The History Book Club discussion
ARCHIVE
>
MATTHEW BARLOW'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2015
21.
by
Ken FollettFinish date: April 19, 2015 (RE-READ)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A+
Review: Follett's best work. This is the ultimate book. Must read for all. This is a masterpiece of historical fiction with interwoven story lines, underlying plots and subplots, romantic intrigue, and spine tingling action. Follett's skill at developing characters and knowing which ones to kill off keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
22.
by Alexander Swanston (No Photo)Finish date: April 23, 2015
Genre: WWII History, Geography, Battle Maps
Rating: A
Review: I had my concerns going into this book, considering it is an atlas I wondered how much information it would actually give. Having read it I can now say this is an invaluable piece of reference material for any Second World War historian. the 170+ maps are all accompanied with descriptions of the battle or campaign of which they are apart, providing contextual information for each. The maps are detailed and allow for the reader to see the strategic thought process of the commanders on both the Axis and Allied sides of the war. If I had to knock it at all it would be that due to size and placement of the book seam that some of the maps can be difficult to read, besides that I am fully satisfied with this book.
Matthew wrote: "22. by Alexander Swanston (No Photo)Finish date: April 23, 2015
Genre: WWII History, Geography, Battle Maps
Rating: A
Revie..."
Cool. I love maps. Most history books (esp. military history) have far too few maps - and not very good ones.
23.
by
Antony BeevorFinish date: April 26, 2015
Genre: WWII History, Soviet History
Rating: A
Review: This haunting book truly identifies the horrors of unrestricted warfare and 20th century siege tactics. The suffering endured by both sides of this epic battle will go down in history as some of the most horrific that war has ever offered. The barbarity of both the Germans and Soviets alike is made clear by the utter disregard for life and the rules of war that was displayed by both sides.
The book reveals that some of the root causes of human suffering during this particular battle, and the war as a whole, stemmed not from the conditions of battle, but rather the ineptitude of the totalitarian leadership of both Hitler and Stalin. The German approach to battle, and the utter disregard for the well being of the 6th Army shows that Hitler was wholly incompetent as a military leader and could not be trusted to make the decisions that the military sorely needed. His distrust of Wehrmacht generals, and his expectation of fanatical loyalty caused him to make poor decision that directly lead to the loss of tens of thousands of German lives.
On the opposite side of battle, Stalin's impatience and his obsessive fear o treason led to a total disregard to sound strategy and the sanctity of human life, especially that of his own soldiers. Shockingly high numbers of his own people were summarily executed by NKVD tribunals during the battle for expressing doubts that any man facing annihilation would see as natural. His reckless disregard for the lives of Soviet citizens and soldiers meant that even when he was making monumental strategic errors of military planning, few, if any, would dare to object, fearing (justly) a charge of treason and a sentence of execution. Given this sickening ideology it hardly surprising that Soviet Civilian and military deaths during WWII exceeded 26,000,000.
Once again Beevor has shown that his is a modern day master of academic writing. His ability to convey immense amounts of historical knowledge, while maintaining the continued interests of his readers is a skill much sought after by historians. His knowledge of subject matter, and his ability to transmit it are unparalleled and it is clear why this has become one of his most celebrated titles.
A great book, Matthew but so horrific. I totally agree with your rating. Excellent review too.
Mod
Mod
I have just become ..."
Good for you Matthew - we will keep you in mind for assistance elsewhere
MAY24.
by
Max HastingsFinish date: May 18, 2015
Genre: WWII History
Rating: B+
Review: This proved to be an exhausting read. I can safely say that Hastings is extremely knowledgeable, and an excellent writer, however the scope of this book perhaps proved to be too large. In his other works Hastings has tackled individual aspects of the war, but here he attempted to examine the war in its entirety including both the European and Asian fronts. This lead to a great deal of back and forth that I found to be, at times, confusing. There is no doubt that Hastings does a good job of highlighting important aspects of the war, but by choosing to address the conflict in its entirety he may have over stepped, the scope does not allow for detailed analysis, meaning that while certain aspects received adequate attention, other were left by the wayside.
My scruples about the scope of the book should in no way lessen what Hastings has accomplished, the book is definitely an achievement in that it adequately sums up the single deadliest war in human history. However for those looking for more detailed analysis I would suggest consulting his other written works.
I have not read that book but it must be 900+ pages if the author is trying to cover the entire war, including the European and Pacific theaters. But Hastings is a great historian and I have enjoyed some of his others books.
Max Hastings
25.
by
Erik LarsonFinish date: May 30, 2015
Genre: WWI History
Rating: A+
Review: I am deeply impressed by this account of the Lusitania's sinking and the events surrounding it. Larson's narrative succeeds in adding a distinct humanistic element to the disaster that so rarely makes its way through in academic writings. For him the disaster is much more than a stepping stone to American entry into WWI, but is a moving compilation of personal experiences of several participants from varying class, origin, and perspective. He explores the personal connection of several passengers as well as major players such as Capt. Turner, U-20 commander Schwieger, US President Wilson, the future Mrs. Wilson, Winston Churchill, and the intelligence division of the Admiralty. Additionally he puts the sinking into its contextual timeline in the process of US entry into the war.
Some of the important aspects that arise during the course of the book include the extent of British Intelligence and its failure to adequately inform Cunard officials of the dangers that U-boats posed, the effects that seemingly inconsequential delays of departure had on the timing of the sinking, and the blatant attempt of Churchill and other key British officials to blame not the Germans who fired the torpedo, but to instead park full responsibility at the feet of Capt. Turner who did his best with the information provided him. The failure of the British government to adequately protect merchant vessels emerges as a key failure in the British war effort and no doubt played a role later in the war, as well as in WWII.
If I had to knock the book on any aspect it is that Larson may go too far in his quest to personalize the story. The burgeoning romance between President Wilson and Edith Galt no doubt provides insight into the President's mental state at the time of the disaster, but seems to be tangential to the main story and adds little to the actual facts. Despite this, and a a few other weak tangential points, I feel that this book is an overwhelming success and is much deserved of the fanfare that it has received.
That's on my list to read. Glad to see this review is so positive.
Me too, Teri. I have liked all his books except one. This one looks fascinating and is on my list. Thanks for the great review, Matthew.
JUNE26.
by Kim Murray (No Photo)Finish date: June 22, 2015 (RE-READ)
Genre: General History
Rating: B-
Review: Full discloser: I re-read this in order to pad my challenge numbers to compensate for the larger works I have been working through. Enjoy this type of book. Quick tidbits are fun, but quickly become outdated. Written in 2009, it is unable to factor in recent events, which would certainly rank on the Wall of Shame. Additionally the short tidbits leave out critical information and over look aspects of the events that bear examination. While it certainly is an enjoyable read, it is not one that has much academic standing and should be only used as an introduction to the involved topics.
27.
by William Hayes (No Photo)Finish date: June 25, 2015 (RE-READ)
Genre: General History, Disaster History
Rating: B+
Review: Another numbers booster. Good book, but skipped some important events. These books always serve as more of an introduction to an event rather than a full assessment, but for those looking for a primer of certain disasters these are an invaluable resource. Also, given that this particular book was produced by Popular Mechanics, which is a trusted brand, we can be sure that the technical explanation given for the selected events is likely reliable. This serves as a great quick read that both educates about the past, and alerts us to the dangers of the future.
28.
by
Richard OveryFinish date: June 27, 2015
Genre: WWII History
Rating: A
Review: This was a long read, but very well written. Overy's assessment of the bombing of Europe by the allies is dead on in its analysis and scope. He skillfully shows that many of the European targets were legitimate military targets, and that civilian casualties were often the result of poor conditions, inaccurate intelligence, or the ineffectiveness of high altitude bombing. However, this is not to say that the the Allies never intentionally target civilians. When bombing enemy cities, particularly German cities, civilian workers were seen as legitimate targets and Allied forces intentionally dropped incendiary devices into heavily populated housing areas in order to magnify the effect of the fires and maximize the effect on the population. As Overy shows a policy of terror bombing was also practiced, although on a smaller scale, in Italy, where the populations was seen to not believe in Mussolini or his cause, meaning that the threat of bombing could help generate revolution.
In addition to the discussion of military targets, Overy addresses the issue of political bombing. This is seen as being done in two ways. First through the use of propaganda drops, and second through the selection of targets for political regions. Overy shows that propaganda drops, the practice of dropping leaflets from bombers, was a clear policy for allied bombers and specially tailored for the target populations.In some instances these drops were meant to incite rebellion, where in others they acted as a warning that working for Germans classified the population as targets that were subject to bombing. The complex relationship that existed between allied nations and their leaders meant that politics was a major factor in bombing decisions, especially in the early war when British Bomber Command was still in its infancy. Here Churchill routinely advised on targets, accepting or denying them based on his own assessment of the situation. The same was true in later campaigns in occupied France, Holland, Belgium, and Norway, where the political demands of exiled governments had to be considered to avoid alienating civilian populations.
Finally Overy does briefly touch upon the issue of bombing Auschwitz, but shows that the best opportunity was early in the war before the camp had fully developed. Plans were scrapped due to limited intelligence regarding facility location, and the difficulty of attacking one specific rail line in a remote area. Later war opportunities were indeed passed up because commanders did not consider it to be a primary target and given the record of inaccuracy of Allied bombers, would likely have killed many of the prisoners that they were trying to help.
All in all this was an excellent book that promises to serve me in my own future research.
He is an excellent author, Matthew. I might suggest another of his books to you that I read last year.
by
Richard Overy
JULY29.
by
Martin GilbertFinish date: July 2, 2015
Genre: WWII History, D-Day History
Rating: A
Review: A pleasantly surprising read from such an unassuming little book. Gilbert's account of the build up to D-Day is one of the best I have come across, especially his analysis of the deception plans that were being laid out to confuse the Germans. As Churchill's biographer Gilbert has had direct access to the PM's personal notes, as well as having witnessed some of the build up himself. This puts him in the perfect position to describe and analyze the great undertaking that the allied forces worked towards in the spring of 44.
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, but in-depth analysis of D-Day and the events leading up to it.
30.
by Ralf Nowak (No Photo)Finish date: July 23, 2015
Genre: Cookbook, Grilling
Rating: A
Review: Not a history book, but was asked to review it. An extremely interesting book. Introduces the reader to a variety of sauces and chili based condiments. Vibrant pictures make the sauces appealing and add to interest level. I would recommend this to any grilling fan, but would warn that a love for heat is necessary for many of the sauces. The book can be accessed at http://www.schifferbooks.com/great-gr...
31.
by Serge Guay (No Photo)Finish date: July 23, 2015
Genre: Maritime history, Canadian history
Rating: A+
Review: This is an excellent compilation of family stories about one of the worst maritime disasters of all time. Excellent photographs and touching stories make this a must read for anyone interested in the sinking. The full passenger/crew list included at the end even had some names that I need to research further to see if a family connection exists.
32.
by
Timothy SnyderFinish date: July 25, 2015
Genre: WWII History, Holocaust History, Political History
Rating: A++
Review:This may well be one of the single most impressive books that I have ever read about the Holocaust. Snyder approaches the subject from multiple angles and completely reinvents how we think about this period of history. Unlike many Holocaust books, Black Earth does not focus directly on mass murder, but instead on the political and institutional ideologies that made it possible.
Snyder examines Hitler in his earliest political form in order to understand his thinking and rational so that it is possible to better follow his train of thought in later events. This means that the reader is not simply presented with a stack of information without context, but rather has context built up in order to build an understanding of the causality.
Much of the book deals with Hitler's methodology specifically the erasing of states such as Poland and the Ukraine. This goes beyond simple destruction to the complete removal from history, which in practice removes the existence of the state and the protections it provides to its citizens. The removale of citizenship allowed Hitler to commit mass murder without the objection of the states in which he performed it. In this way the conquered peoples, especially Jews suffered greatly as they were seen as non-humans without state legal protection meaningful they were completely vulnerable. As a result of this Jews who lost their state were at a fa greater risk that Jews living in Germany proper. These people had no protection and were unforgivingly massacred by Nazis and Soviets alike.
In addition to the process of state removal Snyder demonstrates that responsibility for the killings rests not only at the feet of German leaders,but at the feet of the German people as well. He shows that in many cases the German people were not only complacent, but directly involved in the process of mass murder as a way of financial or material gain or simply as a way of avenging a perceived wrong.
Snyder concludes his text by demonstrating that the ideologies and process that allowed the Holocaust to happen are far from being extinct, they Re in fact very much alive and can be seen in events such as African tribal genocide, and the current situation in Russia where leadership has created a world wide conspiracy of homosexuality that closely resembles the Judeobolshevik plot that Hitler so readily blamed for everything. Ecologic and climate factors are also zheading in a direction where another such event may occur. And Snyder skillfully shows that we are not immune from the horrors of the past.
I highly recommended this book to anyone interested in 20th century history.
Why haven't I read this book, Matthew? Thanks for the tip and the great review.
Jill, it hasn't been released yet. I got an advanced copy from the publisher for review. it's not out until September 8th
Oh, I feel a bit better now....I couldn't imagine missing something that important. Will be looking for it.
AUGUST33.
by
Stephen HardingFinish date: August 6, 2015
Genre: WWII History, Pacific War History
Rating: A
Review: A wonderful account of the closing days of WWII. Contextually viewed through the death of Anthony Marchioness, the last US combat fatality of WWII, the book examines the days following the Atomic bombings and the Japanese surrender. It addresses the serious issues that were at play in the Japanese military as reluctance to surrender. This reluctance lead not only to an attempted coup, but to the mutinous actions by individual offers and their men that saw Marchione killed after the ceasefire has been declared.
This book is an interesting look at a part of the war that is often overlooked, namely the difficulties of standing down a military force that has been so engrained to combat and traditional codes of honour. While Marchione's death is tangential to the main subject, it serves as the humanizing factor that allows the book to make a personal connection and engage the reader. Overall this is a well written, well researched, and well executed book.
Have you read the book noted above, Matthew or is it just next on your list? If you have read it, please complete the rest of the information. Thanks.
I did, had just done the first part to check formatting since it's the first review from my tablet, which is a pain since these entries are hard to do on the app
Don't feel alone....everyone has trouble with that app. Our timing wasn't in sync!!!
34.
by
Jana ZinserFinish date: August 13, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: C
Review: This book to me falls as an average read. While entertaining it seems to stray to far from the truth, even for a historical fiction. Despite the death and horrors of the Holocaust the author goes out of their way to create a happy and mind bogglingly unrealistic ending. This coupled with the ease Peter has moving in and out of Germany flies in the face of reality. While clearly this book is meant for a younger audience I feel that is does a disservice to the countless victims of the Holocaust, but failing to glimpse is true horrors. I would recommend it for teens, but wouldn't push much past that.
35.
by
Nigel CawthorneFinish date: August 16, 2015
Genre: General history
Rating: C
Review: Well, this was pretty much on par with other list books. A nice glimpse at some serious nut-balls. Can't really say that it was anything special.
36.
by
Karl Marx &
Friedrich EngelsFinish date: August 17, 2015
Genre: Politics, Sociology
Rating: A
Review: This simple edition of the manifesto clearly outlines what has often been a fiercely debated subject. The ideological theory of class revolution to overthrow oppressive bourgeois systems is not one that I necessarily disagree with. In fact I he always believed communism to be effective in theory, just not in execution. There are key points that I cannot agree with, such as the overthrow of the family system, however a desire for greater equality and less of a focus on individual capitalistic gains is one that I have always agreed with. I strongly believe that it is society's responsibility to ensure that all persons are treated equal and afforded the samew opportunities. We as human beings should not step on each other in pursuit of capital and individual gains. Marx and Engels clearly agree with this,and use this manuscript to call on other like minded peoples to reject the practices of capitalistic compeeand corruption.
37.
by
Kathy ReichsFinish date: August 18, 2015
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Drama
Rating: A
Review: This was an enjoyable little novella, all of Reichs' usual excitement condensed into a quick read. Very ready for her next book.
Mod
38.
by
Kathy ReichsFinish date: August 21, 2015
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Drama
Rating: A
Review: Another great book by Reichs. It manage to keep me guessing right up until the end. Even after 18 books the series still isn't getting old. Highly recommended
39.
by Philip Smith(No Photo)Finish date: August 23, 2015
Genre: "History", Steam Age, Arts
Rating: F
Review: To refer to this as history is laughable and an insult to historians the world over. While well illustrated it is clear that a great deal of artistic licence has gone into the depictions of these weapons and the soldiers whose them. Some of them may have been possible, but the majority are nigh on impossible. The author's obsession with the so called great meteor shower of 1862 calls his sanity into question as he raves about a chemical compound known as hephaestium, which supposedly revolutionized weapons development. An independent search yields no results for this compound and only tangential references to the meteor shower. With no evidence or independent sources to back up the author's claims I must declare this a work of science fiction and possible brain damage on behalf of the author.
Mod
Good progress
Hahahahahaha, Matthew. You really made me laugh. :)
40.
by
Ulf Schmidt Finish date: August 24, 2015
Genre: Weapons History, Chemistry, Ethics
Rating: A
Review: This is a long and very difficult read, but it is well worth the effort. The book examines in depth the evolution of chemical and biological weapons from the first mustard gas attacks at Ypres in WWII through o the end of the Cold War, with a particular focus on the British program at Porton Down. The text reveals the extent to which British scientists were willing to violate basic ethics in order to advance research, routinely violating the Codes set down at the Nuremberg trial.
The ethics of chemical and biological testing play a major role in the text, as does the British government's handling of legal actions from the subjects of the testing, usually military service members who were duped into participating in dangerous tests without informed consent. The exposure to gasses such as satin and compounds such as LSD have in some cases had long lasting effects, and the British government still today avoids responsibility, hiding behind a cloak of national security and military necessity.
The book also examines in depth the chemical arms race that took place during WWII, with both sides of the conflict building reserves of chemical weapons and civil defense measures. In a tale of mutually assured destruction neither side initiated chemical warfare out of the knowledge that the enemy would respond in kind, regardless of the Geneva Convention ban on chemical weapons. Post war investigation showed British scientists that they lagged behind the Nazis in weapon development and they hurried to appropriate the German research and stockpiles, even as chemical weapons were outstripped by the dawn of the nuclear age.
The book itself is an extremely difficult read and a knowledge of chemistry and science would be of great benefit, however it remains an important source for historians. I would recommend this book to those wanting to learn about WMD development, but would also recommend that readers have a university level of reading ability or stronger.
Mod
SEPTEMBER41.
by
Max HastingsFinish date: September 13, 2015
Genre: 20th Century History, Cold War History
Rating: B+
Review: This was an interesting book and a good look at a war that people often forget. Hastings does a remarkable job of addressing the issues surrounding US intervention in Korea and the similarities to the disaster of Vietnam twenty years later. As a British writer he manages to avoid displaying the US as a heroic nation, but instead shows it as the self serving nation that it so often is, and how this led to military defeat, or at least a failure to win.
Highly important is the divide between military command in Asia and the political realities in Washington. MacArthur, and indeed many other officers were dismayed at the prospect of limited war and the unwillingness of Truman to bomb China. The question of nuclear weaponry is also an important issue, as Washington, while seriously considering using it,denied the military demands that it be used. This threat of nuclear warfare shaped the rest of the Cold War.
Hastings also goes the extra mile in this book by interviewing veterans of both the UN and Chinese troops (North Korea is somewhat difficult to get access to). These interviews allow him to show that while ideological differences motivated the fighting, the realities of warfare were similar for both sides,and that both sides were dissatisfied with the conclusion, or more precisely the lack there of.
Finally it is important to place the war in context of the Cold War and Hastings does this well, clearly showing that North Korean action was not unilateral,but rather controlled, or at least approved, by Moscow and Peking. The limited involvement of the Soviets (equipment and some fighter pilots) can be seen as a source of American apathy to the war. Chinese and North Korean communism did not pose the same menace that the Soviets did.
As a final note on the book it is necessary to point out that it was written in the mid 80s while the DPRK was still under the leadership of its wartime leads Kim-il Sung. The changes in the past 30 years such as the end of the Cold War, two successions in NK leadership, the advance of DPRK nuclear weaponry, and the continued tensions along the DMZ would make for an interesting postscript if the book were to be reissued, as well as the opening of old Soviet records that would not have been available at the time of writing. Overall this was a good book, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the Korean conflict.
42.
by Craig K. Comstock (No Photo)Finish date: September 15, 2015
Genre: Holocaust History, Biography
Rating: Story A+, Writing C-
Review: This proved to be an interesting little book. It tells the story of Robbert Van Santen, a young Jew hiding from the Nazis in occupied Holland. As an acquaintance of Anne Frank his story is rather compelling and shows the viewpoint of someone who survived the war.
Robbert's status as an unpaid social worker helping feed Jewish deportees allowed him a unique view of the journey to the unknown camps in the East. Never having any idea as to the fe of the deportees he doesn't realize at the time how lucky he his. His later life in hiding and then as a member of the Dutch Resistance provided him with only a small piece of the greater suffering occurring.
The book itself is told by the author via the stories told to him by Robbert prior to his death. While this does allow for greater insight into events and the significance of his experiences I found the it was too detached and that the author injected his present day relationship with Robbert, and their voyage to revisit Amsterdam, far more than necessary. This caused the main story to become secondary to the experience of being told about it, which if it is the point of the book is unfortunate. On the plus side this does provide an excellent example of how to talk to a subject about a difficult experience, which is an important tool for historians. Additionally I felt that having subheadings throughout the book made it feel more like an academic paper than a piece of literature and took away from the experience.
Taking everything into consideration I am conflicted about this book. It no doubt tells a fascinating story, about which I would love to know more, but feels incomplete due to the style in which it is written. I would recommend to the author that he step back and reassess the priorities of the book, placing much more focus on Robert's story rather than his own interactions. I would also like to head about Robert's activities with the resistance, which are ommitted all together.
43.
by John Kelly (No Photo)Finish date: September 20, 2015
Genre: WWII History
Rating: A
Review: This book proved to be a remarkable look at the behind the scenes debate that was taking place during what was possibly the most difficult moment in British history, without doubt in the twentieth century. Many of us who were not alive at the time easily assume that British participation in WWII was without question and that Winston Churchill was without reproach. This book flips both of these beliefs on their heas.
Kelly's analysis of the events of 1940, specifically the summer of that year, sheds light on just how contentious the British position was following the German invasion of France and the low countries. The allied forces had been lured into a lull following the start of the war in 1939 and were overconfident in their ability to meet the threat of Hitler's armies. The rapidity with which Holland, Belgium, and France fell created a nightmare scenario in which nothing was assured. Kelly illuminates several aspects of the uncertainty that enveloped the allies at this time.
The first part of the book deals with Britain under Neville Chamberlain, and how the public and the government lost faith in him, necessitating Churchill's rise to power. The debating that took place at this time undoubtedly slowed British rearmament and hurt the defence of France when it came under attack. Once Churchill took office the debate shifted to what Britain's role would be. He was forced to deal with pressure from the French government to help them, despite the fact that it was in doubt that the British had enough forces to protect their own island, especially following the debacle of the Dunkirk evacuation.
Kelly shows that Dunkirk, and the failure of the British Expeditionary Force played a large role in the arguments between the French, who felt abandoned, and the British, who felt unable to risk more. By the time Paris fell and France surrendered there existed much tension between the two allies and this likely contributed to the terms of surrender that France accepted, especially the refusal to transfer the French fleet to British control,a decision that resulted in British bombardment of sections of their allies own warships in order to prevent them falling into enemy hands.
On a whole the book is a very illuminating look into a vital part of WWII history, one that many take for granted. I highly recommend it to anyone researching the war, and its origins.
Mod
44.
by
Anthony DoerrFinish date: September 23, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A++
Review: This was an amazing book from start to finish and it is clear why it won the Pulitzer. It is a book that completely surrounds you and takes you away with it.
The style of writing is one of its most important features, have separate but intersecting stories allows the reader to experience both sides of WWII. From the side of Werner we see what it is like to grow up in the Nazi led Germany where you never think to question the system, you are only taught to do your part for the nation. From Marie-Laure's side you experience the introspection and confusion of a girl robbed of her sight and tossed into a world tgat is anything but orderly. The progress of these two stories drive the book, culminating in their collision. It iscan experience the reader will not soon forget.
The other great aspect of this book is its language, specifically the grest detail tgat is put into every aspect of the book. The descriptions create vivid imagery that alliw the reader to the characters and feel what they feel. The reader comes to identify with the characters and experience the horrors of war through their eyes.
It is interesting that the war provides not only a setting, but a driving force for both main characters, yet it still manages to stay in the background and is not overwritten as is the case in many WWII historical fiction novels. I fell in love with this book and even though it was simply a Netgally review, it has jumped straight onto my must buy list.
Great review, Matthew. Makes me want to read it even more! It is on my TBR list and hope to get to it sooner rather than later.
by
Anthony Doerr
45.
by Vesa Nenye (No Photo)Finish date: September 27, 2015
Genre: Finnish History
Rating: B+
Review: This was an interesting read, but not a spectacular one. It's textbook type layout is not something that I especially enjoyed, but the little commander bio inserts made for an interesting extra. Organizing it by region rather than chronological layout is something that makes sense, but is annoying nonetheless.
The premier feature of this book is easily the range of photos that it includes. They are very detailed and are very crisp considering when and where they were taken.
The read itself was interesting as it provides much information on a war that is often overshadowed by WWII. This is good as it acknowledges the work of the Finns, who despite losing the war inflicted heavy losses on the Soviets and gained the respect of both enemies and allies. It also adds contextual justification for the later Finnish alliance with Nazi Germany, which was based on military need, rather that ideological identification.
Overall a good read, not critical to the WWII narrative, but an interesting addition to the bank of information.
Matthew....I like the way you rated the book in your #42 (message 97).....I have often been in a situation where I thought the story in a book was fascinating but the writing was not the best. You solved that problem. Good idea.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Greatest Leap: A Decade-By-Decade History of Britain and the World in the 20th Century (other topics)Warsaw (other topics)
Uncle John's Factastic Bathroom Reader (other topics)
Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City (other topics)
Winston Churchill Reporting: Adventures of a Young War Correspondent (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Andrew Hatcher (other topics)Richard Foreman (other topics)
Bathroom Readers' Institute (other topics)
Peter Harmsen (other topics)
Simon Read (other topics)
More...
I have just become a Goodreads Librarian and have edited the photo itself.