Read any good books lately?

MJames70

I'm surprised you were able to finish Shattered Sword. The authors hot tears of rage that the Japanese lost the battle smear the ink on nearly every page...

That's a bit of a hyperbole, wouldn't you say?  "Hot tears of rage that the Japanese lost"?  I think that's a completely unfounded statement.  Nowhere do they express or imply that they wished the Japanese had won.  Rather, they do a very good job of explaining how the Japanese operated, based on Japanese source material rather than Fuchida's account, and I think they do an excellent job of clarifying and even debunking assumptions about the battle, long held by readers here in the West.

John Lundstrom does a similar job, equally well, of describing our Navy's operations in the first year of the Pacific War.

There's no partisanship, only exposure of sources not previously used.

MJames70

While I feel some of the points raised in it were valid, I still feel in overall tone it was an apology piece for the Japanese loss, that sought on many occasions to dismiss American skill, bravery, tactics, and strategy as a factor in the US victory in favor of 'woe is me' bad fortune to the Japanese. And in many ways was just as jingoistic as Lord's Incredible Victory, just from the opposite side. Your mileage may vary. Whether the internet agrees with me or not is not a factor in my feeling the book was overrated. 

 

In my opinion, Shatterd Sword is not apologizing for the Japanese nor degrading the heroic actions of the US Navy during the Midway battle.  Our men fought bravely, as did the Japanese.  I found the research on the way the IJN fought their ships and planes telling, and actually highlighted the impressive force that the IJN brought to the battle.  It also shows how they wasted the opportunity in an overly complex and convoluted battle plan where the different units couldn't support each other.  In addition, it also points out how unprepared the US Navy was to fight its carriers in a fleet action, as shown by how the attacks happened over a period of hours instead of concentrating over minutes.  I've often commented that in some ways, our own ineptitude worked in our favor, since we kept the IJN launching and recovering its CAP instead of prepping a strike.  I also loved the fact the book reads like the authors are telling the story, as opposed to a dry textbook feel.  However, to each their own. 

John

For a really long book covering familiar territory, the authors injected a little humor.

An example, and I can't quote because I took the book back to the library (EDIT: I'm going to buy a copy)

At the end of the initial chapters on the set up and disposition of forces, the strike mission and the return where a second strike is initiated, it's early morning on the 4th of June.

The next chapter begins with something to the effect that...

"The reader at this point must refrain from the picture of Dauntless dive bombers dropping out of the sun to wreak destruction, but instead go and pour a tall glass of spirits and settle in for a long but necessary description of Japanese carrier deck spotting, as it makes a great deal of explaining what's to come", or something like that.

My daughter the theater pro calls that adressing the fourth wall.

I wish I could write half that well.

The actual quote is as follows.

We pardon our readers for having turned the previous page with the understandable expectation of finding Dauntlesses hurtling downward from the heavens, only to discover that a brief but necessary piece of business remains before we get to the "exciting part". 

Its my favorite line in the book.   

One further thought, while Fuchida's account is much more dramatic, knowing the truth makes the history much more real.  The sacrifice of the TBDs and the penny packet attacks by the Army Air Corps kept the Japanese busy all morning.  That is what allowed the decisive blow from the dive bombers to be decisive.  The truth does nothing to detract from the individual courage of any of the participants, instead it shows the reality of what they did without the un-needed drama.  I would argue it honors them more than a dramatic fantasy.

John

Certainly. The point was made that while the Japanese CAP was well equipped, well staffed and effective, they were worn down by a more or less constant series of attacks across at least 150 degrees of ocean, over a three or four hour period. And Wolfhammer, there WAS a part about a tall glass of spirits.

sigh.....

I have started a new book which I am enjoying about VT18 flying Avengers off of the Intrepid.  The author is writing in part about his dad, and the research seems pretty good so far.  We are just about to blast the Musashi.  More to come.

John

I'm guiding my wife through Vietnam literature.

We watched the Rory Kennedy documentary about the fall of Saigon, and she's reading "Catfish and Mandala".

She read a book she really liked called "The Eaves of Heaven".

I'm in between books, but watched the Nova series on the Vikings.

Current model project- the type 21  U Boat.

I have a couple of the usual walkarounds, both in print and online.

Waiting for a clue for the next read.

Finished: The Sixth Extinction;Elizabeth Kolbert, re-reading Prescott's Conquest of Mexico/Conquest of Peru.

Nothing earth shattering,but an interesting account

gobobbie

...the trial of the leading ***.

The nannyware strikes again!

the Baron

 

 

gobobbie

...the trial of the leading ***.

 

 

 

The nannyware strikes again!

 

Yes, because if we can spell out the acronym used for the National Socialist German Workers Party we will all become goose stepping black shirt wearing racist war mongers... 

It's so that the trolls can't insult other members in online flame wars. Nazi for instance is ok.

But I bet I could call you a commie in such a flame war, hypothetically speaking... 

Yep, but if you're interested in reading the Great American Novel, don't try to find Moby ***...

All, just finished Intrepid Aviators about VT18 and the sinking of the Musashi.  Its a pretty interesting read.  Turns out the author's dad was one of the first to hit the Musashi, and was shot down for his troubles.  His crew was killed, and he was stranded on an island until he built a raft and was eventually picked up by some Philipino resitance fighters.  He even participated in a fire fight with the fighters.  Its a good read, and seems well researched.  I'm currently reading a very scholarly book on the Luftwaffe before and during WWII and how they were essnetially doomed to failure.  Its called The German Air Force 1933-1945  An Anatomy of Failure by Matthew Cooper.  He examines the role of the leadership (or lack there of) of the Luftwaffe and how they and the political leaders mismanaged the air force to its eventual ruin.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  My next book will be Hell's Gate by David Weber.  There is finally a third book in that series out, and I need to get caught up.

John

I'm about 1/4 of the way through "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay".

While I don't read much fiction, I'm enjoying this one so far.

(Always thought about being a cartoonist, as I have a reasonable sense of humor and like to draw).

All, Finished The German Air Force 1933-1945  An Anatomy of Failure by Matthew Cooper.  Interesting perspective on why certain aircraft were developed and others were not.  A bit different from what we are used to hearing about that topic, but it makes sense.  Got caught up on the Hell's Gate series by David Weber and am now reading the third book in the series.  So far, its as good as I expected. 

John

I just finished "Out of the Depths" by Edgar Harrell on the sinking of the Indianapolis. Really quick read from the perspective of someone who was there, his struggles and how his faith helped him through such a trying time. I must confess ignorance of this event before reading the book, but I'm glad my eyes have been opened. Shows just how little I know of the "lesser known" events of WW2 & history in general.

I have read "In Harms Way" about the sinking of the Indianapolis.  Its quite the tragedy, but an interesting read. 

John

I found a book on Mercenaries in my grandma's house, it used to belong to my uncle. Took it home with me yesterday, it has some detailed info on their involvement in Croatia, Africa and how they operate. Its an interesting book. 

"Resurrection Day" by Brendan Dubois. A "what if" of how the USA would have looked in 1972 if the Cuban Missile Crisis had instead turned into the Cuban War. General Curtis LeMay under a modified name is present as well as all the Kennedy Administration using their actual names. The ending is kind of a gut twister and the main characters description of what we did to Russia I didn't believe until I came across a PDF detailing the US/USSR comparison of nuclear forces in October 1962. 

Half-way thru Antony Beevor's Ardennes-Hitler's Last Gamble,it's very good.

Interesting... reminds me of a mid 1980's novel titled "Warday" with a similar aftermath set in the 80s

I've finished reading 2 books - both highly recommended reads.

Fighter Group - basically about the Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney.  A great read!

 Untold Valor: Forgotten Stories of American Bomber Crews over Europe in World War II by Robert Morris.

If you think Switzerland was a safe, neutral country during WW2, guess again. Chapter 2 (or is it Chapter#?) tells the story of one Dan Culler who endured far horrible conditions/treatments while interned at Wauwilermoos internment camp.

I left off reading "Monuments Men".  It's a thick book but goes into a lot of things they left out of the movie.  Unfortunately, with my eye situation, I'm having a little trouble reading it.