quote:

Originally posted by cyberphobia:
A Year in Provence

Interesting to see that mentioned.
Although not my usual fare, a relative of my wife recommended it years ago and I found it very enjoyable.
I mentioned it to a friend some months ago and was surprised that she had read it as well.

quote:

Originally posted by UTsig:
I just finished Jack Carr's latest in his James Reese series. "Cry Havoc" ....

And thanks for that. I really enjoy the James Reese books but didn’t know about the most recent. Unlike so many “thriller” authors, Carr actually knows what he’s talking about. My only concern was the increasing AI stuff in previous works. If I wanted Sci-Fi or fantasy, I’d read those books.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
the latter ones became rather unrealistic and tedious.

All too common, unfortunately. I guess I understand how authors run out of ideas at some point, but sometimes it becomes very obvious.
Your mention of Silva, though, reminded me that is not true of all authors. I am continually amazed by his ability to come up with new tales. Some of them have become pretty formulistic, but I still enjoy the variety in details.

My local library was closed yesterday & today. Next Bosch book waiting. Book 7 of The Expanse filling the gap for now.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by cyberphobia:
A Year in Provence

Interesting to see that mentioned.
Although not my usual fare, a relative of my wife recommended it years ago and I found it very enjoyable.
I mentioned it to a friend some months ago and was surprised that she had read it as well.

quote:

Originally posted by UTsig:
I just finished Jack Carr's latest in his James Reese series. "Cry Havoc" ....

And thanks for that. I really enjoy the James Reese books but didn’t know about the most recent. Unlike so many “thriller” authors, Carr actually knows what he’s talking about. My only concern was the increasing AI stuff in previous works. If I wanted Sci-Fi or fantasy, I’d read those books.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
the latter ones became rather unrealistic and tedious.

All too common, unfortunately. I guess I understand how authors run out of ideas at some point, but sometimes it becomes very obvious.
Your mention of Silva, though, reminded me that is not true of all authors. I am continually amazed by his ability to come up with new tales. Some of them have become pretty formulistic, but I still enjoy the variety in details.

I found the follow up of "A Year in Provence" "Toujours Provence"by Peter Mayle
More good stuff to read.

The Bible, English Standard Version.

Finished 1 Chronicles 26 this morning.

quote:

Originally posted by cyberphobia:
"Toujours Provence"by Peter Mayle

I may have read that too. It's been so long, though, I can't recall for sure. I should look them up for a reread.

Right now I’m reading Swap: A Secret History of the New Cold War by Hinshaw and Parkinson. It’s about prisoner/detainee exchanges that have become common among nations, such as the deals to get Brittney Griner and WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich exchanged by the Russians for people that (some people’s buddy) Vladimir Putin wanted released from the West.

I was vaguely aware of some of the incidents, but was surprised by how many there were. The book makes clear that grabbing visitors to Russia is common to support the very successful practice of getting their spies and murderers released from custody elsewhere. Another surprise was learning how many Russian agents our CIA had identified and was monitoring just to keep track of what they were doing. In one case they convinced a foreign government to arrest a spy family for the express purpose of having people to offer in exchange for ones the Russians had.

Another thing that the book does is report details that were never clear from media accounts. For example, one of the former Marines arrested by the Russians had a bad conduct discharge for (attempted?) theft, and how that partially cooled support for getting him released.

I’m only about two-thirds of the way through the book, but it’s one I’d definitely recommend that anyone who ever thinks of going to Russia (and certain other countries) should read in advance. One tip: Inspect your luggage before the trip, or better yet, have two sets, one for travel and one for carrying your dope or other purposes.

And once again I’ll point out that a description of the books mentioned here would be a benefit to those of us who are continually looking for something else to read.

quote:

Originally posted by VMI 1991:
The Bible, English Standard Version.

Finished 1 Chronicles 26 this morning.

Planning on this starting in January.
Read it through for the first time last year, taking more time to really absorb it the next time.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by VMI 1991:
The Bible, English Standard Version.

Finished 1 Chronicles 26 this morning.

Planning on this starting in January.
Read it through for the first time last year, taking more time to really absorb it the next time.

ESV has become my translation of choice, as well.

Victor Davis Hanson.

I’ve led a rather insular life, I guess. I really only knew VDH as a conservative commentator. I started taking some of the free courses offered by Hillsdale College and among them, The Second World Wars, a course from Hanson. He purposely titled it “Wars,” because he approached the War in its components: land, air, sea, the people…. It was fascinating, and as a Boomer, I considered myself a student of the War.

After that I got to a lecture series that Hanson shared with another professor on Athens and Sparta. A little research disclosed that VDH is renowned as a historian, and especially of the ancient world. Hanson’s is, or was, a professor of ancient language and studied both Greek and Latin so as to read the ancient historians and philosophers in their language.

But this is about books. I’m reading The Soul of Battle; From Ancient Times to the Present Day, How Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny. by Victor Davis Hanson. The book explores the nature of war by “exploring three generals leading free peoples in the cause of liberty” (author Donald Kagan).

I just finished the first, the story of Epaminondas, the Theban general who led an army from Thebes and many allies, 50,000 strong (in winter) into Laconia, the state Sparta is located in and freed the helots (think Messenian slaves). The area of Peloponnesia where Sparta is located had never before been invaded.

The other two generals are William Tecumseh Sherman, and George Patton. I seem to often be the last to know about things like Victor Davis Hanson, the historian, but I’d encourage the members of the Forum to explore him further as well.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
I’d encourage the members of the Forum to explore him further as well.

I second that about an excellent historian and author.

Why the West Has Won, retitled Carnage and Culture is another very informative work, but I’ve found that to be true of all of his books I’ve read.

Just started reading Joe Abercrombie's "The Blade Itself"

I just finished the second book in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series, Stalking The Angel. Started off a little slower than the first, but still pretty good.

Going back to a book that I started but didn't finish, Sword and Scimitar. It's a look at eight battles between Islam and Christendom, and the cultures and circumstances around those battles.

I'm currently reading "From Sea to Shining Sea" by James Alexander Thom. Fantastic book on the life of George Rodgers Clark and his family. I read "Follow the River", the story of Mary Ingles about 30 years ago. Also and excellent read if you like American history.

"The Gun Man Jackson Swagger" by Stephen Hunter

Heartbreaker, a memoir by Mike Campbell.

Almost through the Bosch series. Stayed Dark Sacred Night, which looks to leave about 4 more books after this one.
Might pick up the Lincoln Lawyer series next.

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
by Gary Kinder

Book about treasure hunters in the 1980s. It is EXCELLENT. I read 50-60 books a year, and I enjoyed this one book more than any I recall reading in years.

It's about the sinking, search, and recovery of the cargo from the ship SS Central America. Went down in a storm off the US east coast with TONS of gold on board.

It was written in 1998, and since then, there were significant updates which (unfortunately) did not make it into the book.

It's a great read. It was VERY well written.

Just read the last Longmire in the series. "Return to Sender", not the best but still entertaining.

Just finished Neptune's Inferno. I knew that the American navy had a rough time at Guadalcanal, but I didn't know it was that bad!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: andronicus,

Jack Cashill’s “Empire of Lies: Big Media's 30-Year War on Truth, 1994-2024

So much corruption and lies.