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Post by Plainsman on Feb 27, 2021 11:01:03 GMT -5
IVAN THE TERRIBLE, by Ian Grey. Highly detailed, an almost day by day account of the reign of Ivan. Not particularly well-written IMO, but informative on the immense complexity of Ivan’s reign. Not commented upon in the book, but an effect of it, is a greater understanding of the apparent Russian cultural need for a strong, even despotic ruler. Stalin and Putin can be better understood, perhaps, by a familiarity with Ivan and his time.
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Post by urbino on Feb 27, 2021 14:18:43 GMT -5
Another fan! I'll finish the book later today. He has written a lot of other books, I also enjoyed the ones on Waterloo (non-fiction) and Agincourt (historical fiction). Yes! Bernard Cornwall is a wonderful story teller! Can’t purchase his books quick enough! I've got some Audible credits I need to use. What would you guys consider Cornwall's best? |
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Post by Darin on Feb 27, 2021 14:54:32 GMT -5
Yes! Bernard Cornwall is a wonderful story teller! Can’t purchase his books quick enough! I've got some Audible credits I need to use. What would you guys consider Cornwall's best? The Saxon Chronicles ... 13 books that were hard to put down, especially the first few. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 27, 2021 15:13:35 GMT -5
Yes! Bernard Cornwall is a wonderful story teller! Can’t purchase his books quick enough! I've got some Audible credits I need to use. What would you guys consider Cornwall's best? After the Saxon Chronicles Agincourt. |
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Post by Plainsman on Feb 27, 2021 16:53:37 GMT -5
LANDSCAPE TURNED RED, By Stephen W. Sears. The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day conflict in American history. I am 100 pages into it and we haven’t come to the battle itself yet. Detailed background of the events, campaigns, and personalities that led up to the battle itself. Particularly good on the politics of the era and the shift on Northern attitudes on what the war was about. This involves the politics behind making it “about slavery” late in the game. Good stuff, using many documents and accounts never before in print. Some 300+ pages to go and Sears has definitely got me hooked.
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Post by taiguy66 on Feb 27, 2021 19:37:41 GMT -5
Yes! Bernard Cornwall is a wonderful story teller! Can’t purchase his books quick enough! I've got some Audible credits I need to use. What would you guys consider Cornwall's best? Urb, you can’t go wrong with any of his works. It just comes down to history: Napoleonic Wars then Sharpe series. If you like the Norse- Dark Ages type genre then the Warrior chronicles. Holy Grail- Medieval history: Grail series. King Arthur legend history: Warlord chronicles. He did another series on the Civil War which I haven’t got into. |
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Post by taiguy66 on Feb 27, 2021 20:18:43 GMT -5
Urb, you inspired me to reread Bernard Cornwall. Decided to start on “The Winter King.” This is the first of the Warlord chronicles where Arthur rules as Regent until his nephew Mordred comes of age.
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Post by Plainsman on Feb 27, 2021 20:37:13 GMT -5
You might find his books more easily if you look under Bernard Cornwell.
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jcurtis55
Junior Member
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Post by jcurtis55 on Feb 27, 2021 21:15:58 GMT -5
LANDSCAPE TURNED RED, By Stephen W. Sears. The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day conflict in American history. I am 100 pages into it and we haven’t come to the battle itself yet. Detailed background of the events, campaigns, and personalities that led up to the battle itself. Particularly good on the politics of the era and the shift on Northern attitudes on what the war was about. This involves the politics behind making it “about slavery” late in the game. Good stuff, using many documents and accounts never before in print. Some 300+ pages to go and Sears has definitely got me hooked. Antietam is an excellent battlefield to visit. I believe Burnside's bridge is a reproduction, but most of the battlefield is intact. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 27, 2021 22:08:42 GMT -5
I can't get excited about a battlefield that's a terrible memorial to bad government decisions.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Feb 27, 2021 23:03:08 GMT -5
I can't get excited about a battlefield that's a terrible memorial to bad government decisions. Then stay away from COVID testing centers... Oops, too political? |
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Post by taiguy66 on Feb 27, 2021 23:07:59 GMT -5
You might find his books more easily if you look under Bernard Cornwell. Yes, you’re correct. I misspelled his name. Cornwell not Cornwall like my IPad autocorrect wants to do. |
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Post by username on Feb 27, 2021 23:23:09 GMT -5
Xanth novel 44 Skeleton Key By Piers Anthony.
Just a dumb fantasy novel series I like nothing remarkable but I’ve been reading them since I was a teen and enjoy them still even thu he writes them very much to a formula.
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 28, 2021 0:04:36 GMT -5
You might find his books more easily if you look under Bernard Cornwell. Yes, you’re correct. I misspelled his name. Cornwell not Cornwall like my IPad autocorrect wants to do. Everyone else does too. You search for Bernard Cornwall or Cornwell and you get the same results. |
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Post by Darin on Feb 28, 2021 7:12:52 GMT -5
Uhtred doesn't care how you spell his name, just don't call him late to a good shield wall.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Feb 28, 2021 10:10:26 GMT -5
 I’m a low-brow reader, C J BOX!
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 28, 2021 11:30:19 GMT -5
Uhtred doesn't care how you spell his name, just don't call him late to a good shield wall. And don't tell him that the king wants to talk to him! |
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 28, 2021 11:30:53 GMT -5
I’m a low-brow reader, C J BOX! That's not low-brow. He's a good writer. |
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Post by instymp on Feb 28, 2021 12:34:12 GMT -5
I’m a low-brow reader, C J BOX! Me too. Since your recommendation, 6 to go. Good read, wife even like him.
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Post by jeffd on Feb 28, 2021 17:28:37 GMT -5
I am reading The Best American Noir of the Century, edited by James Ellroy and Otto Penzler.
Noir: "It’s the long drop off the short pier and the wrong man and the wrong woman in perfect misalliance. It’s the nightmare of flawed souls with big dreams and the precise how and why of the all-time sure thing that goes bad.”
Although the nerd in me thinks the title should be Best Noir of the last 100 years, as the present title is ambiguous as to which century it is referring, and it actually is not referring to either. But if nerds like me ran things, nothing would get done. Nothing would be incorrect, but nothing would get done.
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Post by Plainsman on Feb 28, 2021 19:37:54 GMT -5
LANDSCAPE TURNED RED, By Stephen W. Sears. The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day conflict in American history. I am 100 pages into it and we haven’t come to the battle itself yet. Detailed background of the events, campaigns, and personalities that led up to the battle itself. Particularly good on the politics of the era and the shift on Northern attitudes on what the war was about. This involves the politics behind making it “about slavery” late in the game. Good stuff, using many documents and accounts never before in print. Some 300+ pages to go and Sears has definitely got me hooked. Finished. A monumental work. Consists of four major parts: The lead-up to the battle; the battle itself; the aftermath; a roster of units and commanders. The descriptions of the battle itself are detailed and harrowing. Most fascinating is the aftermath, the political jockeying, and the less-than-noble cynicism of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was not so much a moral statement as a political one. Sears is remorseless in his well-researched treatment of McClellan. Any personal library devoted to the War should not be without this essential book. |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 1, 2021 10:10:54 GMT -5
Started THE HEART OF THE MATTER, Graham Greene. Read this many years ago and remember almost nothing about it save the location and a little about the protagonist. This man can write!
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 1, 2021 11:20:45 GMT -5
Started THE HEART OF THE MATTER, Graham Greene. Read this many years ago and remember almost nothing about it save the location and a little about the protagonist. This man can write! The story of a regular man in the situation that life inflicts on most people at some point in their lives. I hate hopeless situations. Give me the Kobayashi Maru any day. |
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Post by urbino on Mar 2, 2021 1:39:16 GMT -5
Started THE HEART OF THE MATTER, Graham Greene. Read this many years ago and remember almost nothing about it save the location and a little about the protagonist. This man can write! Yes, he can. Used to be my favorite. |
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Post by Gypo on Mar 9, 2021 23:07:13 GMT -5
About the only thing I read outside of work stuff is the Humboldt Historian. A small historical society publication that comes out four times a year. I enjoy the short articles and photos. Sometimes I know the family's in the articles and a lot of the places
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Post by fadingdaylight on Mar 10, 2021 8:30:55 GMT -5
Started Marcus Aurelius - Meditations this week
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SCF Dan
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Post by SCF Dan on Mar 10, 2021 8:47:30 GMT -5
True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman.
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longtom
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Post by longtom on Mar 10, 2021 16:39:27 GMT -5
Starting Ulick O’Connor’s MICHAEL COLLINS & THE TROUBLES.
I am about halfway through this now based on your recommendation. Very good book.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 10, 2021 18:05:06 GMT -5
Cutting Up in the Kitchen by Merle Ellis. A butchers guide to saving money on meat and poultry...great book for you chefs.
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 10, 2021 18:14:57 GMT -5
Starting Ulick O’Connor’s MICHAEL COLLINS & THE TROUBLES.
I am about halfway through this now based on your recommendation. Very good book.
I’m glad you’re liking it. I don’t have many ‘heroes’ in my life. He is certainly one. |
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I’m a low-brow reader, C J BOX!
