What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

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warspite1
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: warspite1
ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Ugh. Do I really have to read a book written by a Scotsman extolling the virtues of Pax Brittania? [;)]
warspite1

Well its up to you. You could always try The Gruffalo if Ferguson no longer floats your boat. The Gruffalo isn't as big a book in size, but in depth and breadth of subject matter its at least on a par. A searing indictment of the social conditions of those born with a big purple wart on the end of their nose, as well as a much needed delve into the realpolitik of the Deep Dark Wood.
warspite1

As an aside, did anyone else find themselves reading The Gruffalo in rap stylee to their little ones. A few people I've spoken to with children around the same age admitted they did - it just seemed like the obvious thing to do.... but there you go..

...back to our scheduled programming...
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by wings7 »

ORIGINAL: warspite1

As an aside, did anyone else find themselves reading The Gruffalo in rap stylee to their little ones. A few people I've spoken to with children around the same age admitted they did - it just seemed like the obvious thing to do.... but there you go..

"it just seemed the obvious thing to do", too thug like for me, proper English (or the language you speak) reading cadence would be the obvious for me.
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Eambar
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Eambar »

Just finished God's Crucible - Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 by David Lavering Lewis.

An excellent read, well written and researched about a fascinating period in history.

The portion of the book discussing the rivalry and relationship between Abd al-Rahman and Charlemagne's empires is worth the read alone.

Cheers,
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by warspite1 »

Finished The British Pacific Fleet (Hobbs). A very, very good read - I would recommend this.

I still won't be picking up Sir John Fisher's Naval Revolution (Lambert) however. As a result of reading about the BPF I was keen to read something similar on the US Navy in the Pacific (1943-45).

I was recommended The Fast Carriers (Reynolds). This arrived yesterday so have delved straight in. I just hope its as good as the reviews and does cover not only the combat operations of the fleet, but also the development of the support services.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by loki100 »

Since I finally got paid for some work I did in 2015 I decided to indulge in some book buying.

Treated myself to all 4 of Stahel's books on the opening stages of the German invasion of the USSR (Barbarossa, Kiev, Typhoon and Moscow). Must say I am deeply impressed - he can write so well that you don't lose the central narrative in all the details.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: warspite1

.....I was recommended The Fast Carriers (Reynolds)..... I just hope its as good as the reviews and does cover not only the combat operations of the fleet, but also the development of the support services.
warspite1

So far so very, VERY good....[:)]
Now Maitland, now's your time!

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quiritus
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by quiritus »

Peter Turchin War and Peace and War: The Rise and Fall of Empires now starting with academic work of same men Secular Cycles, and Historical Dynamics: Why States Rise and Fall
Zorch
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Zorch »

The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III (223-187 BC) by John Grainger.
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warspite1
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by warspite1 »

Finished The Fast Carriers. Thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in the Pacific War or naval history generally.

I would love to stay in the Pacific for a while - I've got Hell to Pay sitting there waiting to be read [&:]. But....

....time to head back to the ETO for a while. Invasion of England 1940 (Schenk) is first up.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Orm »

....time to head back to the ETO for a while. Invasion of England 1940 (Schenk) is first up.
So you have begun reading fantasy novels now. [;)]
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Orm »

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III (223-187 BC) by John Grainger.
So what is the verdict?
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by wodin »

Does anyone base din the UK fancy reviewing books released by Pen and Sword for my blog? You get to choose a book a month. However the odd time I will be choosing one..but only if it's something I really want. Rest of the time it will be you. Only rule is that if you get a book you must review it. If after the first you don't really fancy it just tell me, wont be a problem as long as you review what was sent.

PM me if interested. First come first serve so to speak.

Could also be an opportunity to review games if you fancy it.

Take a look at the blog and the book reviews to see what we do.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Zorch »

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III (223-187 BC) by John Grainger.
So what is the verdict?
It's good. Grainger makes a point of debunking the Roman explanation of how the war that led to his downfall started.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Orm »

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III (223-187 BC) by John Grainger.
So what is the verdict?
It's good. Grainger makes a point of debunking the Roman explanation of how the war that led to his downfall started.
Thank you. [:)]

I'll put it on my Christmas wish list. [:D]
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

A government is a body of people; usually, notably, ungoverned. - Quote from Firefly
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Aurelian »

ORIGINAL: loki100

Since I finally got paid for some work I did in 2015 I decided to indulge in some book buying.

Treated myself to all 4 of Stahel's books on the opening stages of the German invasion of the USSR (Barbarossa, Kiev, Typhoon and Moscow). Must say I am deeply impressed - he can write so well that you don't lose the central narrative in all the details.

I agree. Just haven't bought the 4th yet.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Zorch »

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Orm



So what is the verdict?
It's good. Grainger makes a point of debunking the Roman explanation of how the war that led to his downfall started.
Thank you. [:)]

I'll put it on my Christmas wish list. [:D]
It is the 2nd of his 3 books on the Seleukids. I'm reading the 3rd book now.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by wodin »

Good book.

Poilu by L Barthas (you'll enjoy )

Under Fire by H Barbusse is another great WW1 book from a Pilou perspective.

War the Infantry Knew by Cpt Dunn is a must read. (Great companion books are Old Soldiers never Die by F Richards, Nothing of Importance by B Adams, Goodbye to all the by R Graves (famous but didn't think to much of it)and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by S Sassoon as they are all enlisted in the Royal Welch Regiment)

ORIGINAL: Franciscus

Just finished "Fear" by Gabriel Chevalier.

An admirable, courageous and poignant book about the horrors and futility of war (in this case WW1) as seen by the soldiers that have to endure it - and live and die in fear.

The short introduction by John Berger is one of the most admirable and scathing anti-war texts I've read so far.

Not for everyone, but I am glad to have read it.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by loki100 »

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: loki100

Since I finally got paid for some work I did in 2015 I decided to indulge in some book buying.

Treated myself to all 4 of Stahel's books on the opening stages of the German invasion of the USSR (Barbarossa, Kiev, Typhoon and Moscow). Must say I am deeply impressed - he can write so well that you don't lose the central narrative in all the details.

I agree. Just haven't bought the 4th yet.

I've been reading them in an odd order - Typhoon-Kiev-Barbarossa. Just about to start with Moscow. Oddly, I think that Barbarossa is the weakest, its very good and informative but it does read very much as a PhD thesis converted to a book (which is what it is). Think he is too keen in that way to hammer everything onto his central argument and that weakens the analysis as a result.
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by Kuokkanen »

Just got Kindle version of Personal Demons by Elliott Kay. It is third novel in series started by Good Intentions (not counting Life in Shadows). I read it on my iPhone 4.
Warning: Personal Demons contains explicit sex, explicit violence, explicit language, explicit use of implications, open relationships, polyamory, blasphemy, sacrilege, heresy, paganism, sorcery, portrayals of matters divine and demonic bearing little or no resemblance to established religious canon, prejudice, murder, mass murder, singular murder, alley murder, conspiracy to commit murder, regicide, treason, dismemberments, impalement, arson, defenestration, racially charged ‘Nam flashbacks, trash-talking, smuggling, mansplaining, spoiled Christmas surprises, numerous state and Federal firearms violations, organized crime, transnational crime, avian conscription, disturbances of the peace, paranoia, Doomsday preppers, illegal immigration, party fouls, public endangerment, underage drinking, human sacrifice, destruction of cell phones, false identification, consumption of alcohol, mayhem, attempted kidnapping, mass vehicular collisions, reincarnation, conspiracy to commit sexual promiscuity, threesomes, assault and battery, banditry, reverse banditry, eye-gouging, cultural misappropriation, trespassing, lies, innuendo, intrigue, foreplay under false pretenses, bribery, political corruption, spiritual corruption, misuse of military facilities, a blanket fort of ill repute, home invasion, warfare, espionage, mercenary activity, consumption of sentient beings, panhandling, lingerie, cohabitation outside of marriage, missed homework assignments, too much pizza, toxic masculinity, abbreviated sex scenes, fully descriptive sex scenes, romantic sex, casual sex, mild dom/sub play, mystic servitude, stalking, knife-throwing, weaponized alcohol, weaponized furniture, weaponized human remains, drone strikes, slavery, eternal damnation, mind control, carjacking, spitting, biting, vandalism, gossip, sexual objectification, immolations, feminist solidarity, zombie terrorists, pissy ex-boyfriends, too much information from Grandpa, and a flagrant narrative disregard for common standards of decency.
What the Hell are reverse banditry and innuendo?
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

Post by MakeeLearn »

Indian Removal by Grant Foreman 1932


Well footnoted, lots of first person accounts. Few people know the complete story. The Cherokees deserved their Trail of Tears






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