Having another go at 'Black Easter' and 'The Day after Judgement', both by James Blish. They are Part 1 & 2 of the ultimate Armageddon story.
Those two sections remained with me, also.I recently finished reading Imperium. It's a fine book, especially for anybody interested in the end days of the USSR. Two sections that will stick with me are how a swimming pool (for the masses) replaced the Temple of Christ the Savior (built, lavishly, over decades and decades) in Moscow and the tale of how Kapuściński smuggled himself into Nagorno-Karabakh.
I read that last year and then listened to an Audible version last month. It is fascinating to get a look at the personal diary and philosophy of probably the most powerful on earth at the time. And the advice is almost universally good.Re-reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
Well, sometimes I race through a book, and at other times - which is most of the time - I seem to have two or three books on the go simultaneously.Dang... you are reading a book every three days or so. Wowzers.
Just started "Shogun" by James Clavell... so far I am digging it!
Ah: Actually, I have never read that book; you must let me know whether it is worth reading.Just started "Shogun" by James Clavell... so far I am digging it!
It’s been a very long time, but I want to say it was worth reading.Ah: Actually, I have never read that book; you must let me know whether it is worth reading.
Ah: Actually, I have never read that book; you must let me know whether it is worth reading.
It’s been a very long time, but I want to say it was worth reading.
Ya know, I love going in there.I'm reading the extended version of The Stand. I'm not really a Barnes & Noble shopper but their special hardcover is excellent
I have read Shogun several times and can heartily recommend it. You won’t be disappointed.Ah: Actually, I have never read that book; you must let me know whether it is worth reading.
Ah, yet another recommendation from a thoughtful individual whose posts (not least when recommending reading material), I respect.I have read Shogun several times and can heartily recommend it. You won’t be disappointed.
I love B&N.Ya know, I love going in there.
Although I recently purchased a book from Amazon.
He wrote the novel/film Arkansas.
Currently reading “A Woman of No Importance - The Untold Story of the American Spy Who helped Win WWII”.
I initially rolled my eyes at the title, but didn’t take long to change my mind. Seriously, this woman saved the SOE’s ass, especially in its beginnings.
Once you get past the grade school writing of the Introduction, you quickly find yourself page turning. A true life thriller of an extraordinary woman and agent!
What about Mary Robinette Kowal fictional novel Ghost Talkers of a group WWI (primarily) female spiritualists assigned to a specialized British Army unit in France. A little different but a very good novel.Yes, there were several groups of women whose stories have only been coming out --
- The Bletchley Park ladies who did all the grunt work of decoding the Enigma messages while Turing and Welchman took all the glory.
- A similar group of ladies founded by Elizabeth Friedman (who went on to found the NSA, only recently recognised) who did something similar with the German messages coming out of South America (and, I believe, the Atlantic).
- A third group of women in Australia who decoded the Japanese messages in the Pacific.
- A fourth group of women who took on the task of training British and US captains and crew how to combat and evade the German U-boats.
- Another group of ladies whose job it was to ferry (by flying) newly built fighter planes of all types from the factories to the airfields where they were needed. Because they flew all sorts of different planes, they were often better, more skilled pilots than the people who ended up flying them.
- Don't forget Nancy Wake.
To my mind, this is the very best novel that Ken Follett wrote by a proverbial mile; it really rocks, the story, narrative, characters, history, (and architecture) are all excellent.Just started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I like a good historic novel, and it seems Follett is even better at that than the usual thrillers he used to be known for...
Excellent post.Yes, there were several groups of women whose stories have only been coming out --
- The Bletchley Park ladies who did all the grunt work of decoding the Enigma messages while Turing and Welchman took all the glory.
- A similar group of ladies founded by Elizabeth Friedman (who went on to found the NSA, only recently recognised) who did something similar with the German messages coming out of South America (and, I believe, the Atlantic).
- A third group of women in Australia who decoded the Japanese messages in the Pacific.
- A fourth group of women who took on the task of training British and US captains and crew how to combat and evade the German U-boats.
- Another group of ladies whose job it was to ferry (by flying) newly built fighter planes of all types from the factories to the airfields where they were needed. Because they flew all sorts of different planes, they were often better, more skilled pilots than the people who ended up flying them.
- Don't forget Nancy Wake.
Excellent post.
On a related subject, the book Rise of the Rocket Girls - the Women Who Propelled Us from Missiles, to the Moon to Mars - by Nathalia Holt (which I recommend strongly), tells of the women who worked with the NASA and is well worked reading.