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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/14/2017 1:11:30 AM   
Jagdtiger14


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quote:

Harman states that Fighter Command had 1,400(!) 'ultra-modern' fighters in 1940 - and you don’t see any possible flaws with the book?


Are you disputing the number, quality, or both?

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(in reply to warspite1)
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/14/2017 6:49:03 AM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

quote:

Harman states that Fighter Command had 1,400(!) 'ultra-modern' fighters in 1940 - and you don’t see any possible flaws with the book?


Are you disputing the number, quality, or both?
warspite1

With regard to this 'fact' I am certainly disputing both the number and the quality.

But remember this is more than that. I don't want this to become just a discussion on the campaign (although of course that will naturally and quite necessarily feature heavily). I also want to discuss the presentation of the 'facts', the research carried out, the sources, and what 'new' information this author has actually brought to the party. Re the 'fact' above, the author quotes this number in Chapter 4 but does not say from where it comes and I have never seen this from any other source. His notes to chapter 4 - one short paragraph - seem to refer mostly to the army, and 'Official British Histories, taken with a pinch of salt'????

You have championed this book across a number of threads and a couple of forums as being 'awesome' and using 'info released after Britain's Secrets Act expired on the info'. You also states 'It reveals war crimes and deception of her [UK] allies worse than you could imagine than what happened at Mers-el-Kebir'. But I can't see that it does.

When I think of 'awesome' books I think of, for example, Shattered Sword. This book seeks to explain the battle in almost forensic detail - and truly dispels myths. Importantly, in so doing the authors state where their new information comes from, they explain the source of the myths and why they believe them wrong. This author troubles himself with no such effort.

I presume you have read other books on the Western Front in 1940 and so am really keen to understand what elevates this work into the 'awesome' category and is not just some hack trying to sell a book on a subject much written about by making a number of unsubstantiated statements that he hasn't bothered to properly research or explain.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 9/14/2017 7:12:28 AM >

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/14/2017 2:54:17 PM   
warspite1


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Status: offline 		Looking forward to this - out next week




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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/19/2017 4:32:15 PM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Looking forward to this - out next week



warspite1

Well one rave review at least I can't wait.
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/855459/Munich-review-Robert-Harris-novel-book


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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/23/2017 6:20:09 AM   
warspite1


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Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Well the book arrived on time - thank-you Amazon - and I have put to one side the two books I'm currently reading to get this read. As was expected, this is unputdownable. I love the way this guy writes, I love what he writes about and the attention to detail. A full review to be written once the book is finished.

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/23/2017 3:54:58 PM   
Chickenboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Looking forward to this - out next week



Let's pretend for a moment that someone didn't know ANYTHING about this author or these books. How (other than involving so-called dangly bits) would you describe them?

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/23/2017 7:24:31 PM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Looking forward to this - out next week



Let's pretend for a moment that someone didn't know ANYTHING about this author or these books. How (other than involving so-called dangly bits) would you describe them?
warspite1

Well one could legitimately describe them as being the dogs dangly bits - however as I have been asked to use other verbiage, I'll try this.

Robert Harris writes, in the main, about fictional characters that he sets within historical events - e.g. Pompeii, Munich, Enigma (Bletchley Park) or historical what-ifs e.g. Fatherland (the Germans win WWII).

His books - essentially thrillers - are, in the main, unputdownable page-turners. He has a clear, easy to understand writing style and his historical knowledge is highly impressive - he seems to know all the minutiae and inner workings of his subject matter (one wonders how he knows so much) that enrich his work. For example in Munich he describes Downing Street in 1938 and the workings of the various secretaries and parliamentary aides, he brings the likes of Neville Chamberlain and co alive. He does the same for the Germans and the offices of Hitler, Ribbontrop et al, all the while weaving the historical characters within and around his own characters.

He is a tremendously talented story teller, the fact that he writes about events that interest me e.g. WWII and The Roman Empire obviously helps too.


< Message edited by warspite1 -- 9/23/2017 8:04:21 PM >

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/24/2017 12:02:25 AM   
FlyByKnight


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Status: offline 		Harry Tutrtledove's "American Empire: the Victorious opposition" after getting through the previous books over the Summer. I'm really looking forward to "Settling Accounts".

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/24/2017 12:37:57 AM   
Aurelian

 

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/24/2017 2:10:03 AM   
roguewarrior155

 

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Status: offline 		'Give Your Heart To The Hawks' A Tribute to the Mountain Men - by Win Blevins

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/24/2017 10:53:54 AM   
durangokid


Posts: 146
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Status: offline 		All Hell Let Loose, Max Hastings. Very well thought of single volume history of WWII. Very easy read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Hell-Let-Loose-1939-1945/dp/0007450729/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506249198&sr=1-1&keywords=Max+hastings+all+hell+let+loose

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/25/2017 1:03:31 AM   
cpdeyoung


Posts: 5368
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From: South Carolina, USA
Status: offline 		Alone Britain, Churchill, and Dunkirk : Defeat into Victory

Michael Korda

I have enjoyed every page so far. Many great quotes I haven't heard.

Chuck

https://www.amazon.com/Alone-Britain-Churchill-Dunkirk-Victory/dp/1631491326

< Message edited by cpdeyoung -- 9/25/2017 1:06:32 AM >

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/25/2017 7:52:14 PM   
redcoat


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Possible book recommendation for Mr Warspite1?

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Battleship-Warspite-Hardback/p/14024?

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/26/2017 10:33:32 PM   
Zorch

 

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/27/2017 1:13:03 AM   
JReb


Posts: 459
Joined: 9/18/2002
Status: offline 		Breem's Eagle in the Snow.

Did not like the first part of the book. It moved too fast.He went from childhood to marriage to betrayal by best friend to wife passes away all in the first couple of chapters. Seemed like pacing was uneven. Once he gets to Germania then it becomes very good. Top notch reading.

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/27/2017 5:43:48 AM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: redcoat


Possible book recommendation for Mr Warspite1?

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Battleship-Warspite-Hardback/p/14024?
warspite1

What makes you think I would be interested in this?




_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/27/2017 6:03:56 AM   
warspite1


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Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Review: Munich - Robert Harris

I am not a fast reader but had this one done and dusted in four days – I couldn’t wait to read the next page, then the next, then the next…..

Robert Harris is such a great storyteller and so easy to read. This story is never edge of your seat gripping, but as usual fails to disappoint.

The author’s expertise is his attention to detail. Here he really brings the days leading up to the Munich agreement to life, inter-weaving real life characters – particularly the too often wrongly-maligned Neville Chamberlain - and historical events, with fictional characters from his own fertile mind.

Without wanting to spoil the ending I would say this book would be more of interest to those who have a keen interest in WWII and the prelude to the war, as opposed to a reader seeking an out and out thriller.

Harris has a self-confessed passion for this period of time and this comes out in his writing. The little vignettes with Mr and Mrs Chamberlain – such as breakfast at No.10 - are delightful. Harris describes the palaver that was trying to use the telephone in those days. He lets us into No.10 Downing Street, the Fuhrerbau and Hitler’s train – Amerika – via his powers of description allied to painstaking research.

Excellent stuff and a solid 5 stars from me for this one.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 9/27/2017 6:04:30 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/27/2017 11:43:36 AM   
terje439


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Joined: 3/28/2004
Status: offline 		Picked up a few new booklets from "Ares Forlag", this is a small publisher in Norway that focuses on military history. The booklets are about 150 pages and cover one battle.
Currently reading about what is called "The Winter War" in english.

These booklets are more introduction level than in depth, but they occasionally have some information that is new to me, and at a low cost they are worth it imo.



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/27/2017 2:29:36 PM   
Greybriar


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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/28/2017 2:55:48 PM   
Kvothe


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From: UK
Status: offline 		Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters.

A brilliant read written by a very humble man.

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/28/2017 4:24:52 PM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: AlanPartridge

warspite1

Knowing Me, warspite1, Knowing You Alan Partridge AHA!


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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/29/2017 8:28:12 AM   
Kvothe


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From: UK
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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 9/29/2017 4:36:57 PM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: AlanPartridge

AHA!

warspite1

I am looking for something to wear at the weekend. I am torn between:

"L'homme du Sport"
"I'm in control of my vehicle"
Or perhaps
"Imperial Leisure"

For the last one do you know where I can get an Alan Partridge tie and blazer badge combination?










Attachment (3)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 9/29/2017 7:11:07 PM >

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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/6/2017 2:40:16 AM   
warspite1


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Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		I have shelved War in the West - Volume 1 (again). This time its to read The Vietnam War (Lawrence). This is only 185 pages and is meant as an overview of the war. For a novice to the subject like me I must say it is an excellent read. I have noticed a few lines from this book were repeated word for word in the recent Ken Burns documentary.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 10/6/2017 6:37:23 AM >

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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/8/2017 7:46:11 AM   
sven6345789

 

Posts: 1050
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Status: offline 		Last book I read

The most dangerous enemy. By Stephen Bungay, THE book if you want to no more about the Battle of Britain.

Right now

The sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark, about how Europe went to war in 1914.

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/8/2017 9:21:57 AM   
warspite1


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quote:

ORIGINAL: sven6345789

Last book I read

The most dangerous enemy. By Stephen Bungay, THE book if you want to no more about the Battle of Britain.

Right now

The sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark, about how Europe went to war in 1914.
warspite1

The Bungay book is excellent. I also enjoyed the Clark book, although a bit heavy going at times.


_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/10/2017 9:26:31 AM   
Tiger360


Posts: 16
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From: Australia
Status: offline 		I am curently reading-Do androids dream of Electric Sheep?', a science-fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. The novel is set in a post apocalyptic dystopian future, where Earth and its populations have been damaged greatly by nuclear war and most of the animal species have either been wiped out or become endangered. The author is brilliant!

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/10/2017 6:51:17 PM   
mikkey


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Status: offline 		yeah, Philip K. Dick is a great author, I'm just reading Blade Runner

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/10/2017 7:03:50 PM   
altipueri

 

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Status: offline 		I thought they were the same thing, blade runner being the movie name?

Anyway, I have just bought Rome and Juliet by William Shakespeare; 50p from the charity shelf at the supermarket.

Bit of a change from Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War which the bastard didn't even finish writing properly - leaving you mid sentence - "sacrifice to Artemis...."

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RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? - 10/10/2017 7:11:38 PM   
warspite1


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From: England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: altipueri

I thought they were the same thing, blade runner being the movie name?

Anyway, I have just bought Rome and Juliet by William Shakespeare; 50p from the charity shelf at the supermarket.

Bit of a change from Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War which the bastard didn't even finish writing properly - leaving you mid sentence - "sacrifice to Artemis...."
warspite1

Don't you just hate it when th.....


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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



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