I'm currently reading the fifth book of the Hangman's Daughter series. Pretty good series, kind of historical fiction about an executioner that solves mysteries. Lots of little tidbits of history from the 1600s.
The movie is the same way.Finished "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" a couple days ago. Very interesting history, but IMHO poorly written. Too dry, just a list of occurrences and facts, no "juice" to hold your interest. But if you use your imagination to fill in the dry spells, it is fascinating.
Just finished The Black Count. Agree, very interesting. Reiss is an excellent history authorRecently read "The Black Count" by Tom Reiss - historical (Napoleonic times) account of a guy who was born to a white aristocrat and black slave in Haiti, and became one of France's top generals (and father to Alexander Dumas who wrote The Count of Monte Cristo). Was pretty interesting.
Just finished "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman - interesting fiction/fantasy about ancient gods (Odin, Anansi, Horus, etc) running around as humans in modern America.
Currently reading "The Orientalist," also by Reiss. Another true account, this time of a Jew from Azerbaijan during WWI and the Bolshevik revolution who ended up all over the place and constantly reinvented himself as needed to survive. So far, so good.
I finished one a couple of weeks ago Ship of Ghosts about the USS Houston. Pretty good read about a forgotten WWII story, ties into the building the Burma railway. Like a true story (American Version) of the building of the bridge over the KwaiFinished another WWII book, on Monty Patton and Rommel. Didn't learn much.
What's good re: Pacific theatre?I finished one a couple of weeks ago Ship of Ghosts about the USS Houston. Pretty good read about a forgotten WWII story, ties into the building the Burma railway. Like a true story (American Version) of the building of the bridge over the Kwai
Basically the USS Houston was known as FDR favorite ship as he would often take trips on the ship and he befriended many of the crew. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack the Houston was the flag ship of the Asiatic Fleet paroling between Philippines and Australia. Along with the attack, the Japanese had a plan to sweep through the South Pacific. An allied fleet of US, British and Dutch ships were tasked with confronting this threat. In the battle of Sunda Strait, they stumbled upon the Japanese fleet in the middle of the night in which the Houston was sunk in the fighting. The book goes on to follow the survivors many were in the death marches and in the prison work camps which attempted to build the Burma Railway for the Japanese.What's good re: Pacific theatre?
Nothing happens apparently. The people ignore it and go on living best they can."what happens when the government breaks its own laws"