Book

Missive #307 Published 9 July 2024

The final Last Kingdom book was published in 2020, but for the author the story felt unfinished: there were some Uhtred tales he still wanted to tell, and over the course of writing the books he’d become fascinated by some elements of the Anglo-Saxon world that it wasn’t possible to fully explore in the novels.

When he met renowned chef Suzanne Pollak, the idea for Uhtred’s Feast was born. And here Bernard Cornwell tells those additional Uhtred stories, showing us the man behind the shield – as a young boy, as Alfred’s advisor, and as prince – while Suzanne brings his world to life through beautifully crafted recipes which open a door into the Anglo-Saxon home.

Missive #306 Published 8 July 2024

Alternate Generals (1998) is a collection of short alternate history stories, edited by Harry Turtledove, Roland J. Green and Martin H. Greenberg. It includes Turtledove's own short story, The Phantom Tolbukhin.

Many of the stories deal with key battles of various ancient and modern wars going differently than in OTL [original timeline] because a general took a different decision, or because a different person was in the specific position. In several of the stories, various generals (and admirals) are depicted as fighting on the opposite side to that on which they fought in OTL, or in a context completely different to that in OTL. A common theme in the stories of different writers is of generals trusting their instinct, taking risky initiatives to the displeasure of their superiors - and achieving major victories.

Another theme common to several stories is of generals turned statesmen reviewing their respective lives at an old age and (in some stories) being given a chance to go back and correct mistakes.

Missive #303 Published 3 July 2024

As the promo says this book is a good reference. It also gave the author a stump where he could criticize the 'West'. I have the feeling that he believed in the communist ideology and has found a home in China.

Missive #300 Published 25 June 2024

I don't want to write this because I'm a fan of McCarthy's work, and Suttree is technically a good book. The prose is superb, the characters are complex, and the situations that arise are often creative and interesting. So whats the issue? The issue is that the books has basically no plot and Suttree is an utterly unlikable protagonist. The book is literally watching a person waste away their life doing nothing for 500 or so pages.

Suttree spends most of the novel getting drunk, and whining about how awful his life is while being totally aware that it's his choice. He is deliberately making his life terrible and then bemoans his situation. Self loathing at its finest.

The one shining light in the novel is his friend Harrogate's numerous misadventures. These are some great distractions that populate an otherwise bleak portrait. In the end, Harrogate's character never realizes his full potential. Like the rest of the novel, he too just becomes another piece of Suttree's miserable existence. — Customer Reveiew @ goodreads.com

Missive #297 Published 18 June 2024

“Fraser’s rousing historical novel tracks the rise and fall of the real-life boxer Tom Molineaux, a Virginia slave who fought his way to freedom and then to celebrity in England in the early 1800s.”–New York Times Book Review Bringing historical fact spiritedly to life, Fraser tells the rollicking tale of how “the Black Ajax” became as famous a figure in England as Napoleon — and just as much a threat to its establishment — before he passed into boxing legend and created a precedent for modern black prizefighters. — Book promo @ Da Capo Press

Missive #295 Published 15 June 2024

This may have been promoted as the final installment to the Saxon Tales but there was another book published. I'll get around to reading it soon but it is promoted as "completes his epic Last Kingdom series with this companion book featuring three exclusive short stories and sixty recipes that bring Uhtred’s world to life as never before."

Missive #293 Published 11 June 2024

I think this is the last of Twain's travel books. I have enjoyed them all but this one did not have as much of his celebrated humor in it as the book promo claims. Over the years I have read Twain's fiction and did not particularly care for it but he has a lot of other nonfiction that I do plan on reading.

Missive #291 Published 8 June 2024

The Swords of the Horseclans is the second novel in the Horseclans Series by Robert Adams, published in 1975. The book is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows the story of a group of survivors who form a clan and use swords to defend themselves against other groups. The novel is part of the series, which explores themes of survival, community, and the struggle for power in a harsh new world.

Missive #289 Published 4 June 2024

This book concludes the Canaan Crime trilogy. Usually it doesn't make much difference in what order you read a trilogy but in this case this third book is a sequel and the two prior books are best read first. A good mystery, as were the prior two. The author has some stand alone books that I have now added to my To Read List.