Post by Fighter Dolls on Feb 24, 2019 10:29:48 GMT
"My Stolen Son." The mother of Nick Markowitz, the boy that was murdered by Jesse James Hollywood that inspired the film "Alpha Dog." Brutal and compelling. I read the first 200 pages today.
Currently working on "Struggle For the Middle Sea" by Vincent P. O'Hara. It's about naval war in the Mediterranean Sea between 1940 and 1945. It is very well organized, and mostly focuses on surface actions through this period.
Here's the blurb: "America has dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But Japan has only begun to fight. . . . In 1945, history has reached a turning point. A terrible new weapon has been unleashed. Japan has no choice but to surrender. But instead, the unthinkable occurs. With their nation burned and shattered, Japanese fanatics set in motion a horrifying endgame their aim: to take America down with them. In Robert Conroy's brilliantly imagined epic tale of World War II, Emperor Hirohito s capitulation is hijacked by extremists and a weary United States is forced to invade Japan as a last step in a war that has already cost so many lives. As the Japanese lash out with tactics that no one has ever faced before from POWs used as human shields to a rain of kamikaze attacks that take out the highest-value targets in the Pacific command the invasion's success is suddenly in doubt. As America's streets erupt in rioting, history will turn on the acts of a few key players from the fiery front lines to the halls of Washington to the shadowy realm of espionage, while a mortally wounded enemy becomes the greatest danger of all."
I most recently finished The War Below, by James Scott. It follows the patrols of USS Drum, Silversides, and Tang against the backdrop of the overall war in the Pacific. I found it quite enriching and enjoyable!
Prior to that it was With Wings Like Eagles, by Michael Korda. Learning about the preparations during the inter-war years by Dowding, conflicting strategies during the battle, all intertwined with individual dogfight reminiscences came together as quite a rich story.
Post by spoonytheswabby on Jun 3, 2021 14:54:53 GMT
Sad news for the readers among us: James Hornfischer passed away yesterday. His books are among my favorites and I'm happy we had his work to supplement this hobby.
I'm currently reading Osprey Publishing's US Heavy Cruisers 1941-1945(pre-war classes). Great information on the treaty cruisers and US Naval doctrine in the years leading up to WWII. I especially like the Portland class cruisers.
Just finished Shattered Sword by Jonathan Parshall & Anthony Tully. Those that like granular break-downs of battle analysis might well enjoy it, as it takes the Battle of Midway hour by hour.
I am reading (sporadically) The Fiercest Battle, by Ronald Seth. It is a day by day account of the convoy ONS 5, during which six U-boats were sunk, good for someone who wants a good story that actually happened and a good view of war-life on the North Atlantic.
University Student— Lover of Plato, Aristotle, War At Sea, Palestrina, and Mozart