Group and Buddy Reads Showing 951-1,000 of 1,193

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

If folks have any suggestions or ideas for some themes for next years group reads please let me know. We will only be doing 6 group theme reads at this stage, each alternative month.

[John]

Just finished this yesterday. ‘Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller’. By Burke Davis. An older book that tells the tale of one of the most famous and colourful marine characters. Follows him from a young man in the Cental America jungle wars of the 20’s, through WW2 Pacific to the frozen Chosin in Korea. A firm believer of leading from the front and a leader of men. I’m sure most have read it but new to me. Thought enjoyed it...I’ll have to find something else now.

[Colin]

I knew Chhesty's widow, great lady, sad about his son. My roommate at HQMC was her driver.

[John]

Yes, sad about his son. Never understood why he did not get a MOH while others got one and never went close to a battle.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Here are my ideas for the 2020 theme reads. Since it will be the 75th anniversary of the events of 1945 that will be the overarching theme throughout 2020:

Feb. - The Battle of Iwo Jima (air, land & sea)
April - The Battle of Okinawa (air, land & sea)
June - 1945: The Drive Into Germany
August - 1945: The Air War against Germany and Japan
Oct. - 1945: Other Theatres of War (air, land & sea)
Dec. - The Atomic Bombs

Would folks prefer I make the themes for the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa combined and free up a theme month for another topic/subject?

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here are my ideas for the 2020 theme reads. Since it will be the 75th anniversary of the events of 1945 that will be the overarching theme throughout 2020:

Feb. - The Battle of Iwo Jima (air, land..."

AR: Perhaps the combination of Iwo Jima and Okinawa is a good idea?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I can do that easy enough. Maybe a theme on the Eastern Front of 1945 or something else? I'm open to suggestions.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

What about this line up for 2020 theme reads? Any other suggestions?

Feb. - The Battle of Iwo Jima and/or Okinawa (air, land & sea)
April - A First-hand account
June - 1945: The Drive Into Germany
August - 1945: The Air War against Germany and Japan
Oct. - 1945: Other Theatres of War (air, land & sea)
Dec. - The Atomic Bombs

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Works for me AR!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good to hear Mike :)

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "What about this line up for 2020 theme reads? Any other suggestions?

Feb. - The Battle of Iwo Jima and/or Okinawa (air, land & sea)
April - A First-hand account
June - 1945: The Drive Into Germany..."

Me too. One question: April would be a first-hand account of the war in general or of 1945?

[Dimitri]

I'm aw awful buddy reader but Okinawa sounds good to me. 1 book, 200 pages.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

MR9 - The first hand account can be in general - any period of WW2.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Dimitri wrote: "I'm aw awful buddy reader but Okinawa sounds good to me. 1 book, 200 pages."

I'm sure you could find one good book to join in with :)

[Jonny]

Looking good. And nice to wrap the year up with some hard science.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Just a reminder that our first theme read for 2020 will start in February and the theme will be any book or books of your choice, which can include novels for those so inclined, that cover the Battle of Iwo Jima and/or Okinawa (air, land & sea). I will set up the specific thread/page for this theme in the next day or two.

At the moment I am still trying to work out which battle to read on and then which book on that actual battle. So far I have these two contenders for the Battle of Okinawa:

The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa, 1945: The Last Epic Struggle of World War II by Bill Sloan

Or;

Okinawa: The Last Battle by Roy Edgar Appleman

[Marc]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Just a reminder that our first theme read for 2020 will start in February and the theme will be any book or books of your choice, which can include novels for those so inclined, that cover the Batt..."

I've only read the Bill Sloan book, but found it a bit disappointing, especially when compared to his book on Peleliu.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for the heads-up on Sloan's book on Okinawa. I have found a book on Iwo Jima that may be the one for the theme read:

The Lions of Iwo Jima by Fred Haynes

[Manray9]

Marc wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Just a reminder that our first theme read for 2020 will start in February and the theme will be any book or books of your choice, which can include novels for those so incline..."

I had issues with Bill Sloan's Undefeated: America's Heroic Fight for Bataan and Corregidor.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Yikes, doesn't sound too good at all MR9!

[Marc]

Two general works on Iwo Jima which are good reads are:

Iwo

Iwo Jima: The Dramatic Account of the Epic Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Marc wrote: "Two general works on Iwo Jima which are good reads are:

Iwo

[bookcover:Iwo Jima: The Dramatic Account of the Epic Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II|..."

Two more good books indeed Marc!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'm thinking of expanding the February theme read from just Iwo Jima and Okinawa to any battle fought in the Pacific or the S.E. Asia theatre in 1945. Does anyone have any objections to that at all?

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm thinking of expanding the February theme read from just Iwo Jima and Okinawa to any battle fought in the Pacific or the S.E. Asia theatre in 1945. Does anyone have any objections to that at all?"

Fine with me.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks MR9 :)

[Marilyn]

Besides Okinawa and Iwo Jima (which I remember as a kid seeing in a newsreel), I think of Pelelieu where Eugene Sledge (Sledgehammer) also fought on. So, no, I have no objections.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm thinking of expanding the February theme read from just Iwo Jima and Okinawa to any battle fought in the Pacific or the S.E. Asia theatre in 1945. Does anyone have any objections to that at all?"

Yep, good by me AR.

I accidentally bought Okinawa: The Last Battle W.W II by Roy Edgar Appleman

when I really wanted to buy Okinawa: The Last Battle of World War II by Robert Leckie

Now I have both and will decide on which to read.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That's not too bad a mistake eh Mike, one that you can live with I'm sure :)

[Marc]

Mike wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm thinking of expanding the February theme read from just Iwo Jima and Okinawa to any battle fought in the Pacific or the S.E. Asia theatre in 1945. Does anyone have any obj..."

The Leckie book is pretty good.

For one which shows the Japanese side of things:

The Battle for Okinawa

[Liz V.]

Manray9 wrote: "Marc wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Just a reminder that our first theme read for 2020 will start in February and the theme will be any book or books of your choice, which can include novels for tho..."

Read your review.

Wondered whether the interviews included any of the nurses and other medical personnel who stayed with their patients. We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese by Elizabeth M. Norman

P.s. Just saw your post that you received a copy in mail on 25th.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I figured for the February theme read I should try and read about some of my countrymen and the forgotten last campaign involving the AIF in the Pacific:

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 by Karl James

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For anyone who wants to get a head start the first theme read for 2020 is ready to go. The theme is on any book or books of your choice (which can include a novel) that covers the Battle of Iwo Jima/Okinawa or any other battle fought in the Pacific/S.E. Asia theatre (air, land & sea) in 1945:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Marc wrote: "For one which shows the Japanese side of things:

The Battle for Okinawa."

Thanks for the reminder Marc, I have that on the shelf and will plan to read it after one of my Allied accounts.

[zed]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I figured for the February theme read I should try and read about some of my countrymen and the forgotten last campaign involving the AIF in the Pacific:

[bookcover:The Hard Slog: Australians in t..."

I have this on my wish list. Looking forward to your thoughts.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Just a reminder to all fellow self-isolating book group members that the April theme read is any book or books of your choice that covers a first-hand account from the Second World War.

What have people got in mind so far for their theme book? I'm still trying to decided :)

[Marc]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Just a reminder to all fellow self-isolating book group members that the April theme read is any book or books of your choice that covers a first-hand account from the Second World War.

What have ..."

I have a couple in mind:

You'll Be Sor-ree: A Guadalcanal Marine Remembers The Pacific War

Four Stars of Hell

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Nice ideas for the theme Marc, I better start looking for myself :)

[Jonny]

I've a copy of

Red Star Against the Swastika: The Story of a Soviet Pilot over the Eastern Front

that ought to put a bit of a different spin on things...

[Marc]

Jonny wrote: "I've a copy of

[book:Red Star Against the Swastika: The Story of a Soviet Pilot over the Easter..."

I've had that one sitting around for awhile--keen to hear how you like it.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Jonny wrote: "I've a copy of

[book:Red Star Against the Swastika: The Story of a Soviet Pilot over the Easter..."

That should be quite interesting Jonny!

[Alex]

Alan Moorehead

The Desert War

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Alex wrote: "Alan Moorehead

The Desert War"

Great choice Alex, I am still to read my copy.

[zed]

The Brave Japanese
for me.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

fourtriplezed wrote: "The Brave Japanese
for me."

Another excellent title 4ZZZ!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For anyone who wants to get an early start to the April theme read I have opened up the thread ready for discussion/comments:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi everyone,

For those interested the June 2020 theme read page/thread is up and running for anyone who wishes to join in with a good book on the subject.

The theme is on any book or books of your choice, including novels, that covers 1945: The Drive Into Germany:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi folks,

With the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain due this year I noticed a few members getting books ready to read to celebrate the event. Would anyone be interested in a special theme month in July on the Battle of Britain?

[Marc]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi folks,

With the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain due this year I noticed a few members getting books ready to read to celebrate the event. Would anyone be interested in a special theme..."

I'm in.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good to hear Marc, we could make the theme month for the Battle of Britain July or September. Which month seems the most appropriate; the start of the campaign in July, or September for Battle of Britain Day which is celebrated on September 15?

[Marc]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Good to hear Marc, we could make the theme month for the Battle of Britain July or September. Which month seems the most appropriate; the start of the campaign in July, or September for Battle of B..."

I'm liking July for this one. Kinda fits into my planned reading schedule. :)