Mike's Book Review Thread.

[Blackbird.]

I have just gotten done with Say Goodnight, Gracie. It was quite a good book. It's about a girl that has a very, very close friend named Jimmy. One day she is waiting for him to pick her up and he does not come. Her mother does and explains he's been in a car accident. When they get to the hospital she discovers he is dead. The rest which is the most interesting and best part of the book is her emotional journey coping with her loss of Jimmy.

Rating: 8/10

 

[Mike Rotch]

Last book read: Black Thursday
Author: Martin Caidin

Acquired from: Online retailer
Edition/Type: 4th edition, softcover, 1961
Rating: 4.6/10

Type: Non-Fiction

Comment: This novel slash historical account is believed by many to be one of the greatest WWII airwar books written. I wish I knew why.

The story behind the title is what is called "the bloodiest mission" flown by B-17's in WWII. In late 1943 the chief planners in the USAAF decided that the town of Schweinfurt in Germany was the most important target in Germany and should thus be the focus of attacks. This was due to the fact that the vast majority of Germany's ball bearing plants where located in the industrial part of Schweinfurt. Their logic? Destroy Germany's ball bearings, and every machine that relies on ball bearings will grind to a halt. As every machine used to fight the Allies relied on ball bearings, it seemed like a good idea. The only problem being that Schweinfurt lay in the center of all enemy fighter sectors and was at the very edge of the B-17's operating window, distance wise.

The first mission in August 1943 claimed in the region of 40 Fortresses. This book tells the tale of the 60 that fell during this mission. However that is where the author falls down. He tries to blend a factual account with the readability of a novel and this is where the book is a disaster. It yo-yo's between contrived storytelling and boring facts, with no middle ground. It becomes a chore to read the book and details that would have rounded the edges of the book are sorely missing.

I dont know which is sadder; the poor writing or the failed attempt to bring a historical battle to life. There mountains of better books out there. Avoid this one like the plague.

 

[Blackbird.]

You may or may not have read this, Mike, but i'm currently reading We Are Witnesses. About five diaries of teenagers who died in the Holocaust. Very awful what they had done to the Jews.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Hmm, I'll look into it - seems on the face of it a good possibility. Thanks 'bird

 

[Blackbird.]

I'm sure you would like it. You are a history/wartime as an interest right?

 

[Sage]

Last book read: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde

Acquired from: Stuffy high school library
Rating: 9/10

Type: Fiction

Comments:
Very good book (it's Oscar Wilde for pete's sake!). Without giving too much of it away, the main character, Dorian Gray, is physically beautiful and rather vain. A portrait is painted for him, in which it reflects his ugly soul, while his body stays pure. I'll stop there, else give the whole book away.

The whole book is fairly exciting, fast-paced (especially the last few chapters – great climax), and the ending is entirely unpredictable, despite the foreshadowing given in the preface and throughout the story. I have very few nitpickings with the book, other than the description of the "yellow book" being insufficient for the important role it plays in destroying Dorian (I still have no clue what the book was about), and some overly lengthy descriptions given in one chapter regarding his obsession with petty objects. Otherwise, beautifully crafted book, easy to understand (aside from the yellow book), and it won't put you to sleep. Highly recommended. 👍

 

[Chris Hendriks]

Last Book Read
The Final Procedure

Author
Stan Pottinger

Type
Fiction

Comments
This is a fast-paced book about a 75-year old former nazi named "Adalwolf", who was once an assistant to the evil nazi, Doctor Mengele, who performed unamaginable experiments on captured Jews during WW2.Adalwolf is developing a deadly virus that will affect certain cells in the human body, only found in Jews.Melissa Gale, a lawyer and investigator refered to as a "Nazi Hunter" has been searching for Adalwolf for 5 years.When they finally meet, Melissa discovers Adalwolf needs her unborn child in order to complete his FSV-Final Solution Virus.A game of cat-and-mouse ensues, and melissa must stop Adalwolf before he unleashes hes deadly virus upon the world.

 

[Sage]

Is it fiction-fiction or historical fiction?

 

[Chris Hendriks]

its in between.It has some parts that reference back to the war, but not enough to classify it as a historical fiction.It takes place in modern days.

 

[Sage]

I'll be reading Huckleberry Finn and The Universe in a Nutshell when in Thailand, so hopefully I'll get reviews of those two in. I'll also be reading XML for the World Wide Web, but I don't think anybody here gives a hoot.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Last book read: Guadalcanal Remembered
Author: Herbet C. Merrillat

Acquired from: Local Military Bookshop
Edition/Type: softcover, 1983 reprinting
Rating: 7.2/10

Type: Non-Fiction

Comment: This book is the recollection of the American occupation and defence of the Pacific island of Guadalcanal beginning in 1942. The author was the official Army historian/ public relations officers stationed on the island from the first troop landing. His records and diary entries form the basis for his story.

Being the historian on the island at the time of the landings, it is natural that he was privy to all the behind the scene goings on on the island. Obviously not many people where in a position to be apart of what he was and this is a pro and a con. He gives us a peak of many behind the scenes conflicts and blunders made between the Marines, the Navy and the Army big nobs. This is an added facet to the books story but it can be a bit of a slog through the beginning of the book, whilst he is building up all the big players.

Once past that the book is quite an easy read, much of it set out in a "diary entry" fashion. He gives a fair amount of background detail into each battle, having the opportunity to get the nitty gritty from each outfit as they returned from battle. As the story moves forward, a vivid picture is painted of life on the island - from aerial bombardments to torrential rains to the numerous naval clashes that lead to the narrow gap between Guadalcanal and Tuilagi Island being aptly and sadly named Ironbottom Sound.

It is a great read from the perspective of the unique position the author had on the island. The writing style is easy to read and dotted with humour, making this a highly informative and addictive read.

 

[cpl_richie]

I've been reading quite a bit since University holidays started in mid November, I remembered this thread and thought I'd pass on my opinions on some the books I've read in the past few months.

Book The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author Douglas Adams

Rating 9/10

Comment
I must start by warning you that this is the first volume of four books that comprise this story by Adams, reading this book alone won't give you much of a compete story. The story centres around a group of travellers journeying through space, namely Arthur Dent who is one of only two survivors after the Earth is destroyed to make way for an intergalactic by-pass (after all you'll got the build by-passes!) This is the beginning of a very humourous, very interesting adventure.

To be honest this is one the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It has an unique Sci-fi story line, interesting characters and is filled with a very dry humour.

If there is one failing it is that the narrative can sometimes get a little confused. Adams often adds in a huge amount of detail about the strangest things and it can be difficult to work out if he is still talking about the main story or discussing the finer details of Vogon poetry.



I'm now halfway through the second book in this series - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, will review that when I'm done. Also I have about another 4 books to discuss, which I will get around to over the next few days.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Heh, good memories with that book. I cant remember much of the last few in the "trilogy", but they were still good reads at the time. :slartibardfast:

Damn, nearly finished trudging through my book, and should have it up in the next day or two.

 

[emad]

I absolutely loved the Trilogy of Five maan. It's easily my favourite series of books ever. Not even Frank Herbert's Dune series comes close. Just so you know, HG2G is getting a movie this summer. It should be at least fairly good since Adams spent several years working with the director of it... but then again, it's being made by Disney so who knows.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Last book read: Here is your war
Author: Ernie Pyle

Acquired from: Online bookseller
Edition/Type: Hardcover with DJ, First ed. 1943
Rating: 7.7/10

Type: Non-Fiction

Comment: I was quite chuffed when i got this book, being a 60 year old first ed in good nick, but I was largely disappointed with the story. Until I reached about half way.

It is a strange book in that it is written in such a disarming manner that ones immediate reaction is to read it just for the sake of finishing it. But if one takes the writing style and really appreciates it for what it is, the experience is that much better.

This book is the experience of Ernie Pyle in Northern Africa during WWII. He was one of America's foremost correspondents and tagged along with various army and airforce divisions during the American's campaign in Africa. He writes in an easy, rainy-afternoon style that in a way doesnt really do justice to what he experienced or witnessed. The purpose of the book was really to let the public in on what it was like on the ground; what the soldiers were going through.

Correspondents were exposed to as much danger as the soldiers they were tagging along with; the difference being that the correspondant was armed with nothing more then a a shovel (for digging slit trenches in case of dive-bombings) and their notepads and typewriters. Having carte blance was a great source of enjoyment for Pyle as he got to know virtually every division there was. This was due to the fact that the initial force in North Africa was quite small and everyone knew everyone. He laments near the end of the book how times change over the course of battle - new faces appear, old ones disappear. "One shuold never get attached to a Division", he says, "the Division will exist forever, but the people you got attached to in it dont".

Examples of the danger faced by Pyle include driving his jeep through the center of a tank battle, being shelled by German artillery whilst travelling with allied soldiers, being dive-bombed whilst travelling in convoy and shadowing troops as they battled for various Tunisian towns. As with most war-time authors, he noted how soldiers of all disciplines became cavalier in their attitude to the kill or be killed environment, and how the intensity of battle makes a man immune to mutilated and dead corpses.

I suppose what makes the book ultimately remarkable is that he avoids papering over the ugly side of war, despite having written it all at the coalface in 1943. His use of humour is infrequent but effective. Overall, a good insight to a frontline not widely covered by others.

 

[Blackbird.]

Last book read was The Contender.

I'd give it a 9.0/10 because one night I got caught up in the book and read over 120 pages and 11 chapters.

 

[Mike Rotch]

If reviews are going to be posted, please post more then just the name of the book 👍

What it is about and why you liked/disliked it would be most appreciated.

 

[Blackbird.]

Sorry I was rushed at the time.

The Contender is about a teenager growing up in the projects and "friends" that are almost always up to no good. He accidentally slips some information about a store he works at and those friends and his best friend, James, goes along with them while Alfred, the main character, stays worrying what will happen. James gets caught going to jail and in his guilt he goes to a gym. He then meets Mr. Donatelli, the coach there. He works, waking up at 5:30 every morning running in the park and getting in shape in the gym. This book is about a african-american teenager wanting to become someone and becomes a contender.

Mike, you should try it. Try to get away from the war books you read.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Mike, you should try it. Try to get away from the war books you read.

Fiction is so passe

I have two books that are "non-war" in the bought pile - one one genetics and one on personal finance

 

[Taowulf]

Mike, have you read "Delivered from Evil" by Robert Leckie? He also wrote his story of being a Marine in the South Pacific, "Helmet for My Pillow".

I still need to finish his book on the American Revolution, "George Washington's War"

 

[Chris Hendriks]

I just finished reading Monster by Walter Dean Myers. It is a book about a 16-year old black kid who is charged with felony murder(which is punishable by the death penalty) but claims he is innocent. The story is told as a script that the boy wrote as he went through the experience. It introduces the characters well, and has a good overall story. He is accused of being the lookout for a robbery in which a store owner was killed with his own gun. The witnesses called describe him as an honest, hard-working, imaginative kid, but it doesnt look like that is going to help. This book is not a true story, but it is based on 600 pages of imterviews he conducted with prisoners while he was attempting to go to college.My only problem with this book is that is is a bit short, as it is for young readers, but it looks longer because some pages only have small noted from the accused's notebook. I give this book an 8/10

I am currently half through John Grisham's The King Of Torts, which i started yesterday and should be done with soon.Look out for a full review(not half-assed like this one) whenever i get time.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Mike, have you read "Delivered from Evil" by Robert Leckie? He also wrote his story of being a Marine in the South Pacific, "Helmet for My Pillow".

Not yet, but I have got "A rumor of War" about Vietnam.. *makes a note*



Last book read: Siegfried Sassoon's Long Journey
Author: Siegfried Sassoon

Acquired from: Amazon
Edition/Type: Hardcover with DJ, First ed. 19xx (?)
Rating: 8.2/10

Type: Non-Fiction

Comment: Siegried Sassoon's Long Journey is an abridged version of three autobiographies written by Sassoon before, during and after WWI. Although based on his experiences, he attaches fictional names to all the players in his recollection - including himself, re-naming himself George Sherston.

Sassoon himself is regarded as one of the greatest of all poets to emerge from WWI. Along with Wilfred Owen and Robert Graves, he humanized the suffering of the soldier and the foolishness of the people in charge.

Anyway, back to the book. Being an abridged version of three books it always runs the risk of lacking a good flow to the story. It begins by introducing us to a young Sassoon, newly out of university and who's biggest concern is cricket and the next fox-hunt and whether he should venture out to London to buy a new hunting outfit or not. The war is not a concern of his. Then slowly, friends begin enlisting in the British Army and he develops an sense of "Well the chaps are doing it, so I guess I better too." And so he enlists, and is shipped off to France, where his outlook is butchered forever.

The senselessness of the slaying and barbarism numbs him to his idyllic former life. He develops a resentment to all the civilians back home who have no understanding of life in the trenches and who find satisfaction in beating the drum of patriotism and martyred glory.

His change in mood leads him to carry out voluntary and virtual suicidal missions in an effort to escape the misery of his situation. As a result he is sent to a medical facility and diagnosed with "trench fever". On his leave he develops his first pangs of guilt - guilt at being laid up whilst his friends and comrades sacrifice themselves on the Front. He returns to France shortly afterwards to make amends, and ends fuels his detachment from humanity and anger at the savagery further. He is hospitalised after being shot by a sniper and it is during this period that he breaks his shakles of silence and actively indulges in military defiance by publishing his desire to cease fighting in a senseless war. The Army, believing that anyone who would perpertrate such an act must indeed be medically unwell, dispatch him to yet another medical facility. Here, the guilt at haven "taken the easy way out" comes back to haunt him. He concludes "the only way to escape the War is to be in the War", and asks to be sent to the Front yet again. Unhappily for him he is sent to the Middle-East where the fighting is less fierce. Eventually though, he finds himself back in France, ironically back at the same line where he was sniped, except 4 miles further back (despite months of fighting in the interim!).

Here he finds some solace in his Commander, an avid literature fan, and the two find comfort in each others civility. Again though, his manner in which to escape the torture of sitting around waiting for the inevitable crump of shells to end his existance leads him to unnecessary missions of considerable danger. Returning from one such adventure, he is shot in the head by one of his own soldiers - haven mistaken him for the enemy. The wound is not serious, but enough to permanently remove him from the theater of war for peace is achieved before his recovery is completed.

As said before, the book suffers from a lack of fluidity in story, but this pales in comparison to the rich and textured writing style of Sassoon. He writes in such an immaculate fashion that the words and sentences he uses make up for any failure on a part of the editor melding the 3 books into one. His few sentences on what war is and how it reduces man is worth the price of admission alone.

Through this book his poetry takes on a new meaning - one can now see the ironic and satirical tone more clearly in his work. It makes a great companion to All Quiet on the Western Front and widens ones perspective on the effects of all wars on mens minds.

 

[G.T]

I've read a few books but this is by far the best book I've ever read. Highly recommended.

Last book read: His Dark Materials Trilogy
Author: Phillip Pullman

Acquired from: Amazon
Edition/Type: Hardcover *note this is a trilogy in one book*
Rating: 10/10

Type: Fiction

*Comment may contain spoilers*

Comment: I heard that this book was written for older children but the book is definetly for an adult. The storyline can get quite complex and is scientificly based, but not too complexed so you get baffled.

The first part trilogy starts off in Oxford, based in a world that isn't as developed as ours, but is more developed in areas. Everyone has a daemon, which is a part of themselves which takes form of an animal. It shares your feelings and follows you around where ever you go. For children, the daemons change form to whatever your feeling. For example if your angry, your daemon might change into an agressive aninimal like a lion. For adults though, they stay in a fixed form, depending on your personality. If you're a servant, you're more than likley to have a dog as a daemon.

The main character of the book is called Lyra, a twelve-year-old girl who lives in a college called Jordan, in Oxford. She's lived there all her life and has never properly seen the outside world. But suddenly in a few days, all that changes; she is changed for the rest of her life. She has allies and enemys and sometimes get's into positions which seems it's impossible to get out of. She is mainly saved by a compass she has with her at all times, but you'll have to read the story to find out more about it, I'll let too much away.

The second book, the story changes a little. A new main character is introduced called Will, who lives in our Oxford. His is a twelve-year-old who looks after his Mum, rather than her looking after him. This is because his Mum has emotional moments, and can't look after herself. Because of that, Will has no friends but all that changes in a matter of seconds. His life is changed forever.

Lyra and Will meet each other later in the book under unusual coincedinces. Will, with Lyra's help gets possesion of a knife called "The Subtle Knife". This knife has two edges, one which can cut into anything and the other can cut into new worlds. They find that they have to save the worlds together. But they find that they being together, has put themselves into more danger. They have to make choices, if they choose the wrong one, the worlds will fail.

The third book you get to know more about a substance called Dust. A scientist from our world goes into another world and learns about living beings unlike us, but are similair in ways. Will and Lyra find themselves tied up in a war between two powerful factions, which will decide the fate of the world. I can't tell you too much. I must admit at the end of the book, there's a bit that is quite upsetting. This is the first book that has ever uspet me.

I must let you know, most of the scientific facts in the book are true, so I was learning and enjoying at the same time. I'm currently reading a book at the monent which explains everything in the book, which I will write a review on soon.

 

[RedWolfRacer]

Last Book Read: Black Hawk Down
Author: Mark Bowden

Acquired: Local thrift store (along with a Tom Clancy book or other)
Genre: Military History (independent, unofficial, unauthorized, etc)

First off, I'd like everyone to know that the person who wrote had ZERO previous experience in or with the military. That said....

"Black Hawk Down" was an excellent book in nearly every respect. It doesn't take too long getting to the action, yet it isn't mindless getting there, either. Everything that happened that day in Mogadishu is in this book. Everything is explained and accurate to the letter as to what happened. Mark Bowden went so far as to obtain the video feeds from the observation helicopters and audio feeds from the ground forces to make sure everything was accurate. He also went to Mogadishu to see the place where it all happened, AND he interviewed some locals who had been there when it had happened.

Okay, for those who have seen the movie (I actually have not, omfg), the movie only deals with one of the four teams that was there, not counting the Delta Force and SEALs that were there. Since I have not seen the movie, I can't say much else. If you have seen the movie, I recommend forgetting everything about the movie because it was one hell of an experience reading this book.

The author doesn't trudge this book with political propoganda either. It could easily be argued that what happened that day is worse than what is happening in Iraq now. It could be argued that the National Security Advisor then was incompetent in that former President Clinton had no idea that they were planning an attack that day and that it was succesful, though at a high cost, until the next day and THAT was because CNN was replaying video of US soldiers being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu.

On that note, the author makes an important note that the mission was indeed succesful despite the cost. The battle there was only part of a bigger picture, and the soldiers were irate that they could not finish the job, even after they saw their friends since training dead, battered, or captured.

My one complaint is the way the author does sort of "flashbacks" from time to time to explain the back-story of many of the characters. Often when the action returns to the present, it's abrupt and you get a bit confused as to where you were in the action before the flashback. Being a military "brat" (yeah, right), I know many of the acronyms involved, though some are dated now. For most of you, you'll have to flip back a few pages to remember sometimes, and there is no acronym index or conpendium anywhere which would have been nice. There is a HUGE bibliograpy of sorts in the back that explains each page and how he got the information for each. I can't imagine how he managed to organize it, though. Props for doing so. 👍

The afterword and epilogue just seal an otherwise sobering yet beautiful account of the events of October 3, 1993. When you finish the story, you'll want to sit down and think a bit and you'll likely forget about the epilogue and afterword. Read them when you can. They are almost as essential as the rest of the story. You won't regret it.

Read this book. You will reflect on many things afterwards and it may, in fact, just change your life or at least how you look at some things. This book is, in a word, impactful.

Rating: 9.2/10
Hopefully, future versions will fix what few faults that make this book less than 9.8, what I'd give it if it had all the conpendiums it needed. Those other 0.2 points are there because it wouldn't exactly reach out to foreign readers as personally as it does to US readers, but it is still extremely impactful.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Nice, thorough review 👍

 

[RedWolfRacer]

Nice, thorough review 👍

Thank you.

I forgot to mention that I, myself, am writing a novel. My style is such that I write it on paper first, then type it out so not much of it is readily presentable. However, the first 7 chapters are available for those curious. It's a sci-fi story but it's hard to tell that; at a glance it appears to only be a fantasy story. It is currently unedited so some parts are grammatically rough and could use rewording and some plot holes are there (I know, for shame). But it's only the first 7 chapters of, so far, fifty or so.

My DA page with links to all of my work including the first 7 parts of my story. I don't know the URL for the story off the top of my head, but if you go there and click on my gallery, it is available. I will forewarn you further: it does get violent and language can be coarse in parts. I don't remember if any of that is in the first 7 parts, but just in case.

 

[G.T]

Was my review alright, even though most books in this thread are war books.

 

[RedWolfRacer]

Was my review alright, even though most books in this thread are war books.

The type of book doesn't matter. But you should refrain from putting too much plot in there and put more of what you actually thought of the book in your reviews. That said not bad.

I'd post my review of the "Wheel of Time" series. But the books are freaking long! I'm on book 6 and it's been a few years since I read the first one. Each of them is approximately 900 pages long. My quick review of the series is as follows:

The story, overall, is great. The first 3 books will have you hooked, though at points you won't care much for some characters. The 4th book isn't bad, but it seems like it's just a repeat of the format of the first three books and the 5th...well, I didn't quite finish it. I went to the 6th book, found out that I missed some vital information and re-read the 5th book. The ending is always a bombshell of an ordeal, making it hard to skip through the occasional drudgery of the other 500 pages in the middle. Despite that, the books are complex and often exciting in scope. It's just sometimes there's too much detail about some seemingly pointless character or side-plot. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be pointless in the end. *shrugs*

 

[G.T]

The type of book doesn't matter. But you should refrain from putting too much plot in there and put more of what you actually thought of the book in your reviews. That said not bad.

I'll keep that in mind for the future.

Thanks.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Was my review alright, even though most books in this thread are war books.

Yea, it was great. It can be any book you have read (excl textboks and comics ), it doesnt have to be a war book .

It would be cool if you could perhaps set out your review as I did mine. It just makes it easier to follow in terms of rating, author, comment. All you need to do is quote an existing post with the format and insert you info where appropriate.

Writing your own book is pretty damn impressive Red. I'll bare that linky in mind when i can spare so time.