What are you guys reading?

[The-Architect 0]

Hi guys. Just wondered what all you guys are reading right now.

I'd like this thred to become a real popular one where we can share ideas and books.

Post your current reading matter and a line or a synopsis of a bit you found interesting or whatever.

[canis lupus 20]

Well right now I'm reading Dean Koontz's midnight, I'd like to absorbe some of his wirting style to my own.

I also read tons of history books, about almost everything, I just got a shiopment of about 85 history books from arround the napoleonic war up to WW2.

[The-Architect 0]

I heard a guy on the radio suggesting that book recently. What's the story?

Ok, right now I'm reading non-fiction. It's a book called "A Time for War - The United States and Vietnam 1941-75" by Robert D. Schulzinger.

Overview:

It's a broad view of the way Vietnam policy effected the US during that time. Mostly political, Schulzinger has delved deep into the archives to find transcripts of meetings and discussions from the Whitehouse from several presidents and aides. An intriguing look at how the different presidents perceived the threat of Communism in South East Asia, "A Time for War" is a sometimes heavy going book but one which is sure to entertain any enthusiast of the times.

Problems:

I did have some problems with chrinology in the book. It was sometimes difficult to differentiate between years as the author jumps back and forth epending on the subject.

Intersting content:

There is a moment in the book where the nations at the Geneva conference, hosted by the UK, are getting ready to sign an agreement over Indochina (Vietnam). The US are there as an interested party, this is because they don't want to be seen as a controlling force in the South Vietnam government but they still want some sort of presence.

China is there as a member of the comitee, however the US will not recognise them as they have only recently become a Communist power. Something the USA was strongly against.

Each country is ready to sign except China. They will not sign unless the USA recognises their new government. The USA will not recognise their government because they are supposed to be at the conference only as an interested party and any interference would destroy their facade. This infuriates the Chinese who will not budge until the USA agree to recognise them.

This stand off continues until the Soviet union delegate takes the Chinese delegate aside and explains that the siuation is hopeless and that China should just sign the agreement. They do and the book carries on.

I liked this bit because it showed just how fikle men re. Even our world leaders have the potential in them to be stubborn and childish. I can just imagine the little China-man jumping up and down on the spot shouting, "You will recognise our Govornment!" and the US guy turning his back trying to look inconpicuous.

[JdB 151]

I'm currently reading "Soldier of Orange".

The book is about a group of students from Leiden, the Netherlands. Each of them happens to follow a different path and therefore has a different role in the Second World War, either as a collaborator or in the resistance. Part of the story is set in London, where Queen Wilhelmina has her residence. The main character escapes to England and is involved in secret operations in the Netherlands, and other representative tasks within the goverment around the liberation of the Netherlands.

Have only just started reading it, so not much to say about it yet...

[Denz 0]

Currently reading (always a couple on the go) -

Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of Gen. Erhard Raus

A brilliant book with some nice insight, takes you through from the opening phase of Barbarossa up until the Soviets reach the Oder. Has given me some good ideas for OFP missions!

Russia at War 1941-45

by Alexander Werth

Mines an old copy not the newish re-release.

I have only got as far as Operation Uranus but so far it's pretty impressive. His write up of the Stalingrad battle is one of the best around - the author was in Stalingrad shortly after the German surrender.

The 10,000 Day War: Vietnam

by Michael MacLear

I haven't got very far with it so judgment is reserved.

[Trapper 0]

"Heeresbericht" by Edlef Köppen, a WW1 novel. Köppen himself was a veteran and volunteer.

It's about a German volunteer, 21 years old.

A few days after his arrival at the western war zone his artillery regiment receives an enemy barrage while they are practising. They return fire and then it becomes quiet.

The Captain orders a Sergeant to continue the exercise and is already leaving as a last single round hits the position. - Volunteer Reisiger sees that the Sergeant, barking orders just a moment before, has been wounded...

[...]Reisiger is trembling, he chokes. So that's the war! There's a human standing, loud and strong, provokingly brave. The sun is shining and the sky is blue. Suddenly the human lies on the ground. And blood is splattering. And the human will go home and never again in his life he's going to have a left hand. Well, that's disgusting![...]

But still the book remains a little bit aloof compared to "All quiet on the western front" IMHO.

[Shashman 0]

Good read so far, not read it for long

[canis lupus 20]

When I'm finished midnight, I plan to read an old book about my great grandfather, he was forced to serve the germans in WW1.

by the way, I hope my own novel end up in this thread some day, if you havn't visited my thread I would like you to do so and post some comments, I'm a little stuck with the novel right now

[Messiah 2]

hisotorical (slightly fiction) account of the british bombing campaigns entitled black buck, where a single vulcan bomber was sent 4000 miles via a network of inflight refuelers to the falklands and back to ascension... incredible read.

[Sc@tterbrain 0]

After reading "Black Hawk Down" I was incredibly impressed with the research and writing style of the author Mark Bowden. I recently bought 3 more of his books and highly reccomend the one I have read already.

"Killing Pablo" - The story of how the US used Special Forces to assist in the capture/assasination of Pablo Escobar.

I'm now reading "Doctor Dealer" a book about Larry Lavin, an Ivy League dentist who became the ruler of a vast cocaine empire in the 1980's.

And next week it will be "Finders Keepers," another true story. This one is about a Philidelphia man who found $1.2 million in unmarked bills that fell out of an armoured truck. Unfortounately the guy was a bonehead and what ensues is a tragic story that even Hollywood couldn't think of.

[kakagoegie 0]

Reading something dutch right now. But recently I read:

In short the book tells us what the USA did wrong before and after the iraq war. It's interesting to see how a group of people could make so many stupid mistakes like disbanding the iraqi army and don't act against the looters. Another interesting aspect are the iraqi people who are displayed in the book. You really get to know the impact of the insurgency on their lives.

Other books I can recommend you are:

Amazon link

and a lot of books Frederick Forsyth wrote

Forsyth website

Another nice fiction book is:

Amazon link

[wex-q 0]

Hi guys. Just wondered what all you guys are reading right now.

This topic?

[chipper 0]

Frankenstien by that one chick

[blackdog~ 0]

I'm reading "Flyboys" by James Bradley. It's pretty cool so far, it's apparent that the author put a lot of time and effort into research for the book. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just buy it and read it and you'll see too.

[shinRaiden 0]

Suprisingly TSA didn't say boo about my suitcase stuffed with reference books on Al Qaeda, Iraqi and Saudi Arabic, Tank and vehicle identification references, and also Robert's Ridge. An excellent reconstruction documentary.

[cozza 24]

I'm reading "Long Way Round" by Ewan McGregor and Charley Borman. Really good read. If ya seen the TV show it was great, the book is just way better. Charley Other book "Race to Dakar" was also a great read as I just finished it. And I took a great interest in it becuase I allway dreamed of entering the Dakar one day.

[Guest]

Arthur Conan Doyle, various Sherlock Holmes novels and Meriam, Kraige: Engineering Mechanics , Volume 1, Statics, 5th Edition of course.

[feersum.endjinn 6]

From fiction, I just finished George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series which is HIGHLY recommended and just started on Steven Erikson's "Gardens of the Moon" - both are fantasy, but from different ends of genre.

From non-fiction, I've read lots of stuff but there's very few worth mentioning, too many hastily written books to cash on War on Terror and Iraq. Last book I read that I can honestly recommend was Steve Coll's "Ghost Wars" which is about US involvement in Afghanistan from 70's to 2001.

I've been trying to get my hands on Mark Bowden's "Guests of Ayatollah" but local bookstore doesn't seem to have it and I haven't bothered ordering it from Amazon yet.

[Sc@tterbrain 0]

I have been told many times to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand so I started it this weekend, and I just couldn't seem to put it down. Its quite the mind bender. Like it, hate it, agree with it or not. Its a great way to get your mind working on its own again.

[svendejong 0]

Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor

Very interesting.

[Lionclaw 0]

I'm reading Tom Clancy's "Red Storm Rising". 2nd time I'm reading it.

[chipper 0]

blackhawk down is a good book.

[Sc@tterbrain 0]

I too recently re-read Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" and it reminded me of a series of books I never read called "WWIII" by Ian Slater.

If anyone has read them please let me know if they are worth picking up.

Thanks

[Guest RKSL-Rock]

Nights Dawn Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton (for the 3rd time)

Its 3 huge tomes but well worth the read:

Book 1 - Realiy Dsyfunction

Book 2 -  The Neutronium Alchemist

Book 3 - Naked God

If you like those try the Commonwealth universe series :

Book 1 - Misspent Youth (2002), which sets the stage for later books  and acts more like a historical preface to the Commonwealth Saga books.  But unlike the Nights Dawn trilogy you dont have to read it before reading the next book.

Book 2 - Pandora's Star

Book 3 - Judas Unchained

[xawery 0]

From fiction, I just finished George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series which is HIGHLY recommended and just started on Steven Erikson's "Gardens of the Moon" - both are fantasy, but from different ends of genre.

Hear hear. The Song of Ice and Fire is by far the best low-fantasy series out there. Incidentally, HBO recently purchased the rights for adapting the novel to the tv screen. Given the quality of Band of Brothers, Carnivale and Rome I can only cheer