Break Out Area Showing 701-750 of 2,602

[Nooilforpacifists]

manray9, thanks for the NY Times link. I can think of a heck of a lot of other books I'd like to force this President to read; I think he already knows how to party. But rest of article very interesting.

[Doubledf99.99]

Manray9 wrote: "While only indirectly related to WW II, here is a brief interview from the NY Times with spy novelist, Alan Furst. I was pleased to read, like me, as a boy he read "They Were Expendable," "Guadalc..."

Thanks for link, I fondly remember reading The Hardy Boys and also Tom Swift..

[Doubledf99.99]

Manray9 wrote: "While only indirectly related to WW II, here is a brief interview from the NY Times with spy novelist, Alan Furst. I was pleased to read, like me, as a boy he read "They Were Expendable," "Guadalc..."

Thanks for the link and also enjoyed his reference to the great Anthony Powell. I fondly remember reading The Hardy Boys and the Tom Swift novels as a very young kid..

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Still have my Hardy Boys, Tom Swift and Dave Dawson books. The kids did not read them but I just can't let them go.

[Manray9]

I lost my Hardy Boys books along the way. I did not read then all, but a good many -- and then came WW II and the Civil War and the Hardy Boys fell to the wayside.

[Doubledf99.99]

I think they served their purpose well, they got me hooked on reading at a young age and I have been addicted to books ever since.

[Manray9]

Mike wrote: "Still have my Hardy Boys, Tom Swift and Dave Dawson books. The kids did not read them but I just can't let them go."

I've not heard of Dave Dawson.

[Dj]

I never ready any of the Hardy Boys, or any Tom Swift and/or Dave Dawson.

By the time others were starting on those I was reading American Naval History and starting to move into histories of the German Army and it's officers that were a tad to biased, looking back on it now. I didn't start reading Fantasy/Sci-Fi, until my sophmore year in High School when I was looking for a new military history book to read (either ACW or WWII) when I came across a book that I had never seen before. It was titled...'On the War of the Ring, Vol 1' I had never heard of the war of the Ring, so I figured it must be some crazy Brit name...along the lines of the War of the Roses...one of the many British Civil wars. So I pulled it down and gave it a read. Imagine my surprise to find out it was actually 'The Fellowship of the Ring.' Since I had seen the old Rakin/Bass version of the Hobbit figured I would give it a go. Should have put it back then I would be buying fewer books than I am now. LOL.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Dave Dawson had an impact on my choice of a flying career:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5447...

[happy]

Mike wrote: "Still have my Hardy Boys, Tom Swift and Dave Dawson books. The kids did not read them but I just can't let them go."

I collect old Stratemeyer children's books,The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, The Bobbsey Twins etc but only if they were published before 1940. Starting in the 40's they rewrote them and modernized them.

The exception to that rule are the Tom Swift Jr. books that I read as a lad - I have a complete set, all 72 or however many there are :)

According the Librarian wife, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books are still being checked out

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Mike wrote: "Dave Dawson had an impact on my choice of a flying career:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5447..."

Mike (and gents) I have not read any of the Dave Dawson series in fact I hadn't heard of them until these posts, so thank you. Fascinating to think it influenced your career on fast jets and I would think (having just looked at the author's details) he would have been delighted to know that.

[James]

Well it looks like I'm about to enter a new phase! A kindle may be on its way for my 30th. Initially I was sceptical on kindle, I love the feeling of picking up a book and flicking through the pages, and I do admire my bookshelf. However I think its time to modernise but I do want the best of both worlds. The agreement I have reach with my long suffering spouse is that the kindle can be utilised for novels and general history books. But for my main passion, military history, I will still purchase proper books and continue to watch my collection grow, albeit at a slightly slower rate. Compromise..... tick!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Just like telephones and motorcars it'll never catch on!

In 1879 Mr. William Preece (later Sir William Preece) of the Post Office Engineering staff, when asked whether the telephone would be an instrument of the future which would be largely taken up by the public, replied “I think not”. Questioned further he said “I fancy the descriptions we get of its use in America are a little exaggerated; but there are conditions in America which necessitate the use of instruments of this kind more than here. Here we have a superabundance of messengers, errand boys, and things of that kind.”

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great story Geevee :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

James wrote: "Well it looks like I'm about to enter a new phase! A kindle may be on its way for my 30th. Initially I was sceptical on kindle, I love the feeling of picking up a book and flicking through the page..."

Happy Kindling James :)

The one good thing about e-books is the large number of out of print and hard to get books that you can access for free. I've picked up some great Napoleonic titles on my wife's iPad but I actually haven't read a book on a e-reader device yet.

[Doubledf99.99]

James wrote: "Well it looks like I'm about to enter a new phase! A kindle may be on its way for my 30th. Initially I was sceptical on kindle, I love the feeling of picking up a book and flicking through the page..."

James after you get used to reading on it you'll enjoy it, been reading on an iPad mini for over a year, and just picked up a Kindle 8.9 recently, I've noticed my purchases online have gone up Ten fold, and just love reading on the Kindle, And I still by books. Just stick with it and it will grow one you..

[Nick]

James wrote: "Well it looks like I'm about to enter a new phase! A kindle may be on its way for my 30th. Initially I was sceptical on kindle, I love the feeling of picking up a book and flicking through the page..."

I've had a Kindle for several years, now, and it has a number of advantages (especially if you commute). But there is one drawback. When you are reading non-fiction (is there any other kind ?), maps and photos do not reproduce well on the Kindle.

Many books suffer from bad or inadequate maps. On the Kindle, these are aggravataed by the fact that (a) the maps are small and often unreadable; and (b), unlike a book, where you can place a bookmark on the page with the appropriate map, navigating back and forth, from text to map and back, is not convenient on the Kindle.

As a result, my Kindle primarily holds fiction and non-fiction that does not require maps.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good point Nick and for those military campaign histories we all read maps are crucial eh!

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Good point Nick and for those military campaign histories we all read maps are crucial eh!"

I think good maps are critical to any battle or campaign history. I think there has been a distinct fall-off in map quality in many books over the past 20 years or so.

[James]

I agree Manray9. Recently I read The Road to Stalingrad by John Erickson. Whilst the information was very in depth, and the book was well written, their were no maps whatsoever which was both a suprise and disappointment, it detracted greatly from an otherwise brilliant work. Maybe maps were included when the book was first published in the early 80s?

[Manray9]

James wrote: "I agree Manray9. Recently I read The Road to Stalingrad by John Erickson. Whilst the information was very in depth, and the book was well written, their were no maps w..."

I suspect publishers of cutting costs by reducing the number and quality of maps. Try reading any decent Civil War battle or campaign book without satisfactory maps!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

James wrote: "I agree Manray9. Recently I read The Road to Stalingrad by John Erickson. Whilst the information was very in depth, and the book was well written, their were no maps w..."

A fine book James and I own a first edition which has great maps - the points on maps etc for non-fiction is why I don't use one and stick with light (weight) paperbacks for commuting.

[Dj]

The West Point Military History Series has some really good Map books for the ACW and WWII.



Here is the one for the Pacific WWII.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have both volumes of John Erickson's Eastern Front books. I am unsure if this is correct across the board but the first volume is a US edition - no maps, the second volume is a UK edition - maps.

and by John Erickson

[Nick]

I suspect publishers of cutting costs by reducing the number and quality of maps. Try reading any decent Civil War battle or campaign book without satisfactory maps!

As I understand it, most of the publishers (and authors, too) farm out the map work, which is why there is often a mismatch between the quality of the text and the maps (where maps are provided)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Can't beat official histories when it comes to maps :)

...and the poor comedian in me would say and in an atlas!

[Dj]

In the original Official US Army History of WWII there were some very fine maps, but in general the reprints lacked them. However the PDF copies that the Military History Command lets you download the maps are there again and in the PDF format you can magnify the image to get more detail to a point.



Geevee wrote: "Can't beat official histories when it comes to maps :)

...and the poor comedian in me would say and in an atlas!"

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I've gathered a good collection of first editions for the US, UK, Australia, Canada, NZ, Sth Africa and Indian OHs and all have fine quality maps. I have some modern reprint of some regimental histories and they are underwhelming map wise.

[James]

Alas, from what I've seen recently in some cases, there does seem to be a decline in good maps. Hopefully it is not a trend. I agree about the official history maps, I recently acuired the complete set of the Australian Army in WW2 OH and the detail in both maps and print is first rate. You can't beat the OH for raw data, you just have to sift a bit through the bias and arse covering ;)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

The best OHs for readability for me are the NZ and South African ones James.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'm off to Sydney for the weekend so I may be a little quiet in the threads till Monday however I am taking the wife's iPad so I can keep an eye on you all :)

[happy]

Time to raid the wine celler/library again ;)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Nope, I've left behind a savage guard dog in the back yard (6 month old dachshund - the 'Kaiser' mutt) and inside a ferocious attack cat guarding the library (12 month English short hair).

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Nope, I've left behind a savage guard dog in the back yard (6 month old dachshund - the 'Kaiser' mutt) and inside a ferocious attack cat guarding the library (12 month English short hair)."

Don't underestimate the fight in a Wiener dog. I grew up with one and he was willing to take on all comers.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

True Manray9, and this dog knows he has to protect the wine cellar and the library of his master regardless of the odds!

[Dj]

Well that will give me a chance to puruse the Library again. Wish I had invested in that hand held scanner.




'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm off to Sydney for the weekend so I may be a little quiet in the threads till Monday however I am taking the wife's iPad so I can keep an eye on you all :)"

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Haha Dj :)

[Dj]

Well since it isn't a lending library, have to do what I can. LOL.


'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Haha Dj :)"

[Kenneth]

I've posted up a few pics in the 'photos' section if anybody would like a look. I just put a few up, didn't want to clog it up.

[happy]

Great photos - thnx

I really, really need to get back to England ;)

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Kenneth wrote: "I've posted up a few pics in the 'photos' section if anybody would like a look. I just put a few up, didn't want to clog it up."

Nice pics!

[carl]

where they at ? i looked in photos, but must not be the ri ght one.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thank you Kenneth, some good ones from a great venue.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

carl wrote: "where they at ? i looked in photos, but must not be the ri ght one."

Try this link here Carl, it takes you to the photos on the group pages and this is the most recent uploads including Kenneth's: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

[carl]

Oh that photo area. thanks GV, yes good pics, Spitfire fun.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great pic's, thanks for sharing.

[Dj]

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

This is my review for:



Fair warning. I was underwhelmed. Not even close to being just Whelmed.

[happy]

Wow, you really, really didn't like this one :)

[Dj]

Well it was slightly better than the Jesse Ventura conspiracy book I read. But in general. No I didn't like it. LOL.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Wow2, FoxNews and Daily Show...not often mentioned in the same sentence. Guess it really did not energize the Whelm-meter.