The Reading Room

Here's what Jeff and Dave are reading.

Dave has finished Anna Karenina, Bond of Brothers, Of Mice and Men, Slaughterhouse Five, Manhunt, Clan of the Cave Bear, With the Old Breed, Bowling Alone, and The Hobbit  He is now reading Speeches That Changed the World and Hell & Highwater by Lance Goddard.

Jeff just finished (May 2013) "Tarawa: The Story of a Battle", an amazing first-hand account of this first-ever amphibious assault on a fortified shore. If you don't know much about Tarawa, this would be a great place to start. At only 150 pages, it's a well-written and thoroughly engrossing telling of this brutal conflict and expertly conveys the purpose and price of victory for this little patch of sand. Horrifying, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

Jeff read "The Guns of Navarone" in Jan 2013 and hopes to do a review of it and the movie in an upcoming episode. Unlike "The Angry Hills" (see below), MacLean's writing doesn't feel dated. On the contrary, it's still a good thriller and worth the read even if you've seen the movie a dozen times. Word of warning: MacLean doesn't talk down to the reader -- you may want to keep a dictionary handy!

Jeff is reading "All Hell Let Loose" by Max Hastings.
Another general history of World War II? Is anything left unsaid? Yes, and Yes.

Jeff just finished "The Angry Hills" by Leon Uris

Written in the 1950's, this thriller feels a bit dated, but is fun nonetheless. The story takes place in 1941 Greece as the British Expeditionary Force is fleeing before the push of the German army into Athens. The hero, an American writer caught by bad timing during a visit to collect an inheritance, becomes an accidental spy charged with carrying secret Allied information back to England. Of course, the Nazi's are in hot pursuit. Short, light, and fast moving, it's a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. You'll find no Advanced Squad Leader strategy or tactics here, but it's good to take a break, right?