What are you currently reading ?

[fsn]

Just returned from a tour of Sicily led by Harry Sidebottom, Oxford don and historical novelist. So I am just starting his latest 'Ballista" novel - Falling Sky.

Harry Sidebottom of "Warrior of Rome" fame?

My dad just sent me a 1954 first edition of Rosemary Sutcliffe's'Eagle of The Ninth'!

Spoiler: he finds it!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Spoiler: he finds it!

I have read it before! 

[kipt]

Finished the Osprey booklet "American Civil war Marines 1861 - 65" by Ron Field, illustrated by Richard Hook.

Typical Osprey with good photographs and illustrations and a very adequate narrative.  In my Henry House Hill battle report that I posted 3/14, I have the Union marine battalion that fought there.  They did a good job.  I used the illustration in the booklet for my painting guide.

[mollinary]

Harry Sidebottom of "Warrior of Rome" fame?

The very same! This is latest in the Warrior of Rome series.

[cameronian]

The Austrian Mind: An Intellectual and Social History, 1848-1938, WS Johnston

[kustenjaeger]

Finished Burma '44 by James Holland. Moving onto his book about Sicily.

Edward

[kipt]

Finished "D-Day In The Pacific: The Battle Of Saipan" by Harold J. Goldberg.

The assault happened on 15 June 1944, 9 days after D-day in Europe.  It involved 2 Marine Divisions, the 2nd and 4th, and one army, the 27th.  Commanding the ground forces was Holland M. Smith, also know as Howlin" Mad, and the US Army commander was Ralph Smith.  Howlin' Mad did not like the army, thought that the soldiers and their commanders were not aggressive enough, and ultimately relieved General R. Smith.  This of course caused disruptions and bad blood all the way to Washington.  Marine tactics were aggressive, straight up into the face of the enemy, while the army wanted to blast the enemy and maneuver.  Both sides had a point.  after a couple of weeks fighting each of the 3 divisions had over 4000 casualties.

The intelligence greatly underestimated the size of the Japanese force on the island, which was over 30,000 troops.  Saipan was supposed to be taken in 3 days, but because of the rough terrain and the numbers of Japanese, it was declared taken on July 9, though there were still Japanese in the hills and caves.

Because this island was part of the internal defensive position of the Japanese, it resulted in the Japanese navy trying to intervene.  This was called the first battle of the Philippine Sea, and also the great Marianas Turkey Shoot.  Between the surface fleet, submarines and aviation, the US isolated the Japanese garrison from aid and reinforcements.

Good operational discussion as well as from the individual marines and soldiers on the ground.  The book was published in 2007, so there were still some living participants that the author could interview.

[Ithoriel]

Recently finished "The shepherd protects their flock: Looking at warfare from the Neolithic to Sumerians" (Kindle Edition) by Chris Flaherty.

An in depth study of the subject but one which presents various points as fact despite there being debate about them. Not something I'd recommend for casual readers but if you have a significant interest in the beginnings of warfare in the Middle East it is certainly worth a read but I'd suggest it should not be the only book on the subject you read.

I've moved on to "Ancient Egyptian Warfare: Tactics, Weaponry and Ideology of the Pharaohs" by Ian Shaw (Casemate Short History - Kindle Edition). Only a short way in to the book but it is fascinating, so far. Another tome that is probably not for the casual reader.

[Steve J]

Japanese Tanks 1939-45 by S Zaloga. Another good Osprey book from Zaloga that has given me a good overview of how the tanks were used during the War, mainly pretty badly to be honest, aside from their technically obselete almost from the off.

[kipt]

Finished "The Shooters" by WEB Griffin.  Book 4 of the Presidential Agent series.  In this book our heroes are trying to get back a captures DEA agent in South America.

Quick read and fun.

[flamingpig0]

The Austrian Mind: An Intellectual and Social History, 1848-1938, WS Johnston

I misread that as The Australian Mind: An Intellectual and Social History, 1848-1938, WS Johnston

[paulr]

I misread that as The Australian Mind: An Intellectual and Social History, 1848-1938, WS Johnston

Australian and Intellectual in the same sentence  

[kipt]

And another WEB Griffin book, "Black Ops" where the characters are involved in attempted assassinations by most probably Putin and his SVB  Flights between South America, North America and Europe.

I am galloping through these at the rate of 1 a day.  Obviously a quick read that keeps my interest.

[kipt]

A book a day; "The Outlaws" by WEB Griffin,book 6 of the Presidential Agent series.  The President has disbanded the special group but they decide to keep going.  In the last book a bio lab in Africa was found by Castillo (not LTC Retired) and bombed by the US.  However not all the chemicals ('an abomination under God") were taken out and two barrels show up in the US.  The Russians want a trade. (spoiler, they don't get it).

[fsn]

Blimey! You're ripping through those!