The Book-buying Problem II

I read Rise and Fall of the Third Reich when I was 14. Needed a BIG dictionary and a very patient teacher. I couldn't list the books I've read since then. A certain depth of knowledge can be fun at time as well. I had an officer try to have a "teaching moment" with once.

"And of course, there's the Royal Oak debacle."

"Yeah, Gunther Prien in U-47."

He looked at me like I'd grown a second head. Yeah, I'm just an enlisted.

 

I have a weekness, also, Adam. These are my acquisitions over the past 2 months or so. Now, I have to admit that I did not finish Beetle. It was nearly 1000 pages and after 500 or so, I simply lost interest and put it down. I am in the midst of Victory at Mortain and it is just...okay. I am excited by Japanese Destroyer Captain. It looks like it will be a good read.

 

Hell From the Heavens is a good read. Scary to think what they went through.

 

I have another issue also.
I had several bookcase games already, (top two rows) but have found a store that sells old games...and well i have bought a couple recently that I am not sure I am even going to ever play.



Most of these I played 30 years or so while a collegian. I bought the last two in the past month. I really don't have anywhere to play Jutland, as it require floorspace. Hell's Highway will need substantial long-term table space that I don't really have at present. I may try it in Vassal, although the map is quite large and may prove arduous to play in a 24 in computer screen.

Harpoon is also floor game, so I may never play it again.

 

I played Jutland in a WWI barracks that really needed repairs.

 

I guess the main issue is that it is not really adding anything that I have not read in many other books about the breakout in years past. The maps are so-so and he mentions towns and villages that aren't shown on the few maps there. I finally dug out my book of maps and printed a few other digital maps I had to help follow the story.

If I had read the book 20-25 years ago, I might have a differing opinion of it. Right now, its just not blowing my skirt up.

Can I whine or can I whine?

 

Hmmmmm....

 

Computer Graphics Arts at Purdue used to make beer money doing that sort of thing (and a couple of the profs). Just sayin'.

 

I found out how useful a school could be when I did some map combining for a project. I knew nobody at the school (here in Missouri) so I just sent a email to one of the profs. in the program. He recommended a student with military background and an interest in history. She worked out just fine, to the point where she exceeded my modest expectations and did extra work just so she could get some work credits under her belt.

 

You should see the "maps" in my book. Utter crap, if I don't mind saying so myself.
Don't get me wrong, the book is quite well done. I am just reading it at the wrong time in my life and it is not holding my interest. It probably would have 25 years ago.