What are you reading?

[Ben Lomond]

I've just finished reading "D-Day" by Stephen Ambrose; the author of "Band of Brothers" amongst others. It is a meticulously researched account of the D day landings in Europe, and the author has avoided simply regurgitating the historical facts, which have been recounted many times before, but has woven a chronological account of the landings on the 5 beaches from the viewpoint of those who were actually there. And while we all think we know what "Omaha" must have been like from sources such as "Saving Private Ryan", the accounts of survivors of the first wave really bring home the horror and the futility of war in terrible detail.

And yet, amongst the carnage, there is humour. One small passage still brings a smile, the more so because it is true. When the paratroopers were preparing to board their aircraft for the initial drop into Normandy, they were given the the challenge password and response, which were "flash" "thunder" and "welcome". The latter was chosen because the Germans would pronounce it " Velcom"--a dead giveaway.

As a captain was giving these details to his men, he was approached by the regimental dental officer, who was going on the drop. This officer was a German Jew who had escaped Berlin in 1938. "Captain" he said after learning these passwords, "Vat do I do if challenged?"

"Doc" said the captain, "when you land, don't open your mouth!!!!"

For anyone interested in the history of WW11, I cannot praise this book too highly.

[beth]

There's not much to say about South of Broad, but I see I promised something.

I was disappointed .. it was not as good as Conroy's other books I have read. It is pretentious, but since most of the story is set in Charleston, S.C., which is a very pretentious locale, that might have been deliberate. The main character is very likable ... interesting even, but the entourage surrounding him is made up of stereotypes of the worst kind. I wouldn't recommend this one.

[DAS (formerly BushAdmirer)]

Ben - Thanks for the tip on D-Day. I do enjoy military history books that are well done and informative.

There are two that I've read in the past year that I can highly recommend.

The Battle of the Atlantic by Andrew Williams is the story of the battle against Hitler's U-Boats. It is well written and a quick read. In 1941 and 1942 there were few defenses against the U-Boats. Merchant sailors, mostly Brits and Americans, were risking their lives to sail on those unprotected freighters. Later in the war, things evened out with the advent of Sonar, Radio Direction Finders, destroyer escorts, and aerial surveillance. It is a fascinating read. is.gd/gIZ1M

A friend who is a history buff recommended a biography of Napoleon written by August Fornier and published in 1903. It has been published online by Google Books. You can read it here is.gd/gIZNR
It's hard to believe this book was published more than 100 years ago. It's easy to read and quite well done. I highly recommend it.

[aubrey]

Dracula.

I am ashamed to say that I've never read it before. 51, and never read Dracula. I have read Frankenstein, though.

Dracula gets going very quickly. 30 pages in, and already the old bugger is crawling head first down the walls of his castle.

Very good atmosphere, very well written.

[beth]

Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth

rereading ... almost finished

[pumpkinpie]

I'm reading a book right now called Lovely Bones. It's actually pretty good. It's about a girl who gets murdered, and when she reaches Heaven- she begins to tell her story, describing Heaven, and looking down on her loved ones at there grief. It's pretty good so far, although I have so much going on that I hardly have time to read.

[♫anna♫]

Nov 19, 2010 5:25:07 GMT @pumpkinpie said:

I'm reading a book right now called Lovely Bones. It's actually pretty good. It's about a girl who gets murdered, and when she reaches Heaven- she begins to tell her story, describing Heaven, and looking down on her loved ones at there grief. It's pretty good so far, although I have so much going on that I hardly have time to read.

OMG! I have the book and the film on dvd of "Lovely Bones". An extremely sad story! It has it's virtues though in reminding us that we need to show our love for those we care for and it marginalizes the predators, who wish to harm our loved ones!

I posted the film trailer here:
biglinmarshall.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=culture&action=display&thread=293&page=5

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2010 5:25:07 GMT @pumpkinpie said:

I'm reading a book right now called Lovely Bones. It's actually pretty good. It's about a girl who gets murdered, and when she reaches Heaven- she begins to tell her story, describing Heaven, and looking down on her loved ones at there grief. It's pretty good so far, although I have so much going on that I hardly have time to read.

I haven't read that, but did read another by the same author, (Alice Sebold) called "The Almost Moon" which I made the mistake of taking on holiday. It was so grim it gave me nightmares . I left it in a bed and breakfast and feel guilty abut it - I should have binned it!

[beth]

I found The Lovely Bones a pretty good book - not my choice of subject matter but well written and worth the time it took to read.

However, the movie version wasn't good at all. I'm sure it was difficult to transfer to film, but surely they could have done better.

[pumpkinpie]

Nov 19, 2010 16:07:05 GMT ♫anna♫ said:

Nov 19, 2010 5:25:07 GMT @pumpkinpie said:

I'm reading a book right now called Lovely Bones. It's actually pretty good. It's about a girl who gets murdered, and when she reaches Heaven- she begins to tell her story, describing Heaven, and looking down on her loved ones at there grief. It's pretty good so far, although I have so much going on that I hardly have time to read.

OMG! I have the book and the film on dvd of "Lovely Bones". An extremely sad story! It has it's virtues though in reminding us that we need to show our love for those we care for and it marginalizes the predators, who wish to harm our loved ones!

I posted the film trailer here:
biglinmarshall.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=culture&action=display&thread=293&page=5

So far I am pretty into the book. And it is a very sad story. I'm sure I'll watch the movie when I'm done with the book. I remember not to long ago, the movie was playing at the theater, but I didn't get to go see it. I rented the book from the library when I happened to come across it. I kind of like to read the books first anyway, because if I see the movie first, then I won't bother finishing the book. The book is very interesting and unique in nature. I do believe that this author probably has her aspect of the after life, pretty close to head on...

[♫anna♫]

Nov 20, 2010 3:34:03 GMT @pumpkinpie said:

Nov 19, 2010 16:07:05 GMT ♫anna♫ said:

OMG! I have the book and the film on dvd of "Lovely Bones". An extremely sad story! It has it's virtues though in reminding us that we need to show our love for those we care for and it marginalizes the predators, who wish to harm our loved ones!

I posted the film trailer here:
biglinmarshall.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=culture&action=display&thread=293&page=5

So far I am pretty into the book. And it is a very sad story. I'm sure I'll watch the movie when I'm done with the book. I remember not to long ago, the movie was playing at the theater, but I didn't get to go see it. I rented the book from the library when I happened to come across it. I kind of like to read the books first anyway, because if I see the movie first, then I won't bother finishing the book. The book is very interesting and unique in nature. I do believe that this author probably has her aspect of the after life, pretty close to head on...

I very much believe that those, who we love may try to reach us from that better world. Especially if they have been taken so wrongfully, cruelly and unexpectedly from us as is depicted in the film. I have to be careful with such stories because they heat up my emotions and i can very much emphasize with Susie's father and what he intended to do with the baseball bat.

[riotgrrl]

I am reading 'The Bridge over the Drina' by Ivo Andric.

I bought it not realising it was fiction; I tend not to read novels. I thought it was a history. But it's a kind of historical-fiction thing.

I'm loving it. It's a beautiful book.

[Deleted]

I've just returned from a week's holiday and as usual, under-estimated the number of books I'd get through. Fortunately the hotel lobby had shelves of discarded paperbacks, including the novel "Room" by Emma Donoghue.

It took its inspiration from the Joseph Fritzl, Natascha Kampusch and Sabine Dardenne incarcerations, and is told from the viewpoint of the child who was born and spent the first five years of his life confined with his mother in an 11x11 foot soundproofed room. One of the cover reviews promise "this will break your heart". It didn't break mine; I found it fascinating and uplifting. So I'd be interested to know if anyone else has read it.