tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post5055123422123012902..comments2024-03-28T22:08:48.577-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: What I'm ReadingOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89368272321842938642016-09-07T18:15:40.622-07:002016-09-07T18:15:40.622-07:00Awesome!
"Bosun! Up the priority on those Ro...Awesome!<br /><br />"Bosun! Up the priority on those Roberts books!"<br /><br />"Upping priority, Aye!"OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26766689647115172492016-09-07T17:57:14.682-07:002016-09-07T17:57:14.682-07:00I'd move Roberts up near the top of the list. ...I'd move Roberts up near the top of the list. His books are densely packed with historical information, but highly readable and entertaining. Start with "Northwest Passage". Much of it is set in and around places you would know. WaywardSailornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-40054529474912563992016-09-07T17:51:43.712-07:002016-09-07T17:51:43.712-07:00Concur on Clausewitz.
I have quite a lot of exper...Concur on Clausewitz.<br /><br />I have quite a lot of experience with black powder weapons and the smoke was always pale. And plentiful.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6312731375705692362016-09-07T17:47:34.969-07:002016-09-07T17:47:34.969-07:00Our reading tastes are remarkably similar. We are ...Our reading tastes are remarkably similar. We are in the midst of downsizing and I recently donated over thirty file boxes of books to the Old Soldiers Home in Washington and the VA Hospital. That put a dent in the library but the good news is that my bride found a house that has a whole room of built in bookshelves!<br /><br />I totally agree with you on the issue of black powder smoke. In fact, I think almost all modern authors completely ignore the fact that WHITE smoke was a major command and control issue in the past. Within a relatively short period of combat smoke would completely cover the battlefield effectively blinding commanders. They were faced with having to make decisions based largely on sounds and the infrequent messages carried by runners from their subordinates (who were also blinded and could only report on the situation in their own small sector of the battle.) When I hear someone talk about von Clausewitz and the "fog of war" I think that Clausewitz was talking about that fog of black powder smoke hanging low across the field. Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15482185271178889753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-57993452688621045212016-09-07T17:45:35.518-07:002016-09-07T17:45:35.518-07:00One and the same.
Just checked out Mr Roberts. Si...One and the same.<br /><br />Just checked out Mr Roberts. Sigh, so many (more) books, so little time.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61189310093671623812016-09-07T17:44:17.160-07:002016-09-07T17:44:17.160-07:00Yes, a luxury I don't have. I still have hope,...Yes, a luxury I don't have. I still have hope, yeah, yeah, I know, I'm an optimist though I don't always sound like it.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-58043993091286465322016-09-07T13:37:04.472-07:002016-09-07T13:37:04.472-07:00well, I can also jump to my airplane and east of t...well, I can also jump to my airplane and east of the Sierra nevada or a certain ranch on the Colorado river in about 90 minutes<br />You probably know mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763947725406197372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89197786520192868522016-09-07T12:34:35.176-07:002016-09-07T12:34:35.176-07:00"Black Dick" Bolitho? Read them all abo..."Black Dick" Bolitho? Read them all about 40 years ago. Read the Hornblower series about 5 years ago, after I had introduced my son to them. O'Brian is my favorite, though. First read the series from '95-'00, then reread it all about seven years ago, plus the unfinished manuscript. Felt like a piece of me died when I came to the last page. Been thinking about starting them all over again, if only to escape election season. And its results. <br /><br />Have you read any of Kenneth Roberts' books? He's another author I introduced my son to. Great, well-written historical fiction, set in New England during the Revolution and the War of 1812. WaywardSailornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27282146558786578612016-09-07T12:31:42.903-07:002016-09-07T12:31:42.903-07:00Was up past midnight reading Liberty's Last St...Was up past midnight reading <em>Liberty's Last Stand</em>, it was hard to put down. Not finished yet (I had to sleep sometime). Most excellent.<br /><br />Oh, you're welcome. (Where are my manners?)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6655372186204718642016-09-07T12:29:07.857-07:002016-09-07T12:29:07.857-07:00Looks likes some good read there! And I see a coup...Looks likes some good read there! And I see a couple I don't have. Thanks!Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1698167085923304302016-09-07T12:28:38.294-07:002016-09-07T12:28:38.294-07:00As to the "Edit" button...
Sigh, Blogge...As to the "Edit" button...<br /><br />Sigh, Blogger doesn't feel the need to provide such a thing. Yet. When it becomes available, I will certainly add that capability (there have been many times I wanted such a thing myself, indifferent typist that I am.)<br /><br />WordPress has it, why not Blogger? Unknown.<br /><br />Sorry.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-87728730006240177852016-09-07T12:26:55.988-07:002016-09-07T12:26:55.988-07:00Sounds most interesting. Especially when one of my...Sounds most interesting. Especially when one of my favorite authors (the late, lamented Vince Flynn) praises him. I will have to check that out.<br /><br />Thanks! Though it adds yet another book to the ever growing list.<br /><br />:)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-35988448031202433872016-09-07T12:22:08.020-07:002016-09-07T12:22:08.020-07:00Dang it. Where's your edit button?????
"...Dang it. Where's your edit button?????<br /><br />"...erstwhile Cold War *spy thriller* tradition..."<br />ColoCommentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-9961774387965663542016-09-07T12:20:24.101-07:002016-09-07T12:20:24.101-07:00One of the best new[ish] authors in the erstwhile ...One of the best new[ish] authors in the erstwhile Cold War tradition is Jason Matthews. His debut novel, Red Sparrow, is outstanding. (Nor does his second in the series, Palace of Treason, disappoint.)<br /><br />https://amzn.com/1476706131<br /><br />ColoCommentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-33783228339747844042016-09-07T12:12:41.174-07:002016-09-07T12:12:41.174-07:00Of Living Valour is superb.
(Heh, Secret Sex. Nau...<em>Of Living Valour</em> is superb.<br /><br />(Heh, Secret Sex. Naughty sailor!)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-69208741991222648712016-09-07T12:11:26.478-07:002016-09-07T12:11:26.478-07:00Oh indeed, brought me aboard in style they did. (H...Oh indeed, brought me aboard in style they did. (Heh, not.)<br /><br />Ever read any of Alexander Kent's books of the nautical exploits of Richard Bolitho, RN? One of my favorite series of books. Some day I plan on reading the O'Brien books, oh yeah, Hornblower as well. (The number of books I want to read no doubt surpasses the time I have to read them. But a fellow can dream.)<br /><br />Wooden ships, iron men.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-29748409325367567062016-09-07T11:58:38.494-07:002016-09-07T11:58:38.494-07:00I suspect there's something seriously wrong wi...I suspect there's something seriously wrong with me, but this is what jumped out of that second image and into my brain: "George Washington's Secret Sex!"<br /><br />I'm wading my way through "Of Living Valour." It's a slow process because in reading about those individual men and women I have to pause from time to time to process the grief.PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-68264021158514308792016-09-07T10:22:47.805-07:002016-09-07T10:22:47.805-07:00Bargain price? No wonder you were able to get awa...Bargain price? No wonder you were able to get away with five in one visit! One of these days I'll get to Kilmeade's book. One of these days (perhaps when my long-awaited dream job of teaching history materializes with a salary on which one can subsist) I'll get around to reading more about the landward parts of the Napoleonic Wars, my tastes for that period heretofore being strictly nautical. Liberty's Last Stand? Next on the acquisition list, right behind Philbrick's latest.<br /><br />And laments? For my money, it's Hector the Hero, especially when played by the Pipes of the Black Watch and the Band of the Prince of Wales Division, which I had the privilege of hearing live and in person when they visited Boston circa 2000. Brought tears to my eyes then, and still does every time I play the CD!<br /><br />Happy to see you're finally out and about. I hope they called away sideboys and bos'n's mates to pipe you aboard when you returned to the Salt Mines yesterday. ding ding, ding ding. Sarge, returning. ding!WaywardSailornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-84165276285419168932016-09-07T10:12:30.708-07:002016-09-07T10:12:30.708-07:00Roger that.Roger that.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-68262181390595069982016-09-07T10:09:51.322-07:002016-09-07T10:09:51.322-07:00Love Corey, great character.
A plan in advance is...Love Corey, great character.<br /><br />A plan in advance is not a bad idea. As for "places to go", impractical unless you live somewhere between the Sierra Nevada and the Mississippi and you're not independently wealthy. Just my opinion, I have thoughts on that topic, which I would never share.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26308161374755857812016-09-07T09:44:05.864-07:002016-09-07T09:44:05.864-07:00Radiant Angel did not read like fiction . . .which...Radiant Angel did not read like fiction . . .which after I finished it scared the crap out of me. John Corey is my favorite cop - I wish more were like him. He reminds me of the NYC Sergeants I knew back in the day - smart, practical, didn't care what they were told - they just did their job. <br /><br />Liberty will be the template for what happens - will be interesting to see the armed members of the Dept of Agriculture and Indian Affairs and FAA trying to round up the evil right wing conspiracy. Our friend Stephen Arnold is correct -we need a plan in advance and places to go. Because the liberal fortress cannot take dissent - its already shown its brittleness on college campuses. . . You probably know mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763947725406197372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-67010894259922088732016-09-07T09:39:20.196-07:002016-09-07T09:39:20.196-07:00I'm in agreement there. I've got a couple...I'm in agreement there. I've got a couple hundred books on my iPad and read them whenever I get a few moments, even if it's just a page or two. When I get home, though, I like the real thing. Especially for non-fiction, I've got my fingers stuck in various parts and flipping back and forth as I try to figure out something, usually involving a map or a diagram.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59726464482115891532016-09-07T09:39:12.884-07:002016-09-07T09:39:12.884-07:00Good one Skip.Good one Skip.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37315223908891180872016-09-07T09:30:06.578-07:002016-09-07T09:30:06.578-07:00"What we think, or what we know, or what we b... <br /> "What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do."<br />~ John Ruskin(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88824202569670272522016-09-07T09:11:01.940-07:002016-09-07T09:11:01.940-07:00The kids got me a Nook a few years back when I was...The kids got me a Nook a few years back when I was in exile. It was very handy to have in the hotel, finish a book? Download a new one right there. Problem is, I read a lot of military history and maps and illustration didn't translate well to the Nook. Oh, you could see them but...<br /><br />There's something about holding a real book in your hand. Especially when it has that "new book" smell.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.com