Book suggestions

I haven't but I've just found a pdf so I might put off Vietnam. It's a big bugger isn't it?
Yeah it's an undertaking. If you want a book on the peloponnesian war but don't fancy slogging through thucydides, the peloponnesian war by Donald kagan is one of my favourite history books and is a fairly easy read.
 
I've read herodotus' histories and got Vietnam to read, but the size is putting me off. Have you read thucydides?

I haven't but I've just found a pdf so I might put off Vietnam. It's a big bugger isn't it?

Since you two are interested, do you know the Landmark editions of these books (Landmark Herodotus, Landmark Thucydides)? I've got the Landmark Herodotus, but not yet bought the Landmark Thucydides. They're great, because they give all the modern equivalents for the cities and regions mentioned by the two. That's particularly important where Herodotus is concerned, where you often don't have the faintest idea where you are. They also have maps. They're also, incidentally, very pretty hardbacks, but not cheap, of course.

Must get round to reading a good history of the Vietnamese wars, including the French aspect of it, in the 50s. Do you know a book called A Bright Shining Lie, by Neil Sheehan? It made a big splash when it came out. But Max Hastings is a good historian. Must give that a go.
 
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Recently read "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen - really enjoyed it. It's all about relationships and how to be a grown-up. And cerulean warblers. Very well written - it's a long book, but an easy read.
 
This was one of my daughters strong recommendations but when I got the premise of the story , I was dubious to say the least .
On your say so , I shall give it a go .

Well, books are a very personal thing, so it may not be your cup of tea. But don't let anyone tell you that it's fantasy literature. Bulgakov used a preposterous conceit, on the face of it, to say a lot of things about the Russia and Moscow of his day that he couldn't otherwise have said. He'd have ended up in the Gulag, sharpish.
 
Since you two are interested, do you know the Landmark editions of these books (Landmark Herodotus, Landmark Thucydides)? I've got the Landmark Herodotus, but not yet bought the Landmark Thucydides. They're great, because they give all the modern equivalents for the cities and regions mentioned by the two. That's particularly important where Herodotus is concerned, where you often don't have the faintest idea where you are. They also have maps. They're also, incidentally, very pretty hardbacks, but not cheap, of course.

Must get round to reading a good history of the Vietnamese wars, including the French aspect of it, in the 50s. Do you know a book called A Bright Shining Lie, by Neil Sheehan? It made a big splash when it came out. But Max Hastings is a good historian. Must give that a go.
I hadn't heard of landmark books, but I like the sound of it. I might try the Xenophon's Helenika one. Not heard of your Vietnam suggestion either I'll have a look.
 
Just finished the Book of Dust (first one)

mess published after the Dark Materials series but takes place in a time before the first one

very nostalgic, hadn’t read Dark Materials for years so re read them first, good read
 
I put my recommendation in the Bluemoon forum by mistake a couple of days ago.

It's All About Treo is the story of a Army dog handler, Dave Heyhoe (a City fan) and his dog Treo who is a explosives search dog. The story is about their time together in Afghanistan. It's sometimes very frightening and sometimes extremely funny.

Heroes the pair of them and many soldiers stayed alive because of their work

Good recommendation. Gonna give it a bash.

I most read fantasy fiction stuff. My number one recommendation, if your into that sort of stuff, is the Troy series by David Gemmell.
 
Anyone undecided about Vietnam,I can fully recommend it by Max Hastings,plenty of personal stories,well researched and written.
 

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