usnmm2 50 for 2009

Complete list so far;
1. Space Vulture by Gary K. Wolf
2. The Man Without a Country: And Other Naval Writings by Everett Hale
3. The Four Deuces: A Korean War Story by C.S. Crawford
4. The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam.
5. "Sea Warfare (Classics of Naval Literature)" by Rudyard Kipling
6. Dear and Glorious Physician, A Novel about Saint Luke by Taylor Caldwell
7. Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson
8. Japanese Destroyer Captain by Tameichi Hara
9. Crusade: Destroyermen, Book II
10. Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III by Taylor Anderson
11. 1632 by Eric Flint
12. Voyage of the Deutschland: The First Merchant Submarine by Paul Konig
13. Hard Tack and Coffee
14. Breach the Hull by Mike Mcphail
15. Monday's Warriors by Maurice Shadbolt.
16. Aggressor Six by Wil McCarthy
17. A Bar in Brooklyn: Novellas & Stories 1970-1978 by Andrei Codrescu
18. Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story (Classics of Naval Literature) by Mitsuo Fuchida
19. 1633 by Eric Flint
20. Relentless (The Lost Fleet, Book 5) by Jack Cambell
21. The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow
22. Roman Blood by Steven Saylor
23. In The Wake of Madness by Joan Druett
24. Typee by Hermann Melville
25, Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague De Camp
26. One Second After by William R. Forstchen
27. She Was a Sisiter Sailor edited by Joan Druett
28. Soldiers of Salamis: A Novel
29. Orphan's Triumph (Jason Wander)
by Robert Buettner
30. Kit Carson's Autobiography (Bison Book) by Kit Carson
31. Ned Myers; of A Life Before The Mast edited by James Fenimore Cooper
32 Helliconia Spring by Brian W Aldiss
33. A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee
by David Crockett
34. At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II by Sam Moses
35. They Were Expendable by W.L. White
36. A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers
37. South To Java by Vice Adm. William P. Mack
38 Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen
39. "In Harms Way" by James Bassett
40. The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe
41 Submarine by Edward L. Beach
42. Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggen
43. The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II by Nina Shandler
44. Foulcault's Pendulum} by Umberto Eco (in progress)
45. His Majesty's Ship by Alaric Bond
46 Jackass Frigate by Alaric Bond
47. White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull
48. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
49. Empire Falls by Richard Russo
50 Under The Dome by Stephen King
51 "A Sailor's Life" by Jan De Hartog
52. The Devil Himself by Dudley Pope

The last couple of years my reading has tended toword lite and classic Sci - Fi and not as much non-fiction / history. Will try and change this trend in 2009. So with that in mind my first book will be;
The Four Deuces: A Korean War Story by C.S. Crawford (a recommendation by a fellow LTer).

I know I said I was going to try and elevate my reading. But there are a few Sci Fi series that I have been following. Jack Cambells "Lost Fleet" and Robert Buettners "Orphanage" both of which have new books coming out in the sprin, and I started R.M. Meluchs "Tour of the Merrimack"series last year.
Anyway Book #2 is Wolf Star (Tour of the Merrimack, No. 2)

First audiobook for the year;
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Four Deuces; A Korean War Story by C. S. Crawford;
Crawford was a young scared Marine when he went to Korea in 1951. This book is his story told many years after the fact . He Doesn't glorify the battles or people. He Doesn't try to explain the why or wherefores of the war. Just tells in simple terms the day to day life and doings of the war from his point of view.

The Stories he tells are at times humorous, sad and shocking but never gratuitously graphic or violent.

Though his eyes and writing you get a glimse into why such strong bounds are forged between unlikly people in war time. A must read for any military history buff or those who are interested in the Korean War.

I try to read one or two good histories a year , so book #3 will be The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam.
It came highly recommended by several friends. I tend to read these in a stop and go manner and will take some time to get through almost 800 pages. But I will prevail.

#4 Space Vulture by Gary K. Wolf

Your books on the Korean War look really interesting. I look forward to seeing what you think about the second one.
--BJ

>9 billiejean:: billiejean

So far it's a very readable history. I'm about 200 pages into it so far and not only enjoying it but learning alot also.

If you are interested in the Korean War you might look into Pork Chop Hill by L. A. Marshall. I read it last year and enjoyed it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will look for it. I think that I have heard of it before and the LT "Will You Like It?" Guide says that I will like it.
--BJ

Time to update a little:

Space Vulture by Gary K. Wollf and Archbishop J. Myers -

Gary Wolf Know best for his stories that were that became for "Who Killed Roger Rabit" and Archbishop Myers (Newark, New Jersey) grew up together in Illinois. They both had a passion for reading and loved the pulp fiction Sci Fi of the 40's and 50's. Space Vulture is the result of of that love of the old space operas of that era. If you read and enjoyed "Space Hawk", "Doc Savage", "Lucky Starr" or "John Grimes: Survey Captain" etc. you'll enjoy this.

"Sea Warfare" by Kipling is a collection of essays, news stories and articles that he wrote about the navy in WW1. These were published at that time in three small volumes all of which are contained in this Classics of Naval Literature from the Naval Institute Press;
1. "the Fringes of the Fleet" - This is about the small merchant ships and fishing boats that were pressed into service .
2. " Tales of "The Trade" - about the new naval weapon the submarine.
3. "Destroyers at Jutland" - Again about a fairly new class of ship the Destroyers.

As with all Kiplings writing he doen't dwell on the high ranking officers and such, but consintrates on the every day man doing his duty for King and Country. A must for Kipling fans or anyone interested in WW1 Naval History.

Wolf Star (Tour of the Merrimack, No. 2) by R.M. Meluch;
Fairly standard Military Sci Fi. But a good read if you need a few hours to escape from your everyday troubles.

We have a submarine that is I guess a monument that is located nearby. It is just sitting on the ground, but visitors can go inside and see the whole thing. It is called the Batfish. I loved touring it and have always been fascinated by subs, ever since The Hunt for the Red October. Those Kipling books look pretty interesting.
--BJ

billiejean,
If you are interested in submarines you might like Run Silent Run Deep by Edward L. Beach. You may have seen the movie, if you have do yourself a favor and read the book. Beach was submarine skipper in WW2 so the book is based on alot on his time and experiences in them.

I haven't seen that movie or read that book! And I usually watch all sub movies! Thank you so much for pointing that book and movie out to me. I will check it out. :)
--BJ

Work has been crazy for the last month or so, and my reading is way behind.

Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson - A military Sc Fi with a twist. The USS Walker and the USS Mahan, (WWI vintage four stacker destroyers) fight a glorious but lossing battle against the Japanese forces in the early days of WW2. At the height of the battle when all seems lost there is a mysterious squall / storm and they are transported to a parallel Earth. An Earth populated by two races. The cat / monkey like Lemurians and the lizard like Grik. The two speices have been at war for generations apon generations. The Walker and her crew must choose sides.

This book was a pleasent surprize. A cut above the normal parrallel alternate history genre. I Have purchased the second book Destroyermen Crusade so that in its self is a positive.

I noticed earlier this week or late last week that the movie "Run Silent, Run Deep" was on, but it was the last 10 minutes of the movie, so I didn't turn it on. I looked ahead to see if it was showing again, but so far, no luck. But usually the movies do get repeated regularly, so I am hopeful that it will come on again soon.

The latest book looks good, too. I am reading a book for the Group Reads -- SciFi group called A Fire upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. I am just at the beginning of the book, but it is pretty good so far. Starts off with a bang.

Have a great weekend! :)
--BJ

Crusade: Destroyermen, Book II by Taylor Anderson

A good 2nd book. Captain Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker have decided to side with the peaceful Lemurians. They try and train them in battle tactics from the Romans and how to cast bronze cannons and copper cannon balls. They form a marine detacchment and arm sereral of their ships with cannons and refit the one captured Grik ship they have, and go to the rescue of a besieged Lemurians city.
They find the other destroyer, (USS Malhan), that came though the storm with them. And their worst fears come true when they discover that the Japanese battle cruiser Amgi came though the storm too, and have sided with the Grik.

Been listening to alot of audiobooks while travelling to and from work. I won't include them in my totals for the 50 book goal due to that most of these I have read in the past at one time or another.

Bleak House
The Hobbit
The Fellowship of the Ring
A Comedy of Errors
A Midsummers Night Dream
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Rolling Stones
Double Star
Glory Road
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Moby Dick

So did you like Moby Dick?
--BJ

Yes I did. I,ve read it serveral times.
Herman Melville is one of my favorite authors. And listenng to the book adds a different enjoyment to to book. The language takes on an almost a poetic like quality. (The same is true of Dickens too).Evey one should listen to at least the first chapterof "Mobey Dick". Shear poetry!

1632 by Eric Flint

Surprisedly not a bad story. Once you accept the premise that the towns people will stay calm and be willing to slaughter roving bands of mercinaries, take in refugees of the Thirty Years War. And those people don't panic and adapt to the 21st Century.
Some of the plot twists are a little far fetched, but overall I enjoyed the book.

Voyage of the Deutschland: The First Merchant Submarine by Paul Koning

This book was interesting. I had never heard of a merchant submarine before this and happy to find a copy of this book.

With WW1 raging in Europe and the Naval blockade of German ports by the British almost 100% effective. The German Navy built 2 of these submarines, The U-Deutschland and the U-Bremen (which never survided her first cruise).

The book was acually wrote by Dr. Earst Bisckof and was completed before the boat returned to Germany.
The whole thing was written as a propagada to lower Britiash morale.

The U-Deutschland made 2 cruises the the U.S. in 1916, and was then converted to a ship of war with the the addition of two external torpedo tubes.

A few more audio books;

Billy Budd
Bartleby The Scrivener and Other Stories:
Have Spacesuit Will Travel
Red Planet
Bleak House

I had never heard of a merchant submarine, either. Looks pretty interesting. :)
--BJ

I Loved Dear and Glorious Physician. You have some pretty interesting titles here. I may have to high jack some of them too. Not that my TRB pile isn't huge!~!
By the way was Have Spacesuit-Will Travel a comedy? If so, they are kind of a nice break.
(Hey --BJ)
Well usnmm2 , I will catcha later.

nannybebette,

Have Spacesuit Will Travel is an obvious play on the tiltle of the then famous and popular T.V. and radio Show "Have Gun Will Travel". It is about a high school senior that wins a spacesuit and ends up on an adventure.

This book falls into what is collectively refered to Heinlein's juveniles novels. But that is a mistake to think that they were written only for youth. They can be read and enjoyed by adults as well. I can recommend Citizen of the Galaxy, Starman Jones, Between Planets and Podkayne of Mars, (althought many would agrue, myself included, that this one shouldn't classified a juvenile).

If you want read Sci Fi comedy you might try Space Vulture by Gary K. Wolf, Bill The Galatic Hero by Harry Harrison or Martians, Go Home by Fredric Brown

I like Taylor Caldwell I think I'll try Great Lion of God- life of Paul of Tarsus next time I'm in the mode to read her.

billiejean,

I never had either till I accidently came across the book at a yard sale.
It was interesting, but one must keep in mind the political reasons why the boat was built and the book writen. It is very much a book of the times and must be read in that context.

Book #13 is going to be Hard Tack and Coffee by John D. Billings.
A book of soldier's life in the Cival War. It should be good as Billings served with the Army of the Potomac during the Cival War.

Time to up date.

Hard Tack and Coffee by John D. Billings - A great little book wrote by and illustrated by two Civil War veterans in the 1880's. It tells about the life of the everyday soldier. It is arranged by chapters on all topics of army life, covering enlistments, food, mules, living conditions etc.. Full of anecdotal and humorous descriptions of these topics. A must for any Civil War Reenactors or Civil War buff.

I finally ordered a used copy of Run Silent, Run Deep after trying numerous times to find it in used bookstores and new bookstores without success. I am awaiting it from amazon by the super-slow super saver shipping. When I was browsing for it in used bookstores, people kept saying what a great movie! I have not found it on tv since the time I found it 3/4 of the way to the end. Still hoping! :)

Hope you are having a great day!
--BJ

I'm sure you will enjoy it. And if you do there are two more by Edward L. Beach;
"Dust on the Sea" which is a sequal to Run Silent Run Deep and Cold is the Sea which is a fictional account of the first submarine trip under the polar ice cap.

Thanks for the other two titles. I received my copy in the mail today! It is from 1963. I guess this has been out of print for a while. It looks like it is going to be a good one! :)
--BJ

Breach the Hull Edited by Mike McPhail

Not a bad collection of military sci-fi short stories. All with a little twist out of the ordinary. Very enjoyable.

Aggressor Six by Wil McCarthy
A cut above the usual military sc fi.
Earth space is invaded by a species they call the Waisters (due to the fact that they come from a star system in Orion's waist). They are very powerful and seem to be unstoppable.
They waisters set them selves up in aggressive groups containing six individuals. Containing a queen workers, drones and one they refer to as a dog (only one brain). The Earth army need to find out how to fight, and or defeat them or to figure out why they fight. That is the source of the group Known as Aggressor Six. They set themselves up to try and think and act as Waisters to find answers to these questions. The army doesn't like the answer.

Monday's Warriors by Maurice Shadbolt

This is a historical novel about one Kimball Bent,who was born in Eastport, Maine in the 1800's.He enlists in the English army (after jumping ship there) and ends up in New Zealand fighting Maori Warriors.
After one to many court marsalls and floggings he deserts and helps the natives to fight the British. And fights them to a stand still. Really enjoyed this will have to look into some more of Maurice Shadbolt's books

1633 by Eic Flint
O.K. I'm hooked. I'm about a third of the way through this one and have already purchased the next one, Ring of Fire

It's not what I'd normally pick up but Aggressor Six sounds really interesting. Thanks!

39: spacepotatoes

Aggressor six A little slow in parts, but read with the idea that it was new and a little more oringinal almost 20 years ago it's not a bad read. If you enjoy it, McCarthy wrote two more books in the series. Flies from the Amber and The Fall of Sirius. I haven't read them as of yet, but have them on my "to be looked into" list.

O. K.! The Thirty Years War is on hold. Just received my pre-ordered copy of Relentless (The Lost Fleet, Book 5) by Jack Campbell.
I know! I Know! Mindless Military Sci-Fi. But I like them. Just mindless dribble to provide some lite entertainment for a few nights. We all have our weaknesses.

Good to know, thanks, usnmm2!

#28> I devoured all of the Heinlein books when I was in junior high and high school. Of the "juveniles" novels, the one that really caught my fancy was Tunnel in the Sky.

#33/34> I can speak to the high quality of Dust on the Sea, which I read last year and very much enjoyed.

43: rocketjk
That's about the time I started reading Heinlein.
My freind gave me a copy of The green Hills of Earth, which I read in one night (with a flash light).
I have all five of SFBC editions of his books, "Outward Bound", "To The Stars" , "Four Frontiers"and "Infinite Possibilities" which contain his "juveniles" and the last one "Off The Main Sequence" which contains most of his other short stories. I still read them from time to time.

The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow

This is a great book of poetry. Each Chapter starts with an explaination of the poet or the type of poem that is to follow. The book contains a wide range of poets and styles. There is something for everyone. The book also comes with a cd (mp3) that can be played to listen to the poems that are in the book.

Relentless (The Lost Fleet, Book 5) by Jack Cambell
This one was on par with the rest of the books. Captain "Black Jack" Geary defeats syndics fleets and gets his lost fleet back in alliance space. But what about the alians that started the war ? Is there going to be a cival war among the alliance worlds? Will Geary lead a coup for control?Guess will have to wait for book No 6.

1633 by Eric Flint
was still a good read for a sequel. I think Flints background as a hisrory major is the real plus for these books. He very skillfully gives you the real history and how the people of Grantvile change that history and cause themselves and Europe more problems.

In The Wake of Madness by Joan Druett
An interesting read. This is the account of the cruise of the whaleship 'Sharon' out of Fairhaven Mass. from 1841 till 1845. Whose Captain was murdered a year later by three of the crewmen. And then the ship being almost single handedly being retaken by the third officer.

The story mostly unfolds through the journals and letters of the Third Officer Benjamin Clough and the ships cooper Andrew White. Also other ship logs from other ships that crossed their path.

Two things make this simple account very interesting;
One, it reveals the sinister side of the whaling industry. At this time, whaling at it's height with over 700 American ships hunting for whales. This leads to ships being manned by sailors with little or no experience. This also seems to be the case with many captains as well as many were given this post at very young ages with only one or two cruises under their belts. This inexperience and youth seems to be a factor in the violence of many Captains to their crews.

Two, these years (1841 to 1845) were the same ones that Melville was sailing the same waters. Where he jumped ship (the whaleship Acushnet ). He had seen many of these same conditions that are described in the book on his ship. Also as there were over 20 deserters from the Sharon he might have heard tales about the Mad Captain who flogged a seaman to death. The author Joan Druett references Melville many times during this narrative.

She also dwells on the reasons that this chapter in whaling history is not well known.
All in all a very readable and interesting history.

After reading and enjoying In The Wake of Madness I've decided to re-read Typee by Melville. Read it many years ago in school so it should almost be like reading it for the first time.

In the Wake of Madness looks like a good one. I am adding it to my wishlist.
--BJ

Try to get up to date
Typee by Herman Melville
Had read this many years ago, but really enjoyed it much more this time around. What Melville wrote is part travel log, part sea story (tall tale) and idyllic and sometimes romanticized look on a way of life that has disappeared.
This copy is based on the oringinal text that was printed in England. A much edited version was printed for the U.S. market where the more explicit parts and the not so flattering look at the Missionaries were omitted.
I've put his second book on my TBR pile Omoo.

Lest Darkness Fall by L.Spraque De Camp;
An other blast from the past. Martin Padway in visiting Rome, and is whisked back to 535 A.D.. Where he introduces brandy, modern book keeping, printing presses and movable type, news papers and manages to save the world the 1000 years time called the Dark Ages. The story often humorous and brings to mind A 'Connecticut Yankee' in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. Just enjoyable and fun to read.

Got two Books going on now.;
One Second After by William R. Forstchen
A post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi.

She Was a Sister Sailor by Mary Brewster
The journals of Mary Brewster ) edited by Joan Druett) who went with her Husband on two whaling cruises from 1845 till 1851

I was just wondering if you ever read the Master and Commander series? I am trying to decide whether to start on that series. I think there are quite a few of them. If you read them, did you like them?
--BJ

Only read two books by Patrick O'Brian The Golden Ocean which is not part of the Aurbry-Martin series
and Master and Comander.

The first was not bad, but you can see he hasn't polished his style as of yet.

M&C again was good, but, I'd have to say I enjoyed the " Richard Bolitho " series starting with Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent

I'm working on Dudley Popes's 'Lord Ramage' serieis starting with Ramage at this time.

Anyway back to the oringinal question. O'brien is more technical in his battles sequences than most and are based on actual ship to ship battles, and from what little I've read his charactors seem more fleshed out than most others in the genre. Anyway I plan on reading more in the future.

Thanks so much for the info on Master and Commander and for the recommendation of the other two series.
--BJ

One Second After by William R. Forstchen

Fairly standard story about the collapse of the U.S. after an attack by an E.M.P. (electrical magnetic pulse weapon. The author goes into great detail about the decisions that a small town most do to survive. He does this by the use of the debates that the people who make up the ruling council have.
The book has a more ominous tone than other ones in this sub genre, (Alas Babylon, Earth abides, Damnation Alley, Lucifers Hammer etc.).
I think the author is trying to show how tenuous our hold on and way of life is. In this way he succeeds. But I couldn't get into or care for any of the the charactors. The story just seemed to go from one clique to the next. There were no surprizes or twists, you knew what was happening before you turned the page.

Started to read She Was a Sister Sailor by Mary Brewster edited by Joan Druett. I'm not one that usually read journals or diaries but this one caught my interest and looks like it's going to be a good, but a long read.

Soldiers of Salamis by Javier Cercas (translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean)

A Spanish journalist is ask to write an article for the 60 th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War. He writes a story of the last days when 1000's of Republicans were fleeing to France for exile, and a mass execution of Fascist leaders. Several people escape the firing squads and become leaders in Franco's government.

Sanchez Mazas a founding member Franco's Fascist party is one of these people. He tells the story of his escape and how when his hiding place is discovered his life is spared a 2nd time by a soldier that found him and let him go.

The journalist becomes intrigued with the story. One - is the story true? and if it is why did the soldier let Sanchez go.

The book is in three parts. First is about the journalist and what he learns. Second part is told thought the eyes of Sanchez Mazas. And the third part is told by the soldier.

What makes this book so interesting is that all the people and events are real. Although concidered a novel it reads more like history. The journalist in the book refers to it as a tale.

Still working on She Was a Sister Sailor about halfway done.
Last hight started Orphan's Triumph by Robert Buettner it's the 5th book in the saga of Jason Wander and the Slug War.

Just wanted to let you know that I finally got to read Run Silent, Run Deep. It was a great story! Now I am going to try to find the other two that you recommended to me. Thanks again and have a great day!
--BJ

Glad you enjoyed it. It's always a pleasure tp recommend a book and the person not only reads it be enjoys it to.
The Naval Institute Press has reprinted the other two in recent years. So they should be easy to get used copies through a good used book store, Ebay or Amazon.
They are not as good as RS/RD, but aren't too bad.

That is good to know! I also heard about another book of his called The Wreck of the Memphis which I am going to look into. Thanks again!
--BJ

The Wreck of the Memphis Is fantastic !!! Beach's Father was the Captain of the USS Memphis (which was the battleship Texas before it was reclassified a cruiser and renamed) in 1916, when it was hit and driven to shore by a huge tidal wave. The book gives the reader an almost minute by minute account of this tragedy.
I highly, highly recommend it. It does not read like a dull history book but like a great action adenture ( and every word true.
In fact it has it's own wed page. Just google it's name (It happened in August 1916).

I have a coupon for the bookstore this weekend and will try to find it. It sounds terrific! Thanks so much for the info. :)
--BJ

Time to update.

Kit Carson's Autobiography (Bison Book) by Kit Carson Edited by Milo Milton Quaife
This book is the reprint of Lakeside Classics, published in 1933.

An interesting little book. Kit Carson was uneducated and dictated these accounts to his friend Jesse B. Turly in 1856.

A little matter of fact and bland, and not much detail. It reads like "Went with this hunting party, fought some Indians came back did it again next year. Even his famous duel with Shunnar was "we rode towrd each other and shot our guns at the last moment". His experiences as guide and hunter for John C. Fremont for three times, whitch made him famous are only barley talked about.

I never realized how widely traveled he was, from Mexico to Canada. We tend to think of him only in New Mexico.

Orphan's Triumph by Robert Buettner
Jason Wander saves mankind again. A no Brainer either lyou ike this type of story or not.

Ned Myers; of A Life Before The Mast edited by James Fenimore Cooper
What a great book. Ned Myers ran away to sea at age 10 and he says of it ;
"Some idea may be formed of my recklessness, and ignorance of such matters, at this time, from the circumstance that I do not remember ever to have known the name of the vessel in which I left Nova Scotia. Change an adventure were my motives, and it never occurred to me to inquire into a fact that was so immaterial to one of my temperment. To this hour, I am ignorant on the subject"

His whole carreer seems to be like this. One of shifting sands and impulse.
Some of his stories seem to be a little far fechted, he seems to have mastered the art of the 'Sea Story' or 'Whopper' and could revial Mark Twains "Tall Tales"

He is full of regret for the lost opprtunities that he squandered, and the dangers of too much grog. He doesn't spend alot of time beating himself for this but does warns younger men not to waste them if they come their way. He uses witty sayings all though the book to great advantage;

"Sailors make their money like horses, and spend it like asses"
or "... it being the fate of seaman to encounter the greatest risks and hardships in company, and then to cut adrift from each other, with little ceremony, never to meet again".

Overall it was a great read. Not so much about the day to day living like Dana's Two years Before the Mast, Meleville's White Jacket, Bluejacket: An Autobiography by Fred J. Buenzle or "Man-Of-War Life: A Boy's Experience in the United States Navy, During a Voyage Around the World, in a Ship of the Line" by Charles Nordhoff , but like a fine painting the whole colorfull pallat of a mans life.

#32 Helliconia Spring by Brian W Aldiss

This is a book that if I had read it 10 years ago I would have really enjoyed it. But My tastes have changed, and I found it hard to care about the charactors or their problems ( all being very predictable). Having said that I can see why this book is rated very high by other readers. Just the scoop of life on a planet where the seasons last a thousand years and become the things of myth and legend is a thrilling idea. I have the next two in the triolgy and will read them at some time in the future.

A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee
by David Crockett

I'm developing a taste for these home grown autobiographies. Having recently read Kit Carsons and Ben Franklins and several others through the years.
But having grown up with a coon skin cap, and singing "Born in a mountain top in Tennessee......" I found this one very enjoyable.
The introduction by Paul Andrew Hutton is excellent. He give the reader a brief but good bio of Crockett and why he (DC) wrote this book.

This book sounds great! I will add it to my wishlist. Still haven't located The Wreck of the Memphis. It seems like bookstores never have the books that I am looking for these days.
--BJ

At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II by Sam Moses

This is the story of "Operation Pedesetal". Which was the name of the convoy to resupply the Island of Malta after two years of constant bombing by German and Italian forces. This convoy was the most well armed and protected convoy and the most attacked convoy in history. After a six day running battle (being bombed in the day time and attacked by E-Boats at night) Only 5 merchant ships out of 15 made to Malta. These 5 ships carried enough cargo and fuel to keep Malta going for another three months and allowed the British 10th submarine force to sink enough axis ships that forced Rommel to retreat and allowed America time to join forces with the Britsh Army and retake northern Africa, Sicily and force the Italians to surrender.
It's also the story of two Merchant Seaman, Fred Larson a vertern Merchant Marine Officer and a Merchant Seaman Cadet Lonnie Dale. These two men reboarded (this action made other reboard to help) the oiler SS Ohio after in had been abanded to repair it's guns to fight off German dive bombers and Italian "E" boats for two days.

. A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers by Buckner F. Melton

A very readable history of the only mutiny on a U.S. Naval vassal the U.S. Brigg of War Somers in 1842, that resulted in the three ring leaders being hanged. The result of which led to the founding of the U.S. Naval Academy.

On the surface you would say O. K. discipline in those days were harsh and these things happened in those days.. But it ends up that these three young men were hanged without a court Marshall or the benefit of legal council of any kind.

Add to the mix that the mastermind of the mutiny was a young acting Midshipman named Phillip Spencer whose father was John Canfield Spencer was Pres. John Tyler's secretary of war, and had arranged the boy's commission with the help of Capt. Oliver "Hazzard Perry.You now have the setting for high drama and what sounds like a Hollywood script.

The book is written in a very low keyed tone. Every chapter is more of an essay on the main people involved and each part of the event as it unfolds. Overall it gives a good account of the facts as known and the condition both political and physical of the U.S. Navy and the Country ain 1842.

The story is a who's who of America and American Maritime History. James Fenmore Cooper, Richard Henry Dana Jr., and almost every member of the Perry family. William H. Seward who would be Pres. Lincoln's Sec. of State in the Civil War.

The Lt. aboard the Somers was Melville's cousin and may have been the source for Melville's book Billy Budd. There are some very striking similarities between Capt. Mackenzie and Captain Vere. The last exchange between Capt. Mackenzie and Seaman Smalls is touching ;
Capt. Meckenzie - "Small" ..."what have I done to you that you won't bid me goodbye?"
..... "I did not know that you would bid a poor bugger like me goodbye Sir,"
.... Now Meckenzie it was who asked forgiveness of Small. He told the seaman that he had to go through with the execution; both the honor of the flag and the safety of the crew demanded it. "Yes, Sir and I honor you for it," replied Small. "God Bless that Flag!"

Billy Budd years later says ""God bless Captain Vere!"

Audiobook update:

Henry IV parts 1 and 2 by William Shakespear
Double Star, Glory Road, Star Beast and Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein
The Hobbit (Again) by Tolkien
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twian
A Princess of Mars, Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

About halfway done with South To Java by Vice Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret),a very good read so far.

Have two in the on deck circle and keeping with my pledge to read more non-fiction they are both histories;

Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen
and
At 12 Mr. Byng was Shot by Dudley Pope

South To Java by Vice Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret)

The book is about an old WW1 four stacker destroyer in the Plillipines at the start of WW2. The main charactor is a young Naval Officer is the gunnery officer. Just so happens that at the start of WW2 that Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret.) was was a young gunnery officer on the USS Pope an old WW1 vintage four stacker station in the Phillipines.

This is what makes this book unique from the many other fiction books that I have read set in this time frame. There is a feel of authenticity to the conversations amoung the charactrs;
"Where and when will the war will start. Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Singapore etc."

Also the charactors or more fleshed out than in most books of this kind. Not only the officers but the enlisted as well. They all have their lives and problems aboard ship and ashore. We care about them.

The battle sequences were well written and the fictional USS O'Leary DD 200 Took nothing away from the actual historical battles.
Overall a good read and recommended to any that like Naval Fiction.There are a few more books that the author wrote to continue the story. I just might look into them

\Started reading Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen last night. Seems like it's will be an interesting read.
Many things that Lewis mentions about May 1919 sound familiar;

> '... short haired women, like long haired men, are associated with radicalism, if not free love.' (1960's?)

> refering to a cartoon that appeared in "Life";
'... Uncle Sam saying to a soldier, "Nothing is to good for you, my boy! What would you like?" and the soldier answers "A job" (today?)

and so far it's only the preface and chapter one.

I added South to Java to my LT wishlist (as opposed to those little scraps of paper that I have lying around). You read so many interesting books but I have trouble finding them in the book store. Where do you usually get your books? Library or online?

south to Java I happen to get new from Amazon. But I get alot of used books from them and Barnes and Nobles. Also from E-bay and abebooks, flea markets etc. I use to go to 2nd hand books stores alot but most are closed and I would have to travel into Manhattan and I don't get there that often anymore.
Anyway about 3/4 of the books I get are from some form of on line source (new or used).

Thanks so much for the info! And I was just on amazon, so I should have checked. I had no idea that B&N sold used books. I wish we had a Half Price Books store here. We do have a used book store, but I never seem to find what I am looking for there. Maybe I just don't know how to look. Thanks again!
--BJ

39. Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of Reason by Jessica Warner

A interesting social history of the"gin craze" of the early 1700's and the various "Gin Laws" passed by Parliment from 1729 till 1751. Sometime humrous, sometimes sad, sometimes the reading is a bit 'dry' (;D) but on the whole educational.

Been in a reading rut for a while. Start reading a book and can't get interested in it. When this happens I usually revert to my old stand by's , Science Fiction or Naval books (fact or fiction).
So have added two more Naval books to my list ;

1. "In Harms Way" by James Bassett

This book about the early days of WW 2 right after Pear Harbor. This was made into an excellent movie in the early 60's. The book as usual was better with the characters more rounded out, more background etc.
If you only know it from the movie, do yourself a favor and read this. You won't be disappointed
Bassett also wrote another good book Commander. Prince, USN: a novel of the Pacific War which is about the Asiatic fleet in the early days of the war.

2. "Submarine" by Edward L. Beach.

This was Beach's first book. In it he tells not only his experiences during his ten war patrols but in alternating chapters tells the story of other famous Submarines and crews. Anyone who has read anything about submarines in the Pacific will recognize the names of Wahoo, Tang, Trigger, Batfish, Archerfish etc. In it you see the development of the tactics that were used so successfully in WW 2.
You can also see where he gets all his the material for Run Silent Run Deep, it's not just a novel but in many ways autobiographcal.
I think every script writer in Hollywood read this book. Because in it I can see every submarine movie that was made in the 50's

Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggens

I decided to re-read this book after reading a bio of Heggen on line.
Mr. Roberts exploits on AKA 601, the USS Reluctant ( or the Bucket) was based on Heggen's life aboard the U.S. Navy attack transport USS Virgo (AKA-20).
The best parts of the book are all based on fact, even the palm tree which Heggen threw overboard twice in real life.
The book is made more poignant by the fact that Heggen committed suicide when he was only 30 years old.

Next book;

The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II, by Nina Shandler

In 1944 Hellen Duncan and her four co-defendants listened to the court clerk read the following charges;

(from the back cover)
"...You four conspired together, and with persons unknow, to pretend to exercise some kind of conjuration, though the agency of the said Hellen Duncan, spirts of deceased persons should appear, and were cummunicating with living persons contrary to the Witchcraft Act of 1735"

A witch trail in 1944! That's enough to catch my attention for a read.

Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

With the T.V. show starting , I put everthing on hold to read this book to get a preview of it.

If you know what your future was in 22 years , could you change it? Could you use it? That's the basic theme of this book.
The book starts out fast an furious and goes down hill from there. The characters are predictable and the plot forced to a point where I couldn't suspend my disbelief and go along with the story.
The highlight of the book is when half the world starts to complains about a "flashforward" gap when the scientific world wants to try and reproduce the experiment.

I'm always on the lookout for new (to me ) sci fi writers. So on the plus side I'm going to try some of Sawyer's other books. He has won a Hugo and Nebula awards along with John W Campbell Memorial Award.

The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II by Nina Shandler

This book might be a good read for those looking for something to read for Holloween. (even if it is history)

Helen Duncan was a median and Spiritualist born in 1898. Who at a young age could see sprits, and see the future events.

What makes this book good is that the author does a good job of going back and forth though Helen's life, to keep your interest up. It seems that she had the "Gift" as they call it to deliver messages for the beyond.
She got it right on many occasions. Example;

1. She predicted in early 1940 that Germany would not invade England. (this was just after Dunkirk)
2. That England and Russia would be allies (after Germany and Russia signed the non-aggression treaty)
3. That the United States would enter the war (we were officially neutral at that time)
4. that the War would last 6 years and involve the world from the U.S. to Japan (this is before Pearl Harbour)
5 And would end with two large bangs (atomic bombs?)

But this is not what got her into trouble!.
She told of the loss of the HMS Hood on May 24, 1941, and the sinking of the HMS Barham this is when the war department was keeping these reports secret. They went to the extreme of sending fake holiday greeting to the families of the diseased Seamen from these ships so the general public would not know.

Then the plans for D-Day start and Helen's problems begin to grow. till in n 1944 Helen Duncan and her four co-defendants listened to the court clerk read the following charges;

(from the back cover)
"...You four conspired together, and with persons unknown, to pretend to exercise some kind of conjuration, though the agency of the said Helen Duncan, spirits of deceased persons should appear, and were communicating with living persons contrary to the Witchcraft Act of 1735"

There is a lot more to the story. I don't want to ruin it for any who wish to read it. I give it about 3/5 stars.

I've been reading alot of non-fiction recently, so it's time for some fiction. Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I read somewhere on LT that this was The Lost Symbol for the thinking person.
I'm not that much of a thinking type person, but it sounded interesting.
Also to give my mind a rest I've started His Majesty's Shipby Alaric Bond

Read the first 100 pages of Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. It seems good but my mental biorhythm's must be on a triple low just cann't wrap my mind around it at this time. Will pick it up again in a few months.

His Majesty's Ship by Alaric Bond

This is book #1 in Alaric Bond's "Fighting Sail Series". As an 'age of sail' story the action, tone and progression of the tale is on par with many other 'Age of Sail' books.
What makes this book different is the use of many characters and shifting point of views. You have the young boy that volunteers for service and is on a great adventure. The older men who were pressed into service and haven't been off the ship or see home in many years. Even some sailor's who belong to a clandestine group that is dedicated to the overthrow of England. A full gambit of officers from the older Midshipman who has almost no chance of making Lt.. To the Peer who has friends in high places, and one who has worked his way up from between decks.
With the many characters and shifting point views tends to make the ship and the sea going life the main characters in this story. This change in points of view is refreshing in a well worn age of sail genre.
After all there is only so many times you can follow Midshipman _________ to his rise to Admiral _______________. Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed every one of these series I've read (Hornblower, Bolitho, Ramage etc.). It's my feel good and safe genre. My comfort food of literature. But they can be a little repetitive. Anyway it's nice to see them handled in a little different and fresh way.
I have bought the 2nd book Jackass Frigate, which has met with good reviews. I hope Bond can keep it up.

Tonight I was watching U-571 on tv and they credited several times that enigma and code material were captured, but I was wondering if the events in this movie were based on fact or not. I thought you might know. It is a great movie.
--BJ

As far as I know the British decoded enigma without an actual machine. but he's the wikipedia site to check

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine

Thanks. :)
--BJ

Has been a crazy month at work. Way, way behind in my reading.
Finished and enjoyed Jackass Frigate, and about halfway through The White Rhino Hotel which I am also enjoying. (Got the next two in the trilogy to read)
Started reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It has been on my radar for awhile and I want to read it before the movie comes out next week.

"THE ROAD" BY Cormac McCarthy;

As a post-apocalyptic story this one is about par with a many others in this sub-genre of science fiction. What makes it good is the way McCarthy tells the story. Using a sparse economic writing style that is matter of fact, and has a cadence that draws you into this treck of this dark, bleak hopeless world. You can feel the cold and smell the ashes.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but like many others I could't tell you why.

As part of my idea to read more books of a literary nature, my next book to read is Empire Falls by Richard Russo.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo

A great book!! One of the best I've read in many years. Full of characters good and bad and I cared for everyone of them. I can add nothing to the reviews that have already been written.

Is The Road really worth reading? I tried reading it last summer, but couldn't get past the first 50 pages. Since I've seen the previews for the movie, I'm thinking I should give the book another try.

>95 tjblue: tjblue

"The Road" isn't for everybody. For the most part it's just Father and Son walking, being cold, hungry, avoiding the "bad" people and trying to survive in a world that is dead and dying.
The beauty of the story is the writing and the subtle way the the author shows this loving relationship between father and son. His use of simple short paragraphs and sentences and the way he sets up a cadence of words sometimes bordering more on a poetry than prose, that make you feel each painful step on the pavement.
(A little spoiler here)
It's not till you get to the end that you that you realize the trip was meant to teach and guide the son to survive and find the good people with the fire inside them.

Thanks! I think I'll give it another try. I hate missing out on things. -- tj

Under The Dome Stephen King

I haven't read a new Stephen King book in years. But this one caught my attention, so here it goes for 1071 pages. This should take me into 2010.

Finished Under the Dome by Stephen King

**** Minor spoiler below:********

Not to bad book, sort of a combination of The Stand and the "Goldfish Bowl" by Robert Heinlein.
Stephen King has used the theme of higher order 'beings" before in Insomnia.
The major drawback is by the middle third of the book there are so many characters that the the story gets confusing as Sk jumps between them, sometimes a whole chapters are only 1 or 2 paragraphs. This changing point of view robs the story of its natural flow.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I think most Sk fans won't be disapointed. (I give it 21/2 to 3 stars)

#51 A Sailor's Life by Jan De Hartog

After the epic Under the Dome, I needed to still my mind. After looking in my TBR pile I found this book. In 1955 Jan De Hartog was an author of some repute of books about sailors and the sea, a young boy after reading one of his books decided to go to sea and wrote him to for his advice on going to sea. This book was the resault of that request.

Finished my last book of 2009. "A sailor's Life" by Jan De Hartog, and I must say I it is one of my high points for the year. Anyone who has been to sea for any lenght of time will enjoy this book.
In 1955 Jan De Hartog was an author of some repute of books about sailors and the sea, a young boy after reading one of his books decided to go to sea and wrote him to for his advice on going to sea. This book was the resault of that request.
The book is aimed at the young sailor out of a Maritime school and thinking of a career at sea. The book is organiized like a cruise. Covers topics as packing for your first sea voyage to retirement. Often told with little tongue in cheek humor but full of helpful tips, stories and observations of a lifetime at sea.

Ok one more book for 2009.
The Devil Himself by Dudley Pope.
Should be able to Finish this by 12/31/09. Poe's Naval histories are usually a fairly quick read.

I guess it's time for a year end summary.

I started this years challage with the idea that I would try and read more non-fiction and more books of a literary nature.
Anyway the broad trends show non-fiction at 40% Fiction at 60%. This is a big change from recent years where the percentages were more in the range of 15/85. My two largest types of books still end up being my old standbyes; naval/nautical (fiction/history) {32%} and Science Fiction {27%}. What does all these numbers mean? I don't know, except that overall it seems that my little challage to myself was succesful, and LT lets us keep track of these things.

Enough of dry numbers and percentages. Some pleasent highlights for the year;
The two Pulitzer Prize books The Road (Oprah's Book Club and Empire Falls were very enjoyable and I plan on looking for more of these authors books. Also two WW2 books by Japanese authors Midway: The Battle that doomed Japan by Mitsuo Fuchida and Japanese Destroyer Captain by Tamejchi Hara were excelent
I found some other authors I plan on following are Alaric Bond Fighting sails series and Taylor Anderson's alternate time series Destroyermen series. (I know more Naval fiction and sc-fi).

The Devil Himself by Dudley Pope. (***)

Dudley Pope not only write a fairly good naval fiction, he also turned out some very readable naval histories. This one is about the mutiny on the HMS Danae in 1800, where the crew took over the ship and sailed it to Brest France and were awarded a prize from from France for returning their ship which was captured by the english the year before .

The interesting thing about this mutiny is that the crew knew of the mutiny on the HMS Hermione a few years before and seemed to go to great lengths not to repeat the violence and murder that happened then. ( Pope wrote a good book on this one also called The Black Ship if any are interested) .

Time to set up next years challenge.
Happy and healthy New year to all!