern Ireland. The English don't like the Scots. And none of them know what the Welsh are saying.

They have the EXACT same politics, with the same divisions, we have and the rules of this forum prohibit me from discussing that further.

 

[Wiresguy]

No where in the world is social hierarchy more important to people than in Britain. It is not who you are but who your ancestors were that is important to them.

I've learned the accuracy of that statement. My niece, who was raised in Illinois, ended up marrying a Brit and they live in England. I reminded her that she is eligible to join the Daughters of the American Revolution. She doesn't share my sense of humor (or my politics)

 

[Matt_G]

I finally finished Shogun.
It takes a while to read a 1300 page book when you only read for 15 to 30 minutes a night before turning the lamp off.

Dug out one of my Firearms Classic Library books to read next.
Two books in one, both by Elmer Keith.
Big Game Rifles and Cartridges
Sixgun Cartridges and Loads

 

[462]

"The Electric War Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse And The Race To Light The World", by Mike Winchell.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

PISTOL and REVOLVER SHOOTING
Walter F. Roper
Copyright 1945
First printing

I found it at an yard sale today for 25 cents.

I like ol books

 

[RicinYakima]

You did well, normal price is about $50!

 

[Matt_G]

PISTOL and REVOLVER SHOOTING
Walter F. Roper
Copyright 1945
First printing

I found it at an yard sale today for 25 cents.

I like ol books

Very nice Jeff.
Like Ric said, they usually go for about 50 bucks.

That same book is one I got via the Firearms Classic Library and it is on my want to read list as well.
I am really glad I got in on those reprints for the NRA back in the '90's.
They are really well done/made.

 

[462]

"A World Lit Only By Fire The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance Portrait of an Age", by William Manchester.