What are you reading?

[Invisible officer]

I would rate Forester mile high above O'Brien. To use talmi old language and copy the deeds of Lord Cochrane makes no late 20th century character a 1800 one. O'Brien got a lot of praise for being a naval and Georgian time expert from non experts.

I found no character in the books realy convincing. But I like that running gag Maturin, on land a genius but unable to learn anything obout life on a warship. The ideal spy?

For the real feeling of old navy life I would name the one novel written by a serving sailor from first hand in time experience. Melville: White Jacket.

[FrontierWilf]

I love the O'Brian books! I don't much care whether they're authentic or not, the naval stuff is really just a background for a long story about friendship: as the series goes on you start to feel that he's less and less interested in the action: the dinner parties and nature rambles get longer and the battles get shorter! But they're endlessly re-readable and surprisingly funny.

For WW2 books, Christopher Landon's Ice Cold in Alex is well worth a read - the film's great too, of course, but there are some interesting differences (like in the book it's the NCO who gets the girl). Also 'Warriors for the Working Day' by Peter Elstob, which is about a British tank crew in France and Germany in 1944 - 5: it's not a particularly great novel, but it feels authentic (I presume the author had seen active service) and it's very frank about the sheer terror of being in battle.

And did anyone else grow up reading Ronald Welch? He did a whole series of books about one family, different members of which seemed to fight in every battle from Agincourt to D-Day. Captain of Foot was my favourite, set in the Peninsular War.

[Cubster]

God Bless you Wilf and all who sail in you!!!

I read 'Sun of York' years back when I was in school and loved it, but I haven't been able to remember either the author or title since. Now I just Googled Ronald Welch and have seen the cover, it's all come flooding back. Time for a shopping spree.

I thank you kindly sir and bestow a thousand blessings on your house (and shed).

[Paul @ Warlord Games]

I'm halfway through the last book in the Game of Thrones series.

Next up is this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alamein-The-tur ... 0007278675

[Budgie]

Have just read 'It never snows in September', all about the German reaction to the Market Garden operation. Had read the 'Arnhem: The airborne battle', that dealt with the battle around that part of Holland. Just wanted to see it from the other side. Wasn't disappointed.

[Helen]

"Human Bullets" by Tadayoshi Sakurai concerning the Russo-Japanese War.

If you wish to understand the Japanese soldier more than this is the book - Highly recommended.

Helen

[Guadalupe90]

I'm now going back to school books. I re-read stuff I used to read when I was 16-17-18 YO. It's amazing how the perception of the book changes as you grow older! Most of these novels seemed to be so boring when I was a kid, and now I can't stop wondering how deep and wise they are!

[grant]

"Human Bullets" by Tadayoshi Sakurai concerning the Russo-Japanese War.

If you wish to understand the Japanese soldier more than this is the book - Highly recommended.

Helen

That one sounds interesting.

[Helen]

Grant, you can get this as an e-book if you wish.

Cheers,

Helen

[grant]

Grant, you can get this as an e-book if you wish.

Cheers,

Helen

Interesting! I have to confess to liking paper. I can get it from my online bookstore Chapters here in Canada, it's on my wish list. I usually add enough stuff to get free shipping. I even have a $10 gift certificate that's been buying a hole in my e-wallet.