Group and Buddy Reads Showing 351-400 of 1,192

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

LOL :)

[happy]

Good answer :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

The next group theme read (Mediterranean Theatre) will commence on 1st January 2014, here is the thread which will be opened a few days prior:

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

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Rick, and so many to choose from in this area it'll be a hard choice - I'll be joining a few days into January.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Same here Geevee, hopefully it will be fun and raise some good debate/discussion within the group.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Hope so. Btw a very good colour photo you have found for the theme as well so thanks.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

My pleasure Geevee, the photograph is from Time Life and is supposedly of; "American troops look over German armor destroyed during the drive towards Rome, 1944."

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "The next group theme read (Mediterranean Theatre) will commence on 1st January 2014, here is the thread which will be opened a few days prior:

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

I look forward to January's theme read. I just received --
Redcoat by Richard Holmes

so it will be next, then the Med theater.

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "My pleasure Geevee, the photograph is from Time Life and is supposedly of; "American troops look over German armor destroyed during the drive towards Rome, 1944.""

GeeVee is right, that is a great photo.

[happy]

Manray9 wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "The next group theme read (Mediterranean Theatre) will commence on 1st January 2014, here is the thread which will be opened a few days prior:

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

Good book - I think you'll enjoy it

[Dj]

One of the only major accomplishments I have to my credit is that I have the full set of those.
Interestingly enough some of the best ones are on topics that are generally overlooked. Such as the books on the DC3 or the Jeep. Overall as a series they are much better in consistency than many others I have seen. I wouldn't be surprised to find them being republished in bundled formats when the copyrights run out.

Manray9 wrote: "Geevee wrote: "I just added it to my TBR! :)"

I have spent the last two hours entering or updating GR entries for the many issues of Ballantine Books' "Illustrated History of the Violent Century" ..."

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "One of the only major accomplishments I have to my credit is that I have the full set of those.
Interestingly enough some of the best ones are on topics that are generally overlooked. Such as the ..."

I agree about the overlooked or under-appreciated topics. I bought my copies new in the late-Sixties to mid-Seventies and, as I said, they haven't stood up very well physically. I like especially Ian Hogg's book on WW I artillery, Sibley's book on WW I in East Africa and A.J. Barker's "Rape of Ethiopia."

[Dj]

I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a way outside the normal scope of the works that made up the series.
The ones I liked the least were the ones by Charles Whitting, but that is because he one of the most biased writers that I can tolerate reading. He always seems to have an ax to grind.

Manray9 wrote: "Dj wrote: "One of the only major accomplishments I have to my credit is that I have the full set of those.
Interestingly enough some of the best ones are on topics that are generally overlooked. S..."

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a way outside t..."

I don't have the entire collection and none by Whitting.

[Dj]

Whiting wrote the bio's on Patton and Bradley. He is not a fan of Patton and seems to have a thing for Bradley. He also wrote the bio for Skorzeny who he adores. Those were the three books that he wrote for the series.
I remembered reading the books and getting some of them when they were sold in the grocery store for a dollar. I kept thinking that it would be nice to read the whole set so when eBay was still a large garage sale I gathered them all up. Once I read them all I boxed them up. I have books that cover most everything in them in more depth but still don't want to just unload them.


Manray9 wrote: "Dj wrote: "I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a wa..."

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "Whiting wrote the bio's on Patton and Bradley. He is not a fan of Patton and seems to have a thing for Bradley. He also wrote the bio for Skorzeny who he adores. Those were the three books that he ..."

That's great. I never think of E-Bay as a source for such. All mine have the $1.00 sales price printed on the binding. Can't get much for $1.00 these days.

[Dj]

A 54 ounce refill of Coke at the minimarket down the street, enough to last me all day. LOL. But other than that, not much.

Manray9 wrote: "Dj wrote: "Whiting wrote the bio's on Patton and Bradley. He is not a fan of Patton and seems to have a thing for Bradley. He also wrote the bio for Skorzeny who he adores. Those were the three boo..."

[Miss M]

Dj wrote: "I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a way outside t..."

*waves*

Hi,
I've been lurking here for a bit, and this made me smile/want to comment. I think The Fight for Freedom for Women was one of my earliest serious book acquisitions, and a cornerstone of the fledgling feminist shelf I started...back in junior high. Like many of you, apparently I have a problem with the 'de-acquisitioning.'

So I just pulled it out of the basement, and am amazed to see that Rose Tremain is the author (1973), and it's credited as her first book..she's certainly come a long way. The binding's definitely in lousy shape, not sure it would last through another re-read. Thank you for calling up some happy memories, though.

I see John Keegan was a consultant editor (and ve-ry young, at least compared to how I've pictured him), was he generally a part of the series?

(I'll go post an introduction in the appropriate thread.)

[Manray9]

Miss M wrote: "Dj wrote: "I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a wa..."

Many eminent historians and writers were involved in the Ballantine series. You mentioned Keegan, but also Barrie Pitt, Ian Hogg, Geoffrey Jukes, Charles Messenger, Mike Calvert and others.

[Dj]

Keegan wrote a number of the books for the series.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/checklist...
Here is a link for the series. Some of the books listed were never published, but it is a good start.

Miss M wrote: "Dj wrote: "I think for myself the favorite of the series would be: Freedom for Women. by Tremani.
Not so much that it was better than any of the rest, but due to the fact that it was by far an a wa..."

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "Keegan wrote a number of the books for the series.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/checklist...
Here is a link for the series. Some of the books listed were never published, but it is a goo..."

Thanks.

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "Keegan wrote a number of the books for the series.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/checklist...
Here is a link for the series. Some of the books listed were never published, but it is a goo..."

I would like to have Keegan's "Dien Bien Phu," but I see it online for $47.00 -- a little high for a Ballantine.

[Miss M]

Dj wrote: "Keegan wrote a number of the books for the series.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/checklist...
Here is a link for the series. Some of the books listed were never published, but it is a goo..."

Thank you for the link.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have opened the January theme read thread for comments as it will be the 1st over here in Australia tomorrow:

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

[Colin]

Dj wrote: "Keegan wrote a number of the books for the series.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/checklist...
Here is a link for the series. Some of the books listed were never published, but it is a goo..."

I was with Sir John Keegan at Oxford, great intellect, and I had the benefit of Messenger proof reading my graduate thesis, which became the book Night Fighters many years later. Good historians and great books in my opinion.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Two great historians there Colin, it must have been very interesting working with such men!

[Colin]

It was interesting indeed, and I learned a lot.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

This month’s theme read will soon be closing and I have really enjoyed the dialogue on the various books members brought to the discussion covering various aspects of the Mediterranean Theatre.

For those interested these are the forthcoming theme reads:

March 2014 - Atlantic Ocean Campaign (books covering any aspect of this campaign: air or sea)

May 2014 - African Campaign (books covering any aspect of this campaign: land, air or sea)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

The next theme read (Atlantic Ocean Campaign) is set for March and is ready to go, the thread will be opened a few days before the start of the month:

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

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Rick and I hope it generates as much discussion and variety of books as our previous theme.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Me too.

I was thinking about future theme reads and was wondering about a theme read on each year of the war. Say 1939 and members could read any book that covered that year, be it a battle or campaign, a person, a weapon, anything as long as it occurred in 1939 and then we could continue with a theme read for each year of the war, just an idea ....

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Me too.

I was thinking about future theme reads and was wondering about a theme read on each year of the war. Say 1939 and members could read any book that covered that year, be it a battle or ca..."

Not a bad idea. How about a theme on Sideshows, e.g. Madagascar, Africa, the Aleutians, the Dodecanese? Any thing that wasn't a major campaign.

How about selecting certain countries? A theme read on Finland, India, Norway, Canada, China? Any topic in that country during the war: diplomacy, home front, military campaign, etc?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

We can do all those, book in a few years worth of theme reads :)

I was also thinking of a theme read on a WW2 personality, be it a general, a soldier/sailor/airmen, a politician, a civvy, anyone of interest in WW2. Then a theme read on a weapon; be it a plane, a naval vessel, a tank, a infantry weapon, etc.

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "We can do all those, book in a few years worth of theme reads :)

I was also thinking of a theme read on a WW2 personality, be it a general, a soldier/sailor/airmen, a politician, a civvy, anyone o..."

All good ideas too. I like the idea of a personality, but for a variety and abundance of material it would have to be someone prominent, such as Churchill, Ike, Stalin, Monty, MacArthur, etc.

I wouldn't mind a theme read on battleships.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

All things to explore after we finish the current run of theme reads.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

All good ideas gents and they will see us well into 2015 too.

[Lilo]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "This month’s theme read will soon be closing and I have really enjoyed the dialogue on the various books members brought to the discussion covering various aspects of the Mediterranean Theatre.

Fo..."

Re African Campaign: I think this will be the time to read group member Robert Hays's book "Patton's Oracle"



Patton's Oracle: Gen. Oscar Koch, as I Knew Him

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For those interested the thread below will be opening soon for the next theme read (March) on books covering any aspect of the campaign and fighting in/on/above/below the Atlantic:

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

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

The next monthly (May) theme read, books on the North African campaign, has been set up and will be opened a few days before the group read commences:

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

[Doubledf99.99]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "The next monthly (May) theme read, books on the North African campaign, has been set up and will be opened a few days before the group read commences:

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

Does the read include fiction as well??

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Why not, I think that should be OK as long as it covers the North African theatre. I try not to be too proscriptive :)

[Doubledf99.99]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Why not, I think that should be OK as long as it covers the North African theatre. I try not to be too proscriptive :)"

Picked up Pressfield's book "Killing Rommel" a story on the LRDG, was wondering if it would count, if it does great..

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I think that would be fine, if it gets you to join the theme read then it can't hurt eh!

[Doubledf99.99]

Was going to get to it soon, so the timing is perfect.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent :)

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "Was going to get to it soon, so the timing is perfect."

It is heavy on history and light on fiction, a good pick. I really enjoyed Killing Rommel

[Manray9]

For the May theme, I have this -- still unread -- but it is, as one of our group members said, a chunkster at 936 pages plus appendix.

Auchinleck: A Critical Biography by John Connell.

Connell also wrote a bio of Wavell.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Looks like a good book Manray9. I was also thinking of having a theme read on any personality of WW2. Anybody from a foot-slogger to a commander or politician so if you don't get to it in next month's theme read you can try it for the next one.

[James]

Once I'm done with 'Chindit' by Richard Rhodes James I'll move onto;
by David Rolf

Look foward to hearing about your book on "The Auk" Manray9, I rate him highly.

[Manray9]

James wrote: "Once I'm done with 'Chindit' by Richard Rhodes James I'll move onto;
by David Rolf

Look foward to hearing about your book on "The Auk" Ma..."

I may put off the Auk until AR does the WW II Personality theme.