discussion Books do you read them

[Gern]

Without reading grammar, vocabulary and the spoken word suffers with inaccuracy together with the lack of skill and ability to place opinion and argument.

Laurie

Got to agree there Laurie. I found it quite worrying when I was teaching to find how many teenage students couldn't read - and usually boasted about the fact they'd never read a whole book in their lives! Then they wondered why they were at the bottom of the heap when it came to looking for work!

Gern

 

[Guest]

Seems there are some great readers!!

Anyway, you can add a new question here.

How many time you invert on the computer screen, and then, on the paper sheets...?

Read = books ?

Research = computer ?

 

[Guest]

Interesting question Polux.

I have always considered that a computer for research is like a reference library and is a fine addition to reading. Like a book it is the written word.

Perhaps a million books in one place or a home massive library.

The only problem is I like to curl up with a book, read in bed before lights out etc. A bit uncomfortable with a computer.

Just think that Kindle may re-kindle (oh blimey sincere apologies) the appetite for reading. One problem I see is that publishers will only put on the market books which make millions of pounds.

Laurie

 

[Lee W]

just started 'bullet magnet' by mick flynn............cant put it down!!

Brilliant book, his follow up 'Trigger Time' is equally as good.

Got both in my little library

Lee

 

[aaron]

I have started rereading my Sven Hessel books. Gritty stories about a group of ww2 soldiers.

Most of my model porn is done online at scribd.

 

[stona]

Seems there are some great readers!!Anyway, you can add a new question here.

How many time you invert on the computer screen, and then, on the paper sheets...?

Read = books ?

Research = computer ?

The computer is a valuable tool for research but can also be a trap for the unwary. Many myths get perpetrated or prolonged by the internet and its unedited pages. I have many books which would be considered references for research (which someone else has done for me!) and these are usually more reliable than many internet sources, that's not to say error free.

The internet does have the advantage of being free and there is a lot of very good information available on it. Some of my books are not what you'd call cheap and can, frankly, be a bit dull. Also, access to our national archives is fairly easy and inexpensive.

You can of course combine a good read with some 'research' as in a good biography (my current read of Coningham's biography falls into this category) or something like Max Hasting's 'Bomber Command' or Anthony Beevor's 'D-Day'. These latter are well researched, packed with information, but still have one hell of a story to tell.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

Sometime ago I bought a collection of books, they are from Osprey.... With different military eras.

Which is your opinion about them? Are they fine or just "commercial"?

 

[Guest]

Look all right to me Polux. Actually I do not think on average publishers get away with a series like this unless they are reasonable books.

I would imagine most buyers will have a reasonable level of military knowledge.

Laurie

 

[flyjoe180]

You can of course combine a good read with some 'research' as in a good biography (my current read of Coningham's biography falls into this category) or something like Max Hasting's 'Bomber Command' or Anthony Beevor's 'D-Day'. These latter are well researched, packed with information, but still have one hell of a story to tell.Cheers

Steve

I like Antony Beevor's style, I have read 'Stalingrad' and 'Berlin' and thoroughly enjoyed reading them both.

 

[Guest]

Reading at the moment Martin Middlebrook The Falklands War.

Very well researched the book was written after most of the Falklands War Narratives flowered into print.

Some interesting facts which I have not read in other books on the same subject.

For instance mostly not known that the British Government warned, before the Belgrano sinking, the Argentinians through the Swiss. The warning that if they considered a ship aircraft etc outside the 200 mile exclusion zone presented a threat they would attack.

Another fact the Type22 could not take the Sea King but when forward of the line the Type 22 Frigates fuelled them by pump in the hover.

Laurie

 

[john i am]

Without reading grammar, vocabulary and the spoken word suffers with inaccuracy together with the lack of skill and ability to place opinion and argument. Sorry Laurie I have to disagree with your statement. I don't read books as I have no spare time but I do have lots of opinions and I am always ready for a good argument regards John

 

[Guest]

That is OK John we all have our opinions.

Without reading grammar, vocabulary and the spoken word suffers with inaccuracy together with the lack of skill and ability to place opinion and argument.

"Just noticed should read"

Without reading, grammar, vocabulary and the spoken word suffer with inaccuracy together with the lack of skill and ability to place opinion and argument.

Just shows my error of punctuation which has distributed a difference in the meaning of the sentence. Cannot pretend to be an expert by a long chalk but writing I find an exciting challenge. One which I did not discover until the business changed and I had to write and type my own letters. Similar to model making you add a a slice of skill with every model made.

Laurie

 

[stona]

I don't read books as I have no spare time but I do have lots of opinions and I am always ready for a good argument regards John

But you must obtain the facts to allow you to form an opinion from somewhere.

I've been engaged in a debate about the battle of Berlin recently and have referred to at least half a dozen books in my library. These vary from the reader friendly 'Berlin Raids' by Middlebrook to the rather dry 'Bomber Command War Diaries' and the technical 'Watching the Skies' by Jack Gough about radar. I've also looked up Luftwaffe night fighter claims and operations (Boiten and Foreman, Mathews, Parry) and looked in Westerbrook's tome on German flak defences. The various US and British bombing surveys have also been used. Throw in a biography of Harris for good measure!

I have an opinion about the Battle of Berlin and I believe it is well informed, not necessarily correct, but you'd better come armed with some good information if you wish to disagree

Cheers

Steve

 

[dave]

I am a voracious reader, on kindle and the paper originals, prefer the real thing but the kindle is easier on the tram and when travelling for work.

Vulcan 607 was an excellent read. I have just finished "Dreadnought" which is a history of the run up to WW1 politically but with an emphasis on the naval side of things, heavy going but an interesting read.

 

[ojays]

I wouldn't be without my Kindle. Like Laurie I like to wind down and read myself to sleep.

I only buy the books that are less than a fiver (I'm tight that way)

So far I have 47 books on it, and my Daughter only bought it for me last Christmas.

Mainly true stuff about WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Afghanistan & Iraq.

Main genre being Vietnam, as it's the newest forgotten war, and Afghanistan, both with so many PTSD victims!

Gregg

 

[Guest]

I read mainly non fiction and mainly about world war 2 if we are talking about books my favorite books are by Stephen E Ambrose Band of Brother,Pegasus Bridge Wild Blue etc I have hundreds of books about the conflict and love to read them over and over.

I wonder if any of you could recommend any books that are about the middle east campaign during world war 2 am looking to find info about my granddads part of the war.

The other things I read and collect is comic books and am even a part time trader of comic book. This is a fast dying thing when I was a kid I would read a comic then have to wait for the next week or month of the next part and would have a massive stack to keep me quiet for a while. but now the kids can buy whole story arches to read on a tablet or kindle or just go to W.H. smiths and buy a graphic novel the single issue of comic books is dying fast.

 

[Ian M]

I used to get though three or four a month, then they invented the internet!!!

Ian M

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't be without my Kindle. Like Laurie I like to wind down and read myself to sleep.I only buy the books that are less than a fiver (I'm tight that way)

Gregg

(I'm tight that way). What else you come from Hull. I know the form there Gregg.

Got a good number of my now demised collection secondhand Gregg.

Some from second hand book shops.

Some in Jersey where we have a number of book sales for charity.

Plus second hand especially for books out of print etc. http://www.abebooks.co.uk/ . Abe books is a central collection point for second hand books in the UK and around the world.

Found that good bargains and books not available through ordinary means can be found at all the above. Also found the older books are much better bound and the paper in a lot of cases is much nicer.

Laurie

 

[dave]

As a Yorkshireman in economic exile, I am also loathe to spend more than £5 on books for the kindle. Although you periodically get some great books in the Daily deal on amazon. That's how I got Dreadnought for the princely sum of 99p. Guttenberg Press also do a lot of the classics for free. The only problem with the kindle is that diagrams can be a bit small to make out and it doesn't smell like a proper old book.