What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

[Walloc]

Yesterday i started reading

Defending Fortress Europe: The War Diary of the German 7th Army, 6 June-26 July 1944" by Mark J. Reardon

Kind regards,

Rasmus

[british exil]

Just bought the "Game of Thrones" books. I will use my August summer holidays to read all of them. I hope! I hope that the Olympic games don't interefere.

Mat

[Fred98]

"Charles Kingsford-Smith" by Peter Fitzsimons.
 
Smithy was a WW1 pilot, pioneer avaitor and the world's greatest pilot before WW2.
 
It also covers all the other pioneer avaitors.
 
Easy to read.
 
Great book!
.
.
 

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

Dreadnought by Massie ... this is about my sixth read ... of probably my favorite book ... [:)]

==

Shattered Sword does not work for me ... probably due to "technical" reasons. I was in a PhD military history program at KU for several semesters (before the economy drove me back to the work force) ... I think the "amateur" aspects of the book pound too hard in my head. I do not think the primary points in the thesis are proven. But also I do not think calling Fuchida a "liar" is what professional historians do (a Naval Officer who was present). Professional historians present their data and let the readers decide - they do not need to engage in name calling - this is decidedly unprofessional in my book. I presented this aspect of SS to my class at KU and there was 100% agreement with my position. I will not say there is no value to the book - but it is not in my "recommendable" column.
I realize others have different opinions. I grant them the right to their opinions - if they grant me the right to mine [:)].

Interesting. That's a perspective on the book I have not yet heard. According to part of the blurb over at Amazon.com it's cited by Proceedings as one of its "Notable Naval Books" for 2005. Of course it doesn't say in what way it's "notable" but I would think Proceedings would be a good recomendation of a book. ON a side note: didn't the authors of Shattered Sword have some affiliation with the website Combined Fleet.com? Anyway, thanks for your take on the book Mr. Wilkerson. It's nice to have a Ph.D perspective on it. [:)]

Any plans to finish your Ph.D in the near future?

[Perturabo]

ORIGINAL: british exil

"Game of Thrones"

"A Song of Ice and Fire". "A Game of Thrones" is just the first book and the TV series.

[british exil]

ORIGINAL: Perturabo

ORIGINAL: british exil

"Game of Thrones"

Song of Ice and Fire. Game of Thrones is just the first book and the TV series.

I thought it was just easier to say "game of Thrones" as most people I know just call it that way. Bought the boxed series so all 7 books are ready to be read.

Just got to wait for the holidays.


Mat

[histgamer]

"Open" by Andre Agassi.

[Hanal]

ORIGINAL: british exil

ORIGINAL: Perturabo

ORIGINAL: british exil

"Game of Thrones"

Song of Ice and Fire. Game of Thrones is just the first book and the TV series.

I thought it was just easier to say "game of Thrones" as most people I know just call it that way. Bought the boxed series so all 7 books are ready to be read.

Just got to wait for the holidays.


Mat

I think a couple of those books are not part of the series but are his other works as he his currently writing book 6.

I will say that an earlier poster mentioned how Martin's storytelling started to decline like Jordan's as this series evolved. I am starting to get that impression a bit as book 4 starts introducing new elements that I'm not finding very interesting. If Martin follows the Jordon route and simply starts padding the story in order to milk the cash teat for all it's worth, then I will be very disappointed.

[undercovergeek]

but that last two books have 2 parts - so its 'story number 6' hes writing now but in terms of books on the shelf theres more than 6

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: J P Falcon

Well for me the summer is for rather lighter fare and spurred by the HBO series, I'm now into the third book of Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. This has been one helluva compelling read and after finishing a chapter recently, I put my ebook down and simply said "Wow"! Then I reflected on how many years I devoted to reading Jordan's crap while bypassing this masterpiece!

Amen on ICE and FIRE. I have not only read all five books in the series but I have listened to each unabridged audiobook. Unbeatable stuff indeed.

The HBO series has been great overall, with just a couple of episodes being somewhat of a letdown.

All hail Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. It's as if Dinklage transformed himself into the character.

[Hanal]

ORIGINAL: undercovergeek

but that last two books have 2 parts - so its 'story number 6' hes writing now but in terms of books on the shelf theres more than 6

Uh Oh...I smell Jordanesque padding here...I have begun to skim through certain chapters of Book 4 as there are quite a few tedious bits....I won't spoil it for anyone but there is one chapter of a sea voyage which even through a scan was borings as tears (the POV character is a bit annoying as well). I caught one "revelation" in the chapter which had an importance but to get to those two paragraphs, there was alot of boring bits. I'll reserve a final opinion since I throuroughly enjoyed the 3 previous books but I am a bit wary. Authors such as Jordan and Goodkind have soured me a bit regarding Fantasy so I hope I am proven wrong by the time I reach the most recent SoF&I book (though I could not help but notice that the average rating for the last book on AMAZON is three stars which is the same trend that Jordan's WoT showed).

[mikkey]

Generation Kill by Evan Wright

[warspite1]

Finally finished Ostkrieg. A very good read - a lengthy tome but never hard going - I would certainly recommend this book [:)].

What to read next? Its a toss-up between Antony Beevor's The Second World War or Andrew Lambert's The Challenge (about the naval war of 1812)....mmmm decisions decisions...[&:]

[parusski]

Antony Beevor's The Second World War

I am about 8 hours into the unabridged audiobook version of this book. So far it is immensely enjoyable. Most likely I will buy the print version and read it too.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: parusski

Antony Beevor's The Second World War

I am about 8 hours into the unabridged audiobook version of this book. So far it is immensely enjoyable. Most likely I will buy the print version and read it too.

Warspite1

So what you're saying is.... nice Beevor? [;)]

The Second World War it is then. Didn't need much persuading. I am really keen to understand more about the British/US war, but a good WWII book will always take priority.

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: parusski

Antony Beevor's The Second World War

I am about 8 hours into the unabridged audiobook version of this book. So far it is immensely enjoyable. Most likely I will buy the print version and read it too.

Warspite1

So what you're saying is.... nice Beevor? [;)]

The Second World War it is then. Didn't need much persuading. I am really keen to understand more about the British/US war, but a good WWII book will always take priority.

GOOD BEEVOR(Beaver?)...no, I did not do that.

I agree McColleague, a good WWII book is always at the top of the heap.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finally finished Ostkrieg. A very good read - a lengthy tome but never hard going - I would certainly recommend this book [:)].

What to read next? Its a toss-up between Antony Beevor's The Second World War or Andrew Lambert's The Challenge (about the naval war of 1812)....mmmm decisions decisions...[&:]

Andrew Lambert's The Challenge sounds intriguing.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finally finished Ostkrieg. A very good read - a lengthy tome but never hard going - I would certainly recommend this book [:)].

What to read next? Its a toss-up between Antony Beevor's The Second World War or Andrew Lambert's The Challenge (about the naval war of 1812)....mmmm decisions decisions...[&:]

Andrew Lambert's The Challenge sounds intriguing.

Warspite1

In the summer of 1812 Britain stood alone, fighting for her very survival against a vast European Empire. Only the Royal Navy stood between Napoleon's legions and ultimate victory. In that dark hour America saw its chance to challenge British dominance. In three titanic single-ship actions, the challenge was decisively met.

British frigates closed with the Chesapeake, the Essex and the President, flagship of American naval ambition. Both sides found new heroes but none could equal Captain Philip Broke, champion of history's greatest frigate battle, when HMS Shannon captured USS Chesapeake in thirteen blood soaked minutes. Broke's victory secured British control of the Atlantic, and within a year Washington D.C. had been taken and burnt by British troops.

In examining these extraordinary battles, Andrew Lambert shows that the much mythologised was of 1812 was actually a disaster for the US and sparked some of Britain's finest moments at sea.

...or so it says on the dust jacket. As I say I know little to nothing about this war so I am hoping this book should prove educational if nothing else?

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finally finished Ostkrieg. A very good read - a lengthy tome but never hard going - I would certainly recommend this book [:)].

What to read next? Its a toss-up between Antony Beevor's The Second World War or Andrew Lambert's The Challenge (about the naval war of 1812)....mmmm decisions decisions...[&:]

Andrew Lambert's The Challenge sounds intriguing.

The only problem with Lambert's book is it does not discuss the fact that American troops entered London, besieged Buckingham Palace and forced the evil Brits to never again challenge the supremacy of America. Just read Ambrose's What Really Happened In The War Of 1812.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: parusski

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finally finished Ostkrieg. A very good read - a lengthy tome but never hard going - I would certainly recommend this book [:)].

What to read next? Its a toss-up between Antony Beevor's The Second World War or Andrew Lambert's The Challenge (about the naval war of 1812)....mmmm decisions decisions...[&:]

Andrew Lambert's The Challenge sounds intriguing.

The only problem with Lambert's book is it does not discuss the fact that American troops entered London, besieged Buckingham Palace and forced the evil Brits to never again challenge the supremacy of America. Just read Ambrose's What Really Happened In The War Of 1812.

Warspite1

Yes very true. Although I am interested in reading Lambert's book, I am of course prepared for the fact that - as with just about very non-Ambrose work - there will be huge chunks of fact missing. But then, that is no fault of Lambert, nor Beevor, nor Bullock, nor Frank nor Parschall and Tully et al. These men - great historians though they are - simply cannot match the genius that is Ambrose. I mean seriously, just how many historians have ever made, even passing mention, of the US seige of Buckingham Palace? Exactly.

But the great thing about Ambrose is not just the ability to unearth facts that no one else can; its his versatility. In the original version of What Really Happened In The War Of 1812 there is a free CD featuring a piece of music that Ambrose composed himself to commemorate the event. He called it the 1812 Overture; a great piece of music with a stirring cannonade at its climax. Wonderful [&o]