What Are You Reading Now?

[DrumNFeather]

finally finished the Washington biography. It is a good, readable book.

Some interesting facts

Washington as a slave owner did not believe in breaking up slave families. That resulted to too many slaves to run his plantations. He solved this by teaching some of them to be artisians and hiring them out for a profit.

He was a very ambitious man when he was young - He was the commander of the Virginia Militia at 23

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson became his political enemies by the end of his presidency

Currently reading Ken Folletts new novel - Fall of Giants

Is this the Chernow book on Washington?

[Indy Coug]

[happyone]

Is this the Chernow book on Washington?

Yes it was - because of Christmas demands, it took me longer to read than normal
I've seen Chernow on CSPAN II (Book TV) and he gives some interesting insights to Washington and his relationships.

One thing I didn't mention is that Chernow thinks GW was a much better politian than a general and that he was probably the only person in the colonies that could have kept the contential army together in the late 1770's even when he was losing all those battles.

He does discuss GW lack of good generals and how the ones that were any good kept getting second chances - Greene and Knox is particular.

One other thing I thought was interesting - Martha dispised Thomas Jefferson.

[wuapinmon]

I finished this one the other day. If you like Teddy Roosevelt, it's worth a read. You'll almost get sick of the word "portage" during the reading of it, but it helps to understand their dire straits.



There are at least two errors in the text though, so while it's a best-seller and all that, getting the place (wrong country!) of Lope de Aguirre's death wrong is a huge mistake for a historian. HUGE!

[RC Vikings]

I'm almost done with Born to Run and honestly I couldn't tell you if it's fiction or non-fiction. It's a very enjoyable book.

[oxcoug]

I finished this one the other day. If you like Teddy Roosevelt, it's worth a read. You'll almost get sick of the word "portage" during the reading of it, but it helps to understand their dire straits.



There are at least two errors in the text though, so while it's a best-seller and all that, getting the place (wrong country!) of Lope de Aguirre's death wrong is a huge mistake for a historian. HUGE!

I've perused this one on the shelves of B & N. I might have to pick it up.

[oxcoug]

I'm about 3/4 through this and I am surprised to report that it's fascinating and that I think there's a legitimate debate here. I've known about the Edward De Vere theory on Shakespeare since my high school senior year Shakespeare class, and I'd basically adopted the attitude of my teacher that year - which was that it didn't merit much attention.

But I recently took a closer look after learning that a range of luminaries past and present from Mark Twain to Stephen Breyer are convinced that the man we think wrote Shakespeare's works, didn't.

There are tons of circumstantial questions - like how is it that the man who gave the world those works didn't leave a SINGLE letter, note, diary or memoir in his own hand? How exactly did he manage such exact, detailed knowledge of so many cultural and courtly settings that would have been outside of his personal experience?

Not saying it's a slam dunk that it's De Vere, but at this point I'm at least very skeptical about our assumptions of Shakespearian authorship. The book reads very well too, even if you don't buy the line of inquiry.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Just got my latest shipment from ThriftBooks.com. Not sure what order I'll go in yet.

Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

The Black Echo - the first book in the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly. I've read a few of the later books in this series and his Lincoln Lawyer. Figured I'd head back to the start now.

The Black Ice - the next book in that series

Man's Search For Meaning by Victor E. Frankl

A Patriot's History of the United States

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

[happyone]

Finished the John Barry biography. He was a really an interesting man. This is a very good book, very easy to read and really drew me in. McGrath has a pleasant writing style. He makes a very compelling case for the premise that Barry is the real father of the American Navy.

Some interesting facts

- Barry took the first prize captured by the continental navy in the revolutionary war. He also fought the last sea battle of the revolution.

- Was the last captain discharged after the revolution, when congress finally disbanded the Continental Navy

- After the war, he captained one of the first American trading ventures to China

- When Washington recreated the US Navy, he was given the first commission in the Navy with the rank of Commodore making him both the first commisioned officer and the first flag officer in the Navy's history

- He commanded the USS United States during the Quasi-War with France in the late 1790s and early 1800s

- His protégés were the officers that fought the Barbary Pirates and were so successful against the British in the War of 1812

- His statue stands outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia


Next up - Valley Forge : George Washington and the crucible of victory by Gingrich, Forstchen and Hanser - Yes it is that Gingrich.

[woot]

It seems I read 27 books in 2010, and gave 5 stars to only 2. I'll try to do better in both categories this year.

I recently gave 4 stars to "Gang Leader for a Day" which I recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Wire. It's a really good look at Chicago crack gangs in the 1990s. The guy's story was featured in Freakonomics, which I'm sure many of you have read.

[Green Lantern]

I just finished Operation: Harry Potter last night after starting it in December. Man, that last book is a cracker. I read about 300 pages last night because I didn't want to put it down. I'm glad I've finally read the whole series. It was a lot of fun and I've now spent so much time with those characters that I feel a twinge of sadness that the whole thing is over.

[happyone]

Finished Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory . I thought it was very credible historical fiction. It is a sequel to To Try Men's Souls and many of the fictional characters from that book appear in this one. It covers the period from the Battle (massacre) of Paoli in Sep 1777 to the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse in June 1778. Of course the main focus of the book in the time from when Washington arrived at Valley Forge in Dec to when they broke camp to follow Clinton in Jun. In addition to the scenes in Valley Forge, the authors explore the scheming of Gates to replace Washington and the British occupation of Philidelphia. Of the actual historical figures in the book, their protrayal of Von Steuben is the one I probably like the best.

I am currently reading

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Warriors-Eric-Hammel/dp/0760339007/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295450071&sr=1-3"]Amazon.com: Pacific Warriors (9780760339008): Eric Hammel: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zpNTioCUL.@@AMEPARAM@@51zpNTioCUL[/ame]

My daughters gave this to me for Christmas, not particularly deep, but lots of photographs

[dabrockster]

Just finished "Term Limits" and now I am reading "Into Thin Air"...

[old_gregg]

Just finished "Term Limits" and now I am reading "Into Thin Air"...

after you finish into thin air (krakauer at his best), there are a couple of documentaries you need to check out about the events. i can't remember the names now, but i'll look.

[Green Monstah]

Starting Michener's "The Source". Pretty excited about it.