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What are you reading, Chapter 2
- Thread starter BioDriver
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It's not "really awful," but it's a mess, a meandering history of the air war in WWII full of incidental historical errors and groaners such as identifying Budapest as the capital of Romania.
Whether or not the information about the nominal subject is any more reliable, I don't know, but I'd pass on this.
I didn't realize this was from a small publisher when I got it. I try to avoid small publishers as they are generally an indication of two things:
1: The book wasn't good enough to be picked up by a real house, and...
2: The manuscript won't receive the editing and reading it needs to prevent such gross errors making it to print.
On the other hand, I'm seeing some truly awful editing lapses on mainstream stuff these days.
From the reviews I read on Amazon, and your own above, I will skip this one for sure. Editing errors that are so bad that they can't figure out what country Budapest is in would make me stop reading and either return it or sell it for a dime.
Reading this:
It turns out that Thomas, in the opinion of most critics, writes the best Holmes pastiche. Add to this that the stories are based on actual period cases.
I was a bit skeptical of these books, but find I enjoy them quite a bit.
It turns out that Thomas, in the opinion of most critics, writes the best Holmes pastiche. Add to this that the stories are based on actual period cases.
I was a bit skeptical of these books, but find I enjoy them quite a bit.
This came in for me at the library. Doesn't sound that promising, but I thought I'd give it a try:
I found this at a local book store. As someone who tends to see the world this way it made me chuckle.
It's a guide to existentialism packaged as a "self-help" book. A little thin in places, but a good intro nonetheless.
It's a guide to existentialism packaged as a "self-help" book. A little thin in places, but a good intro nonetheless.
I had some ties to Mt Holyoke back in 2001.
GOOGLE 'James Ellis Vietnam'
Ellis has some issues with getting his facts straight it appears. I will leave the rest unsaid, but I find that whole thing reprehensible.
Pappy was an interesting and colorful character. I had an uncle who flew in the RAF during WWII, and like some some other combat aviation veterans including Pappy, alcohol and what we know as PTSD played a major role in their subsequent lives.
My uncles book is still avail on Amazon apparently, it was published in Icelandic and he translated it himself to English. 'Dancing in the Skies' by T.E. Jonsson.
On the way:
WWII conscientious objectors who volunteered to be systematically starved in order for medicine to learn how to treat the millions of starvation victims found in the liberation of Europe and its chaotic aftermath.
WWII conscientious objectors who volunteered to be systematically starved in order for medicine to learn how to treat the millions of starvation victims found in the liberation of Europe and its chaotic aftermath.
Cool, I need to check that out.
Yeah, Pappy was certainly interesting and colorful. The author of the biography doesn't pull any punches, which a lot of people have taken exception to. He was a fantastic pilot, no doubt about that.
Currently finishing up Under the Dome by Stephen King. I'm usually hit and miss with King, some of his books I love, others I can't stand, but this is a great book. Despite it's size, there's not too much in the way of filler.
Just finished Mystic River... loved the first two-thirds, but the last act seemed too easy/convenient.
Lehane's a hugely overrated writer who additionally suffers from inept editing.
After suffering through Shutter Island, I never expect to read another of his books.
Started this one:
Crime historian Thomas's trick of having Holmes on actual cases continues to appeal to me. His nonfiction work is also excellent.
Crime historian Thomas's trick of having Holmes on actual cases continues to appeal to me. His nonfiction work is also excellent.
Just got in "1636: The Saxon Uprising." Pretty good so far. Just enough humor in it so it doesn't come across as too darn serious...
I didn't have a problem with his writing, just his structure.
In fact, I'd say the actual writing was great--lots of torqued language and spot on characterization/localization.
I will say that his books get turned into great movies fairly often, though. Did you get a chance to see Shutter Island on screen?
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