The pack’s summer reading

[PineGroveBully]

What is the pack reading these days? I just finished Chris Wallace’s “Countdown 1945.” It was a very good read. Even if you consider yourself a Democrat/non Foxnews fan I would still recommend it if you are interested in WW2/The Manhattan Project. Wallace is pretty nonpartisan and I found the book to even be more so. I came away with an even better respect for Truman than I did prior to reading. I thought he had such an interesting quote when first summoned to the White House after FDR’s death even though that info wasn’t relayed over the phone, “Jesus Christ and General Jackson!” I’ve never heard or read that elsewhere. It didn’t try to make you think pro or con of dropping the bomb, just laid out the landscape as it was in those days and allowed the reader to make their own judgements. I read about 3:1 nonfiction stuff. Even though I’ve seen the movie a couple times today I started Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff.” I love anything space related but particularly stuff concerning Mercury thru Apollo related. Off to a rough start, and I don’t mean bad, but rather unpleasant.

 

[L4Dawg]

I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and it was so heavy I retreated into the mindless drivel of Harry Potter where I still am, but Edmund Morris' magnificent three volume biography of Teddy Roosevelt is OUTSTANDING. It was a three month read. Progressivism coupled with unabashed Americanism was VERY refreshing. That is not the view of the author, that is TR. It can't help but come through.

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]https://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-3-Book/dp/B00W8QXUM4[/FONT]

 

[RocketDawg]

Sounds like a very interesting read, although I sometimes find Chris Wallace a bit irritating.

I read "The Right Stuff" many years ago. It's a great book. I need to dig it out and read it again.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

When it arrives, I’ll be reading Willie & Joe: The World War II Years. Fantagraphics had their annual sale recently and I got the softcover edition at a discount.

Bill Mauldin was the best cartoonist of the World War II generation.

 

[L4Dawg]

Sounds like a very interesting read, although I sometimes find Chris Wallace a bit irritating.

I read "The Right Stuff" many years ago. It's a great book. I need to dig it out and read it again.

The Right Stuff is excellent. If you like that try Friday Night Lights. Not as funny, but in the same vein on a totally different subject. Don't judge it by the movie or the TV series, not the same at all.

 

[L4Dawg]

When it arrives, I’ll be reading Willie & Joe: The World War II Years. Fantagraphics had their annual sale recently and I got the softcover edition at a discount.

Bill Mauldin was the best cartoonist of the World War II generation.

AWESOME! My favorite Willie and Joe was one done just after DDay. Willie and Joe are in a foxhole under a road sign that says "Rome 10 KM." One of them is reading a Stars and Stripes with a headline that says "NORMANDY!" He looks at the other one and says, " The hell this ain't the most important hole in the world, I'm in it!"

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Brand new to the Non-fiction shelves:

Revelations, by some guy named John.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Two books. One at night and one during the day when I have time.
11/22/63. I’m about halfway through and love it. A lot of you on here talked about it so I thought I’d give it a try.
Gridiron Genius. Just started it but it’s good.

 

[o_fredgarvin]

What is the pack reading these days? I just finished Chris Wallace’s “Countdown 1945.” It was a very good read. Even if you consider yourself a Democrat/non Foxnews fan I would still recommend it if you are interested in WW2/The Manhattan Project. Wallace is pretty nonpartisan and I found the book to even be more so. I came away with an even better respect for Truman than I did prior to reading. I thought he had such an interesting quote when first summoned to the White House after FDR’s death even though that info wasn’t relayed over the phone, “Jesus Christ and General Jackson!” I’ve never heard or read that elsewhere. It didn’t try to make you think pro or con of dropping the bomb, just laid out the landscape as it was in those days and allowed the reader to make their own judgements. I read about 3:1 nonfiction stuff. Even though I’ve seen the movie a couple times today I started Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff.” I love anything space related but particularly stuff concerning Mercury thru Apollo related. Off to a rough start, and I don’t mean bad, but rather unpleasant.

just started Wallace's book

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

if you are only half way through, buckle your seat belt....

11/22/63 may be the best book ive ever read.....there is not much out right now worth a crap.....i just finished camino winds by grisham and you really need to read camino island first....both have a LONG drawn out pre story that almost makes it unbearable.....if you havent read it, try "Where the Crawdads Sing" it has been on the top 10 NYT best seller list for over 1.5 years....it looks ghey as hell when you look at it, but it is really, really good.

 

[Digging dog]

During lockdown I ordered The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich (1) because the library was closed & (2) because somebody recommended it here.

Had no idea how big this book was.
So far it is a good read

I have a feeling I will be responding to a similar thread next year about the same book**

 

[Drebin]

May I recommend SPS Magazine?

 

[rem101]

Currently reading Sex Money Murder - about the heroin epidemic in Harlem.

Next I have Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of CIA, Gangsters, JFK & Castro

Also have The President is Missing by James Patterson/Bill Clinton and a couple Greg Isles and Grisham books sitting around. Finished the Natchez Burning Trilogy by Isles not long ago - very good.

 

[PineGroveBully]

YES!!! 11/22/63 is by far the best book I have ever read. It was nearly 1100 pages and I read it in 4 days and at the end i was wishing it was 11,000 pages. The Hulu miniseries based on the book is very good and I recommend it but it pales in comparison to the book. I read from 7-8pm until 3-4am for those 4 days as I could not put it down. It was crazy how he transported me into the 60’s with mere words. The yellow card man was very creepy, and it was insane how he made you feel as though in the same room with Oswalt and his wife. I was totally in love with Sade without even seeing her.

As Beretta said, buckle up.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

I’m on book 3 of the Game of Thrones books. Really enjoying them so far. Very exciting and a ton of characters, even more than the TV show.

 

[L4Dawg]

During lockdown I ordered The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich (1) because the library was closed & (2) because somebody recommended it here.

Had no idea how big this book was.
So far it is a good read

I have a feeling I will be responding to a similar thread next year about the same book**

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is an ABSOLUTE classic. It is THE definitive account of Nazi Germany. Believe it or not I've read it three times. The author was actually IN Berlin during some of the most critical times. You are right though, it is long enough if you aren't a speed reader it may take you a year plus. Once you get through it get "Berlin Diary" by the same author. Both should be required reading for anyone who wants to preserve our Republic.

 

[PineGroveBully]

I read it for the articles

 

[PineGroveBully]

If you want some light reading that is sports related I highly recommend Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar series. He’s a sports agent that played at Duke before getting hurt with the Celts. His clients find their way into all kinds of trouble. They’ve been out a while and you can order most of the paperbacks for $4-5.

 

[Xenomorph]

It’s a fascinating read. It’s dense but so well written. Out of all the great materials that explain how Germany went down the road to the atrocities of WWII it’s by far the best I’ve ever read.

 

[Xenomorph]

I hear things really start picking up by Book 6. **

In all seriousness there’s no way I could start that series knowing he’ll likely never finish it.

/but I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

 

[tenureplan]

When Daenerys gets to Meereen, just quit reading or just skip her chapters. At least until the next book comes out if it ever does.

 

[maroonmadman]

Right now I'm reading 'Collapse' by Jared Diamond. It's about how societies choose to fail or succeed. Next up is 'Sea Power' by Adm. James Stavridis USN (Ret). The history and geopolitics of the world's oceans. Then for some light reading I picked up 'The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' By Douglas Adams. Seen the movie numerous times just wanted to see how good the book is.

 

[tenureplan]

Just read that he plans on a 2021 release of winds of winter. Apparently he is writing now that he is stuck at home. Also, the 4th Stormlight Archive comes out in November. No word on the doors of stone, but the first two books got a TV deal

 

[PineGroveBully]

I would like to read this, adding it to the list

 

[goodknight]

Lessons From A Third Grade Dropout

Dispatches From Pluto

 

[hotdogface]

Lessons From A Third Grade Dropout

Dispatches From Pluto

Dispatches from Pluto is a must read. I have gifted it to several friends here in Florida who have asked about living in Mississippi.

My current read: Acid for the Children by Flea. And I thought Keith Richard’s autobiography was wild...

 

[Crucifictorious]

The Three Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson. Looks at the Civil War in the West, Indian Wars, etc.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

I hear things really start picking up by Book 6. **

In all seriousness there’s no way I could start that series knowing he’ll likely never finish it.

/but I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

it will be finished at some point by him or somebody else after he dies. Apparently he had the whole story outlined. He just hasn’t put in the work to finish.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

He came out this week and said he will have winds of winter complete for 2021. I don’t think he’s ever definitively given a timeframe like that yet

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

11/22/63 may be the best book ive ever read.....there is not much out right now worth a crap.....i just finished camino winds by grisham and you really need to read camino island first....both have a LONG drawn out pre story that almost makes it unbearable.....if you havent read it, try "Where the Crawdads Sing" it has been on the top 10 NYT best seller list for over 1.5 years....it looks ghey as hell when you look at it, but it is really, really good.

I was expecting it to turn wild because we’re almost in 63 and I have 500 pages left. I just finished the school play and him agreeing to be a full time teacher. The whole part about the Dad and Tugga really bothered me a lot. I assume the yellow card man has a big role to play, even though he is dead where I’m currently at.