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I'm ploughing through Volume 1 of Winston Churchill's "The Second World War". Brilliant, detailed history by one of the participants.

Only five volumes to go..........

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Always looking for KGV British Commonwealth, mint, used, covers, anything

Just finished "Legendäre Eisenbahnreisen" (Legendary Train Voyages)
by Patrick Poivre D'Arvor (original in Frensh).

Beautiful pictures about trains in Darjeeling, Canada, Siberia, East-africa, France, California, Southamerica, and so on.
A lot of information too.
Don't know, if it is available in English.

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from beautiful SW-Germany

"Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs" by Steve Davies

The story of how the USAF and CIA captured/stole/recovered a number of MiG fighters of different types and the testing/development of US countermeasures.

Reading "Peanuts" comics.

The Old Contemptibles by Martha Grimes. It's a mystery for those of you who don't know Martha Grimes.

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Jim M.

About to start reading (for the umpteenth time) The Pellopenesian War by Thucydides. One of the great classics of the ancient world.

It is a history of the war, in the 5th century B.C. between Sparta and her allies and Athens and her allies. The war lasted for around 30 years and we may never have known about it but for Thucydides, who started the war as an Athenian admiral but was ostracised for losing a battle. Spent the next 25 years an more roaming around Greece, collecting eye witness accounts of the war.

Famous for one line in his introduction, ' This work was not written to meet the taste of an immediate public, but is intended to last forever' (with apologies to Thucydides for what I am sure is not an exact quote). So far, it has lasted forever, best part of 2,500 years.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

By the way, just to whet your appetite a little more. Thucydides is the first writer to describe what we now know as innoculation against disease. In the first year of the war there was plague in Athens (all the population were brought in behind the city walls as the Spartan army invaded Attica).

Thucydides noted that those who got the plague but survived never got it again, or if they did, got a very mild dose from which they invariably recovered. The fact that he thought this worth noting is evidence of his genius and attention to detail.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Readit. WHY?
Read it again
You must not be a stamp collector, but a philatelist?

During last weekend I finished reading "Finnish lighthouses" by Seppo Laurel. Plenty of full page pictures and interesting stories.

Last couple of days I've been reading/browsing "Muistojen koulutaulut" by Sari Savikko. It's about vintage (1890-1950) educational posters used in public schools.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.

I'm reading emigrationpapers
So good to learn English from that as they use a lot of fancy words.
The biggest fun is that is a never ending story

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Knowledge is Power, but it is worthless when you don't share it!

Jack Higgins - In the Hour Before Midnight
Australian Geographic Magazine (like National Geographic but less political)

I read the Winston Churchill version of history (yes, all 5 volumes) many years ago. Intriguing to say the least.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

Well put Kevin

Though I seem to remember there were actually six vols. I even remember the name of the first vol. - "The Gathering Storm" what a fantastic and apt title

Anyway, like you I read them many years ago and they were really a glimpse of the way he saw WWII.

I particularly remember his daily memos to people such as Lord Ismay (his COF)where he starts off with wording such as "Ismay, pray tell me........", a style that has long since disappeared.

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Tony

I love the style and detail. Certainly not something to read when the TV's on though!

Until I read this, I had no idea that Italian subs were picking off British and French merchant shipping during the Spanish Civil War. Intriguing stuff.

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Always looking for KGV British Commonwealth, mint, used, covers, anything

I'm reading 'Worldwar - In The Balance' by Harry Turtledove.

It's a sci-fi tale of WW2. The war is at it height: the Russian front; war in the Pacific; Rommel in Africa; and aliens invade! It is the history of WW2 as you know it up to 1942, then it all changes.
With superior technology, but not enough of it, the aliens can't destroy the planet because they want it for colonisation, and can't understand the human resistance to what would be their benevolent rule. After all they are a superior Race!
Berlin and Washington have been nuked. Patton is organizing The Battle of Chicago. The Jewish resistance in Poland initially side with the aliens (understandably) as it liberates them from Nazi rule. The former combatants have to put aside differences and agree a cease-fire to fight for all humanity. It's a great mix of history and sci-fi It would make a great TV mini-series!
There's a good summary of it here on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwar:_In_the_Balance

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It's good to shoot the breeze with like-minded people.

Currently part way through Alan Clark: Diaries.

Fascinating stuff.

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Always on the lookout for Australian pre decimal First Day Covers.

sherro wrote:

I love the style and detail. Certainly not something to read when the TV's on though!
Until I read this, I had no idea that Italian subs were picking off British and French merchant shipping during the Spanish Civil War. Intriguing stuff.

During research on another thread I too was surprised to find that British warships fired shots in anger around the coast during the SCW.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

V Been there done that
plus Sliders, that covered many different outcomes of WW11. and don,t forget the more recent Dr Who.series.

I am just half way through "What IF America." a bunch of Eminent Historians imagine what might have been if things had turned out differently in History ,,like what if the Mayflower had never sailed,? If General Eisenhower had pressed on to Berlin WW11.? instead of waiting and letting the Russkies get there 1st. If Pearl Harbour had not been bombed,and US not entered the War,

Really gets ones imagination going.*****

For those of you who are into "What ifs"...

I would highly recommend Romanitas and Rome Burning by Sophia McDougall.

The premise is that the Roman Empire never fell, and today's world is dominated by the Roman and Japanese (aka Nionian) empires. Motorised transport, modern telecommunications and air travel all exist in this world in more-or-less recognisable forms (longdictors, longvisors, spiralwings...)

North America ("Terranova") is at the centre of a struggle for domination between these empires and is divided by the Great Wall of Terranova.

Slavery and crucifixion still exist although there are moves towards abolition of slavery and a strong "underground" movement exists and is instrumental in trying to foment conflict between Rome and Nionia to hasten the process.

The Chinese (Sinoan) empire is attempting to broker peace between Rome and Nionia.

A third volume is said to be in the pipeline but I've not seen a publication date yet.

Gavin, I have read Romanitas but didn't realise there was a sequel. I will have to be on the lookout, thanks for the heads up!

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Hi
I'm reading "Timote", the last novel of the argentinian philosopher and writer José Pablo Feinmann.
It's about the kidnapping and execution of Aramburu in 1970, the militar who took the power after overthrow the legal government of Peron in 1955. This kidnapping/execution was made by the left side army of the peronism (under proscription until 1972), called "Montoneros".
The novel is fascinating, with philosophical and historical comments everywhere.

Regards
Ernesto

Ahhhh! ...the benefits of having been around since Moses was a boy! Mr B remembers when the New Testament was new

Do you know they are re-making "V"? I watched the original series recently....the acting redifines bad! I remember loving it when I was a kid

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It's good to shoot the breeze with like-minded people.

When I was a student in Glasgow, I shared a flat with some Spanish guys. When some of their friends came over to study, I helped them renovate the flat nextdoor. When we lifted the carpet to clean it, we found newspapers under it, from the 1930's, that were full of stories of Scots going to fight in the Spanish Civil War...it was fascinating reading!

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It's good to shoot the breeze with like-minded people.

I think his first volume is one of the best accounts of the lead up to WWII ever written- incredibly detailed yet it flows like a mountain stream.

I'm working my way through the "Tournament of Shadows" by Karl Meyer- an account of the Great Game between Britain and Russia in Central Asia over 150 years ago (and arguably, on and off, we havent stopped since)

I've been reading all my books on this electronic reader for about six months now. It's extremely useful when you work in different countries, or like travelling a lot and want to take some books without the added weight. It has an "electronic ink "screen...no light given off...so less strain on the eyes(you can also adjust font size if you don't like small print)

Like Slayer in the post above, I read about the Great Game recently, but it was Flashman in the Great Game, by George MacDonald Fraser....rip-roaring, boy's-own adventure, non-pc, hilarious historical stuff!

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It's good to shoot the breeze with like-minded people.

Does anyone know if there is an electronic reader that you can use in Australia?
I've seen Americans using them while travelling and I'd like to get one.

I remember reading about them being available from the US but there was no access to downloads here.

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm currently reading 'The White Rajahs of Sarawak - Dynastic Intrigue and the Forgotten Canadian Heir' by Cassandra Pybus.

It's a more recently researched book by a Tasmanian on a grant from the university and tells a few home truths.

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Winding down after 40 or more years of accumulating.

Hi all,

I'm reading "Der verbotene Ort" (The forbidden place) by Fred Vargas.
Since she is French it was issued in that language first. Don't know, if it is available in English.
The story is strange but good. Very mystic.

Regards,

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from beautiful SW-Germany

<English-Chinese Dictionary>

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www.stampway.blog.sohu.com

At present I am reading:

The Broken Years by Bill GAMMAGE. ISBN 0-85179-699-0.

Australian Soldiers in the 'Great War'. Put together from Soldiers Diaries, Letters etc. Very sobering.

Bill is a Professor at A.N.U. and I sold him some New Guinea First Flight covers on eBay some time ago. Another area of interest to him. I suspect this book may include New Guinea Air Mails: The Sky Travellers: Journeys in New Guinea 1938-1939. Melbourne: Melbourne University. ISBN 0522848273.

Then it will be several 1950's books on Rommel.

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

Have you read Rommel's diaries, edited by his son? Very interesting, especially the Afrika Corps period. Another great man, like Guderian, serving the wrong cause.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Hi there! The Bebook is available worldwide from http://mybebook.com/ look at the Support section to find out more.

It's good if your tech-savvie and don't mind tinkering a little bit with format conversion. There is a lot of free software you can use. Version 2 will be available next month (I think)
The Sony PRS550 also looks good - again check out the ebook websites. You can buy both on Amazon.
Devices like the Amazon Kindle are big, bulky, Butt-ugly, and (thankfully IMHO) only available in the USA
There are 100,000's of books available both legally and illegally "free" on the internet if you search for them. If you can download it you can read it on your ereader. You can't do that with the Kindle - Amazon want you to buy from them and them only and they will load it to your ereader.
Hope that points you in the right direction - I've used my Bebook every day for the last 6 months - best gadget I've ever bought! (but do some research first)

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It's good to shoot the breeze with like-minded people.

Thanks Scotsman,

I'm not too tech-savvie but I will certainly do some research and perhaps wait for the new version.
I appreciate your help.

Regards,
Kevin

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Winding down after 40 or more years of accumulating.

Peter,

Try Booktopia $20.69:

http://www.booktopia.com.au/rome-burning/prod9780752893785.html

Just started rereading "Stirbt unser blauer Planer?" (Is our blue planet dying?) by Heinz Haber.
The book is from 1973 - I read it first at age 10 or 11 - and describes the possible changes on earth because of pollution and a growing population.
It is very interesting to reread that now in the year 2009, 36 years after the author wrote the book.
And it is amazing, that his predictions are coming true now. Some exceptions must be made: He didn't know about the ozone-gap and his predictions about the development of the growth of earths population said 8,000,000,000 people for the year 2000.
Now in 2009 we are at about 6,700,000,000.
But we are facing strong problems with drinkable water, with the ressources of oil, with hunger, with desertification, with global warming and so on. And people knew that in 1973!

Well, if I won't sit only at my PC and type in 4-digit-numbers on Glens thread, in some days another book will follow; I'll report here.

Regards,

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from beautiful SW-Germany

I'm reading :
Bold Bhutan Beckons (Inhaling Gross National Happiness)
by Tim Fischer & Tshering Tashi

Described as "Part adventure story, part mystical fable, and a rollicking good yarn...."

Skippy

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Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

The Dreaming Void by Peter Hamilton

Unforgotten by Clare Francis

A psychological thriller set in Bristol and London. A lawyer represents an unhinged (?) man whose wife died in a fire. Is he mad because of that or from his experience as a soldier in Bosnia? The lawyer's wife dies in an 'accidental' house fire. The ex-soldier starts to advise the lawyer.

Not sure where it will lead me but she is a good author.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

The Music Room by William Fiennes

The story is rich in detail of the extraordinary early life he shared with his family in a moated castle with all the attendant tasks of guiding tourists, repairing a 700 year old castle, keeping the moat serviceable and all the other tasks that were unknown to those of us who just wanted to live in one. Underscoring this idyll is the brother Rich victim of epilepsy and its inherent mood swings. A history of the medical professions attempts to understand the illness keeps pace with the developing character of Rich. From normal happy go lucky child to increasingly hostile and violent adult, through to the inevitable death from the illness. The story never ceases to fascinate and engage. As a quest to understand the person behind the illness, this truly elegiac story of a lost brother and a hymn to a lost way of life many of us will never experience enthralls from the first to last page.

Thoroughly enjoying this book after hearing a short reading of it on the radio. Will now have the read his first book!

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Bonfiregirl
I'll always remember the fifth of November

Have just started Charles Kingsford Smith and Those Magnificent Men by Peter Fitzsimons.

The author is well known in Australia having written many books on a variety of subjects and in a very unique way. One of my favourites.

Kingsford Smith is well known throughout the world but, even though I have already read 100 pages, he is only just learning to fly.

Much attention is paid to the aviation pioneers from all over the world. Names included in the text are the Wright brothers, Bleriot and an Australian favourite William Hargreaves.

I for one did not know that the first successful powered flight in Australia was made by Harry Houdini. Having done that Houdini returned to the United States and never flew again.

I am looking forward to this book which will be read slowly and with anticipation.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

I've been lately reading "Itämeren merirosvot: piraattitarinoita pohjoisesta " (which translates to Buccaneers of the Baltic: Pirate stories from the North) by Juha Ruusuvuori... A very intriquing (and non-scientific) book about the pirates (and their stories) in Northern Europe.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.

Deadly Unna - Phillip Gwynne

I love it. Next in line is Nukkin Ya. Same author.

Great Australian reading

Just read "the glowing tomb" by Yrsa Sigurdarsdottir. Crime-story takes place in Iceland. Did like it.

Going to read a view back from Helmut Schmidt, German chancellor from 1974-82. He is still living - 90 years old - and it is always very interesting to know his views of worlds newer history.

Lars

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from beautiful SW-Germany

It is thriller time for me.

Just finished reading Flight of Eagles by Jack Higgins. An improbable story but a good setting (WW2) well told.

Have just started The Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum and expect that will be another 'can't put it down' book.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

Just finished reading Nemesis by Max Hastings, best book on the Pacific War I've ever read, a real eye opener.

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Peter

Currently I'm reading "Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia" by David L. Cook., Ph.D.

Was it Helmut Schmidt who's secretary turned out to be an East German spy?

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

I just finished "The Telling" by y Ursula K. Le Guin... Highly recommendable IMHO.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.

Just the sort of thing to read on an airoplane!

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

I'm halfway with "Dewey: A small Town, a Library and the World's Most Beloved Cat" by Vicki Myron.... A definitive "feel good" book for any cat lover.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.

I'm about two-thirds of the way through his account of the Korean War - similarly revealing and with some excellent eye-witness accounts. The Gloucesters' famous action at Imjin is very well covered.