Another excellent book that has just come to mind is "Wartime. Britain 1939-1945 by Juliet Gardiner.
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Another excellent book that has just come to mind is "Wartime. Britain 1939-1945 by Juliet Gardiner.
Looks most interesting; must add it to my "to read" list.
From what I can remember it concentrated on the Second World War in Britain as opposed to what was happening elsewhere. There was a good chapter on the "phoney" war, when London was expecting raids from the Luftwaffe that didn't immediately happen. I don't think it was until the summer of 1940 before the first bombs fell on London.
Other chapters I remember were about children being evacuated to safer parts of Britain and another on conscientious objectors.
It was nice to read a book that looked at the home front rather than the usual theatres of war.
I feel a re-read coming up....
Finished my book on Chess Tactics, I am on to combinations. Unfortunately I haven't had as much time to study, train, and play as I wished, and it shows. My middle game has to improve, rapidly.
However, I got this 1967 book for $3.00. I studied the first pages, it's not bad at all. It uses the old descriptive notation.
However, I got this 1967 book for $3.00. I studied the first pages, it's not bad at all. It uses the old descriptive notation.
Just finished 1984 last night. Holy smokes what a utterly depressing book. I am actually glad and liked the way it ended. What a great read!
Looking for the next recommendation. I know "Animal Farm" was mentioned, what other books come to mind?
Depends what you're looking for. One of my all time favourites is "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. Excellent.
True. But then I switch on the news… *sigh*
Animal Farm is I suppose the classic to read next. (But maybe give yourself a break first!)
I tend to lean towards, bleak, supernatural, type books. I liked Stephen King's The Stand, along with most recently Swan Song. I also like Dean Koontz books, with the exception of the Odd Thomas and Frankenstein books have read almost all of his books. I just started reading again and I am hooked!
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True. But then I switch on the news… *sigh*
Animal Farm is I suppose the classic to read next. (But maybe give yourself a break first!)
I actually just picked it up. Went back over some of the previous recommendations and have purchased it. Don't know if I will read it next though. I am thinking about Dune, but man it is a monster in book length. I am also looking at American Gods.
Almost as a companion piece that deals with how "the other side" coped with the war I can recommend:
"The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-45", Nicholas Stargardt
Dune. Excellent choice.
Definitely falls into the "now for something completely different!" category.
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I liked it a lot. A lot. If you liked the Stand, defiantly give this one a read, it to is also very long and detailed, but the story moves at a pretty good pace!
This week's recommendation from me:
"The War that Ended Peace: How Europe abandoned peace for the First World War", Margaret MacMillan
Starts in 1900 and examines the years and causes leading up to WWI.
"The War that Ended Peace: How Europe abandoned peace for the First World War", Margaret MacMillan
Starts in 1900 and examines the years and causes leading up to WWI.
But what a brilliant book.
True. But then I switch on the news… *sigh*
Animal Farm is I suppose the classic to read next. (But maybe give yourself a break first!)
Animal Farm is a book I would willingly have sold my soul to have been able to say that I wrote it.
It is very rare to find a book that is such an insightful work of political philosophy, and a forensic study of the politics of power (and the abuse of power and betrayed ideals) which is - at the same time - an almost flawless literary masterpiece written in a deceptively plain - but extraordinarily elegant - prose style.
This week's recommendation from me:
"The War that Ended Peace: How Europe abandoned peace for the First World War", Margaret MacMillan
Starts in 1900 and examines the years and causes leading up to WWI.
I must ask: have you read Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August?
Ah, yes. Very highly respected. (Well over fifty years old now though, so it would be interesting to see how it still bears up.)
"The Proud Tower" is also worth a try.
Barbara Tuchman's book is a very fine historical work; it was strongly recommended - and, indeed on WW1 - it was viewed a standard text when I was an undergrad.
Now, for some reading matter: Serious fact, nice fiction, or something distracting but not too heavy - Oliver Kamm's book "Accidence Will Happen: The non-pedantic guide to English usage" is winking at me on a sofa.
Well my next book will be "Animal Farm". Downloaded it today and will be starting it today. Followed by "Dune".
ah, two great books.
I have read 18 of the 19 novels of the Dune franchise (Navigators of Dune is the only one I have yet to read).
Well, Animal Farm is rightly considered an absolute classic. A superb book.
Re Dune, I must say that while I thought the first book excellent, as the series progressed, I liked it less and less, and stopped reading after the fourth book.
Oh holy smokes, I didn't realize there were that many!
yeah! but Frank Herbert wrote only the first six books. I think that the first four books by FH are a must read. The other books are cool for psychotics like me ...
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's books are somewhat a good read, but they clearly lack the dept of FH's original series. One advice, if you decide to read some of the remaining books.
BH and KJA decided to write two books that fall within the original series by FH. The two books are "Paul of Dune" and "Winds of Dune". Just skip them, they are weak books and they add absolutely nothing to the story.
In order by Chronology in Duniverse. Original series in bold.
The Butlerian Jihad (2002) - Legends of Dune series
The Machine Crusade (2003) - Legends of Dune series
The Battle of Corrin (2004 )- Legends of Dune series
Sisterhood of Dune (2012) - Great Schools of Dune series
Mentats of Dune (2014) - Great Schools of Dune series
Navigators of Dune (2016) - Great Schools of Dune series
House Atreides (1999) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Harkonnen (2000)- Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Corrino (2001) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
Dune (1965)
Paul of Dune (2008)
Dune Messiah (1969)
The Winds of Dune (2009)
Children of Dune (1976)
God Emperor of Dune (1981)
Heretics of Dune (1984)
Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Hunters of Dune (2006)
Sandworms of Dune (2007)
yeah! but Frank Herbert wrote only the first six books. I think that the first four books by FH are a must read. The other books are cool for psychotics like me ...
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's books are somewhat a good read, but they clearly lack the dept of FH's original series. One advice, if you decide to read some of the remaining books.
BH and KJA decided to write two books that fall within the original series by FH. The two books are "Paul of Dune" and "Winds of Dune". Just skip them, they are weak books and they add absolutely nothing to the story.
In order by Chronology in Duniverse. Original series in bold.
The Butlerian Jihad (2002) - Legends of Dune series
The Machine Crusade (2003) - Legends of Dune series
The Battle of Corrin (2004 )- Legends of Dune series
Sisterhood of Dune (2012) - Great Schools of Dune series
Mentats of Dune (2014) - Great Schools of Dune series
Navigators of Dune (2016) - Great Schools of Dune series
House Atreides (1999) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Harkonnen (2000)- Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Corrino (2001) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
Dune (1965)
Paul of Dune (2008)
Dune Messiah (1969)
The Winds of Dune (2009)
Children of Dune (1976)
God Emperor of Dune (1981)
Heretics of Dune (1984)
Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Hunters of Dune (2006)
Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Just snagged this post and put in my note program! Thank you very much. Truth be told, I didn't think the series was that old. I was picturing the 1980's, prior to the film coming out. I am not a fast reader and read for about an hour ever night so I have a feeling given the length of the book, I will be reading it for a few weeks!
Thank you again!
Yep, it's old! It was serialized on Analog sci-fi magazine (still in print, and still a great sci-fi monthly literary magazine, together with Asimov's Science Fiction) in 1963 I believe! You will be surprised how far ahead that novel was!
PS: Do not expect the movie. The two have little in common.
yeah! but Frank Herbert wrote only the first six books. I think that the first four books by FH are a must read. The other books are cool for psychotics like me ...
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's books are somewhat a good read, but they clearly lack the dept of FH's original series. One advice, if you decide to read some of the remaining books.
BH and KJA decided to write two books that fall within the original series by FH. The two books are "Paul of Dune" and "Winds of Dune". Just skip them, they are weak books and they add absolutely nothing to the story.
In order by Chronology in Duniverse. Original series in bold.
The Butlerian Jihad (2002) - Legends of Dune series
The Machine Crusade (2003) - Legends of Dune series
The Battle of Corrin (2004 )- Legends of Dune series
Sisterhood of Dune (2012) - Great Schools of Dune series
Mentats of Dune (2014) - Great Schools of Dune series
Navigators of Dune (2016) - Great Schools of Dune series
House Atreides (1999) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Harkonnen (2000)- Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
House Corrino (2001) - Great Houses/Prequels to Dune
Dune (1965)
Paul of Dune (2008)
Dune Messiah (1969)
The Winds of Dune (2009)
Children of Dune (1976)
God Emperor of Dune (1981)
Heretics of Dune (1984)
Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Hunters of Dune (2006)
Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Actually, I seem to remember reading them (the four that I read) in the mid 80s.