The Civil War Comes Alive

The book is called the Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, and it was good! You wouldn't know that the battle took place in the 1800's, or that this book was written 20+ years ago. It's all so fresh as you read it, as if you are right there with the generals, observing as one of their aides, or even as Fremantle, the British observer on the Confederate side. Would I recommend it? Definitely. Would I lend you my copy, of course. If you have ever studied military strategy, if you've ever loved tales of war, if you have ever read a book about the south, or even the north. Really, there is no reason not to read this book. If you're a bit squeamish you might skip over a couple of gory parts but otherwise you'd really like it.

It isn't written in high English, it's just your everyday language, so the book comes off the page very easily. It's as if the writer wanted you to read this book. Not respect it, but actually read it. This is a rare thing in the new "literature" of today, or at least that's what I've found. It's about Gettysburg but it could be about any battle on any field involving any one of my close personal friends. Read it. That's the summation of this post.

Hrry Pttr Rtrns

Harry Potter has returned for another sequel to the series, of course I read it. And I loved every minute of it. Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for a book like this? Since the chamber of secrets, that's a long time!

Such a dark book has not been written by JKR before but she does know how to do it, that much is clear. I am even more eager now for the next (and last) in the series, but I wonder if she can even fit it all into the seventh book. Maybe it will be a septology in eight parts? Anyway, I loved it and I recommend it to everyone, young and old alike.

People who haven't yet read the series would ask themselves: Why not? There is no answer I can think of that would persuade me to agree with you so I suggest you go straight out to buy it or borrow it. When you have done that and have finished the fourth book, then you may speak to me. Until then, adieu!

So Many Books Out There

Starting with the most recent:

Shadow of the Hegemon - Orson Scott Card
Awesome book, very good action, just a really good follow up to the ender's game saga. I am already starting on the next one in that line of the series because it was just a good read. Note, there is nothing remotely literary about this pick. It's not fluff but it's not a prize winner either. You will enjoy it if you liked Ender's Game, no question.

Cannery Row - John Steinbeck
Ad astra alia porci. Look it up, it was Steinbeck's motto, written at the bottom of all his correspondence. A great book, but I love the man, he's a genius with the common man. He is the one American writer I would like to emulate the most. This story does not disappoint, a human setting, not written with any sort of condescension, involving humans with very real problems. Well meaning events go awry more often than they go well. Just like my life, and interspersed in all that is a sprinkling of genius in the most unlikely places. Loved it. Anyone who wants to borrow my copy will be welcomed and encouraged.

Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
I read the whole thing, all 7 books. The best by far was the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but many of the others were very good. It took me no time at all to finish this series off. All the books are short enough to read in one sitting (I polished off three in a day once) and well worth the effort. The hero story doesn't really change as my literary-ical friend likes to point out, but it does take on new twists whenever possible. I will be keeping my copies for use by my children, but in the mean-time (while I'm looking for a wife) they are part of the borrowing library.

There are others, I will post them later. Time to get back to work now (how pedantic of me).