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Praetorium Honoris

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

What's In Your Library?

(Source)
As I cast about for a topic, the Muse kept saying, "Hey, it's snowing." Not wanting to revert to talking about the weather (as Skip says, when in doubt, you can always talk about the weather), I realized that I could do another "favorite things" post. Books! What do I do when the weather is crappy? I sit inside and read a book.

So here ya go, books.

As you may well imagine, I have a number of favorite books, if I was forced to pick four all-time favorites (why four, why not five, um, I dunno), that would be these four -


Two non-fiction (both concerning the First French Empire) and two fiction, one about Japan during the period leading up to the Tokugawa Shogunate (the main character Mr. Clavell chose to call Toranaga, played by none other than one of my favorite actors, Mifune Toshirō¹), the other about a fictional Soviet submarine. That last one shocked a few people in the intelligence world. Surprises me how the cloak and dagger types often don't know how many of their secrets are out there for all the world to see. (Used to read Aviation Week, which we Air Force types liked to call Aviation Leak, with some good reason.)

I go through moods in my reading, there are times that I want non-fiction, usually (heck, 99.99% of the time) that means an historical work, like those first two on my list above. Then, hey it happens, I get tired of reading history and will read a few novels, just to keep my sanity. Usually though, those novels will have a military or historical theme. (I think I've read everything by Bernard Cornwell, you might know him as the author of the Sharpe series.)

So that's my drug of choice, a good book and a comfy chair.

As it's snowing outside, I may just do that tonight (as I write). I'm still working my way through Andrew W. Field's Waterloo series. I highly recommend them. (Looking at you David!))

What do you like to read?²




¹ You will see him listed in the west as Toshiro Mifune, in many Asian countries the family name comes first, Mifune in this case. Of course in Japan he would be listed as 三船 敏郎.
² This type of blogging feels like cheating, I throw a topic out there, with a little something to start it off, then let you, the readers, actually write the bulk of the post in the comments. Easy for me, fun for everyone. Yes?

82 comments:

  1. Can remember reading Aviation Week at the university library back in the early 70s, interesting to watch the F15 and F16 being developed and tested. I see the F15EX is being touted as flyable for the next several decades, hoo boy....my joints are really feeling creaky now.

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  2. If we have to discuss history, I prefer fictional characters set in a well-researched historical period which includes Lord Peter Whimsey by Dorothy Leigh Sayers Fleming. I can even settle down on a cold winter's night to re-read (for the thousanth(?) time) her translation of La Commedia to enjoy Dante's trip through the various layers from the viewpoint of a non-Catholic.

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  3. If I were to go with a Clavell novel I'd go with Nobel House. So many good books but one I find myself recommending is The Long Ships by Frans Bengtsson

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    1. Oooooo... The story of Red Orm. An excellent tale, or series of tales, highly recommend it to anyone.

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    2. And the motion has been seconded! (Sigh, now I must go find it.)

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  4. Almost anything Sarge, almost anything. Most likely to be read: history (Greek, Roman, Japanese), science Fiction (say pre-1985), agricultural books (I am odd that way), philosophy, theology.

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    1. Agricultural books? Interesting indeed.

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    2. Sarge, it was something of an interest and then, as can happen, I just picked up the "right" author and the "right" book (Gene Logsdon, The Contrary Farmer in this case). His writing was so good and resonated with me that I started buying more of his, then others, then other parts of the field...this is how I end up with full bookcases.

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    3. I went over to Amazon and read a bit from The Contrary Farmer, really well written, I can see how you got into his work!

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    4. Logsdon has the perfect combination of common sense, knowledge, and snark which infuses all of his works. He does not suffer fools gladly. He also is one of those that actually went and did what he talked about, returning to his family farm and at least making part of a living as a farmer.

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    5. He had "been there, done that" which truly enhances the credibility of his work. (Sad to note that he is no longer with us.)

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  5. I have a few favorites: Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising, Without Remorse, Clark's Backstory (title escapes me). I've only read a few Zane Grey books, but Betty Zane was good. The Bible (I've read through a few flavors. The Authorized is the one I memorized from as a youth, so it's got a special spot). Technical books from the early 1900's (seeing the maturity, 100 years ago, of manufacturing methods we still use is amazing. And there are methods lost to time that really work well). I picked up a couple Robert Parker novels to try. I probably should start them soon.

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    1. Without Remorse is John Clark's "origin" story. I have all of Clancy's original novels, have read them all at least twice. Red Storm Rising at least three times.

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    2. What was the one with the Japanese divine wind into the capitol during a joint session? That one was pretty dang amazing. I thought it was WR. Lots of strings get connected in that one. Portagee springs to mind.

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    3. Debt of Honor which was outstanding, followed by Executive Orders, where Jack Ryan becomes President of the US. Both excellent reads!

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  6. When we went from a house to an RV I had to get rid of my library... Mostly SF paperbacks & how-to books, I miss the "how-to" collection the most.
    I tried carrying some of my favorite novels (W.E.B. Griffin) with me in paperback but there was not really a lot of space for that, I went to a Kindle.
    I hated buying some of those books again but I did and I presently do have "Shogun" & "The Hunt For Red October" on my Kindle. I had to read them again... "Red Storm Rising" is there too, that was a good story!

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    1. Electronic books work well in some circumstances, especially yours. But yeah, having to buy them all again from paper to electronic. Ouch!

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  7. Two books I tend to re-read most summers are Shaara's The Killer Angels (try to time that re-read around July 4th for obvious reasons) and Kipling's Kim

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    1. There's another book I've read multiple times, both Shaaras spin a good yarn.

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  8. Pretty much anything by C.S Forester==Hornblower is my hero!!

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    1. Oddly enough I've never read any Hornblower. I need to rectify that.

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    2. You really should, Sarge. Cruising for six months or so long before electronics got big, my diversions were paperbacks and a Sony "Walkman". We went through Hornblower, Louis L'Amour, Clancy, WEB Griffin, et al.
      I have long been to Kipling's "A man cannot have too many books, too many wines or too much ammunition." . My library is extensive and growing; in fact I just promised Bride a culling. Most of those will be contemporary political commentary.
      I haven't seen Patrick O'Brien mentioned yet; if you haven't read the Jack Aubrey books you really should.
      Boat Guy

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    3. Out in Sandy Eggo, seven years ago, I saw nearly the entire Jack Aubrey series. The Missus Herself saw me eyeing them with an obvious intent to purchase. My desire to do so was quelled by the fact that we were catching a flight back to Little Rhody in just a few hours and the obvious displeasure on my wife's face. So it's planned for the future.

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  9. Mostly science fiction and I have moved from hard science fiction to other flavors. A lot of that was simple economics because buying the Baen Books monthly bundle meant I could get six or seven books for the price of three and since I paid for them I was going to read them.
    That opened doors into sub genres that I might not have been interested in.

    I don't read a lot of non-fiction, most of what I read is military and I lean towards reading of that the junior enlisted experienced.

    Other than an occasional reread of Holmes, I don't read mysteries.

    Carpal Tunnel, aging vision, and perhaps a shortened attention span have heavily biased me towards eBooks.

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    1. I remembered what you said about browsers an instant too late, and just as I pushed the button I noticed that Anonymous was pre-selected. I have been using Firefox and that might be a change they made in an update.
      For this reply I just opened the pull down list and picked Google Account.
      I will try to do better in the future!

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    2. I don't read a slot of science fiction but the few I have read I really enjoyed. Heinlein, Pournelle, and others of that ilk.

      Don't do mysteries at all, just never got into them.

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    3. Ah, that comment "sounded" like you, John.

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  10. I concur with non-fiction. Will read anything by Norman Friedman on warship development and design. Did read a lot of science fiction once upon a time but have gotten out of the habit.

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  11. What do you like to read?
    If it's written, then yes!

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    1. Pretty much. Though we might tax juvat's intellect if we give him books without pictures...

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    2. The shot heard around the world!

      The gauntlet has been thrown down, what say thee juvat?

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    3. I'm supposed to take this seriously from someone who's never gotten past eating paste in school? I think not.

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    4. Ha. Double Ha. (looks around trying to figure out how little j knew B ate paste in school...)

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  12. My largish library is mostly history, with occasional historical fiction, although I listen to a lot of fiction- thrillers, westerns, and some historical stuff (Stephen Ambrose, etc) on our frequent lengthy travels. I have picked up many books in various genres based on Sarge's recommendations of what he feeds the muse. Good stuff!

    Most of the library is U.S. military or firearms related for business or research purposes. Probably no one else here has a full set of the Annual Reports of the Chief of Ordnance, but they come in handy when you really need to get the details.

    I hate digital books as a library, but confess to having a number purely for reference, and ease of access with a quick search. I love to flip pages and bend over corners and make notes in them.
    Periodicals, yeah , got a bunch of those too. I am a reader, and a hoarder.
    John Blackshoe

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    1. I would postulate that most avid readers are hoarders of a sort.

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  13. Crusty Old TV Tech here. The CAIB Report (Columbia Accident Investigation Board) is a sobering, but mandatory read for space folks this time of year. I'm kinda funny that way, NTSB accident reports from the 60's and 70's, always pick up something useful in my line of work.

    Old issues of QST and 73 Amateur Radio mags, all available online now. Beitman TV manuals, also available online at the same place as the old QST's, good nostalgia for one who used to work on some of the sets in those manuals.

    As for non-technical, Alistair McLean (HMS Ulysses and Ice Station Zebra for the 35th time), Sum of all Fears (Clancy). St. Thomas Aquinas "Summa Theologica", finally getting a chance to read a little. And when I get an urge for a dose of nostalgia, Tom Swift Jr, "Tom Swift and his Rocket Ship". Reminds me of rainy Sundays as a Crusty Little TV Tech.

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  14. Spent 17 years at Langley. First 2 1/2 years as FPO security. Saw more copies of Red October than any other. At an early boo signing told Clancy "Love your boo despite the errors." SAY WHAT? "Yup. The gate barricades come up not down. The executive elevator isn't hidden and there's no fireplace n the Executive Director's office." FINE! HOW DO YOU WANT THIS INSCRIBED? He didn't believe me when ased to sign t "to Jack Smith." [yes my EYE CAY and COMMA keys are dead
    AUTHORS
    HISTORY
    Peter Hopkirk
    Byron Farwell
    George MacDonald Fraser
    Robert Massie
    Harrison Salisbury
    HISTORICAL FYCTYON (am compensating)
    Fraser again The Flashman series
    Patric O'Bran's Aubrey/Maturn series.
    Arthur Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard series (Napoleon era)
    Edgar Wallace's Sanders of the River series.

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    1. Love George MacDonald Fraser and the Brigadier Gerard series!

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  15. Mr Rifleman Colonel Townsend Whelen, The Day the Universe changed

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    1. Hadn't heard of that one, looks interesting.

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    2. My Dear Aunt gave me a copy of Mr. Rifleman back in 1969, when I was a little punk. Which really lead me into becoming a real gun nut. All I can say is that every time I have reread it. I have learn something new. As to "The Day the Universe changed" is that it's a History of Technology. The words fail me on how to say how good it is.

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    3. Awesome when a book has that effect.

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  16. The Flashman series, Unoffical History FM Bill Slim, And a Few Marines Thompson

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  17. Many things. Twain, Kipling, Churchill, Verne, Con Doyle, Catten, and many more are old favorites. Some Sci-Fi (Drake, Pornelle, Stirling) "The General" series is magnificent. Lots more non-fiction. There are the little-known WW2 books from the 50s and 60s that appear at used bookstores. Then there is history, geology, archeology, etc. Some of the most interesting are local regional histories that give interesting information not found in the bestsellers. Used to be at work, if someone brought up a topic, I could usually produce a book or two about it by the next day.

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  18. What a well-rounded group we are.

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  19. Great post, Sarge and a lot of good comments. Beans, notwithstanding, I recognize and have read an awful lot of the titles mentioned her. The interesting part is that some of them are mentioned in lists that contain ones I haven't read. Ergo...I've got a listing of Titles to look for. If my friends read ones I have and liked, chances are excellent that others they mention are titles I also may like. Now...Got to do a little bit of electron capture, some classifying Read/Not Read and output a report of the latter. Might I recommend investing in the "not read" publishing companies soon?
    BTW...Beans...Still love ya' Man!

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    1. Hahaha!

      There are any number of good books in the various lists people have shared, makes my wallet hurt.

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  20. If it is written down, I like to read it.
    Fiction, History, SiFi, Westerns, DIY, Biographies, Fantasies, old books, new books, anything written by RF Delderfield, Diana Gabaldon, Tom Clancy, Zane Gray, Louis L'Amour, JL Curtis, Larry Correia, James Fenimore Cooper, Louisa Mae Alcott are just a few. I have one of the original Tom Swift and his Rocket Ship books. I have an extensive physical library, as well as a "library" on my Kindle and my Nook. I love long series, you get to know the characters. The e-books are great because I can enlarge the print so I can read when my eyes are tired. Plus, when I travel, electrons pack much more compactly than my books.
    I would rather read than just about anything else I can think of, and given 5-10 minutes of "downtime", I've got my nose in a book.
    My grandmother got me started when I was in first grade with The Bobbsey Twins, as well as books by Thorton W Burgess.
    If it's written down, I'm happy to read it.
    Suz

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    1. Reading takes one away from the ordinary, my favorite pastime.

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  21. Okay, so we got clues on what books we might want next.

    Let me recommend ABEbooks.com. It is a compilation of offerings from a gazillion independent book sellers all over the world. Searching by author and title is easy, and it is fairly forgiving on typos or errors in either. You can sort the results in various ways (I go by price- ascending). You can order several books offered by different places all in a single order and the sort it out so you are not messing with multiple transactions, although everything ends up shipping from wherever, whenever. Many offer free shipping.
    John Blackshoe

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  22. Two more authors;
    David Hackett Fischer, and Matt Bracken
    Boat Guy

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    1. Oh, and Hornfisher; gone too soon. Everything he wrote was great!
      BG

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    2. Fischer is very good, I highly recommend Washington's Crossing, made me feel as if I made that march to Trenton myself. A superb account of that battle.

      Bracken, a new name for me, off to do some research.

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    3. I was stunned when Hornfischer passed, his trilogy on the US Navy in the Pacific was superb. A must read for anyone wanting to delve into that area of WWII.

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  23. The campaigns of Napoleon looks like its going to be my next acquisition. Thanks for the tip!
    Favorites?
    Though some may think it is juvenile literature, I find that I've read Heinlein's Starship Troopers several times. Lord of the Rings as well.
    Currently it's all about that dustup a 160 years ago or so (Shelby Foote at the moment)....and in the spirit of current times, I read anything gardening related I can get my hands on.

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    1. Heinlein is awesome, Tolkien as well. I have read both of those works you cite multiple times. (Though to be honest I did skip the poetry written in Elvish script.)

      I need to read Foote, a solid historian by all accounts.

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    2. Foote is worth your time. Though his Civil War trilogy will consume a substantial chunk of it. His short novel Shiloh is also worthy. I can give you an Amen on skipping the Elvish poetry (and the songs). in fact, make it a double!

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    3. I remember him from the Ken Burn's series, a very interesting perspective on the war. I need to pick up that trilogy, also the novel. I shall make the time to read those.

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    4. Foote's Lee's Lieutenant's is worth your time.

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  24. I have been partial to Lee Child. But I have never been in the military (tried, but heart condition kept me out).

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  25. How about "Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 (The Pacific War Trilogy, 1) by Ian W. Toll" or Lest Darkness Fall by
    De Camp, L. Sprague

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    1. I have Toll's trilogy, excellent work (along with his book Six Frigates). I've hear of De Camp's books. So many books, so little time!

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