What Are You Reading Now?

[The_Tick]

Just for finishing up Hail Mary, by Andy Weir of The Martian fame. He tells a good story. I look forward to times to when I can listen, and am sad to be coming to the end.

This is a bit mor on the “fi” side of Sci-fi, where The a Martian was more of the “Sci”. but it’s a fun read.

Currently reading this now. I really am enjoying it so far.

If you like space based series, that are having on the sci-FI, then look at The Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. 15 books. Really enjoy all but 1 book. They have a spin-off that is really good as well. Then there is also the Hell Divers series from Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It has some "Mad Max" and Terminator vibes to it, but I really enjoyed it. Lastly....the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor. Also extremely good.

[happyone]

It's been awhile since I've added to this thread, so I guess it time for an update - So far this year I've read a couple excellent WW II books - both by excellent authors.

The first is by the author of simple the best book on the "Dolittle Raid" that I've ever read James Scott

Black Snow

This is look at the strategic bombing of Japan. In telling the story, Mr. Scott looks at the problems the US had in just getting bombs on target. He states that during the first raid from Saipan, of over 120 air craft dispatched, less that 80 actually bombed the target and of those that bombed on 2 bombs hit in the target area - a 114 acre engine factory. This inaccuracy/ineffectiveness led to LaMay to switch to low altitude fire bombing. The first of these raids was on the night of March 14/15, 1945 and succeeded in burning out more that 8 square mile of Tokyo and well a killing over 100K people.

From this to the dropping of the Atomic bombs is just a small step.

One of the things I did like about this was that Mr. Scott just doesn't tell the story from the US perspective, but also has account from the survivors - definate 5 star read.

Craig Symonds is the author of the other WW II book.

Nimitz at War

Dr Symonds looks at Adm Nimitz' command philosophy and how he dealt with people. He was the polar opposite of his boss, Ernest King - of whom his daughter once said "He is vey even tempered - he's alway angry". While he didn't suffer fools, he also made good use of the people he had working for him, listened to there concerns and advise, though he didn't always take that advice. He knew when to take a risk and when not to. He was contantly pushing back against King - who wanted to be in Tokyo yesterday and when subordinates disappointed him, he would often put them on the back burner and bring them back later - Marc Mitchner, who commanded the USS Hornet during the Battle of Midway and basically lied to him in the After Action report - glossing over the failures of his air crew, was moved off the Hornet and was later made of the of the Air Craft Carrier Task Force commanders with much success.

A couple of personal details that Dr. Symonds includes is the fact that the reason you never see Nimitz smiling in a photo graph is that he was missing most of his teeth. He quotes one of Nimitiz physicals in saying "that this office does not meet the navy standards for teeth" He was also a physical fitness fanatic. Every night he would either go no a 4 or 5 mile walk in the hill above his quarters at Pearl Harbor, or for a 1 or 2 mile open ocean swim. Anyone who was around was invited to go along. It got so many junior officers would make them self scarce at that time of day.

Again I rated this 5 stars on good reads.

Another book I have finished is The White Ship


I first read about the White Ship in a Nat Geo article years and years ago (70s or 80s), In 1120, the White Ship was carrying the heir to the English Throne and ran aground, sinking and killing almost everyone on board including the heir - only one survivor.

That said, this really isn't about the White Ship, but the reign of Henry I, King of England for 1100 - 1140, Henry was the youngest son of William the Conqueror and when his brother William II was killed in a hunting "accident" he beat his other brother, Robert the Duke of Normandy, to London and claimed the throne. One thing about Henry is that while he only had 2 legitimate children, he had lots and lots of illegitimate ones (over 20 that we know about) When his son died on the White Ship, he was left with one legitimate child, a daughter. Henry spent much of the next 20 years trying to convince the noblity to accept that daughter as his heir. They all swore to do so, but when Henry actually passed away, the nobelity wasted no time in selecting a male, Stephen of Bolios and Henry's nephew, to be their King. Matilda was having none of it, setting off a civil war that lasted for a generation. One of the sad stories of the civil war is that one of Matilda's chief supporters, Robert of Glouster was one of Henry's illegitimate sons and despite everyone thinking he whould be an excellent king was unable to assume the throne because of his parentage. I a lot had change since his Grandfather had claimed the English throne in 1066. For those that don't know William the Conqueror was also known as William the Bastard and was theillegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy.

I thought this was a fascinating look at early Medieval England. On a side note, the author, Charles Spencer, is Lady Di's brother.

Solid 4 star read

[Uncle Ted]

I just finished "Spare" by the former Duke of Sussex, Harry. I don't know how the good royal subjects of the UK put up with this very dysfunctional family. King Chuck throws his own sons under the bus with no consideration for their safety, especially if it makes himself look better in the press. A case in point, King Chuck and the Queen pulled the security for Prince Harry when he asked the Queen and Chuck to take a lessor role with regards to doing the royal family BS. Also, Harry claims that King Chuck would approve damaging press leaks about him, his wife, and/or his brother. This book confirmed a lot of the things I suspected about the royal family. Also, about the UK people who show a tremendous amount of hate and racism toward Harry and his wife, Meghan.

It is also interesting that Willy and Harry didn't want their dad, now King Chuck, to marry Camilla. They both begged him not to marry her. Also, Harry claims that he killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan when he was in the military (and Charles and the Queen pulled his security?).

A funny part was that Harry got frostbite on his penis while hiking to the North Pole but seems to talk way too much about it in his book.

Harry admits he isn't perfect. Admits to taking drugs and lying. Also, describes his sessions with therapists.

Also, there is some fighting between Harry and Willy. For example, William didn't want Harry to be his best man at his wedding. Also, Harry described a physical fight, as adults, where Willy knocked Harry to the ground and cut up Harry's back. The book is worth a read but it would be nice if Willy puts out his own book so we get his side of everything.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Lol. I can't believe you admitted to reading that.

[Uncle Ted]

Lol. I can't believe you admitted to reading that.

The fact that Harry is such a whiner is part of the entertainment of this book. But the best part is it makes the royal family look like a complete cluster F. Of course, we already knew that. Case in point, Prince Andrew.

Of course, the "royal subjects" like to defend their Kings and Queens but look how much pain these people have caused. Their wealth comes from enslaving, genocide, and then taking their victims' lands. Yet they claim to be great humanitarians. The monarchy costs their subjects over a 100 million of pounds each year. Yet they claim to be philanthropists. Ironically King Chuck doesn't think that he doesn't receive enough from the subject taxpayers so he is kicking out his brother along with his son. It's funny that Netflix paid Harry and Meg $150m, spotify $51m, and about $60m from this book deal. This doesn't even include their other commercial income. I suspect he is getting a lot more than his brother Willy which has to drive both King Daddy Chuck and Prince Brother Willy crazy. I can't turn away from this...




I suspect their subjects will demand that they all take lessor roles some day and, like poor Harry, the royal family members will actually need to get a job. Of course, it could be worse for the royal family so they should count their blessings.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Poor Harry got a job???

lol. Stop.

[Uncle Ted]

Poor Harry got a job???

lol. Stop.

Poor Harry got $60 million for just his book, man. Thanks to his book we know King Chuck is an yuge dipshit… but we already knew that. Maybe his dumbass subjects will now wake-up and kick the royals out of the people’s palace and poor Chuck and Willie have to get jobs.

And I can’t wait for Poor Harry’s movie, man. Then the King Chuck’s subjects that can’t read will finally wake-up as well. Let the British riots begin!

Of course, if the Brits throw out chuck they will most likely just make Harry king. Yes, they are that stoopid.

[Northwestcoug]

Ted how old are you? This book is solidly targeted to my mom’s generation. Like, no one under the age of 70 is going to read this book, right?

[Uncle Ted]

Ted how old are you? This book is solidly targeted to my mom’s generation. Like, no one under the age of 70 is going to read this book, right?

I'm older than you but not as old as your mom. People that are older than 70 will most likely defend the monarchy when they are most everything that is wrong with England. The Queen and her family that ruled before her cause a lot of suffering, death, economic and social devastation in the world. Because of this any book that puts the Queen, King Chuck, or the rest of the royal family in a negative light I am a fan of. Hell, I may even read Prince Andy's tell all book even though he hung out on Epstein's Island with Bill Clinton and had sex with minors. Hopefully, Prince Andy tells in his book how Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Clinton "were like brothers" and how Bill "loved" being around the Duke of York too.

[Uncle Ted]

I finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Like The Martian it's very good SciFi. While I enjoyed The Martian more I would still recommend this one as well. Andy Weir does use a lot of drama in some parts which is not my taste but a good read, nevertheless. I guess a movie is in the works with Ryan Gosling playing Ryland, the lead character, so I can already say the book is better.