What Are You Reading Now?

[happyone]

Finished Escape from Davao. Good read! It is the story of the largest escape of American POWs from the Japanese qne what the US gov't did with there story. Davacol was a prewar penal colony housing the worst criminals in the Philipines. American POWs were put in the camp with the convicts. In April,1943, 10 American POWs and 2 convicts escaped.

The book follows the Americans from the time they were captured through the end of the war. The escapees were surviors of Bataan Death March, Corregidor, and units in Mindanao. The POWs from Luzon were moved to Davao during the summer of 1942 to provide labor for the farms and lumber projects. After they escaped they were able to contact the guerillas and were evacuated from the PIs peacemeal. Only one of the POWs never returned to the US - He was killed fighting with theguerillas in early 1944.
When the first three escapees returned to the US, the gov't classified there story and did not allow them to tell anyone anything. It took 6 months before it was released to the general public. The stated reason for classifing the story, was the gov't was afraid of the effects of having the story going public on the treatment of POWs still in Japanese hands and the effect it would have and Red Cross efforts. The escapees were not sympathetic to those reasons.

Interesting facts

Dyess AFB in Texas is named after William Edwin Dyess, the leader of the escapees
The marines who escaped all eventually were returned to active duty and fought in the later campaigns against the Japanese (Peleliu, Okinawa, and the recapture of Corregidor).
The escapees did not see eye to eye with the guerilla commander on Mindadao, Wendell Fertig.

Currently reading Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir.

[happyone]

I've finished Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was readable, but not great. Definately her worst effort in the historical novel genre. It is the story of the love/hate relationship between Eleanor and Henry II of England, 11 years her junior. It is one of the great "love" stories of the middle ages. Weir basically boils down both of their motivations to one thing - lust. Granted - there had to be that, she had 8 children with him and she left her husband, the King of France - Louis VII and their two daughters, for Henry, but she was also the greatest heiress of the 12 centuary. The novel covers the time from their first meeting in 1151, at the court of Louis, to her death 1204. lMO Sharon Kaye Penman's triolgy When Christ and His Saints Slept; Time and Chance; The Devil's Brood which covers the same ground is much better.

Currently reading An instance of the fingerpost by Iain Pears. It is a historical novel set in the reign of Charles II of England - 1660s.

[hostile]

Just finished With Wings Like Eagles by Michael Korda.

Very interresting book about the build up to the Battle of Britain and how England was able to thwart a potential Nazi invasion at the beginning of WWII using their fighter force - a strategy that had many detractors at the time.

[LA Ute]

I am still working my way through Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and am loving it more and more. I wish I had an entire half-day just to read the whole thing. Bonhoeffer was an amazing man and a true hero of Christianity. Sadly, it seems that very few know anything about him.

One of the fascinating stories told is how the Lutheran Church fractured over National Socialism, and the efforts of most churches throughout Europe to deal with Nazism. Bonhoeffer was a leader in that effort and ended up being executed for it.

Anyway, it's a great read. Amazon has a little promo video on the book here:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1595551387/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282759773&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (9781595551382): Eric Metaxas, Timothy J. Keller: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wQmp75gEL.@@AMEPARAM@@51wQmp75gEL[/ame]

[Green Monstah]

Harrington on Hold 'Em: Vol. 1

Interestingly, I think I've played much worse poker since I started reading it.

[happyone]

finished An instance of the fingerpost. I want to thank GL for recommending it, really good book. It is "murder"mystery set in restoration Endland, 1663. It is told from the viewpoint of 4 different people, including one Venetian, each with entirely different understanding of the events. It covers the politics of the late Protectorate and early Restoration really well. The ending is has an O Henry feeling to it.


Currently reading Michael Jeck latest Templar Mystery The Oath

[MarkGrace]

Under the Banner of Heaven. Right now it's kind of boring with just a lot of regurgitation of other academic works.

[OhioBlue]

Just finished audiobook of Night by Elie Wiesel. Pretty powerful stuff in his account of his concentration camp experiences. The audiobook includes some extras at the end, including his Nobel prize speech and another written piece, both of which are good as well.

[marsupial]

Just finished audiobook of Night by Elie Wiesel. Pretty powerful stuff in his account of his concentration camp experiences. The audiobook includes some extras at the end, including his Nobel prize speech and another written piece, both of which are good as well.

The audiobook is excellent.

[happyone]

Finished The Oath. Good read. The setting is the from the time Edward II leaves London till the execution of his "favorite/lover" Hugh DeSpencer, probably one of the most hated people in English history, about 6-8 weeks. It is more stright historical fiction then some of the other novels in this series. Throught out this series Jecks has tried keep to the actual time line of history and in this book it causes some problems. The murder mystery runs paralell to the story of Edward and Hugh and in some respects seems almost to be grafted on. The author splits the two main characters of the series and they aren't even in the same place through most of the book, one is in Bristol and the other is with Edward. Jecks finally does tie the two stories together in the end.

The theme of the book seems to be how long to honor an oath of allegence to someone when everything is falling apart and you have serious misgivings about what it requires you to do.

Even with all the gripes I really did like the book

Currently reading a book that USS Utah mentioned Countdown to Victory by Barry Turner about the last 6 months of WW II in Europe.

[Green Lantern]

finished An instance of the fingerpost. I want to thank GL for recommending it, really good book. It is "murder"mystery set in restoration Endland, 1663. It is told from the viewpoint of 4 different people, including one Venetian, each with entirely different understanding of the events. It covers the politics of the late Protectorate and early Restoration really well. The ending is has an O Henry feeling to it.
[/B]

Glad you liked it! My wife just finished it as well.

[New Mexican Disaster]

I am re-reading Herzog by Saul Bellow. It was one of my favorite books in high school, largely because it dealt with depression and an identity crisis and I was dealing with depression and an identity crisis at that time.

Anyway, it is a fascinating read and my favorite work by Bellow, whom I love.

[hostile]

I just finished East of Eden. Great book. Never read Steinbeck before, adn really enjoyed it.

Started Watership Down over the weekend. I have been wanted to read this since I read The Stand. Very interesting thus far.

Just finished East of Eden. Other than The Grapes of Wrath in high school it's the only Steinbeck I've read. Excellent book - I stayed up all night finishing that last 100 pages (my wife warned me I wouldn't be able to put it down).

[happyone]

Finished Countdown to Victory . It is an interesting read if you are interested in WW II. It covers events from the Battle of the Bulge to the end of the war in Europe. The story is told from all sides - British, Canadian, German, U.S., military and civlian. Even though the story is mainly about the western front, the Russian story is also told a little bit, mainly as it affects events and decisions by the Western Allies.

Interesting Facts

- He goes into the decision to bomb Dresden, a political decision to support the Russian offensive - Dresden had marshalling yards
- The Dutch civilains nearly starved to death during the winter of 44/45 after the decision was made not to liberate Holland until after Germany was defeated
- The German really wanted to surrender there forces in the West to the British/Americans, but Truman/Churchill wouldn't hear of it. It had to all of nothing.

Currently reading The greatest knight : the unsung story of the queen's champion by Elizabeth Chadwick. It is the story of William Marshall - One of the greatest Knights of the Middle Ages. He became Marshall of England and served in the Households of 4 English Kings: Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III.

[dabrockster]

Reading Blacklisted by History. The untold story of Senator Joe McCarthy..

I am 100 pages in and it has been hard to want to pick it up.. But I am determined to finish it..