Missive #377 Published 31 October 2024
After twelve gloriously scandalous Flashman novels, the incomparable George MacDonald Fraser gives us a totally hilarious tale of derring-do from a different era.
This is an entertaining book but not 'totally hilarious' as touted by the book promo. I liked the Flashman humor better.
Missive #376 Published 29 October 2024
I didn't like this book very much. It is autobiographical but only up to just before the Civil War in Spain and WWII. He made a passing reference to his friendship dissolution with Hemingway but did not indicate that it was due to a dispute over the Civil War. The Best Times were the years when he was a Socialist and his books were held in high esteem. After leaving Spain he moved to the right and his writing was no longer looked upon favorably by his old friends or by publishers. This was the last book published before his death four years later; perhaps he planned on a second memoir book that covered the rest of his life?
Missive #374 Published 26 October 2024
Adams has a tendency to name-drop constantly without fully fleshing everything out to the reader. As such, while reading this, it got to a point where I simply couldn't keep track of all the characters and locations (many of which are just mentioned without being further explained or explored anyway)…An enjoyable instalment, but just consistently "pretty good" without reaching the heights of the first two.
Missive #372 Published 24 October 2024
The first third of the book is an essay with the same title as the book Adonis and Alphabet which was rather difficult reading for me. The rest of the book was an essay with the title of Ozymandias which was an easier read and I was able to understand more of what he wrote. Both of the essays were better than his later nonfiction where he tries to incorporate his philosophy into a novel.
Missive #371 Published 22 October 2024
Stories and essays about the future of war and conflict discuss tank warfare, alternative future histories, weapon systems, and the Soviet Union. This is the seventh book in the series.
Missive #370 Published 21 October 2024
A new collection of alternate history stories speculates about how world history would have been changed if the great battles, from the battle for the Philippines during World War II to Joan of Arc's campaign to free France, had been fought under different circumstances. This was the last book in the Alternate Generals Series. Not as good as the first two books but still interesting.
Missive #368 Published 19 October 2024
There is not much new in this book if you have read his previous books or his blog. What he has done is provide evidence from the Ukraine and Israel/Gaza Wars to support what he said over the past 10 years or more. If you don't read the entire book do read the Conclusion Chapter — it is good!
Missive #366 Published 16 October 2024
The first books that I read by McCarty were his Border Trilogy which I liked. I then read some of his earlier work and did not like them very much. This book is as good, maybe better, than the Trilogy. Highly recommended.
Missive #365 Published 14 October 2024
A good read but not at the same level as her father. The language used in the book is very British English and laced with British legal terms; this could be a put off. I'll continue to read the series and see how she matures.
Missive #362 Published 8 October 2024
This is the first book in Cromwell's most popular series and his longest one. I'm going to be reading a lot of of Sharpe books in the months to come. It is typical Cornwell historical fiction which is always very good.<.p>